Degree Apprenticeship or Top University?

I'm in Year 10 so I still have time to think but I'm not sure whether to do a degree apprenticeship or go to a top uni, bc from what ive seen most top top unis like LSE and Imperial dont have degree apprenticeships in finance . I want to go into investment banking for a few years then do my own business, and my logic is if i do a degree apprenticeship in a top bank , then i can get experience there then leave and do my own sepertare business after, bc i dont want to waste 3-4 years in uni without working. However, i dont know if i should do a degree apprenticeship from a mid uni or go to a top uni then work?

Reply 1

Hvnmjiufdmmmm

4

Original post

by Poojan18

I'm in Year 10 so I still have time to think but I'm not sure whether to do a degree apprenticeship or go to a top uni, bc from what ive seen most top top unis like LSE and Imperial dont have degree apprenticeships in finance . I want to go into investment banking for a few years then do my own business, and my logic is if i do a degree apprenticeship in a top bank , then i can get experience there then leave and do my own sepertare business after, bc i dont want to waste 3-4 years in uni without working. However, i dont know if i should do a degree apprenticeship from a mid uni or go to a top uni then work?

You could either go for a DA at a top firm (JPMC,MS) or a quantitative degree at a good university. The DA's are much more competitive.

Reply 2

Jam.123

15

Original post

by Poojan18

I'm in Year 10 so I still have time to think but I'm not sure whether to do a degree apprenticeship or go to a top uni, bc from what ive seen most top top unis like LSE and Imperial dont have degree apprenticeships in finance . I want to go into investment banking for a few years then do my own business, and my logic is if i do a degree apprenticeship in a top bank , then i can get experience there then leave and do my own sepertare business after, bc i dont want to waste 3-4 years in uni without working. However, i dont know if i should do a degree apprenticeship from a mid uni or go to a top uni then work?

Do internships and stuff out of a top uni. I'd say networking opportunities and overall career potential is greater. I'm a bit biased but I think there are so many opportunities out of uni. If you think that you will "waste time" at uni because you're not earning money immediately and making an investment in your own education, then spend an hour sitting down without any distractions and just think. Only thinking - weigh up arguments, write stuff down, evaluate, rethink... Then you could emerge with a much more considered opinion

The following is a bit biased as well but I wrote it for somewhere else and since you've already set your mind on finance from year 10, I think it's important you read it.

Go read Alex Karp's book "The Technological Republic" and aim to make an actual, real impact in the world in modern industries. Don't close off your mind to a subset of the finance space that largely serves itself and I urge you to rethink while you still can. Don't kid yourself that the world of finance is there to improve the world either; it's not - it's out to enrich itself and occasionally its clients too.

Reply 3

InnateImpunity

9

Apply to both, degree apprenticeships are very competitive (even more so than Oxbridge), so no guarantee you get one.

Personally, I would take the degree apprenticeship unless the associated degree / educational institution was particularly rubbish, because you get a lot of experience early on, which is quite good in finance.

I got a finance apprenticeship but turned it down for university, only because I wanted to pursue a different career path and wanted to leave more door opens (also important to consider) down the line.

But if I wanted to stick to finance, I would have definitely done the apprenticeship. In fact, I signed the contract and everything, only declined it on A-Level results day.

Reply 4

username7194915

1

I would really recommend degree apprenticeships. If you have a big name on your CV saying that you have done an apprenticeship with them, it is a BIG tick. Especially in finance, having something like this is perfect to get your foot in the door and progress. Some investment banks offer degrees apprenticeships with Russel group unis so its not like you have to sacrifice one for another. Whatever decision you make, I'm sure it'll be the right one though. Good luck!

Reply 5

Jam.123

15

Original post

by Lilee88

I would really recommend degree apprenticeships. If you have a big name on your CV saying that you have done an apprenticeship with them, it is a BIG tick. Especially in finance, having something like this is perfect to get your foot in the door and progress. Some investment banks offer degrees apprenticeships with Russel group unis so its not like you have to sacrifice one for another. Whatever decision you make, I'm sure it'll be the right one though. Good luck!

Let's get one thing straight, the "degree" offered by degree apprenticeships is not a real degree. You do way less academic work and imo it's a massive misnomer. Yes you get a BSc or whatever, but it's more of an honourary degree degree since you generally only study one day per week. Over 3 or 4 years, that's about 1 year of academic work tops, which is nice but it's definitely more of an apprenticeship than a degree.

It really comes down to the dilution of what a "degree" is these days. The term is thrown around so much these days and this kind of thing would have so not passed 100 or even 50 years ago.

Also investment banks / consultancies?? Take another look at the ethics of the whole thing. What do they want - improving your personal development in your formative years, or keeping you turning a tidy profit at minimal wages by industry standards?

Reply 6

Jam.123

15

Student loans with minimal credit impact exist for a reason!!

Reply 7

username7194915

1

I understand where you are coming from. However, in the context of this thread, it doesn't matter about the academic work you do at uni. At the end of the day, you get a degree equivalent to any other person doing it full time at uni. Yes, you will not be doing as much academic work, you are there to learn the course and that's it. This existing knowledge is then applied to a professional environment, that is effectively the purpose of apprenticeships! Graduate schemes are crazy competitive right now so apprenticeships will get you into the professional environment quicker.

In response to your last statement, you seem extremely critical of the financial sector. However I don't see how your opinion stands to provide the author with the answer nor support that they are seeking. Each job sector has their flaws, but the purpose of this thread is just to provide our support and advice at the question at hand.

Degree Apprenticeship or Top University?

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