Hard data on why go to university, your most hidden superpower, and the paradox of resilience.
😊 Welcome
This week we look at hard data and official statistics behind the idea that university will get you a good job.
We discover a new, hidden superpower to help you get better grades: sleep.
And we hear about the paradox of resilience.
✍️ Why university? Show me the data!
Last week we looked at the connection between going to university and getting a good job. We saw the hard reality that study alone will almost certainly not get you your dream job, but that university can be a great place to gain the knowledge, skills, experience and contacts to prepare you for your life and career ahead.
This week, we put that all to the test, by looking at some hard data on graduates, jobs and careers. In the real world of employment and salaries, is going to university worth it?
We’ll look at the UK government’s own graduate labour market statistics, and at the outcomes of a recent graduate and business leader survey by Universities UK.
Before I get into the data, though, a few words of caution:
Data is pretty easy to manipulate. And by focusing on specific parts of any data set, it is pretty straightforward for anyone to tell the story they want to tell.
Averages are only averages. For every average figure, remember that for half the people, the figure will be higher, while for the other half, the figure will be lower. So, averages don’t say anything specific about you and your circumstances.
I will do my best to present the data straight. But you know perfectly well that I write pretty much exclusively about university and I believe in education as a power for good. All my bias will be towards university being a good thing. You need to take this into account as you read.
So here goes…
💡 Did You Know?
The less you sleep, the lower your grades will be. Studies show a direct correlation between a lack of sleep and lower exam grades.
Sleep is a superpower and pulling an all-nighter is not a badge of honour.
Don’t believe me? Check out this excellent piece by From High School to Uni:
The Superpower of Sleep: Tips for Smart Successful Students
📢 Quote of the week
“It’s a fascinating paradox that the most resilient people have usually lived through hell. And those that have had very nice privileged lives are often the most fragile among us.”
Seerut K. Chawla
Psychotherapist
Had a tough time lately?
Know this: you are a whole lot more resilient than you can possibly imagine!
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
“Go to university!” they said. “It’ll get you a good job!”
📅 Next week
Coming up next week: UCAS Applicant Days: What are they and how do you get the most out of them
