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No idea what I want to do and applying for univeristy.

Basically, I know I want to go to university and I'm in my last year of sixth form. We are currently signing up for UCAS, writing our personal statements etc and adding in our choices...

However, I have /no/ idea what I want to be when I'm older, therefore I don't know what course I want to do. The only thing I've really enjoyed at school is Business, however most people I've spoken to told me if I want to get a good paying job (which is all I'm bothered about really, good money) then I should stay away from Business because it's a mediocre 'wishy washy' degree that anyone can do.

I sort of agree with them, and I don't know what I want to do now, I don't want to waste a year doing nothing even if I don't know what I want to do now while all my mates are at uni like. I have done so many career questionnaires, read loads of stuff on here and I just don't know what I want to be or do or take at university! I'm not a A grade students, I'm currently doing a BTEC that's equivalent to 2 A Levels and 1 A level (and the EPQ). So I'm just stuck...

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I think everyone else will say this too, but why not take a gap year? That way you can explore your options.
Reply 2
Original post by Coffeetime
I think everyone else will say this too, but why not take a gap year? That way you can explore your options.


Yeah I don't really think a gap year is for me, don't think I'd be able to afford one to be honest (at least not one of those where you go around America or something) and I wouldn't like to take one and end up doing barely nothing with my time. I think I'd rather go while me mates are ga'an and see what happens. It's just I don't know what I want to do... it's really annoying haha.
Well do you know where your friends plan to go? Have you browsed any websites to see if anything interests you?
Reply 4
Original post by Coffeetime
Well do you know where your friends plan to go? Have you browsed any websites to see if anything interests you?


They all plan to go to university too, well most of them. I have looked through loads of threads on here about deciding what you want to do, what course you want to do, interests and stuff and nothing clicks with me! I have looked through uni websites aswell and it's just like the only thing I think I like is Business, but then it's the whole people thinking it's a wishy washy mediocre degree that bothers me. And I think it's a 'safe' option, so...
Original post by Carl1234
They all plan to go to university too, well most of them. I have looked through loads of threads on here about deciding what you want to do, what course you want to do, interests and stuff and nothing clicks with me! I have looked through uni websites aswell and it's just like the only thing I think I like is Business, but then it's the whole people thinking it's a wishy washy mediocre degree that bothers me. And I think it's a 'safe' option, so...


What about combining it with something else so that you're more well rounded? Maybe a language or something.
Reply 6
Original post by Coffeetime
What about combining it with something else so that you're more well rounded? Maybe a language or something.


From looking at threads on here apparently a dual degree isn't really seen as ''good''?
Original post by Carl1234
From looking at threads on here apparently a dual degree isn't really seen as ''good''?


I think it depends on the person. I wouldn't do it, but that's because I don't want to split my time. I say forget what other people think. If you like business, go for it. Get some experience while at uni. So that way when you're done, you have people to go to for jobs.
Why do you want to go to Uni if you don't know what you want to do? It might be an idea to have a think about life and where you want to be in a few years, what you can realistically see yourself doing for work etc. Maybe do a bit of part-time work to get some life experience? Otherwise you will just be another person on here creating thread about how you can't find a job after you finish xD
Reply 9
You don't have to abroad during a gap year... A lot of people just stay in this country and work or volunteer.
Reply 10
Original post by Carl1234
Basically, I know I want to go to university and I'm in my last year of sixth form. We are currently signing up for UCAS, writing our personal statements etc and adding in our choices...

However, I have /no/ idea what I want to be when I'm older, therefore I don't know what course I want to do. The only thing I've really enjoyed at school is Business, however most people I've spoken to told me if I want to get a good paying job (which is all I'm bothered about really, good money) then I should stay away from Business because it's a mediocre 'wishy washy' degree that anyone can do.

I sort of agree with them, and I don't know what I want to do now, I don't want to waste a year doing nothing even if I don't know what I want to do now while all my mates are at uni like. I have done so many career questionnaires, read loads of stuff on here and I just don't know what I want to be or do or take at university! I'm not a A grade students, I'm currently doing a BTEC that's equivalent to 2 A Levels and 1 A level (and the EPQ). So I'm just stuck...


Ahem, excuse me? I did a 'wishy washy' business degree and seemed to have no trouble finding multiple job offers after graduating.

Sounds to me like some people have mistake a Business Studies A-level (wishy washy is the extreme) for a Business degree. If you have an interestest in the subject area then pursue it and make sure you get yourself on a decent quantitative course (go for a BSc over a BA if you can, and try and avoid 'Business Studies' imo). Business and Management was the flagship degree at my university (Aston), and while I won't pretend it's the most prestiguous degree (or university) by any means, there seemed to be an aweful lot of people landing graduate level jobs from it.

Alternatively, could always go for Economics.
Reply 11
Original post by M1011
Ahem, excuse me? I did a 'wishy washy' business degree and seemed to have no trouble finding multiple job offers after graduating.

Sounds to me like some people have mistake a Business Studies A-level (wishy washy is the extreme) for a Business degree. If you have an interestest in the subject area then pursue it and make sure you get yourself on a decent quantitative course (go for a BSc over a BA if you can, and try and avoid 'Business Studies' imo). Business and Management was the flagship degree at my university (Aston), and while I won't pretend it's the most prestiguous degree (or university) by any means, there seemed to be an aweful lot of people landing graduate level jobs from it.

Alternatively, could always go for Economics.


Excuse yourself!

If you actually read you'll see that I said that's how it's viewed. Not how I view it, but when I say it's something I'd want to do (maybe because it's because my mates are clever) they're like baha Business, how wishy washy. I dunno, I'm just really stuck on what I want to do, all I know is that I want a reallyyyyy good paying job.
It's mental but this year I've found out loads about how most jobs don't accept people with the degrees have. I was being mentored at a law firm and they had people with business degrees, drama degrees, foreign languages etc... I think you should take something you would enjoy for example business and see where it takes you. A degree is a degree, noone made you get one, therefor whatever you choose to do will be an achievement!:smile:


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Original post by Carl1234
Excuse yourself!

If you actually read you'll see that I said that's how it's viewed. Not how I view it, but when I say it's something I'd want to do (maybe because it's because my mates are clever) they're like baha Business, how wishy washy. I dunno, I'm just really stuck on what I want to do, all I know is that I want a reallyyyyy good paying job.


Don't we all? But life isn't all about money.Even though apparently people think I'm crazy for saying that.
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 14
I just want to do a degree that will lead to career with great money.
Original post by Carl1234
I just want to do a degree that will lead to career with great money.


Well then you should probably become a doctor. Or marry into money. :wink:

But really, business isn't bad. It's quite popular where I live. I'm sure you could specialise in something to give yourself an edge over others.
Reply 16
Original post by Carl1234
Excuse yourself!

If you actually read you'll see that I said that's how it's viewed. Not how I view it, but when I say it's something I'd want to do (maybe because it's because my mates are clever) they're like baha Business, how wishy washy. I dunno, I'm just really stuck on what I want to do, all I know is that I want a reallyyyyy good paying job.


Sigh...

Firstly, do you think merely picking a subject determins your earnings?

Secondly, do you presume that your mates a) matter b) are employers c) know anything about this degree?

Finally, are you implying that you can't get a good job out of a business degree? Out of interest, what kind of job are you talking about? Industry, earnings etc?
Reply 17
Just something with mint money
Reply 18
Firstly, money isn't everything. If you would work a job you hate 300 days a year, that the thought of getting up to do it in the morning was awful, just to earn a six figure salary then fair enough.. But your quality of life isn't going to be exceptional.....

Now, more to the point, uni isn't everything either especially if you're not sure what you want to do. I know people that went to uni to do a degree they thought other people valued highly instead of doing something they enjoyed; they all dropped out. You might not think it now, but there really is no harm in taking your time in making this decision but there is room for a lot of harm to be caused by rushing in to it. Gap years don't have to be expensive, you can stay in the UK, organise yourself some placements in different sectors you might consider working in one day (and even some you wouldn't - you never know!) and see how you feel then.

remember, people can give you advise but the decision has to be yours and one that is right for you alone.

good luck
Reply 19
Just remember.. if you don't find what you want to do in uni. You can always open up your own business, and hope it gets really successful and big. For example, a bakery.

You can see if you're interested in teaching. You can become a business teacher.


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