To go to uni or not-HELP!

Hi there, so I've firmed my place to study Sociology at the University of Manchester however I don't think uni is for me. During my A-levels I knew I didn't want to go to uni as I never had an interest of going. So I took a gap year to think then decided through the persuasion of my teachers and family that I should go uni otherwise what will I do at home?

However, for the past month I've been thinking that I can either go into part/full time employment, start an apprenticeship, volunteer with VSO, do a TEFL course and so much more. I feel like I will be somewhat wasting 3 years at uni plus getting into debt when I know that after my degree I don't want to go into a certain profession. After uni I'm most likely not to get a graduate job as I've been told by graduates.

I don't want my family to think that I'm a failure but surely going to uni isn't obligatory right? Plus if later on in life I feel like a going uni I can?

Hope I made sense lol, I'm just super confused right now as moving date is approaching very soon (3 weeks to be exact ) so please if anyone has been through this or has some advice to give me please do.

Thanks in advance

I think you should defer your place until next year and do whatever you want this year, working/volunteering etc and if it turns out good and your life is going somewhere without a degree then don't go to uni next year, but defer your place just in case you change your mind. Otherwise you will have to apply again etc which is a bit of a pain!

Is it worthwhile deferring, I mean won't it cause a problem with student finance and ucas? Also if I were to defer then change my mind that no I don't want to go uni can I withdraw my application ?

Just to add since you've replied: What exactly do you want to do during your 2nd gap year? How has the experience you've already gained been beneficial to you? There's no point in taking all these trips and applying for these placements if you aren't going to use the experience you gained. Think of a goal and work towards it. ^^

What annoys me about today's society is that we're all working towards something. Doing things only to 'look good on the CV' and thinking 'oh no what will my future employer thinks if i took a year out'. It's time to wake up and realize life is short and to make the most of being young and free with little responsibility.

I was simply trying to help OP decide on what she should do next; I'm all for doing things because you want to and like to, but when it comes down to it, we all need to think of our future and how the decisions we make now can affect that future. You can still act young and free and do something worthwhile, for example, I volunteered as an English teacher in Nepal for 2 months, not only did I get to paraglide and trek in Nepal, but I gained substantial volunteering experience. You see what I mean? It's so easy to get lost in the excitement of life, or a gap year in this situation, and find yourself, thousands of dollars spent later, unsure what your next step is.

Yeah, I agree- i also did a volunteering scheme for 3 months. It just really worries me, the fact i was the only person in my year who took a gap year and went travelling/ volunteering. I don't know why but everyone seems to be in a rush to get a degree and settled into a career. Often, because of this sense of rushing students make mistakes and study subjects they're not really interested in.