Why is just completing a degree not enough for students today?

In today's climate with economic uncertainty and AI advancements, simply graduating isn't enough. The job market values practical skills and experience gained through 'side quests' beyond the main curriculum.

What are 'side quests' for students?

Side quests are activities pursued outside the main academic curriculum. Examples include sports, clubs, music, theater, and importantly, developing practical skills like coding or UI/UX design.

What are considered 'high-income skills' for students to learn?

High-income skills are those that are in demand and have significant earning potential. Examples include coding, copywriting, sales, AI proficiency, and data analysis. These skills can be learned through self-study or university-adjacent activities.

Why is coding a valuable skill for students to pursue?

Learning to code unlocks numerous opportunities in the tech industry for direct employment or entrepreneurship. It enables building websites, apps, and software services, leading to high earning potential.

How can UI/UX design benefit a student's career?

UI/UX design is a high-income skill highly sought after by tech companies. Developing proficiency can lead to well-paying remote jobs or opportunities in funded startups, especially when combined with coding skills.

What is the role of university beyond academics?

University is presented as a scaffolding period, a unique time offering abundant free time specifically for learning and personal development. It's an opportunity to level up skills rather than just focus on the degree itself.

What is the speaker's main advice for current students?

The core advice is to treat university as a place to level up high-income skills through side quests, in addition to enjoying the experience, learning, and networking. This strategic skill development is crucial for future financial security.

Key Moments

If I was a student again, I’d do this

Ali Abdaal

Education3 min read26 min video

Sep 30, 2025|261,230 views|10,453|338

Ali Abdaal Ali abdal

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Students should treat university as a game, focusing on high-income skill "side quests" alongside studies for career success.

Key Insights

University can be viewed as an open-world video game, with a main quest line (graduation) and various side quests.

The four primary objectives of university are to enjoy the experience, learn knowledge and skills, obtain a certificate for job prospects, and build friendships/network.

Simply completing the main quest (graduation) is insufficient in today's job market due to economic uncertainties and AI; developing higher-level skills is crucial.

Side quests should be chosen strategically to level up high-income skills like coding, copywriting, sales, AI proficiency, and data analysis.

Skills like playing guitar or chess are enjoyable hobbies but generally not high-income skills unless exceptional talent or unique circumstances are involved.

Developing a combination of skills, such as coding and UI/UX design, makes individuals highly valuable ('unicorns') in the job market.

University provides a unique period of focused learning and free time; this time should be actively used to develop marketable skills that add value to the marketplace.

THE CURRENT STUDENT LANDSCAPE

Being a student today presents unique challenges, including economic uncertainty, a cost of living crisis, and the disruptive potential of AI on future careers. This evolving environment necessitates a strategic approach to university education. Ali Abdaal frames this period as akin to playing an open-world video game, where graduation is the main quest, but numerous optional 'side quests' can significantly enhance a student's preparedness for life after university.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVES

University attendance is typically driven by four key objectives. Firstly, students aim to enjoy the experience, recognizing this as a period of unique freedom before adult responsibilities. Secondly, learning knowledge and essential skills is a core purpose. Thirdly, obtaining a certificate is vital, not just for academic credentials, but primarily to improve job prospects. Lastly, making friends and building a professional network are significant benefits of the university experience.

BEYOND THE MAIN QUEST: EARNING INCOME

While enjoyment, learning, networking, and certificates are valuable, the primary underlying goal for many is to secure a reliable method of making money as an adult. This economic engine is crucial for financial security. However, the direct link between specific degrees and immediate employment is becoming less certain, particularly with rapid technological advancements like AI, making the 'main quest' of graduation insufficient on its own.

THE STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE OF SIDE QUESTS

Just as in video games, completing only the main storyline leaves players at a lower level. Similarly, students who only focus on academics and ignore 'side quests' graduate with fewer developed skills and less experience. Pursuing side quests allows students to 'level up' their character, acquiring diverse experiences and skills that are highly valued in the competitive job market, thereby increasing their overall preparedness and marketability.

IDENTIFYING HIGH-INCOME SKILLS

Strategic side quests involve developing high-income skills that directly translate into earning potential. These skills include coding, copywriting, sales, advanced AI utilization, statistics, and data analysis. Unlike hobbies like playing guitar or chess, which are enjoyable but offer limited income potential, these skills significantly enhance a student's options for lucrative employment or entrepreneurship post-graduation.

COMBINING SKILLS FOR MAXIMUM VALUE

The real power lies in combining multiple high-income skills. For instance, a student who learns both coding and UI/UX design becomes a 'full-stack' talent, bridging technical and design aspects. Such individuals are rare and highly sought after by tech companies and startups, commanding significant salaries and offering unique value that goes far beyond a standard degree qualification.

UNIVERSITY AS A SKILL-BUILDING SCAFFOLD

University should be viewed not merely as a path to a degree, but as a 'scaffolding' – a unique period of freedom and abundant free time dedicated to learning and growth. Students should leverage this period to actively develop marketable skills. By focusing on 'side quests' that build high-income skills, students transform into highly capable individuals, or 'weapons,' ready to add significant value to the marketplace and secure their financial future.

Mentioned in This Episode

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●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●People Referenced

Dr. Ali's Advice for Students: Dos and Don'ts

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Approach university like an open-world video game with a main quest (graduation) and optional side quests.

Focus on the four core objectives: enjoy the experience, learn knowledge and skills, get a certificate for job prospects, and make friends/network.

Prioritize developing 'high-income skills' through side quests during your studies.

Consider skills like coding, copywriting, sales, AI mastery, and statistics/data analysis.

Understand that university is a unique time ('scaffolding') to learn and develop valuable skills with less pressure than a full-time job.

Leverage your free time as a student to become a 'weapon of a character' by graduation.

Focus on adding value to the marketplace through your skills, as this correlates with earning potential.

Check out the AI study bundle for tools to aid your academic journey.

Avoid This

Do not exclusively focus on completing the main quest (just studying and graduating) as it's insufficient for future career success in the current climate.

Do not rely solely on the certificate from your degree to guarantee job prospects; build practical skills.

Avoid side quests that do not contribute to leveling up your 'high-income' potential (e.g., focusing only on nightclubs, excessive alcohol/substances, or sports unless at a professional level).

Do not assume your degree alone will set you up for making money as an adult; actively pursue skill development.

Do not waste the opportunity of having free time as a student; use it for strategic skill acquisition.

Common Questions

The main objectives are to enjoy the experience, gain knowledge and skills, obtain a certificate to improve job prospects, and make friends or network. These are the foundational reasons students attend higher education.