University?

[Guest MATT jr]

hi

 

well, i will soon be finishing sixth form, and now i have to choose, whether go uni, for 4 years, or start work, or get an apprenticeship.

 

there's so much to think about, and all everyone keeps doing is giving you leaflets on it!!

 

so, with you lot having gone through this process, what are your experiences/views?

 

i am thinking of going into computing with business.

 

what worries me, is, if i go uni for 4 years, get the associated debt, will i get a job at the end of it? and would i be much better off, than if i had got a job, with a firm, and let them train me?

 

in terms of finance, yes there are grants, but i will still end up with about

[_dg]

It really all depends on what career you want. If uni is more or less essential for you to 'get on' in your chosen career, then you should do it. If you can get a job, and work yourself up, then that may be better - you can always do some uni or other courses while you are in the job.

 

I did an apprenticeship, then moved up and was earning good money quite soon. I then went to uni as a mature student. This is the best of both worlds, and I still have a trade to fall back on (or for weekend foreigners) ;-)

 

From what I have seen from students straight from school, they need to be in a damn good job after five years, or they will be financially challenged for the next ten.

[mumof4]

My brother went to uni for 4 years and got a degree in microbiology.

What does he do now????..he works for the local council and has never used his degree..

[Guest blatters]

Start by asking yourself what you want to do with the rest of your life - both job and lifestyle. Then take a reality check.

 

Then ascertain what education and qualification you need.

 

I am an HR Manager. You need a degree and post-degree professional qualification if you want to get beyond HR Administration.

 

I work for an auditing firm. To be an auditor or accountant you need a degree and 3yr post-degree qualification. There's no other way.

 

So start by deciding what will make you happy in life and ony then decide the route you need to take to achieve it.

 

If you're not sure yet then a degree is a good way of buying yourself more time and increase your choices later on.

 

You can avoid massive debt if you stay at home and commute to University. People think all students live in digs but less than 50% do now. You youngens are more savvy with your cash, me thinks. And more savvy with your lifestyle than the Babyboomers etc.

 

Hope this is helpful.

 

Try this web site?

 

http://www.planitplus.net/

 

Blatters

[Guest MATT jr]

wow, thanks for the advice and help!

 

trying to choose a career is not easy!

 

MJR

[familyman]

:lol: If you have an idea of what you want to do ,then go for it ,but you get the impression that too many people go to uni just because they can ! a good qualification will always be with you , and will open many doors. But it would be a shame to get to the end of uni still having no idea what you want to do -or worse still, finding you have the wrong qualifications for your chosen career. There is nothing wrong with looking at the technical trades (electrician, plumber,etc ) - a good one is always in demand - a friend of mine recently had his house rewired for the supposedly cheap price of

[Bigjeeze]

One other point to consider - you shouldn't need to run up such a huge debt. My Eldest had more gadgets like cameras DVD IPods etc whilst at Uni, and also did more socialising than studying - than he does now he's at work. My point is do not worry about the money - without a shadow of doubt you can cut the loans down below

[johnb80]

If you're wanting to get into computing and especially if you want to hit the big money, get yourself Microsoft MCSE certification and Cisco CCNA. Get some experience and know your subject well, you can then hit

[NikNak]

Just to add my sixpeneth.......

 

I've worked with MANY peeps who have come out of uni with a great degree....... but common sense, dont be daft, that wasn't being taught :lol:

 

I've also worked with MANY peeps that have NO QUALIFICATIONS at all, and i can tell you that i have found these type of people to be good 'all rounders', with common sense by the bucket load.... :lol:

 

My advice (should you care to listen to one of those with no professional qualifications), is to go out there and get an apprenticeship such as a joiner, electrician, plumber etc. take 4 or 5 years to get the qualification (whilst being paid...). Then if you find you still want to get yourself a degree.... THEN go to uni with a bit of money behind you. That way you may end up with a degree and no overdraft.....

 

My missus works as an office administrator for Southampton Solent Univercity, and i've lost count of the number of times she comes homes with stories of 'bods' with qualifications coming out of their ears....... but seriously lacking in any form of common sense.

 

Anyway, that's my bit done, hope it was of some help.

 

Nick.

[Guest Cepheus]

My experience has taught me that a degree CAN open more doors for you if you're prepared to look for the handle. Decide on a concrete plan for what you want to do (sounds like you have a good start with the computing/business angle) and stick to it. A few friends of mine went to Uni for the social life with no idea of what they wanted to do, picked the easiest course, found it to be boring as hell, lost interest, changed course half way through, ended up worse off than when they started!

 

I decided to get a professional qualification and ended up with a HNC in Graphic Design and Corporate Communications. Got a placement as a graphic designer with a printing company and had a good couple of years earning and learning. After the course I was kept on by the company and had another couple of years earning decent money. I then got bored, went into advertising sales for another couple of years earning decent money again.

 

A chance then came up to join my two experiences and started up a publishing company with a colleague of mine and we both earnt a 6 figure salary for a couple of years before we both had a disagreement and folded the company.

 

I now have a "proper" job working for a national cable company earning about average national wage, doing the same job as people with degrees, while still keeping a small web design business going in my spare time meaning I earn more than they do.

 

My long, laboured point to all this is that you don't NEED a degree to earn money, except if the job you want to do NEEDS you to have a degree. Do your research and make the decision that's right for you, it'll affect the rest of your life! :lol:

[AndeeeH]

With the knowledge and information from this site available to you at your fingertips why dont you contact Ford's and offer youself as a Nationwide Galaxy Troubleshooter. 'SuperGalaxyMan' commuting between dealers wherever and whenever a problem might arise. :lol: :P :D :D :D Andy.

[gregers]

family man i have to agree with you about obtaining a life skill,ive been in the building industry since i was 15 there aint much i havnt done,ive been qualfied chippy for 15 years i wouldnt choose that again :lol: you need to many tools,id become a sparky highest paid of the trades(even though there full of self importance :P )

[Guest MATT jr]

thank you all :lol:

 

you have certainly made the mud clearer!

 

i am going on a uni open day on weds (this is the last uni to vist) and all what you have said, has really helped.

 

thank you all

 

MJR :P

[Ian in Northampton]

Matt: something that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is that university can be the most fun three years of your life, if you choose the right university and the right course. I've never since drunk so much beer or played so much football - and yes, I came out of it with a bloody good degree. If you have the chance to go, I'd go just for that reason - yeah, you can go later in life, but the experience wouldn't be quite the same. Also, once you start earning, perhaps settled down a bit, you have to be bloody self-disciplined and motivated to go to university. And as I keep telling my son (I just wish the b****r would listen): life is about options: the more options you have, the better your life is likely to be. (Let's face it - money is about having options: the more money you have, the more options you have). A degree, as has been said, is a pre-requisite for a lot of decent jobs out there. Even if the degree subject isn't specifically relevant, it demonstrates an ability to absorb knowledge and to reason things out. (Note: this does NOT apply if you've done media studies at the University of Luton or a degree in gay/lesbian theatre groups in Croatia at the University of Shepshed. I'm talking real degrees from real universities, old-fashioned snob that I am.) I did my degree in English Literature, but ended up selling mainframe computers, then made myself a pretty good career in marketing. If, when you've got your degree, you think you have clearer idea of what you want to do, by all means go for an apprenticeship or learn a trade. But those who have pointed out that adegree on its own won't get you anywhere are absolutely right: if you're a twat to start with, the only thing that'll change is that you'll become a twat with a degree. It's no substitute for common sense and interpersonal skills, not to mention hard work and motivation.

[Bigjeeze]

One other point :ph34r:

 

If you're smart enough to gain 3 good A level results you really don't need us to tell you what to do

 

Go do it!!!!! B)

[johnb80]

If you want a real fun course to do, Grimsby Institue in the media section do a games design course all the way up to a degree. My son did a taster day there and it was really enjoyable, he's gone there to do a media degree and has settled in really well, they have top marks from Ofsted and have COVE status.

 

Regards - John

[Guest MATT jr]

with the courses.

 

i could go for a 3 year course, which is all studying.

or, i could go for a 4 year course, which is 3 years study, and a 1 year JOB PLACEMENT.

 

i have been advised, by various unis, to go for the 4 year option. for some good reasons too...

1) REAL, hands on approach - not just reading books

2) PAY, you can get paid, while learning, with which ever firm your placement is with

3) most are offered a full job, after graduation, wherever the placement was.

4) and even if they don't keep you, you have experience, which is handy lol

5) one lecturer also commented on, with a placement, how people go as "kids" and come back as "adults" - basically, being in a job, makes you GROW UP!

 

john: i will have a good look into Microsoft MCSE certification and Cisco CCNA qualifications, and ask uni lectures about it - as everyone I've spoken to yet, have had a job in the computing/business industry.

 

as for the best years of my life - it could be. its just when you've been at school for 14 years, you get sick of the same type thing - and same goes for you who are working. people get fed up of things.

 

it basically feels as though I've been in education for all my life, and if i go uni, its another 3 years. just seems endless.

 

but that view is shared by every other 18 year old i speak to - although uni is supposed to be 'different' :ph34r:

 

it would be so much easier if i could go through it all, and then start over with the 'knowledge' lol

 

thanks

 

MJR

[Guest MATT]

thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated.

 

MATT

[_dg]

I was reading an IT article today, and the author believes that there will be a big boon in VoIP use as more small and larger busineses install systems to use broadband instead of the traditional phone lines.

 

There are implications for security and correct implementation of this new technology. The author suggested that there is big money to be earned if you get trained up in VoIP networking.

[Guest Cepheus]

VoIP will be starting to filter into the mainstream business applications of telephony and data within the next 2 years for cable companies, but BT won't have finished their 21st Century fibre network upgrade until 2010 so that's when it's going to take off big time.

 

I work for Telewest as a Network Service Controller and have seen the capabilities of VoIP and MoIP and the future looks good! With all transmission being packet switched over an IP backbone, there will be a lot more work for IT/IP trained people so would be a good way to go and the right time to get in at the start of new technology.

 

Try having a look at BT's recruitment website as they have some good opportunities for Grad/Post Grad and Apprenticeship schemes.

[Bigjeeze]

VoIP will be starting to filter into the mainstream business applications of telephony and data within the next 2 years for cable companies, but BT won't have finished their 21st Century fibre network upgrade until 2010 so that's when it's going to take off big time.

 

I work for Telewest as a Network Service Controller and have seen the capabilities of VoIP and MoIP and the future looks good! With all transmission being packet switched over an IP backbone, there will be a lot more work for IT/IP trained people so would be a good way to go and the right time to get in at the start of new technology.

 

Try having a look at BT's recruitment website as they have some good opportunities for Grad/Post Grad and Apprenticeship schemes.

 

I work for BT and Cepheus is absolutely right - But, just one word of advice , BT is now very choosy ( Don't know how I managed it!!) and will only take graduates with Ist's - there is just too much competition out there. BT, as with most large corporates ,runs a Graduate programme - go to BT.com and see if you can find it.

 

Just to add to Cepheus point, I am in sales and now we are spending far more of our time and effort on VOIP and MMVOIP.

 

You may have heard of the 21CN - This BT's new network to replace all existing networks (there are around 7) with a totally IP based network - The projects been running for nearly two years and is costing

[Guest MATT jr]

thanks a million guys!!

 

cant beat inside knowledge!

 

MJR