Getting a secure career for the rest of your life is a big deal. You want to be able to pay the bills and perhaps one day own your own home. Paying for that home means you need a stable career in an industry that makes sense for you: a secure one that isn’t going to be littered with redundancies and a high staff turnover.

When it comes to getting a job at a good company, somewhere you can really raise your career through the roof, the question of whether you need a degree comes into play. Learning at the age of 18 with all your friends and partying until the early hours sounds like a lot of fun in theory, but there is a large number of adults who go back to education later on in life. When you’re 18, going out to further your education isn’t just about the education. It’s about the fun and frolics and finding who you are and what you want. Going back to your education as an adult is about a time you want to learn now! You want to be in the classroom furthering your education and knowing that each step is going to further your career and you are more comfortable with the idea of having a degree because your priorities have massively changed from your 18 year old self.

Most people think that getting a degree is going to equal a career in a top company and be paired with a lucrative salary. On the one hand, they are right. There are certain careers – such as law and medicine – where a degree is a necessity. You need that education to be able to enjoy the career ahead of you, and your learning never truly stops in those jobs. But there are careers and industries where having a school-leaver on board can be a better option. School-leavers are often enthusiastic and determined to succeed, because they know that they haven’t got that degree to bolster them: they need to show their stuff all on their own.

There are arguments both for and against having a degree. The pros being the obvious extra chance for experience and education that you won’t find without a degree. The cons being the cost that comes with learning, because once you hit 18, you have to start paying for your education. The cost will vary based on whether you want to be in a private school or not, but there is still a financial burden there. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to you and whether you think a degree would be worth it. There are times where you won’t need one to further your career, but in a lot of cases, a degree is going to push you further than you thought possible and make you think academically. Don’t leave it behind if you get the chance to learn more and do more with your career. Your future is in your hands – remember that!