Dropping out of uni for an apprenticeship?

Hi there,

Many first year students will realise they've made a mistake, drop out of university and decide to do an apprenticeship/school leaver programme instead. You may think of it as a year wasted but it's better to know that now and start making the change than spend more money and come out with a debt for a degree that's not relevant to what you're wanting to do/you didn't need to get.

I'd definitely say have more of a look into apprenticeships from the accountancy firms, try and go to an insight day or contact them directly and see whether they've got any advice for you.

You can look here to find out a bit more about what apprentices at the big accountancy firms say about their decision choice as well as the actual programme and experiences they've had.

These routes are actually fantastic ways to fast-track a career in accountancy or finance and get you to the place of a graduate sometimes faster than a degree would.

Good luck!

Felicity

Hopefully the OP has decided to stick it out. Prospective employers like finishers.

I'm in the same boat, I left university after 2 years wasted/failed, so I have no transferrable credits or none relevant to the industry anyway. I was following might have appeared to be a rewarding degree but it was nothing more of a show off towards my family and they were expecting me to fly through it. I have the regret of ever going to university now but the past can't be changed. Everything was understood by the family when I eventually explained why it didn't feel right.

I've applied for an apprenticeship which I hope will start next week following an interview which I have to be prepared for no matter what, since this is the best chance I have at full-time paid employment, as opposed to the voluntary schemes the jobcentre has referred me to. Otherwise i'm stuck in the same loop as everyone else on the jobseekers allowance and jobsearch, which I have no experience relevant to the industry that I'm interested in.

Contrary to the thread title, I had no choice about leaving university, I would have had to pay the tuition fees out of my own pocket if i'd wanted to continue, thus an apprenticeship would be the only logical choice as the way forward.

They like good, motivated finishers who have experience. Dropping out of university after one year, is early enough not to be judged. Dropping out again afterwards again would be looked upon a bit.

So if the apprenticeship is, what you really want, then do it. As student finance covers four years, you would be still eligible, if you decide to go back to university after the apprenticeship.

Sounds absolutely awful man, especially the part about the dreaded and hated jobcentre, I hate them so much!!

What degree was it by the way?

I have this problem where I want to study forensic/criminal psychology, but I'm scared of how hard it is to even get anywhere near psychology jobs.

I thought about doing engineering, but I'm barely interested in it, and it's harder than most degrees.

It was computer science/software engineering 1st year which was pretty much same units as every other subject in the department of technology. You'd think it might give you insight into more of the IT sector but I suppose I didn't see it in the same light as other people do.

I don't regret failing (as I didn't do my best) because I lacked motivation as I was the first in my family to go to university so that added some pressure, but also as I did so well in college I became so ignorant that I pretended to know everything about the subject, it took its toll in the end.

I wish I had done a foundation degree or an HNC/HND just to get a taste of what it might be like but I favoured the prospect of living in halls because I wanted that independence and a degree that lasts for 3/4 years would be ideal in that respect.

I have since abandoned the hope of getting an apprenticeship because most have denied my applications due to age and a 3 year gap where I pretty much made no progress in terms of education or jobs (essentially a waste of 3 years which doesn't look good on the CV).

It was computer science/software engineering 1st year which was pretty much same units as every other subject in the department of technology. You'd think it might give you insight into more of the IT sector but I suppose I didn't see it in the same light as other people do.

I don't regret failing (as I didn't do my best) because I lacked motivation as I was the first in my family to go to university so that added some pressure, but also as I did so well in college I became so ignorant that I pretended to know everything about the subject, it took its toll in the end.

I wish I had done a foundation degree or an HNC/HND just to get a taste of what it might be like but I favoured the prospect of living in halls because I wanted that independence and a degree that lasts for 3/4 years would be ideal in that respect.

I have since abandoned the hope of getting an apprenticeship because most have denied my applications due to age and a 3 year gap where I pretty much made no progress in terms of education or jobs (essentially a waste of 3 years which doesn't look good on the CV).

Just don't do a HNC while you're in your apprenticeship....that will cause a mess with student funding.

Hi Sam, would doing a level 3 apprenticeship be fine after leaving university?

I dropped out of Uni and am going down the apprenticeship route!

Honestly, when it comes to careers, go with your heart. Don't make yourself go through university to keep others (i.e. family) happy, if you feel like you're in the wrong place and want to try a different route; do it. You're young, you have to try lots of different things out until you find something that fits and feels right. Uni gets a lot of hype these days, but realistically it's not right for everybody.

I doubt your family will be disappointed, it's not like you want to drop out due to laziness and then do nothing afterwards; you're still chasing a career and your family should be supportive! I was worried my parents would be annoyed with me, but actually they totally understood how I felt and have been great

Just a side note: You if you decide to finish uni and do an apprenticeship afterwards, you won't be able to. University graduates an ineligible for apprenticeships due to government funding...so it's either stay at uni then get a job, or drop out now and do an apprenticeship.