What If I Don’t Want to Go to University After High School?

With Term 2 slowly creeping around the corner, time is really ticking for a majority of Year 12s to make the so called “be-all, end-all” decision of their lives.

That decision being: what are you're going to do after your high school career comes to a close?

Even though it’s still only April, considering your choices early on can help you stress a bit less in your final year.

Maybe you're in the same jam as many of your peers; that is, settling on a course for university.

But what if you know deep down that university isn't the place for you? You might've learnt from school that you don't deal well with academics, or realised that a degree might not be useful in your dream job.

Whatever the reason behind your final decision, just know your choice is totally cool and fine, and here's why.

1. Going to uni shouldn’t be taken lightly.

University is a huge investment. Too many students go to uni when they aren't ready—academically and emotionally—which could be a possible reason why one in three students drop out before completing their degree. If you feel as though you are being pressured, or aren't 100 per cent ready to commit to studying a full-on three or four-year course, then rushing back into school might not be your best decision. Don’t allow yourself to feel as though you have to go because everyone else is going, or because your parents want you to. There are plenty of alternatives.

2. There are many other paths to choose from.

Just remember that university is not your only option after high school. You still have an abundance of choices, including TAFE, apprenticeships/traineeships, full-time or part-time work, volunteering, travelling… the list goes on. This is also a particularly important note for people who didn’t actually graduate from high school. Know that your pathways aren’t limited either, and that there are a wide range of opportunities for you too.

3. You’re creating your own path and showing independence.

By taking time off to think and experiment with your options, you’ll eventually learn to become your fully independent self. While uni does keep you in a safe space where other people are in the same boat as you, it’s still a small bubble that could confine you from the experiences of the real world. Outside of school, you get to meet a bunch of new and inspirational people, and try things out based on what you want and not what you think you should want (and if that doesn’t work out, at least you had a shot at it). And with all those experiences under your belt, you can perceive a fresh perspective on where it is you want to go and how to get there.

4. Whichever way you go, you’ll always start from the bottom

This is a special tip I received from someone very close to me: my mum. I’m lucky enough to have a very open-minded mum who allowed me to freely choose where I wanted to go after high school. But she did give me a word of advice: “Once you leave high school, you will need to start from the bottom and work your way up. Once you graduate from uni, you’ll also have to start from the bottom and work your way up, just like everyone else.” Some may prefer getting stuck into their industry of choice straight away, to be a few steps ahead of their peers.

Finally, from one high school graduate to an upcoming one: it’s okay to plan ahead. You’re going to be busy most of the time, so don’t put yourself in utter distress mid-Semester 2, just as you’re about to start exams. Enjoy your final year at school, and good luck!

Ratria Nindita is one of Student Edge’s student contributors. See more student contributions here.

Photo: Netflix