University

[RooRoo]

Recently I've decided as I'm now 20 and have no qualifications, I really need to start being a bit more responsible and working out what I'm going to do with my life.

When I was at school I messed about, which means in terms of qualifications I have nothing. Yesterday I read in the paper that a university college near me is doing an adults fast access course to university, basically you spend a year in full time education and dependant on your results you can go university, obviously better results after the year is up means better university. I know all my friends are at uni and they all enjoy it, but I'm a bit worried about the seemingly huge loan I have to take out to fund 3 years there.

Could anybody give me any advice on this situation, maybe it would be better doing something else?
I really like the idea of this, but then I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Cheers

[Lawnie]

Don't worry about the loan. If you graduate on a £20k salary (albeit pretty unlikely), you'll be paying back something in the region of £25 a month.

More information: https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students/tma-repaying-student-loans.shtml

[RooRoo]

Ah thank you

I know this is probably a stupid question, but going to uni..That should increase my chances of promotion by a fair bit when older right? It's just that everybody seems to go these days and instead of being a good qualification, it's more of the 'average'.

[tribal_tiger]

that's around £25 a month per loan you get. 3 years = 3 loans = £75 per month.

I did a 4 years course and had a loan each year.




and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Loved every second of it. What sort of thing would you want to study?

A lot of places now ask for a minimum of a degree. It depends on the type of job your going into. It does seem to help with promotion in some places. (The army a good example) again it's all down to the type of work and the company you work for.
____________________
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?

All of it.

[Lawnie]

Well experience is just as good as a degree. So, 4 years after graduation, you should have the edge over someone similar but without a degree.

Cue loads of "worthless bit of paper" replies. That's fine. There is no ideal way to get ahead in the world.

[Lawnie]

[tribal_tiger]

[RooRoo]

At the moment I have no idea, I'm not sure what I can study at university with the course I'm doing at the uni college.
Out of the choices I can take, it's divided into different subjects, then further divided into modules..I was thinking sociology, and psychology both looked pretty interesting, and they're two modules in the same subject..I don't think the subjects I do at college directly dictates what I have to do at uni though, not too sure to be honest.

[tribal_tiger]

Normally you just need a set number of "points" so you should be able to study most things. We had people on a IT degree with A levels in drama and art. The first year of a degree is pretty much bining everyone up to a set standard. Real work starts in year 2!

I know Plymouth does a degree in Surfing if you fancy it!
____________________
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?

All of it.

[RooRoo]

Ah alright, so I guess however well I do on this access course defines what uni I can go to, to be honest I'm not really sure what would be a good subject to go into. I'll have to do some research and find out what suits me best.

[tribal_tiger]

Make sure you do something that interests you. If it's not something your into you'll never finish. Some people on our course did IT cos you can earn good money. They tend to be the ones that drop out after 5 months.
____________________
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?

All of it.

[Lawnie]

[tribal_tiger]

You could program games! 30K and a company car!

MY ARSE!!!!

I was on 30K near London as a DBA. I've changed jobs now and dropped down to 19K, but I got to move away from London so I'm actually better off than I was before! And it's a lot nicer area!
____________________
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?

All of it.

[Itchy]

if you go to university do something useful like engineerin architechture something that is a professional career choice , media studies or games playing (where at salford they play games for a whole term) might seem fun but are essentially useless.

qualifications are also a helluva lot less important than experience and knowing how to do stuff ,

don't worry about the loan the government figures don't add up considering the piss small amount you have to pay back , its highly likely unless you start earning 30K and get 5K extra a year you'll never pay it all back and it'll be written off.

Though such loans stay with you even if you go bankrupt the rules changed.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[WR450_geezer]

If you go now or next year then dont forget the University 'Top-up fees' of £3k per year pushing the average debt of a full time student nearer to £20k.

If you wait till you're 21 can you not apply as a mature student in which case qualifications are irrelevant. I might be wrong about this though.

WR
____________________
Siggi, ''Fack, having Daz around is like living next door to PC-World, with a hole in the wall.''

[carvell]

As someone said, if you go, do something worthwhile.

Engineering, Maths, Any Science, Economics etc. Do not waste your resources and tax payer's money on non academic degree courses like "computer games", "netball", "media studies", "tourism" etc.

As you said, degree courses may be classed as 'average' these days. Therefore it follows that without one you are under average, so it's worth it.
____________________
Yamaha TDM 850

[feef]