The Student Room Group

Should I go to Uni?

So I'm in my final year at college doing A-level, and don't know what I want to do after. :smile:

I've applied to Ucas to keep my options open, and I'm searching round for fulltime careers that ask for A-levels, but I can't decide! Help? :p:
I've made a list of Pro's and Con's, so you can see my situation.

Against Uni

Debt! 3 years of debt!

Not guaranteed to make friends.

It's not a guarantee that you'll get a great job after uni.

I'm sick of study, and have wanted to drop out of college twice.

I prefer earning money and working to sitting in a classroom.

Essays...I abhor them.

I hate the whole student image...drunken layabouts who spend 3 years getting wasted.

My boyfriend is a year older, and goes to Leeds Uni...both of us in debt isn't appealing. It would be so much easier for us to get the typical house, mortgage, cat, etc, if I wasn't weighed down by debt and was earning for 3 years instead.

Peer pressure; if I go, I'll be the first in the family to go...and don't they know it. They've been trying to hammer it into me since high school that uni = power, and if I don't go, my life will be ****. :rolleyes:



For Uni

Degrees seem to be held in such high regard.

Might be more fun than college.

Could get bored of working full time.

Uni seems to open more doorways.



Suggestions please:cool:

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Ultimately your decision.

but i'd say...

we all have these fears about uni but it does open alot of doors and seems like alot of fun to me (i'm petrified of not making friends, being in hideous debt etc but my friends who are already there are having such a gr8 time it all seems academic).

you could get bored of working full time at uni- what do u think you'll be doing if you dont go to uni?!. alot of course, esp humanities arent really full time anyway.

just think about it. and be open minded. most jobs do expect degrees. AND you may not be with your boyfriend for mortgages, cats etc....do u want to decide your future on your b/f?.

if you want to be a housewife or working to support your husband that's fine. but personally i'd say you quite probably will regret not trying it.

then again...you dont like college. so maybe try an open uni course. less money and you can still have a job.
I was in the exact same situation about a month ago. Until i ran into a friend who dropped out last year. He's now a plumbers apprentice, works 40 hours a week gets paid like £6 an hour and the highlight of his week if the pub with the lads on a friday.

For Uni
- Graduates generally earn more money in the long run.
- The life experience is one you'll prosper from forever.
- Amazing new people and friends, lovers.
- The best time of your life.
- Learn a hell of alot about something your interested in.
- Live away from home and be independent without having to worry about a full time job. (In stages..not all at once).
- Get a degree, which is looked upon by any employer as good. Because it shows you can learn.


Against Uni

-Debt.
-Hardwork.



But i'm biased because i don't want to end up being a bricky.
Reply 3
harlot
I'm sick of study, and have wanted to drop out of college twice.


That's the only one that really needs thinking about, the others are all normal worry's that everyone has. If you really are not sure, take a gap year then apply.
hmmm...sounds like maybe you need to take a year out and really think about your life without a degree - some would be happy with it, some wont. after a year out you might feel more enthusiastic about education as well, less sick of it. my family pushed me into university - not a good idea, you have to go for yourself, not anyone else.

unless you're motivated to succeed in uni, you probably wont.
Reply 5
moshing-fairy

do u want to decide your future on your b/f?.

if you want to be a housewife or working to support your husband that's fine.


Not to be rude, because I appreciate everyones responses, but you have no idea about my relationship with my boyfriend.
We've discussed issues like this before in depth, and he's fully supportive of whatever I choose to do. We've also discussed moving in together whether I go to uni or not.

As for the housewife, or working to support a husband thing...you've got the wrong end of the stick. :smile:
I said that I wanted a career if I didn't go to uni, as opposed to staying at home, and I didn't say that my job would be to support him. It'd just be a hell of a lot easier for a young couple to deal with one side of debt rather than a battle on two fronts.

Glad that's cleared up.
Fair enough.

If you're moving in with your guy regardless of uni then it doesnt matter.

I just meant you never knows what the future will bring.
and you could meet someone else at uni/ or if you dont go just meet someone else anyway.
Reply 7
moshing-fairy

you could get bored of working full time at uni- what do u think you'll be doing if you dont go to uni?!.


Again, a misunderstanding. >.<
When I said "could get bored of working full-time", it was a Pro for university...I meant literal work, not uni "work".
As in = if I don't go to uni, I could get bored of working full time.
Reply 8
I'm biassed, as I chose an apprenternship as a surveyor and am loving it - I still go uni part time, fully paid for, and have a great time when there, I'm moving out soon with some friends, and have a very good wage for my age.. there are pros and cons either way.. Uni full time just wasnt for me, I couldnt see an advantage in me going full time at all really.. Just my view, but:


Pros
Debt! 3 years of debt!
not too much an issue, with the amount you'll be paying off a month
Not guaranteed to make friends.
When are you ever though? could be as bad at work!
It's not a guarantee that you'll get a great job after uni.
It's not a guarantee that you will if you don't either!
I'm sick of study, and have wanted to drop out of college twice.
Precisely why I didnt go, but you'll find uni has a slightly different approach
I prefer earning money and working to sitting in a classroom.
exactly why I didnt go
Essays...I abhor them.
depending on what you do, you might not have to worry about them so much?
I hate the whole student image...drunken layabouts who spend 3 years getting wasted.
It's not for everyone! It's a bit of an exageration though in a sense..
My boyfriend is a year older, and goes to Leeds Uni...both of us in debt isn't appealing. It would be so much easier for us to get the typical house, mortgage, cat, etc, if I wasn't weighed down by debt and was earning for 3 years instead.
think realistically. what wage are you going to be on after uni. Is having a bit of savings, and a job paying 18-20k in 3 years time going to be worth it? what will you buy with that?
Peer pressure; if I go, I'll be the first in the family to go...and don't they know it. They've been trying to hammer it into me since high school that uni = power, and if I don't go, my life will be ****
Its not a decision you should be bullied into in any way. That's the most important thing, it has to b eyour decision

For Uni
Degrees seem to be held in such high regard.
degrees arent everything, experience and training speaks for a lot nowadays, more so in some roles than others.
Might be more fun than college.
It probably will in many ways..
Could get bored of working full time.
this is why I chose an apprenternship also. a break in work with new people does me the world of good...
Uni seems to open more doorways.
only if you dont make the most of working. I know most will agree, but I find that anything my mates do at uni, I can do, but rather than have it arranged for me, I have to put in that little bit more effort if that makes sense.. eg snowboarding trips, classes, societies etc.. it seems to ease you in to everything which isnt something that appeals to me.. a bit of a control freak..

ultimatley, its not something you can ask others really, as people like different things.. try staying with some mates who go to uni for a week or so to help you decide, and if all else fails, gap year!
Reply 9
DO NOT GO INTO FULL TIME EMPLOYEMENT. I am on a gap year and working full time earning peanuts. The work is so boring and I would rather be in a dull lecture!
Reply 10
I've a friend who ditched her entire dream of going to the University of Birmingham and becoming a chemist...to skate. Don't get me wrong, I've got absolutely nothing against the idea of pursuing your interests for your future. It's just that her new life of no school (she hasn't even completed her A Levels), underpaying work, twisting her ankle(s) 24/7 and non-stop skating practice doesn't sound too appealing - not even to her. You don't even want to know how little she gets paid for hours of work, all because she doesn't have a university degree. Then again, you are in a better position than her, seeing that you will be completing your A Levels this year.

You'll be surprised to find that your years at university can actually be counted as a single new chapter in your life. Perhaps this is just a myth, but I heard that at university, most (not saying 'all') people would have matured by then, and friends you make will often be keepers for life. I myself am pretty much looking forward to a new life at uni. :biggrin:

It's all up to you in the end. You can always have a go at university, and if you really despise it, there's always the opportunity to leave and come back when you feel like it, although it might be hard to get back into studying after taking your time out.

Good luck in making your decision. :smile:
Of course only you can make this decision, but my advice would be to give uni a go. Then at least you've tried it. If it doesn't work out you can leave and then work full-time, and you'd definitely know that it was the best decision for you, rather than always wondering 'what if'.

I didn't think I wanted to go to uni and working full-time is the worst decision I've ever made! It's not what I want to do at all, and life is so boring, I can't wait to go to uni in September. You won't know unless you give it a go. :smile:
Reply 12
It would depend what type of career you're interested in really?
kirstinx
It would depend what type of career you're interested in really?


Finally, an answer worth listening to. The general opinion of people in this thread is that you won't get a well paid job without a degree. Bull****. As Kirstin said, it depends on what career you are interested in. I'm currently debating whether or not to go to uni. I've got all my offers but I'm not sure if I want to go.
Take a year out. Try and get a good job as if you weren't going to uni.

From my memory of other people who have taken gaps - I can't say much about your profile as I don't know you - have found that even with AAAAA at A-level they're limited to 'good' work they can get (and paid). If there is even a hint of the possibility of uni they won't invest loads of money in you for training, for you just to say:
"LOL I'm gone to uni thanks for the free training, later". They (the companies and alike) would probably make you sign a contract so you can't just 'leave and go to uni'. You can probably get some great internships and gap year schemes (that do pay as well), but these are with the full knowledge of going to uni on the companies part. There are specific A-level schemes, but these are limited and not for everyone.

If I was you, I'd take a gap year and get a job. I think (like most people who have told me about there experiences) they try to find a job and it's really hard because all the places say "So why aren't you going to uni" and you have to make a pretty strong case on why you don't want to go if they are going to give you; a good wage, training and investment. They aren't going to commit to you unless they know they've got full commitment from you. [Don't leave prospectuses around the office like I did - kinda hints at you're thinking of uni :rolleyes: ]

I've found that my jobs have been so boring that I could only think about going to uni and going travelling. So one could say I'm more focussed after a gap year and won't take uni as much for granted. I did secure a job in London which paid quite well, but it was a three year contract and they were adamant that I couldn't just leave for uni suddenly.

I think from what you've said about yourself (from the limited posts) that you'll want a change from the 9-5, unless you secure a really good job, with great prospects and money to sustain yourself. It's not impossible, but I think (I'm being biased as well) that university opens up so many doors. Forget the career and greater job prospects aspect of univeristy. It's an experience with so many options and one not to be thrown away lightly.

Ten Sixty Six
Finally, an answer worth listening to. The general opinion of people in this thread is that you won't get a well paid job without a degree. Bull****. As Kirstin said, it depends on what career you are interested in. I'm currently debating whether or not to go to uni. I've got all my offers but I'm not sure if I want to go.


I agree. But, It also is relative on what one considers to be a 'well paid job'. Some are happy with 28k and a mortgage while others *cough* investment banker wanabees (well some, I can't be too generic) may think 60k is not enough.

Hope that helps.
Reply 15
I've decided I'm gonna try Uni.

I don't want to take a gap year, for my own reasons, and I've already done a Ucas, so the logical thing to do would be to give higher education a go. :p:

I've got 1 offer so far, from York, which is pretty good going, and I figure that if I really despised uni when I got there, I could just leave.
I do hate essays, and I'm pissed off with studying but I hear the university approach is different, so meh. I doubt I'd drop out if I didn't like the workload either, I'm not a quitter. :wink:

Soooo...uni, lol.
Reply 16
I'm sure you'll love it:smile:
Reply 17
If you can go to uni, do it.

I never thought i would change so much and learn so much about me, life and everything.

You'll have non stop fun, and you have years and years in your life to earn money or to settle down.

Uni is a great chance to do things you enjoy and delay hitting the harsh realities of the real world that bit longer...

Go for it, i think you would like it, i don't know many people that don't.
YAY! Good luck.
im in a similar sort of dilema, i went into full time employment mainly cos i didnt no wat uni to go to n i wanted a car n money! i hav an alrite job working as an accounts clerk but on not so gud pay but its soooo boring, ive applied to uni to do criminology cos i dont wana do ne thing in the accounts field. ive had 3 replys bac and my fav 1 was unsuccessful n im soooo confused about wat is best.
all those pros and cons r wat ive been thinkin of n i dunno wats best!