I am aged 20 working full time as an accounts assistant on 14,000 P.A.
I am AAT qualified and have no a levels, due to leaving school and going into employment.
I have now been working almost 4 years.
Upon completion of the AAT my employer stated that they were unwilling to fund additional training (I had asked for CIMA funding), so therefore I looked at my options.
I applied to university and have recently firmed Nottingham Trent to do accountancy and finance (uni choices were limited due to no A levels). I am exempt from the 1st year making it 2 years to complete, 3 years with a year work placement.
I have been saving for the last year, and am on target to save £8000 by September when my course starts. I will also qualify as an independent student which makes me entitled to maximum student finance.
I recently told my employer that I was looking at going to university. They have since come back to me with an offer to try and keep me there. They offered to raise my salary to £16,000 and fund half of CIMA, with the condition that CIMA is done in my own time.
Now I really can’t decide whether I should still go to uni or stay in employment?
I have been looking forward to going to university, mainly due to the social side and due to the fact that you need to have a degree to get a graduate job. After 4 years working full time, I feel that I will thoroughly enjoy it at university and it will be a great experience. I will also have enough money to see me through the 2 years.
I don’t want to regret not having the experience and the opportunity to make new friends. I feel like I missed out on this as I didn’t go college.
My only concern is that I won’t get a graduate job and end up working for less than I earn now, or worse, no job! Hopefully my 4 years work experience, AAT and a degree would help me stand out though!
If I stay at work and study towards CIMA it will be hard work having to work full time on top of all the studying.
Studying for CIMA will be stressful and hard work, however I know I will be happy at uni.
On the plus side I will have my saving of £8000, to spend or put towards a mortgage.
Sorry to ramble on, but I need to make my decision in the next week or so!
Any input and opinions will be appreciated