Preface: I speak as a naïve yet-to-graduate, yet-to-have-work-experience student, so maybe this is complete garbage, but sometimes the best ideas come from those on the outside looking in.

Going to university is supposed to be a massive decision for most year 12 students, but really, it isn't. There often is no decision for them. It was already made by parents and society in general. We are consistently told that without a university degree we'll go nowhere. And so, nearly every student works their arse off so hopefully they'll make it in (unless you're rich, in which case you're in anyway, but I digress).  But is going to university really the best option for all of us?

Transitioning from year 12 to uni
When you're in year 12, your mind really isn't set on working out where you want to go in life, no matter how many times every adult around you tries to drum it into you. With 18ths, SACs, exams, jobs and everything else, you hardly have time to think, let alone ponder something as big as your future, so we just tag along and do what everyone else does.

So when January arrives, those who don't get in to uni cry for weeks, and many of those who do think they've made it big. But, looking around first and second years I see 4 types of students -

• the ones that are intent on studying their course,
• the ones who just come to uni to socialize and rarely go to lectures/tutes,
• the ones who go to lectures/tutes fairly often, but sleep or tune out, and
• the ones who'd rather do something productive rather than go to uni but still go.

Uni stereotypes
The first group are people who are 100% committed, and are likely to supplant their studies with extra reading in journals, magazines, websites to keep them in-the-loop - they're passionate about their chosen subject. They're a rarity in all faculties because let's face it, after spending the last 13 years studying and discovering new found freedom, most would hardly want to commit to another 3 or more years of study.

The last group is also a rarity because most students still haven't had time to work out what they want from life. Those that are in this group go to uni probably from family/social pressures, or from the fear of the unknown and unpredictability. They want to explore their interests, but don't know how, or don't know how to make a career out of it.

Which brings us to the second and third groups - the majority of uni students. To these people, first years in particular, uni is simply a continuation of year 12 - parties, socialising, events, and the occasional study here and there. In fact, it's probably better as there's no uniform, you can drink on campus and there's thousands more people here. The third group think they're better, but really they aren't - what's the point of going if you're not going to listen or concentrate? The material's gonna get into your head subconsciously? I don't think so. At least the second group aren't wasting their time.

These people really don't have much of a idea as to what they want to do at the moment, nor do they care. The reason these people are at uni is because uni lets them prolong their high school times, and hopefully everything will work out later.

Thing is, I don't believe things will, and if they do, it won't be what you really want. Soon enough your uni times are over, you'll be forced out in the real world, end up in a job you don't particularly like and soon after you won't have the ability to change your path in life anymore as your commitments stack on.  I'm not saying uni should be all work and no play, but the purpose of uni is to get you ready for the real world, and how can it do that if you're still clinging on to your old times?

Is uni really the best option?
Going to uni straight out of high school for many (all except the first group) is a cop out, an excuse for not seriously considering where you want to go in life because you don't want to make that decision now or don't have the guts to. That's why I reckon gap years should be promoted more. During that time you get to think about your future, work out what you want from life. If you're stuck, travelling is a great way to open your eyes. You can explore your options thoroughly and plot a plan before taking the plunge. Some say you'd just end up lying around doing nothing, but as cool as 'doing nothing' is, I'll bet it'll get boring quite quickly, and soon enough you'd probably end up getting a job and realising that you don't want that job for the rest of your life.

For some, uni will still be the best option (e.g. becoming a lawyer, GP, accountant) but the difference now is that you're committed, motivated and determined to get that bit of paper at the end. For many others, they will come to the realisation that uni is not the only path. I have great respect for those who choose other paths, such as TAFE, apprenticeships, full-time work or the armed forces. Or those who work their arses off elsewhere to further their dreams, like sportspersons, singers (even if it is going on Australian Idol), authors and developers. Those who have knowledge + real-world experience will be better than most uni students who are still living in a bubble. No one achieves anything big by cruising along.

Wake up, grow up, and take charge
The time after year 12 is the perfect time for working your future out. It's time to wake up, grow up and take charge. Stop following the herd - break free, map out your life, go your own way and still have fun in the process. Who cares if you reach a dead end,  it's not the be all and end all - heaps of people change their career paths, or even careers frequently throughout their lives (in fact on average, people go through around 8 jobs between 18 and 30).

I regret not taking time off to map things out, but it's never too late - I'm taking next semester off to think things out, try some other paths and see if I can do something that I'm motivated and enjoy doing, and maybe make a bit of money too. Who knows, maybe I'll end up back at uni, but at least if I return, I'll actually want to study (unlike now, where I'd rather watch paint dry - in fact, I spend my lectures doing just that).

Don't want to sound too cheesy, but only we can make our dreams happen. No one else.

As a side note, the recent trend of promoting unis over alternatives and creating degrees for everything sucks. Unis are turning into robot factories, mass-producing people who have no genuine interest in the subject. Some things need degrees, like law and medicine disciplines, but not every occupation under the sun. Unfortunately once there is a degree, all those that don't have one are immediately disadvantaged in the work force, as can be seen when nursing degrees started (over the old apprenticeship system). Maybe the ulterior motive of the plan is to keep us studying, so we'll stay out of trouble while we 'mature'...

Thankfully the younger generations are revolting. More and more stories are coming out on people who are surviving and living their dreams, without going through uni. Opportunities abound and we get told that anything can happen through hard work and a bit of luck, fuelled partly by reality TV (as much as we hate it), the Internet and the media in general. The current economy and personnel shortages add to it. Yet the Liberal government still seems oblivious to the change, while Labor at least throws a bit of money around to give students more options (though Labor in all States and Federal does scare me).

Anyway, this nearly rivals the length of Cam's great first post on The Age's Start Up Stories blog, "If You Start Me Up…", so I'll stop here. Let me know what you think!