[slhunte3]

How does it feel taking the plunge and leaving your FT job?

I've been offered a place on a Graphic Design degree - my dream - but I need to be confident to hand in my notice and know that I'll find a way to support myself.

I keep telling myself that it will work out and if I don't do it now I never will but I wondered what other people's experiences of quitting work to be a student were like?

Thanks

[Roodie]

It's scary at first, and I won't lie - it has been bloody awful financially. But leaving work to study was the best decision I ever made!

You could either look back in three or four years time and say to yourself "I wish I had done it" or just do it and then in years time say to yourself you were so glad you made the leap.

Good luck xx

[slhunte3]

(Original post by Roodie)
You could either look back in three or four years time and say to yourself "I wish I had done it" or just do it and then in years time say to yourself you were so glad you made the leap.

That’s probably some of the best advice I’ve heard…thanks

[adsyrah]

I'm in the process of it all now - leaving my job in IT in 4 weeks to start studying medicine.

I'm scared ****less! The main worry for me is that I may be making a massive mistake packing in my career. BUT I keep reminding myself that I'll never know it's a mistake unless I take the plunge. Better to know than regret never trying.

Life's for living and you make of it what you will. I'd much rather be on my deathbed having no regrets than knowing I've not had the guts to really go after what I really want!

[slhunte3]

(Original post by adsyrah)
Life's for living and you make of it what you will. I'd much rather be on my deathbed having no regrets than knowing I've not had the guts to really go after what I really want!

I should rename this thread the excellent motivational advice thread

[flown_muse]

Is it possible for you to go down to part-time? That's what I did, and it was great!

[steve83]

I am leaving the RAF this year to start uni in September, i cant wait.

[thewaythingsare]

I left my well-paying full-time job last summer to move down to London to do a Masters and a part-time job that paid half my previous salary. It's been difficult at times financially, but you just need to keep reminding yourself why you're doing it and that it's not going to be forever. Now that I'm finishing up my Masters I'm already seeing how doing a postgraduate course is opening up doors for me (most likely because I also have relevant work experience in this area), so it's definitely worth it. I also know that if I hadn't done it I would absolutely regret it in the future!

[mike101]

I'm leaving a well paid job too, I'm lucky to be in such a job at age 22, most people in my work don't get here until they are much older but I dropped lucky 4 years ago after sixth form and got a sort of apprenticeship here.

I still haven't told them, it won't be easy news to break and that's scaring me the most at the moment. As soon as my place at uni is confirmed (any day now) I'll have to hand in my notice to leave at the end of August.

I'm hoping this will open up more opportunities for me, and steer my career into the direction I want it to be in (technical, software side).

[ashtoreth]

like most have said, scary at first, but then u adjust to the poverty (lol) and u find it exhilarating to realise ur brain is capable of processing info and soon, the poverty (almost) doesn't matter.

too many ppl sitting goin 'i wish/if only' - if u are considering FE then just go for it. doubt sincerely u will regret it.

[Soule]

(Original post by slhunte3)
How does it feel taking the plunge and leaving your FT job?

I've been offered a place on a Graphic Design degree - my dream - but I need to be confident to hand in my notice and know that I'll find a way to support myself.

I keep telling myself that it will work out and if I don't do it now I never will but I wondered what other people's experiences of quitting work to be a student were like?

Thanks

Your lifestyle changes, you don't have the same money as you did before, and it's a juggling act sometimes on the financial front,but that said the short term loss is well worth the long term gain. I don't necessarily mean financial gain, more importantly, it's the self development and the individual journey that out weighs everything else.

To study and do something you love, is worth any sacrifice, I would recommend it. The amount of people I have had say to me, I wish I could do that, made me realise that we all settle for things, and that I will not be the person that watches from the side lines, but instead grab opportunities, to build a life I am happy with.

Go for it, as long as you can feed and house yourself, what do you have to lose?

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my LT15i

[Wild Horses]

Quiting my job in a years time and i'm not scared ha ha lol...it's good paying but don't want to be doing that sort of thing for the rest of my life for many reasons. I'm currently saving like crazy to support me etc when i'm done with it

It's just about making the right decission, so the choice is urs good luck!

[Ally Kat]

I've just quit my job as a teacher (was a scary decision to make but I'm excited for the future now). 2 years in and I realised that it wasn't the career for me. I'm now hoping to apply to start a nursing degree next year, something I should had done in the first place...

[cooto]

I went from a FT chef to a PT chef while back at college, handed my notice in last week leaving at the end of august. Been there 6 years so going to be a big change but its not the career i want.

[brogfrog]

I'm 27 and i've left my FT job to return to education. I'm pretty nervous but feel it's the right decision for me. Baked beans on toast here I come! ha.

[Himynameskiefer]

As flown_muse stated; is it not possible to see if they offer that course part-time on evenings and nights? I'm wanting to go to University after my apprenticeship, but if I get offered the job full-time then I'd take it for financial reasons and I can study what I want to study part-time. However, failing getting the job full-time, I can easily just go to University to study what I want to study full-time.

I'd recommend saving as much as you can before quitting, though - as it will obviously be extremely helpful for the future. I've been debating Postgraduate study, so studying part-time with a full-time income for a few years will make that a lot easier (plus the more experience in general is always better on your CV).

Essentially, it's just what you'd prefer to do. If you want to study full-time and gain the University experience then go for it, if that's what you want to do - enjoy yourself!

I hope I've helped in anyway .

[mike101]

I need to hand in my notice tomorrow, will have to be via email as my Boss is away and has to be dated July so I can leave at the end of August.

Epic nervous, anyone done it recently?

[cid]

Well in 3 minutes i will receive my last payment from my FT job, its only 10 days pay since i finished on the 10th of this month, little nerve wracking, but I've got the equivalent of 4 months pay saved up, i started planning this last year so had plenty of time to prepare. To be honest its been less than a month and i miss it already.

[brogfrog]

I finished my FT job two weeks ago. Just got myself a part time, weekend night job! Luckily I had saved enough money to tide me over for a while, i'm grateful I found this PT job so quick. I wonder, for those that are returning to college to do the Access Course for eg, are you planning to work PT also? How many hours are you all planning on working alongside the course? Just hope I won't be trying to take on too much!

[heavenlyphoto]

yeah im just about to jack my job in, ive been there 16 months but im so bored of it. Im going to be studying a access to he diploma in art at south worcester college malvern, and hope to study architecture after that. Im a bit nervous because i know me leaving is going to cause a riot! Thing is when i took the job i was promised loads of training, and have recieved none. So this is what im going to do. Finance wise at the moment i work 37.5 hours in my first job and i also work the weekends in mc ds, i rent with my gf( whos a vet nursing student!) our flat is 395pcm we pay half each, and ive managed to save 1200 quid to cover half my rent, i only need to find roughly 300pcm to get by. Ive had to sacrifice alot to do this course, got rid of car living off supernoodles etc, i think it will be worth it i cant wait to start, its so exciting!!!!!