Uni or Job

I put Lancaster as my firm choice and also got a job as a cargo agent - clerical at British Airways, I am stuck on what to choose, anyone can give me an advice? I still can't choose, thinking if I go uni then I will waste few year of my life there, but if I choose the Job then I won't have any studies with me plus I won't have more job opportunities, btw I chose Computer Science, they both start in October. the salary for the job is 25k.

I've just graduated uni - honestly I recommend taking the job. I have 4 years of debt and am just starting a 28k job. a 25k job straight out of school with no debt in a respected company is really decent. if you do it for a year or two and regret not going to uni you can always go then, but if you go to uni now you'll commit yourself to that debt. unless you know you really want to study a degree, my advice would be to take the job, though maybe do some more research about what progression opportunities you'll have for promotion and pay increases.

Depends what you want to do in the future/after uni. If you choose Comp Sci at uni, you’ll most certainly find a job especially since tech jobs are always available. With a Comp Sci degree, especially if you do well, you can find a job that is remote and work from home which is a luxury not everyone can afford. Plus then you’d be able to live anywhere and certain places other than London, rent is cheaper. Also, with a job in tech you can end up earning a lot of money as you progress up, which may not be possible for your current job offer (I’d check what the salary range is for both).

On the other hand, I know people who have done a Comp Sci degree and now work in tech and have said most of the things they’ve learnt at uni aren’t needed for their jobs but still admit that uni gave them a better chance at getting the jobs. If you’d prefer money, I’d go for the job. Maybe contact the company and ask what the development prospects are, whether you can make your way up to a better position, what training they offer etc.

Seeing as you chose Comp Sci at uni, you must have some interest in it and so I’m assuming you’re interested in a tech job after too. Personally I’d choose uni, but I’m biased as I’ve already gone to uni, but if you view uni as a waste of a few years then maybe you should choose the job. Good luck!

I don't really care about debts because I won't be taking any loans, I am thinking about the future.

lol if you're well off enough not to take any loans out I don't think you're going to need to worry about your future

I put Lancaster as my firm choice and also got a job as a cargo agent - clerical at British Airways, I am stuck on what to choose, anyone can give me an advice? I still can't choose, thinking if I go uni then I will waste few year of my life there, but if I choose the Job then I won't have any studies with me plus I won't have more job opportunities, btw I chose Computer Science, they both start in October. the salary for the job is 25k.

Hi @Esingh-2001!

It's great that you've got these options ahead of you, both are exciting and each with their own benefits and negatives. I think really it comes down what you would be happiest doing? One of the other replies mentioned the debt that comes with doing a degree, but you don't start paying that back until you earn above a certain amount after graduating, and after long period of time will be cancelled, so though it's important to note, there are also things in place to make it manageable and less of a short term concern.

Meanwhile, with the job there is obviously some security there in that it's a job right now, there isn't the uncertainty of still not knowing what will be there when you graduate. But at the same time, it may not be a job and industry that is 100% in line with your interests. You mention your degree would be in Computer Science, so I imagine that would be your preferred career path/sector to be working in, in the long term? The tech sector is always looking for new people, so long term a Computer Science degree would have a lot of career prospects with huge transferrable skills that you can apply to other industries as well, such as in Media, Marketing, Education, Civil Service amongst many others.

So with those things in mind, that's why I think it comes down to what would you enjoy doing most - would you enjoy studying a degree in a subject that I presume you enjoy with lots of crossover potential for career prospects, or would you be happier with a job now that may not be what you want to do long term?

I hope this helps, I realise this isn't advice that's particularly specific, but I hope it at least helps you weigh up your options in weigh that does make that decision a bit easier in some way.

If you have any other questions feel free to let me know and ask away!

Tom,
University of Chichester Student Rep and Alumni

I am thinking to go uni because loans won't be a problem for me as I won't be getting them, it's just about the future, if I go for the job then there's a little chance of me getting promoted as people that work for the same position been working for a lot of years, or I could work for a year then do an apprenticeship with them? something like that but it is not guaranteed, if I go uni after 4 years with masters (If I do good in those years) I will have more job opportunities, I don't need the money for now just got to think about my future.

If you don’t care about the loans, and there’s little chance for promotion at the job, go for uni. A Comp Sci degree will open many doors. I did a Physics degree at uni and have been applying for tech jobs since I completed my degree, purely because they pay much better. Finally got a job and it pays much much better than what I would have gotten in a Physics job. Plus, if you care about the future, you’d definitely have a lot more job opportunities after uni. Think banking, finance, tech, engineering, even law, all I’ve seen are looking for some computer knowledge let alone a whole degree.

Yes that's what I'm thinking, still got 3 months to think about it, but most likely uni is a better option.

This you? https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7227222

I put Lancaster as my firm choice and also got a job as a cargo agent - clerical at British Airways, I am stuck on what to choose, anyone can give me an advice? I still can't choose, thinking if I go uni then I will waste few year of my life there, but if I choose the Job then I won't have any studies with me plus I won't have more job opportunities, btw I chose Computer Science, they both start in October. the salary for the job is 25k.

I put Lancaster as my firm choice and also got a job as a cargo agent - clerical at British Airways, I am stuck on what to choose, anyone can give me an advice? I still can't choose, thinking if I go uni then I will waste few year of my life there, but if I choose the Job then I won't have any studies with me plus I won't have more job opportunities, btw I chose Computer Science, they both start in October. the salary for the job is 25k.