While some might argue this point but facts prove that having a degree does matter today. You can see this from a single glimpse of statistics, which clearly show that people with degrees have both a higher employment rate and salaries. Studying at a university helps you develop some important skills that help succeed in life in general, not only in the profession you master while at school.
Why a Degree Matters: Essential Skills You Learn at School
Many students disparage homework assignments saying that those are a waste of time because grades they get don’t really matter. To some extent, this might be true, because the actual grade has little impact on anything and employers rarely put much interest in the numbers from your school records.
However, people often disregard that working on assignments helps you develop skills that make you a better professional. It’s not only about the information you learn, which makes you a more valuable asset in your chosen field. It’s more about the ‘training in a workplace environment’ which you get in school. It turns out that there is much more in common between campus and workplace.
Communication
First and foremost, studying in a university and working on group assignments with your peers allows you to develop both communication and leadership skills. This is where you can learn to work within a team, manage, and lead it, depending on the circumstances. Most importantly, you can try each of these roles and see where you feel best and which direction you want to grow in.
And don’t forget that you’ll be communicating with other students and professors as well. In essence, a campus is like a huge office test-run, with colleagues, managers, and the big-boss-dean.
Research
Working on university assignments also teaches you how to do research quickly and efficiently. The essays and theses of today are your business plans, reports, and presentations of tomorrow. And this is why it’s essential to choose a good school. Because the quality of education you receive through the academic work will have a huge impact on your abilities and thus opportunities for career growth.
To get a better idea of how good an education you can get there, you should find the school’s position in the global university rating. Then, look up the school’s graduates on social media, especially LinkedIn. This will show you what kind of position you should be aiming for. And if some of these people are amenable to contact, talk to them and ask directly how much school contributed to their professional success.
Critical thinking
The ability to think critically based on the information you uncover during research instead of your pre-conceived notions is the most important skill you’ll develop in university. Assignments completed without applying these principles simply won’t be accepted, and therein lies the greatest power of higher education.
This is also why your grades matter because they evaluate the quality of your work, which will later translate into your chances of promotion or raise. Therefore, even though some companies today start lowering their recruitment requirements and exclude a university degree as mandatory (The Guardian), the importance of having one remains strong.
Skills obtained through extracurricular activities
You also shouldn’t forget that studying at a university is a great time to develop skills that will strengthen your resume. At this time, you can do this by participating in various extracurricular activities as you still have the time between classes to do so. Getting additional training while working a full-time job won’t be easy. And a graduate with a long list of useful skills has a better chance to get a good job regardless of their lack of experience.