Does anyone regret going/not going to Uni?

I really want to hear everyone's experience/opinions. I'm thinking of doing an apprenticeship but don't want to miss out on uni life, (social life, independence etc). Has anyone done an apprenticeship and had a great social life? I'm scared I wont make friends on my apprenticeship and all my current friends will be far away at Uni.

Do what will get you the career you want if the apprenticeship is a good one that will allow you to progress without all the debt and give you experience as well it is probably worth doing that.

University life is overrated tbh I know they mention all the cliches of "the best 3 years of your life" etc but really your main reason on going uni should be to do with the degree helping you get into the career you want not the experience/ nightlife etc.

What is your apprenticeship in btw?

I'm still in the process of applying for them (most open early next year) but from a range of finance, tech, business etc.


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I really want to hear everyone's experience/opinions. I'm thinking of doing an apprenticeship but don't want to miss out on uni life, (social life, independence etc). Has anyone done an apprenticeship and had a great social life? I'm scared I wont make friends on my apprenticeship and all my current friends will be far away at Uni.

nope, finally at a university I'm proud of, doing a course i've really wanted to do and with some of the most interesting people around. couldn't be happier.

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Where do you go?

Tens of thousands of pounds of debt I don't even earn enough to pay the interest on, hated every day, got a crappy degree, didn't make friends, and developed serious health problems.

Yeah, regret it.



Uni is no guarantee that you'll make a load of friends, be going out having a great time, and being able to actually enjoy that independence.

I kind of find myself in this position in second year.

Would you say it is worth considering dropping out as I feel will end up with a crap degree and hate it here?

Has your degree helped your employment prospects?

Any advice would be much appreciated thanks.

You've already paid the fees for this year right? I'd probably stay just because of that, I doubt you'll get a refund. I don't recall exactly, but I think you can get a diploma of higher education if you complete two years of a degree but you get nothing for just doing first year so you might want to consider staying for that so at least you get something for $18,000. Kinda crappy though. What exactly do you hate about it if you don't mind sharing?

My situation isn't typical: I live in the US now so no one here knows what a 2:2 means but when I got that I was well aware how many doors in the UK closed: I didn't have a job and many graduate courses were closed to me despite the 2:2 being from a top uni. I did get on a masters program at a very low ranked university (I wanted to "cancel out" my poor undergrad with a better masters).

I am doing psychology but pretty much have found it boring since first year. We have 4 exams each semester and I am struggling to keep on top of the workload and have little passion anymore.

I would much rather be working but I hear how most graduates end up in jobs they could have done at 16 so I see little use me having a degree now.

Your right with the diploma and fee issue and this is the only thing that makes me stay as even if I get a 2.2 it is worth more than a diploma.

Would you see not having a degree as being a major hindrance in the working world like we were made to believe at school?

Also, may I ask have you had any job even if it is a non graduate job since your 2.2 as I hear people have been unemployed for 5 years after their degree because they are overqualified for menial work but I don't know if this is just scare stories.

Thanks

I've read that psychology is one of those degrees that there is more supply than demand when it comes to graduates so getting a psychology related job can be very difficult - though if you're not enjoying the work you probably wouldn't be interested in that anyhow? I guess people try to sell degrees based on "transferable skills" of which I learned pretty much none during my degree. I already knew how to write from school, sure, I got better at it, but that's an expensive writing course. I had the same view about the diploma, a 2:2 is still worth more.

Have you thought about talking to your university counseling center?

My job does require a degree but I only got it a few weeks ago despite graduating more than 5 years ago. I don't think that most graduates end up in jobs they could have done at 16, I don't think degrees, even 2:2s have been devalued that much, but there is definitely a lot of competition for jobs and experience is important - it's no longer a case of having a degree = getting a job. Have you ever had a job? It might be an idea for you to see if you can get a part-time job so you have something other than just uni to put on your CV, I realize that would make it even harder to keep on top of the workload so maybe look just over the holidays - like Royal Mail always hire loads of people as Christmas temps.

The "transferable skills" thing is what dragged me in as well as I was told it could be applied to a range of careers regardless of if you go into psychology. I think it is just a clever way of marketing tbh as to me it just seems like an expensive writing course that is just a ticket to a graduate job and nothing more.

That kind of makes me feel more positive now that you have a job after 5 years from your degree. I don't intend to get a masters in psychology or go into a psychology career.

I have never had a job and have been looking for part time work as I know I need something on my CV so have been handing out CVs but know that there is this cycle of needing experience to get a job. I will try Royal Mail.

Did you get a non graduate job after your degree and if so did you hear back responses of overqualified etc?

My degree (I'd prefer not to disclose it on a public forum if you're really interested PM me) was one where it doesn't lead directly to a specific career so yes those transferable skills were the main draw. That and learning more about something I was passionate about. The novelty wore off pretty quick and I didn't make any friends and hated pretty much everything about uni (I did enjoy playing sports).

No I didn't. This is the first job I've had since graduating. For the vast majority of jobs I applied for I just didn't hear anything back. Not even a rejection. I don't know if that was because I was overqualified or what. To be fair, I only applied right after leaving uni and then waited a couple of years applied for some more, then waited another couple of years (health problems) but I got very few interviews.

Yeah, check out Royal Mail. Also a lot of shops hire around Christmas time so you might get lucky. Fast food is less pleasant conditions but may be more obtainable.

So basically would you say you were unemployed for 5 years perhaps which may be influenced perhaps due to health problems etc?

I hear these stories a lot after university and this just scares me to death and makes me want to leave straight away as I would take any job at the minute and work my way up.

I will talk to careers service as I know of other paths which don't require degrees but right now I will stick this degree out and do my best unless I seriously fail or have health issues etc.

Thanks for the help btw.