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Not sure whether to accept a degree apprenticeship or go to University.

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What should I do?

I've recently been accepted to a degree apprenticeship for a top company where I would get work experience, an apprenticeship degree, and get paid.

I also could go to University and get a better degree, but I would of course have debt and no experience.

A degree apprenticeship seems like the better option for a career, but all my friends are going to University so I feel like I'd be left alone with no one in my town to socialise with.
Does anyone else feel scared they'll be left alone with all their friends going to University? Am I mad to reject such a good apprenticeship?

Thanks in advance for any help :smile:
Just go for the apprenticeship. A university degree can wait. After all, the purpose of going to uni is to get a job. All the best!
If I was in your shoes, go for the apprenticeship.

You are not guaranteed a job and like the person below has stated, the job market is unpredictable. I know many people with 2.1's after 2 years still can't get a job.

So I would go for the apprenticeship

Good luck
(edited 6 years ago)
Go for the Degree apprenticeship!!!

I was in the exact same position as you a few months ago in terms of making the choice whether to choose a degree apprenticeship at a top 10 management consultancy firm or attend a top 20 university because all my friends are going to university and it was pretty much my dream to experience the uni lifestyle + I got into my dream university, but in the end I chose the degree apprenticeship because:

*You are not guranteed a job at the end of your degree and the job market is unpredictable.

*You have a chance to develop your professional career at an early age

*You would be earning a decent salary I presume and you would be able to save up for things such as a home, car etc.

*Even though you're missing out on University life, I'm sure there are many other people which will be doing the apprenticeship who would be in the same position as you and you would be able to organise events with them.

*No debt!!!

You can get a degree anytime but if you let this opportunity go, you may regret it in the future if you leave university unemployed.

**Sorry if this is too long**

Original post by Lifeisamadness
I've recently been accepted to a degree apprenticeship for a top company where I would get work experience, an apprenticeship degree, and get paid.

I also could go to University and get a better degree, but I would of course have debt and no experience.

A degree apprenticeship seems like the better option for a career, but all my friends are going to University so I feel like I'd be left alone with no one in my town to socialise with.
Does anyone else feel scared they'll be left alone with all their friends going to University? Am I mad to reject such a good apprenticeship?

Thanks in advance for any help :smile:
(edited 6 years ago)
Don't feel pressured into going to university simply because that's the most common route for your friends. You will meet new people, and the apprenticeship will open so many doors. Even if you hate the apprenticeship, you can apply to uni in the future if you feel like that's what you want to do. :smile:
Original post by Lifeisamadness
I've recently been accepted to a degree apprenticeship for a top company where I would get work experience, an apprenticeship degree, and get paid.

I also could go to University and get a better degree, but I would of course have debt and no experience.

A degree apprenticeship seems like the better option for a career, but all my friends are going to University so I feel like I'd be left alone with no one in my town to socialise with.
Does anyone else feel scared they'll be left alone with all their friends going to University? Am I mad to reject such a good apprenticeship?

Thanks in advance for any help :smile:


Definitely the apprenticeship degree. You will get great experience and you can always go for a masters at uni later on
apprenticeship!
UNI is BS tbh. Wouldn't have went if I had to make the choice again.
Original post by squirrology
Go for the Degree apprenticeship!!!

I was in the exact same position as you a few months ago in terms of making the choice whether to choose a degree apprenticeship at a top 10 management consultancy firm or attend a top 20 university because all my friends are going to university and it was pretty much my dream to experience the uni lifestyle + I got into my dream university, but in the end I chose the degree apprenticeship


Thank you so much for the detailed reply!! I've read back to your post, seems like we're in an almost identical situation. I got both my dream Uni and dream apprenticeship which I never expected in a million years! Only difference is I don't have a guaranteed job or wage at the end, but I'd have to mess up not to get at least something.

Have you started the apprenticeship yet? I think we're also working towards the same Degree, which would be at Roehampton. What are your thoughts on it?


Original post by Rex Onocrotalus
Don't feel pressured into going to university simply because that's the most common route for your friends. You will meet new people, and the apprenticeship will open so many doors. Even if you hate the apprenticeship, you can apply to uni in the future if you feel like that's what you want to do. :smile:

Thanks for the advice. I could always go to University if I hate the apprenticeship!

Original post by jessjanellbhons1
Just go for the apprenticeship. A university degree can wait. After all, the purpose of going to uni is to get a job. All the best!

Thanks for the reply! That's true, I'd hate applying after University when competition is so high.
Original post by Lifeisamadness
I've recently been accepted to a degree apprenticeship for a top company where I would get work experience, an apprenticeship degree, and get paid.

I also could go to University and get a better degree, but I would of course have debt and no experience.

A degree apprenticeship seems like the better option for a career, but all my friends are going to University so I feel like I'd be left alone with no one in my town to socialise with.
Does anyone else feel scared they'll be left alone with all their friends going to University? Am I mad to reject such a good apprenticeship?

Thanks in advance for any help :smile:


Go with apprenticeship degree

You will still go to a uni X-days a week and you'll get experience and the degree will be worth exactly the same as if you went to that uni directly
Original post by Lifeisamadness
Thank you so much for the detailed reply!! I've read back to your post, seems like we're in an almost identical situation. I got both my dream Uni and dream apprenticeship which I never expected in a million years! Only difference is I don't have a guaranteed job or wage at the end, but I'd have to mess up not to get at least something.

Have you started the apprenticeship yet? I think we're also working towards the same Degree, which would be at Roehampton. What are your thoughts on it?

No problem! Even if your apprenticeship doesn't gurantee you a job at the end at least you would have valuable work experience to offer as well as a degree, in comparison to your average university graduate who would only have done minimal amounts of work experience.

I haven't started it yet, it doesn't start till September, I had to make my choice back in April as they only gave us 10 days to accept the offer. Though, I will say I'm looking forward to it, the salary is decent and the company itself has an amazing reputation.
Original post by squirrology
No problem! Even if your apprenticeship doesn't gurantee you a job at the end at least you would have valuable work experience to offer as well as a degree, in comparison to your average university graduate who would only have done minimal amounts of work experience.

I haven't started it yet, it doesn't start till September, I had to make my choice back in April as they only gave us 10 days to accept the offer. Though, I will say I'm looking forward to it, the salary is decent and the company itself has an amazing reputation.


Exactly, experience is the huge difference vs those that have just come out of University.

You had to make a decision quick then! It took 8 weeks for me to hear a reply, although I still hadn't made a decision haha. I think we'll both have a big name on our CV which will help hugely.

Thanks for all your advice, I've decided also to take the apprenticeship. I wish you all the best on your apprenticeship :smile:
Original post by Rex Onocrotalus
Don't feel pressured into going to university simply because that's the most common route for your friends. You will meet new people, and the apprenticeship will open so many doors. Even if you hate the apprenticeship, you can apply to uni in the future if you feel like that's what you want to do. :smile:


I totally agree.
Also-
*You are not guranteed a job at the end of your degree and the job market is unpredictable.
*You have a chance toget plenty of experience at an early age
*You would be earning a decent salary I presume and you would be able to save up for things such as a house, car etc.
*Even though you're missing out on University life, I'm sure there are many other people which will be doing the apprenticeship who would be in the same position as you and you would be able to organise events with them. And you can still stay in contact with your friends who are going to uni.
*No debt

You can get a degree anytime but if you let this opportunity go, you may regret it in the future if you leave university unemployed.
I think University because a lot of top jobs require a degree from a top University. Degree apprenticeships are typically at worse Universities and the degree is specifically designed for apprenticeships, so are not as highly regarded. You will find the degree here creates a glass ceiling. You have to think long term, and experience at this age is great, but long term not getting a good degree can close doors long term.

You can always do internships to get work experience over summer. The average starting wages for top Universities is also very high on average. Even though you don't have experience straight, you'll still have a high wage that will increase more long term.

Plus, there are life experiences such as learning how to live away from home, societies and meeting so many new people that you will miss out on with an apprenticeship.

You mention you're scared of friends going to University. It's a genuine fear, but I don't think an apprenticeship will be an issue socially as you'll meet new people at your apprenticeship and can keep in contact with old friends. Although University is of course more social if you're really concerned.
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by Lifeisamadness
Exactly, experience is the huge difference vs those that have just come out of University.

You had to make a decision quick then! It took 8 weeks for me to hear a reply, although I still hadn't made a decision haha. I think we'll both have a big name on our CV which will help hugely.

Thanks for all your advice, I've decided also to take the apprenticeship. I wish you all the best on your apprenticeship :smile:

Wow, 8 weeks is so long, literally 2 months! Yeah, so true on the point that we'd definitely have reputable companies to boast about on our CV's

Massive congrats on your offer & taking the apprenticeship route in the end and same to you!!!!! :smile:

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