People believe that university is necessary because it makes you smarter but is it really the right choice? University usually adds up to your existing intelligence but does it really help out in the real world? Academic success may not always translate to the real world and may get you stuck in a pothole. Thus, we can understand that university education does not necessarily make us smarter or help all of us in life.
To begin with, over the years we have seen many successful individuals who have proved this idea. Their success has not been an outcome of their university degrees. People like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are examples of some of the world’s most successful people. Interestingly two of them did not finish university and the other did not even go to one. This proves how sometimes people just have the intelligence to be successful. If a person already has the skills required to persevere in this world, a university is not needed to make them smarter.
Secondly, many people who enter the University are not interested in the courses they take up. According to studies, almost 50% of students take up careers that are different from their university degree courses. Isn’t it mind-boggling? So, if the courses they learnt at university made them smarter, how is it that they still survive in professions they have not studied for? Obviously, their common sense and worldly wisdom guide them through. Hence, we can say that university education does not necessarily make you smarter and people can acquire skills and knowledge even without going through a university degree.
Last of all, although people believe that university makes everyone smarter, there are other options that guarantee smart success. Apprenticeship, internships and real-life exposure to different professional fields can bring better results as compared to a university degree. While a degree teaches theoretically with few practical approaches, a hands-on exposure builds cognitive resilience and can be a shorter & faster way to success. Research shows 94% of trade apprentices are employed immediately after qualification, compared to approximately 68.8% of university graduates finding full-time work within four months. This proves how university education is not always the surest guarantee for success.
To conclude, university does not always make you smarter in real life. There are people who did not complete university but went on to become some of the smartest people in the world. University education can broaden one’s horizon, make them ready for their profession and even assist in gaining social acceptance but that does not imply that people without a university education are not smart enough. Afterall, smartness involves a blend of hands-on learning, adaptability, and emotional intelligence rather than just accumulation of knowledge.
Writer : Hari Govind
Grade : 8 (Year 2026)
Place : Sydney, Australia
