The Student Room Group

dropping out of uni, do i need to wait till next year to look for an aprentership?

so I'm near the end of my second year of uni, I've hated it the last 2 years so I'm leaving. I'm not looking for advice about dropping out as I've already decided, I'm looking at apprenticeships at A-Level or gcse level and have found a few i like but their start dates would be next month. I'm not dropping out yet I'm going to finish the year out but my classes for the year have already finished and my coursework will be over soon so do i need to wait or will i technically be done with uni? you have to reenroll each year so i think i can just choose not to go back but I'm not sure if its allowed for me to start applying now, I'm also thinking of trying to go on universal credit but you cant be in full time education. I cant find anything online about when id no longer be considered a student considering my situation, do i have to wait for reenrollment to be done and then I'm not? can i apply to apprenticeships and just explain my situation? the ones I'm looking at have nothing to do with what i was in uni for
Reply 1
Original post by sugar_cookie
so I'm near the end of my second year of uni, I've hated it the last 2 years so I'm leaving. I'm not looking for advice about dropping out as I've already decided, I'm looking at apprenticeships at A-Level or gcse level and have found a few i like but their start dates would be next month. I'm not dropping out yet I'm going to finish the year out but my classes for the year have already finished and my coursework will be over soon so do i need to wait or will i technically be done with uni? you have to reenroll each year so i think i can just choose not to go back but I'm not sure if its allowed for me to start applying now, I'm also thinking of trying to go on universal credit but you cant be in full time education. I cant find anything online about when id no longer be considered a student considering my situation, do i have to wait for reenrollment to be done and then I'm not? can i apply to apprenticeships and just explain my situation? the ones I'm looking at have nothing to do with what i was in uni for

You have one year left, then you could apply for graduate apprenticeships. There are more of these as more companies do them and they are better paid with faster career progression.

I don't know your circumstances but not completing your degree may show a lack of resilience, which is a highly valued trait and may disadvantage you.

I am flagging this, so you can consider how you will be perceived by a potential recruiter.
(edited 6 months ago)
Original post by Sugar_cookie
so I'm near the end of my second year of uni, I've hated it the last 2 years so I'm leaving. I'm not looking for advice about dropping out as I've already decided, I'm looking at apprenticeships at A-Level or gcse level and have found a few i like but their start dates would be next month. I'm not dropping out yet I'm going to finish the year out but my classes for the year have already finished and my coursework will be over soon so do i need to wait or will i technically be done with uni? you have to reenroll each year so i think i can just choose not to go back but I'm not sure if its allowed for me to start applying now, I'm also thinking of trying to go on universal credit but you cant be in full time education. I cant find anything online about when id no longer be considered a student considering my situation, do i have to wait for reenrollment to be done and then I'm not? can i apply to apprenticeships and just explain my situation? the ones I'm looking at have nothing to do with what i was in uni for

as far as im aware, most degree apprenticeships have closed applications so you would have to apply in the next cycle which does open up time to develop your cv and skills. also some require you to have completed your a levels or equivalent no more than two years prior so just have a good look based on your field of choice
Reply 3
Original post by Sugar_cookie
so I'm near the end of my second year of uni, I've hated it the last 2 years so I'm leaving. I'm not looking for advice about dropping out as I've already decided, I'm looking at apprenticeships at A-Level or gcse level and have found a few i like but their start dates would be next month. I'm not dropping out yet I'm going to finish the year out but my classes for the year have already finished and my coursework will be over soon so do i need to wait or will i technically be done with uni? you have to reenroll each year so i think i can just choose not to go back but I'm not sure if its allowed for me to start applying now, I'm also thinking of trying to go on universal credit but you cant be in full time education. I cant find anything online about when id no longer be considered a student considering my situation, do i have to wait for reenrollment to be done and then I'm not? can i apply to apprenticeships and just explain my situation? the ones I'm looking at have nothing to do with what i was in uni for

Please talk to your university about you dropping out. I think the fact you are staying to the end of your second year is a good thing but if you talk to them, it might be that you can transfer some credits onto another programme elsewhere.

Just one last thing. With respect you don't seem to come across as being very focussed or strategic. You appear to be wanting to DO an apprenticeship, ANY apprenticeship because that is what you DO without actually thinking about what the end goal is. If I were an employer interviewing you I would want to know what you wanted to do and if the answer as "a degree apprenticeship" I would not offer it to you. Similarly, I would be very suspicious of a 2nd year degree drop out applying for Level 2 or 3 apprenticeships.

What do you want to do?
What is the end goal?
What do you enjoy doing?

When you have worked that out, you can then work backwards and work out what you need to do in order to reach that goal. If you don't know what you want to do then your current approach is more likely than not going to result in you doing a job you don't enjoy and you are back to square one. If you can't answer the three questions above, then get a job - any job or go travelling or take a break or something so that you can have some space to figure out what the next move is.

Good luck!

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