On Monday, 22 February 2016 10:12:28 UTC, Anne B wrote:

Not only that, but in the 1960s, with an ordinary degree,
employers were keen to snap up new graduates. These days, there
are so many people with ordinary degrees that in order to have
the opportunities that new graduates had then, today's students
have to go on to a master's or even a PhD, which involve several
more years' study and expense.

If anyone knows what career they want, I would say that - if the career so permits - getting them to show their aptitude in summer jobs in said career at 16 to 17, getting really good A-level results and then going straight in after A-levels is a good way to get ahead. In my line of work I know several very smart, senior-ranked people who for one reason or another (dropped out of Uni, had a child very young, simply didn't go to University) have done very well for themselves in an arena that more and more seems to demand degrees/doctorates.

I'm not necessarily prepared to comment on whether it's become easier to get a degree in the UK or not now than 30 years ago, but when I submitted my PhD, I sent it to a chap in America who I'd got lots of advice from who said he liked the work but it wouldn't have got a PhD in the US and would have needed another years' work. I reckon we've got it relatively easy in the UK to get through University and onward if you are able to support yourself financially.

Richard