[Studentrepreneur]

(Original post by Boobies.)
Yes, You're making a mistake, even if you wait a week. This is a massive decision, and you need to experience a good couple of months there before you make up your mind. It might suck, but making the right choice in this is more important than being unhappy for a few months.

Give it till Christmas, at least. Experience lectures, make friends and get involved, and see how you feel after that. You'll probably adapt to it after a while - you haven't even given it a chance yet.

She is weak. Let her fall.

[samma93]

(Original post by hidehidehidehi)
King's College London.

I go Kings! It's a great uni! What course are you doing?

[CookieDoughLove]

Give it a couple of weeks then make your mind up. Its a good opportunity so don't chuck it away on a whim.

[Costalo]

I know exactly how you feel about the travelling, i'm commuting by train too - took me almost 4 hours to get home yesterday despite only being an hour away. And getting up at 5/6am for 9am lectures is annoying but I'm going to stick at it, I think you should too, atleast until Christmas.

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by ejlowe13)
Hi, I'm going to King's College London and living at home in surrey, on a good day a 40 minute journey. It's not ideal, but with the cost of the accommodation ranging between £5000 and almost £8000 i didnt think it was worth me moving out and spending all that money. Plus, living within the m25 i have not been offered accommodation anyway and am on a waiting list. I haven't started actual lectures yet, and I understand how you feel - I feel like doing more studying is the last thing I want to do. But I am making the effort and have gone to the Live at Home Network event where there were literally loads of people who are commuting from various places. Also went to the welcome party with a vague friend from high school which turned out to be pretty good! I do feel like im missing out on going out and socialising but at the end of the day university is to gain a qualification and to better yourself academically and so missing out on a few nights out doesn't bother me hugely. I do worry about not making friends and feel slightly jealous with my friends posting photos of them and their new halls friends on facebook, but its something i know i have to deal with. I'm fine with the commute and staying at home, but i think live at home students are often made to feel abnormal and weird for staying at home. You and I go to one of the top universities in the country and worldwide and should be grateful for that! The King's Live at Home Student Network organises events and pre-drinks events to nights out, so going out and meeting new people isn't difficult. If you ever want to meet up with me or other live at home-rs then drop me a message! I have friends who haven't gone to uni and I think it is sad that nowadays they're almost looked upon as strange for not going! Plus, my sister goes to uni in Epsom, Surrey with someone who commutes from the Isle of Wight! Beat that commute! hope you start to feel better, sorry I rambled for so long

I had wanted to go to the Live at Home Network events but ended up missing both of them, I'm gutted that it was worthwhile! I had a feeling it would be I know this sounds silly but I know literally no one at King's, I'm scared to go to things on my own! But I'm gonna make the effort. I feel a bit jealous about those things too! But I knew when I made the decision to commute that I wouldn't have the greatest social experience and make loads of friends, and I don't regret that. I would like that a lot, thanks for the offer I almost envy the people I know who haven't gone to uni because part of me wants to start making my way in employment, but I see now that university isn't an opportunity I should just throw away. Really? Wow that is some commute. Thank you

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by angryvivo)
holy sh!t i just googled it! it must take you atleast 2 hours to get to uni! if i were you, if you really like the course/kcl just move to London. it will be so much better.

Yeah it averages at about 2 hours each way... it's not brilliant :P the thing is, when I applied, I thought that the life that would make me happy would be one where I had an amazing job with an amazing wage and the only way I was gonna get that was to go to the best university I physically could. But I knew I didn't want to leave home, and in theory London is commutable. So that's why I applied to KCL, it was the best uni I could get into and still live at home. And the course, I mean War Studies sounds brilliant but I chose it because it was the closest thing to International Relations (at the time, then I realised King's was doing an International Politics course... but I still want WS) Now I realise that actually, I don't care what university I go to, I don't care if I don't get some spectacular job with a spectacular wage. THIS is why I'm having second thoughts about the whole thing. However, I know for sure I'm not gonna move to London.

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by Cloven Angel)
They like giving stupid timetables for my course too ... for last year monday was from 9:00 - 18:30 with an hour for lunch ... and while you can probably expect similar hours to that everyday from working .. it's still pretty hard sitting there listening to lecturers drone on for that many hours in one day.

The only thing i might add is: you say you dread thinking what it would be like suffering through several years of university, well without a degree you might end up suffering for many more years than that through being stuck in dead-end jobs... except you'll also feel more trapped

It looks like it will be possible for me to get a better timetable... in theory... so I'm gonna try and sort that next week. People keep saying to me 'it'll be like that when you've got a job' but my response to that is that if I was doing it for a job I'd be getting paid, for this I'm paying for it... and that's why I'm not keen on it.

While that is true, it's fair to say I have become quite cynical about uni recently, so I'm looking at it like, I might end up in a dead-end job with a degree as much as I will without it. But thank you anyway.

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by Johnny Luk)
You might as well go to the lectures first and give it a chance. Sometimes you feel your missing out because your at home, but that isn't always the case. The long commute sucks but if your reason for not going to University because you can't be bothered to go early in the morning, then thats a effort that you will regret in the future.

Put it this way, your framing Uni as a bad experience, keep a open mind, join some societies and at least stick it out for a little bit longer, its easy to make rash decisions quickly, its a big change and it feels uncomfortable. The fact that it is uncomfortable means your pushing your boundaries and your developing as a person. Don't fall on the first hurdle!

I'm really keen to do my course so I am gonna give it a go. I might be able to get a better timetable, it's not that I'm complaining about 9am lectures per se, just that getting up at 5am is gonna be killer. That's definitely not gonna be the reason I do drop out though, it'll be deeper than that I assure you!

Thank you very much for your advice!

[Cicerao]

(Original post by hidehidehidehi)
I know this sounds silly but I know literally no one at King's

What I tend to tell people is that you have friends, right? You made friends in school, in 6th form or college. So why is this different? Nobody made those friends for you except you. You went in on that first day of school not knowing anybody, figured everything out and managed to make friends. So if the young, child you could make those friends, how much more can the young adult you do the same?

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by LStudent)
why don't you take a year off and see how you feel after that? Sometimes going straight from A-level to University can seem like you're never going to get away from school. Leave the money that you would pay for school aside and don't touch it. After a year (or two) you might decide you're now ready to go.

This isn't a bad idea, however what with the fee rises and the fact that I successfully got a place on a competitive course at a relatively good university, I would like to stick it out this year if possible. Which is why I applied this year in the first place (originally I wanted to take a year out). I do feel like that though, stifled by the education system. Thanks for the advice

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by samma93)
I go Kings! It's a great uni! What course are you doing?

War Studies you?

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by Costalo)
I know exactly how you feel about the travelling, i'm commuting by train too - took me almost 4 hours to get home yesterday despite only being an hour away. And getting up at 5/6am for 9am lectures is annoying but I'm going to stick at it, I think you should too, atleast until Christmas.

I'm glad you understand, I actually like commuting but I think a lot of the time the thing that makes me feel a little down about it is feeling like a minority. So finding people who also commute is nice that is awful! I haven't had any bad experiences... yet. I am definitely going to try, thanks for the advice and good luck to you

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by Cicerao)
What I tend to tell people is that you have friends, right? You made friends in school, in 6th form or college. So why is this different? Nobody made those friends for you except you. You went in on that first day of school not knowing anybody, figured everything out and managed to make friends. So if the young, child you could make those friends, how much more can the young adult you do the same?

I know that makes perfect sense, but I do feel like living 2 hours away is a serious barrier. But I'm also not overly bothered about not making loads of friends, I'd be living in halls if I was... but it would be nice to know a few people! Thanks for this though

[amy.lse]

(Original post by hidehidehidehi)
People keep saying to me 'it'll be like that when you've got a job' but my response to that is that if I was doing it for a job I'd be getting paid, for this I'm paying for it... and that's why I'm not keen on it.

While that is true, it's fair to say I have become quite cynical about uni recently, so I'm looking at it like, I might end up in a dead-end job with a degree as much as I will without it. But thank you anyway.

It sounds like you're taking a very short-term view of things. Yes, you are paying to go to university rather than being paid, but people pay so much for it because of the massive long-term benefits of having a degree, financial and otherwise. I've had two jobs since graduating from my undergrad and neither would have been possible without the degree. One of those jobs was honestly, genuinely a pretty bog-standard office job with below average pay, but I still needed the degree.

The job market is so, so tough out there right now whether you have a degree or not, BUT having a degree will still set you apart and widen the opportunities open to you. Plus, when the economy (hopefully!) picks up again, you'll be in a great position to take full advantage of your qualifications.

I know you've said you don't want a spectacular wage or career now, but having worked for a little while I can say that it gets old really quickly. If you don't give all the opportunities open to you a fair shot, you might find that one day, after a few years in work, you might just regret it.

University isn't for everyone, and you might not like it. But you've worked so hard to get to where you are, it would be a shame to throw it away after a few weeks because you were tired, weren't being paid or might end up in a dead-end job one day. I suppose all I'm saying is, before you decide to leave, take a realistic long-term view of the situation and at least do a few months of studying to see how you really feel.

Also, out of interest, when you say that you don't want to move away and stay at home - do you mean ever? Or just for now? Because realistically, you'll surely have to move out at some point? Why not now?

[xconfetti]

Personally, I'd give it at least until December. Dropping out now, you'd probably look back in a few weeks or months and wonder what your life would be like if you'd stayed at uni. If you drop out before you've even done lectures, you will never know what you were potentially missing. It's really important to know 100% what you've gotten yourself into before you let it go, otherwise you'll always be left wondering, and you can't make a completely informed decision until you've given yourself at least a month or two to get used to university. I'm betting everyone finds the first couple of weeks a bit difficult, because it's something completely new. Give yourself time to get used to it, for it to become your "norm", before you decide.

Good luck

[Mattus]

(Original post by hidehidehidehi)
While that is true, it's fair to say I have become quite cynical about uni recently, so I'm looking at it like, I might end up in a dead-end job with a degree as much as I will without it. But thank you anyway.

That's just not true. Your degree might be of little value in the job market if you studied a poorly-regarded course at a poor university. But you have a place at a top-20 institution, on a course which will help you gain many skills valued by graduate employers.

If you do well in your degree at King's, you could feasibly apply for an enormous range of graduate jobs. Without a degree, your ability to gain a "good" job will be severely restricted. I'm not just talking about "spectacular jobs with spectacular wages". It isn't just law or accountancy or banking which require you to have a good degree. It's almost everything which will put your mind to good use and ensure you gain the benefits your ability deserves. That's the nature of the modern job market.

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by amy.lse)
It sounds like you're taking a very short-term view of things. Yes, you are paying to go to university rather than being paid, but people pay so much for it because of the massive long-term benefits of having a degree, financial and otherwise. I've had two jobs since graduating from my undergrad and neither would have been possible without the degree. One of those jobs was honestly, genuinely a pretty bog-standard office job with below average pay, but I still needed the degree.

The job market is so, so tough out there right now whether you have a degree or not, BUT having a degree will still set you apart and widen the opportunities open to you. Plus, when the economy (hopefully!) picks up again, you'll be in a great position to take full advantage of your qualifications.

I know you've said you don't want a spectacular wage or career now, but having worked for a little while I can say that it gets old really quickly. If you don't give all the opportunities open to you a fair shot, you might find that one day, after a few years in work, you might just regret it.

University isn't for everyone, and you might not like it. But you've worked so hard to get to where you are, it would be a shame to throw it away after a few weeks because you were tired, weren't being paid or might end up in a dead-end job one day. I suppose all I'm saying is, before you decide to leave, take a realistic long-term view of the situation and at least do a few months of studying to see how you really feel.

Also, out of interest, when you say that you don't want to move away and stay at home - do you mean ever? Or just for now? Because realistically, you'll surely have to move out at some point? Why not now?

Thanks for your advice and take on things. Yeah, I am going to give university a go. And no, I don't mean I'm never going to move away from home haha. I mean right now in my life, and really right now. I might look for private accom. in London next year when the others making the transition from first year to second year do. But it's not something I want to do at the moment

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by xconfetti)
Personally, I'd give it at least until December. Dropping out now, you'd probably look back in a few weeks or months and wonder what your life would be like if you'd stayed at uni. If you drop out before you've even done lectures, you will never know what you were potentially missing. It's really important to know 100% what you've gotten yourself into before you let it go, otherwise you'll always be left wondering, and you can't make a completely informed decision until you've given yourself at least a month or two to get used to university. I'm betting everyone finds the first couple of weeks a bit difficult, because it's something completely new. Give yourself time to get used to it, for it to become your "norm", before you decide.

Good luck

Thank you

[hidehidehidehi]

(Original post by Mattus)
That's just not true. Your degree might be of little value in the job market if you studied a poorly-regarded course at a poor university. But you have a place at a top-20 institution, on a course which will help you gain many skills valued by graduate employers.

If you do well in your degree at King's, you could feasibly apply for an enormous range of graduate jobs. Without a degree, your ability to gain a "good" job will be severely restricted. I'm not just talking about "spectacular jobs with spectacular wages". It isn't just law or accountancy or banking which require you to have a good degree. It's almost everything which will put your mind to good use and ensure you gain the benefits your ability deserves. That's the nature of the modern job market.

Okay, thank you, I'll bear this in mind

[TheSownRose]

hidehidehidehi: Only you know how you feel about it. It's very easy for people to say "Go and give it a try", but they're not the ones getting up at 5.30am for a course they're not entirely sure they want to do. I used to get up at 6am to get in for a 9am lecture (new bus service is more reliable, so now I can actually catch a bus closer to 8am instead of having to get one at about 7.15am ) ... but I like my course, so it was worth it. If I didn't, I can't imagine how awful it would have been.

If you're unsure, then try it because it's easy to drop out, but hard to get back. However, if you're sure and it's only other people making you doubtful, then trust yourself.