Pcda vs uni

I think it very much depends on you as a person in terms of which is better. On paper, PCDA is of course the best option given you're being paid and end up with a free degree and secure job.

Having said that, being a police officer is a job like no other and you'll be thrown in at the deep end on a response team. A lot of people joining, especially at 18, are unprepared really how much the job demands. It's not some 9-5 job which gives you loads of time off to study for your degree. You have to be willing to work all hours on a shift pattern, and be willing to miss major occassions at the drop of a hat. At the age of 18, that's a lot to ask. That's generally why the police prefer more mature candidates in their mid to late twenties who have more life experience, which is often much needed when dealing with a volatile crowd or severely-challenging victim.

I had the exact same dilemma as you - I'm now at university studying an unrelated discipline which I felt was a good safety net to open a lot more doors in the future. The graduate entry schemes into the police appear very good and it's definitely something I'll be looking at applying for. I would say only apply for the PCDA if you want to be a police officer, and are prepared to be one for 35+ years. Those who apply with the intention of doing a few years, getting a free degree and having some fun are often the ones who find the job breaks them pretty quick. I felt unprepared at 18 and so chose to go to uni and look at getting into the Specials to try it out before applying later on. I would recommend that route but of course it's up to you.

Thank you for this !
I’m quite introverted and get quite bored / depressed when I’m not occupied with work so I think a PCDA will help me but obviously that means I will have to work loads and get hardly any free time. The recruiter also told me that you have to be prepared for the amount of work I would have to do and stuff - I’m also someone who enjoys alone time as I get burnouts from being out all day with people and I think to an extent being in the police will really tire me out on some days. I’ve applied to Criminology & Criminal Justice at Uni of Leeds and it’s not even a bad place nor a bad degree - the thing that scares me about uni is that I will be away from all my school friends and bc I’m quite shy and stingy with money I won’t be going out so often which I might get judged for. But then I will also have free time and do what I want right? I wanted to do the PCDA bc I want to be a private detective when I’m older so that means I will only be in the forces for about 10 years in total. Hearing this, how does it sound?