[Kaylaleigh]

Right, well I've applied to UEA to do Modern Languages (French). Languages are the one subject which just makes sense to me - I get them. I also enjoy them, I always loved French at school and especially at A-level.

Now I'm not so sure I want to go. I have no idea what I want to do with my degree - I don't want to be a teacher, translator or any other stereo typical job Language graduates do.

At the moment I work at Tesco and to be honest I enjoy it very much, I work on the twilight team so the store is closed half the time we're there so there is good banter and friendships going on. And to be honest, I'm quite happy there, the pay is decent for what the job is (especialy working late shifts) and I'm due a pay rise in 4 months. And moreover, even with just decent A-levels there is room for promotion and training etc, which would lead to more pay eventually. I also have another job in a cafe with decent money too, so money wise I would do ok if I was pushed out into the big bad world now.

I think the thing is though, come september all I would see on facebook and hear about isall of my friends' experiences at university, what a great time they're having, all the things they're getting up to etc, and then there'll be me just here thinking that should be me. Even if I just took a year out, I would feel the same.

I don't know what to do. I kind of want to wait and hold on til results day before I make a brash decision, I have no insurance, so it's UEA or bust for me. Maybe I just need a year out, I just feel done with education. If I did hold on, got the grades to get in etc, am I likely to get a deferred place if I asked? Or am I just better off asking UEA to release me now and re-applying next year if I change my mind and want to go?

[lolazee]

It might be best to take a gap year to
make up your mind before you regret going university, my brother has just finished his first year (he failed) and has just told my parents he never wanted to go uni in the first place and he feels lonely, and its a living hell. So that was a year wasted


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Clayman]

Don't go. It's not worth the time or money.

One of my friends did French at Exeter and it didn't get him anywhere - he's doing the same things he would've done had he not gone to university at all. Haven't asked him about it but I imagine he regrets it.

(Original post by Kaylaleigh)
I think the thing is though, come september all I would see on facebook and hear about isall of my friends' experiences at university, what a great time they're having, all the things they're getting up to etc,

People like to put on a show for Facebook. Facebook allows people to appear however they want to other people. Chances are it isn't even half as great as they say it is.

[Jack93o]

Think of it this way, you can always work, like you've got your whole life to do it. But with education, the whole university experience and everything, well, you've only really got up to your mid twenties-ish to do it, because you'll probably want to start a family in your life and before you know it, you'll be bogged down by responsibilities and the realities of a workng adult life.

I know you can always go to university as a 30 something year old mature student, but it won't feel the same now will it?

In life, you tend to regret the things you don't do.

[Rancorous]

(Original post by Clayman)
Don't go. It's not worth the time or money.

One of my friends did French at Exeter and it didn't get him anywhere - he's doing the same things he would've done had he not gone to university at all. Haven't asked him about it but I imagine he regrets it.


People like to put on a show for Facebook. Facebook allows people to appear however they want to other people. Chances are it isn't even half as great as they say it is.

Yup, agree with this post to an extent, especially the facebook point.

I don't think French limits you to the language actually; it demonstrates you have a number of transferable skills which are useful for employers.

However, I know very successful people who didn't go to university earning over 50k in their mid twenties, although they do work for banks.

I don't know the career growth in place at Tesco's, but if it's as good as you suggest perhaps you should wait four months. You can make 100k+ managing a Tescos store, I believe.

University 'experience' regardless is very overrated.

[Joinedup]

No harm in putting it off. Imo it can be pretty demotivating at uni if you don't know what you're there for. If you're demotivated you're likely to perform poorly and burn the funding that you could perhaps use better later.

[Muffinz]

Wait until results day. You can pull out at any time, so use the next month to think about it. If you're still not sure about going, ask UEA to defer you a year. If you don't fancy going there, you can still cancel it and apply elsewhere. Take the year out.

[M1011]

(Original post by Clayman)
Don't go. It's not worth the time or money.

One of my friends did French at Exeter and it didn't get him anywhere - he's doing the same things he would've done had he not gone to university at all. Haven't asked him about it but I imagine he regrets it.


People like to put on a show for Facebook. Facebook allows people to appear however they want to other people. Chances are it isn't even half as great as they say it is.

(Original post by Rancorous)
Yup, agree with this post to an extent, especially the facebook point.

I don't think French limits you to the language actually; it demonstrates you have a number of transferable skills which are useful for employers.

However, I know very successful people who didn't go to university earning over 50k in their mid twenties, although they do work for banks.

I don't know the career growth in place at Tesco's, but if it's as good as you suggest perhaps you should wait four months. You can make 100k+ managing a Tescos store, I believe.

University 'experience' regardless is very overrated.

Kindly stop quoting a couple of people as proof that university isn't worthwhile. Graduates earn more long term on average, this is well known. It sounds like the OP isn't very money driven however, so this may not be a big factor for them.

[Clayman]

(Original post by M1011)
Kindly stop quoting a couple of people as proof that university isn't worthwhile. Graduates earn more long term on average, this is well known. It sounds like the OP isn't very money driven however, so this may not be a big factor for them.

What? I'm talking about French specifically - not university in general. He also told me all of his coursemates are in the same position as him - some strugging to find any kind of job.

You're very naive if you think any degree subject will automatically get you somewhere. All graduates averaged out do undoubtedly earn more, but it's the ones studying subjects in demand that push those averages up.

[Rancorous]

(Original post by M1011)
Kindly stop quoting a couple of people as proof that university isn't worthwhile. Graduates earn more long term on average, this is well known. It sounds like the OP isn't very money driven however, so this may not be a big factor for them.

Well, that's a logical thing for people who have reached maturity to do; it's anecdotal evidence. I can tell you that a great deal of professionals are not limited because of the lack of a university background; relevant work experience always will be more important than a university examination in the real world. Obviously if you want a career as a lawyer or doctor you need university; but if you want to work in sales, recruitment, advertising or retail - just for example - if you work for the right companies with the right growth potential, then you might have a bright future.

Actually the statistics are a bit fudged on graduates earning more the in long term. Very few people used to go to university, and the statistics in terms of non graduates are very broad including everybody from hairdressers to florists. They also took into account no university debt to speak of. If you take into account the £27k debt in fees, plus £25k+ debt in terms of food and accommodation, I greatly doubt these statistics. You've also got a high interest rate on these loans now too.

[M1011]

(Original post by Clayman)
What? I'm talking about French specifically - not university in general. He also told me all of his coursemates are in the same position as him - some strugging to find any kind of job.

You're very naive if you think any degree subject will automatically get you somewhere. All graduates averaged out do undoubtedly earn more, but it's the ones studying subjects in demand that push those averages up.

Languages are in demand in business, or so I'm led to believe. Personally I wouldn't do one, but there you go. I can't back this up with stats, maybe you're right about French.

Oh and I assure you I'm well aware a degree gets you nowhere on its own, but then that wasn't the question was it?

I like you though, more then this next guy, this next guy is gonna get a talking to.

(Original post by Rancorous)
Well, that's a logical thing for people who have reached maturity to do; it's anecdotal evidence. I can tell you that a great deal of professionals are not limited because of the lack of a university background; relevant work experience always will be more important than a university examination in the real world. Obviously if you want a career as a lawyer or doctor you need university; but if you want to work in sales, recruitment, advertising or retail - just for example - if you work for the right companies with the right growth potential, then you might have a bright future.

Actually the statistics are a bit fudged on graduates earning more the in long term. Very few people used to go to university, and the statistics in terms of non graduates are very broad including everybody from hairdressers to florists. They also took into account no university debt to speak of. If you take into account the £27k debt in fees, plus £25k+ debt in terms of food and accommodation, I greatly doubt these statistics. You've also got a high interest rate on these loans now too.

No the logical thing would be to look at the bigger picture and not base your conclusions around a very small sample size. Conceptualising all over your face FOOL. OK I went to far, sorry about that, I was having a hissy fit

Graduates can get work experience to you know. In fact any graduate that doesn't get work experience isn't worthy of a job in my humble opinion. Nobody is saying people can't succeed without a degree, I'm just saying it clearly helps. Fast track graduate schemes are boss.

[Rancorous]

(Original post by M1011)
Languages are in demand in business, or so I'm led to believe. Personally I wouldn't do one, but there you go. I can't back this up with stats, maybe you're right about French.

Oh and I assure you I'm well aware a degree gets you nowhere on its own, but then that wasn't the question was it?

I like you though, more then this next guy, this next guy is gonna get a talking to.



No the logical thing would be to look at the bigger picture and not base your conclusions around a very small sample size. Conceptualising all over your face FOOL. OK I went to far, sorry about that, I was having a hissy fit

Graduates can get work experience to you know. In fact any graduate that doesn't get work experience isn't worthy of a job in my humble opinion. Nobody is saying people can't succeed without a degree, I'm just saying it clearly helps. Fast track graduate schemes are boss.

No, anecdotal evidence is fine. It is been pointed out to you by myself and another poster that you cannot possibly know the relevant statistics, i.e. all degrees are not some degrees and some non graduates and not all non graduates. You can't seem to digest this point no matter how many times it is explained to you.

You also don't seem to appreciate that graduates will be 60k+ in debt after leaving university given all the hidden costs involved, no amount of work experience will change that because a) university is a full time job if you want to do well b) most work experience is unpaid/very low wages for short periods of time around study or just for a few weeks chicken feed during the summer holidays.

[M1011]

(Original post by Rancorous)
No, anecdotal evidence is fine. It is been pointed out to you by myself and another poster that you cannot possibly know the relevant statistics, i.e. all degrees are not some degrees and some non graduates and not all non graduates. You can't seem to digest this point no matter how many times it is explained to you.

You also don't seem to appreciate that graduates will be 60k+ in debt after leaving university given all the hidden costs involved, no amount of work experience will change that because a) university is a full time job if you want to do well b) most work experience is unpaid/very low wages for short periods of time around study or just for a few weeks chicken feed during the summer holidays.

Oh dear. Two whole people. *Shudders*

Moving on, you mean to tell me you don't think averages can be applied to this situation? If it helps, more then half of people doing this course at UEA end up in graduate level employment within 6 months. That figure rises to 95% if you include those doing further study (I presume teaching related for the most part). Make of those figures what you will, but I'd personally take those odds if it means moving up from the world of minimum wage retail work. I've been there and I don't want to go back, but that's just me. Can't exactly take my experience and use it to generalise for everyone now can I, that would be preposterous!

Oh yea damn, you got me, those hidden costs nobody knows about, thanks for reminding us of those. Loans are basically a graduate tax right? Unless you earn enough you don't even pay it. If you use your degree to get a decent career, then is that not worth paying a small portion of what you're earning over 15k for? Of course OP might not be the right kind of person to make use of these opportunities, I have no way to know, but to write it off as an option because you know some people that have done well without one is just silly! Incidentally, those 50k figures you're quoting for your mid 20s friends in banking, those are starting salaries near enough for 21 year old graduates in banking (not that I am one, but 45k is a common figure in that industry in year 1 + bonus on top, rises very quickly). Just saying, that's basically the same as saying you know friends in retail stores in their mid 25s earning 25k. It's a stupidly competitive industry that pays well over the odds due to 80 hour weeks

Oh and in answer to your two points;

A) No it isn't. If you're smart you'll sail through. University is nothing like a full time job. Party time brah.
B) Or you do a placement year in industry and become infinitely more employable when you graduate (while earning a decent amount, 15k roughly average).

[littleone271]

(Original post by M1011)
Conceptualising all over your face FOOL.

Sorry but that has to be one of the greatest sentences I've ever read on this site

[littleone271]

(Original post by Rancorous)
No, anecdotal evidence is fine. It is been pointed out to you by myself and another poster that you cannot possibly know the relevant statistics, i.e. all degrees are not some degrees and some non graduates and not all non graduates. You can't seem to digest this point no matter how many times it is explained to you.

You also don't seem to appreciate that graduates will be 60k+ in debt after leaving university given all the hidden costs involved, no amount of work experience will change that because a) university is a full time job if you want to do well b) most work experience is unpaid/very low wages for short periods of time around study or just for a few weeks chicken feed during the summer holidays.

Oh don't be such a killjoy! It's not proper debt.. It's more like a graduate tax.. Thats what the money supermarket man says anyway and he seems to know his stuff... You only live once and if she never earns a decent amount of money then she'll never have to pay a substantial amount back.. Ok it's not ideal on a larger scale but I think everyone relying on the SLC has weighed this up before deciding to go. Anyway it's uni, she's not selling her soul to the devil.
In the worst possible case scenario if she gets there, hates the lifestyle and has no interest in being there then she can go home. Nobody will physically force her to stay.

OP - You don't really need to go to uni to learn a language unless you want to teach it or be a translator I don't think. So if you really don't think you want to go to uni and you're just worried about being sat at home jealous of your friends when they go then why don't you go to work in france or another french speaking country like Canada or Tunisia? That way you'd use French and eventually become fluent in it. You could earn good money perhaps in an airport or tourist information bureau etc. Uni is meant to be a great experience and many people choose to go for reasons other than academic/career progression but if you really don't feel like it's for you then don't go but make sure you do something good to replace those years otherwise you probably will regret not going.

[Rancorous]

(Original post by M1011)
Moving on, you mean to tell me you don't think averages can be applied to this situation?

As I said, it's been explained to you but you either can't be bothered to read it or you don't have the reading comprehension to digest it. A hairdresser and a project manager at a bank are two very different jobs which non graduates can get and pay very different wages. Likewise, IB pays substantially more than a media planner who will start on 18k - both of which are jobs taken by graduates.

If it helps, more then half of people doing this course at UEA end up in graduate level employment within 6 months. That figure rises to 95% if you include those doing further study (I presume teaching related for the most part).

You're sticking your fingers in your ears. I'm not sure if you're incapable of understanding 'graduate' does not mean highly salaried. There is a distinction between different graduate jobs.

Oh yea damn, you got me, those hidden costs nobody knows about, thanks for reminding us of those.

I was reminding you of the interest rate, which I didn't have to pay. For me, it was adjusted for inflation. New graduates will have to pay thousands more than they borrow.

Loans are basically a graduate tax right? Unless you earn enough you don't even pay it. If you use your degree to get a decent career, then is that not worth paying a small portion of what you're earning over 15k for? Of course OP might not be the right kind of person to make use of these opportunities, I have no way to know, but to write it off as an option because you know some people that have done well without one is just silly!

That's the government line. The average salary and the vast majority of people in the UK earn over 21k; and those statistics include those in their 20s. A graduate is going to find it hard to go through life - through their 30s and 40s and not earn over 21k. The con is the longer you take to pay the loans back, the more you'll have to pay because of the interest rate.

Incidentally, those 50k figures you're quoting for your mid 20s friends in banking, those are starting salaries near enough for 21 year old graduates in banking (not that I am one, but 45k is a common figure in that industry in year 1 + bonus on top, rises very quickly).

What an idiotic thing to say. These jobs go to a tiny minority of top graduates. For that reason, you won't be one of them of course.

Just saying, that's basically the same as saying you know friends in retail stores in their mid 25s earning 25k. It's a stupidly competitive industry that pays well over the odds due to 80 hour weeks

No, it's not. There are management opportunities and growth opportunities in place. There are a lot of dead end retail jobs, but there are also opportunities at other companies which value retail experience which will offer management opportunities.

Oh and in answer to your two points;

A) No it isn't. If you're smart you'll sail through. University is nothing like a full time job. Party time brah.
B) Or you do a placement year in industry and become infinitely more employable when you graduate (while earning a decent amount, 15k roughly average).

That's not true if you do a hard course at a good university, and you want to do well. You have to work 40 hours a week minimum.

Yes, placement years in industry are valuable if it's relevant. But that's not open to the vast majority of graduates at the vast majority of universities.

[Rancorous]

(Original post by littleone271)
Oh don't be such a killjoy! It's not proper debt.. It's more like a graduate tax.. Thats what the money supermarket man says anyway and he seems to know his stuff... You only live once and if she never earns a decent amount of money then she'll never have to pay a substantial amount back.. Ok it's not ideal on a larger scale but I think everyone relying on the SLC has weighed this up before deciding to go. Anyway it's uni, she's not selling her soul to the devil.
In the worst possible case scenario if she gets there, hates the lifestyle and has no interest in being there then she can go home. Nobody will physically force her to stay.
.

It's 60k+ you owe to other people, and the longer it takes you to pay it back the more you have to pay in interest. I was aware of government promotions to rebrand debt as tax, but I am surprised how gullible students are.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

If you aren't sure, I wouldn't do it.

[Rancorous]

(Original post by littleone271)
Sorry but that has to be one of the greatest sentences I've ever read on this site

And yet it doesn't mean anything nor did it have any relevance to the thread topic or what we were talking about.

[QuirkyDoDo]

(Original post by Clayman)
Don't go. It's not worth the time or money.

One of my friends did French at Exeter and it didn't get him anywhere - he's doing the same things he would've done had he not gone to university at all. Haven't asked him about it but I imagine he regrets it.


People like to put on a show for Facebook. Facebook allows people to appear however they want to other people. Chances are it isn't even half as great as they say it is.

That's very sad and uninspiring for someone like myself who is going to do a degree in which french is part of.