Studying vs Working

[Falcon_BlizZACK]

1) Mature student is someone over the age of 25

 

Last time I heard, it was 21.

[Ashley]

So it is...where did I get 25 from? Whats 25...?

 

Oh yeah. Near-death. That's it!

[Letty]

Well, I have had maaany thoughts about leaving the whole education fiasco.

 

I left school at 16, but have continued on at college doing a foundation art course. I've always thought about going to Uni, and I probably will - but its never ever appealled to me. I hated learning and sitting and tests, and I guess its just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I've also thought about taking a year out to work, but I worry if I don't get to uni soon, I will fall out of the education-thing way of thinking.

 

That said, at the moment, I have a job and attend college, so you don't always have to chose.

[Daft]

I know I'm considering mulling it over in my head. Mature student.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heh.....mature.

 

However I stand by my original statement. It would have been a good thing to do directly after college....you know...if I actually didn't get kicked out/did some work.

 

Come to my uni (London, SOAS). I need your awesome banter!!

[S.C.G]

Work or Study... hmm tough decision, not! well I should say not for me anyway, I'd decided that I didn't want to go down the university route ever since I left college; after enduring two - three years there I could take no more of so-called "education" thats not to say I'm condeming it either, lots of people choose that route because it's right for them, it wasn't right for me.

 

Sure I passed my courses in college, even got an A in something, I believe it was Graphic Design... sidetracking but... I read in the local paper that my tutor who used to teach me in that subject commited suicide a little while after I'd left the college, a shame because I thought he was pretty good at what he did he didn't seem to think so though evidently >> not that I saw that as a sign or anything because I'd allready made up my mind on what route I was taking before that.

 

T'was a year maybe two, maybe three... (you lose track of time when your claiming benefits because each day tends to merge into one) but then after lots of games playing and little fruition in the way of job-finding (and yes I had made every effort imaginable and I still had time to play a helluvalotofgames) there was sucess! of sorts... as I landed my first job at a local Theme Park! of all places.

 

I jest now but it t'was a fun job despite a few annoying customers and minor annoyances, I met some interesting people and most of the time just had a laugh so to speak... then when that ended I immediately handed my CV in at my local supermarket, stacked shelves in the wine aisle for a couple of years and then when I wasn't required in that aisle anymore (due to a change in the law) I was given a choice... continue stacking shelves in the fruit and veg aisle or become a cook for the staff, away from the hustle and bustle of the shop floor and straight into running a kitchen and cooking for the demanding staff but tbh it was out of the fire and into the frying pan so to speak because now that I'm in there cooking I haven't really looked back.

 

Now yes I don't actually like the act of having to go to work, I would still much rather stay at home (wouldn't we all) but it's something that needs to be done, when I'm actually there however I do get a certain satisfaction out of knowing that me being there is helping others and there are certain aspects of food prep etc that I genuinely enjoy, cleaning not so much but hey, it's all part and parcel; it's a demanding job too for what time I spend there... I work for 23 + hours a week but it feels like more lol.

 

And yet I wouldn't have it any other way, so there you go, I guess some people are more suited to work than study and vice versa... my advice is simple... do whatever the fuck you like (within reason ) as long as you enjoy it to a certain extent then all is good. ^^

[Paj!]

I'm planning on going to art college. Doing my A Levels now.

 

But yeah, I want to do a standard fine art course..somewhere. So I have no idea where I'm going by doing so.

 

But I think it's better than just going into a job (for me, personally).

[Jav_NE]

Go to uni. It looks good on your CV even if its for some pointless subject that doesn't lead to anything. The only thing you have to be careful of is the debt. Stay with your parents if you can. True, you wont get the total uni experience living at home, but you can always lie and say you did move out as that again makes you look good in interviews.

 

You'll get a degree, still have money and can then have a better chance of getting work.

[Supergrunch]

Dear god, I don't think I'd be able to handle living with my parents, and I get on with them far better than many of my friends do theirs.

[Guest Jordan]

The best thing I ever did was getting a job and moving away from home. I went and did a degree course for 6 months, fucking hated every second of it. I had no motivation and the subject matter was pointless and boring.

 

Work? Its pretty fun... in a strange way. Plus the pay is pretty decent, got a £3k pay rise within my first year of working here.

[Falcon_BlizZACK]

The best thing I ever did was getting a job and moving away from home. I went and did a degree course for 6 months, fucking hated every second of it. I had no motivation and the subject matter was pointless and boring.

 

Work? Its pretty fun... in a strange way. Plus the pay is pretty decent, got a £3k pay rise within my first year of working here.

 

Whats your job?

[Monopolyman]

Work is fucking hurrendous. Kids....go to uni. Save your life and go to uni NO MATTER WHAT.

 

No matter what? I can understand what you mean to an extent, but I think it would better to go straight to work, or something similar than go to a Uni, do a joke degree or a degree which you have no passion or motivation for, and be beack to square one three years and several thousand pounds worth of debt later.

 

As for me, I did a year at uni on a course I didn't like, now I've dropped it and thinking what to do now. I was thinking of going back, but doing Economics or such. The thing is though, there is so much more you can do besides university.

[Coolness Bears]

I've always been on the Path to Uni! At one point I thought I Couldn't get there, but it isn't as hard as I thought.

 

So At the moment I'm on the Course for Uni as I love to Learn and Expand my fragile and easily confused mind!

 

I'm not ready for working full time.

[LukeLee]

well, i guess i'll give my 2 cents. I did my time at uni and now i've been working the past year.

 

It has to boil down to what you want from life. Sounds like common sense obviously but taking into consideration how a degree relates to that. Firstly forget the idea that a degree stands you out from the crowd, it doesn't. Are you doing a subject like me (psychology, law, medicine) where a degree is a required for any progress? If so you have to lump it and there will be parts you don't like. Job prospects following a degree? You have the mickey mouse degrees where it wouldnt make a difference to have them or not. Some degrees are required but it wont let land you straight into a great job. Then there's a few niche careers where you can almost go straight from a a degree to a relevant job.

 

I have to say working full time now I don't feel any richer really than i did at uni, there's always something waiting to take your money away. I did enjoy doing my degree but there were modules I did not like or found too difficult and when essays were piling up it did feel like i was reading / skim reading more for essays rather than learning and enjoying my subject.

 

So yeah it depends what you want; If you choose the right subject then uni can be interesting, a laugh, make good friends, enjoy studying to an extent and it will usually pay off eventually. But there will be tough times, subjects you don't like and deadlines which feel near impossible. But you do get to stay in bed till late on quite a few mornings.

 

For a job you are theoretically getting more money so you should be better off, but it doesnt always feel like it. You are out there gaining more experience which usually looks better on a cv. And it is possible to climb up the ladder and be successful in a job without a degree, but less likely, especially if you work for a rigid firm.

 

I suppose my bottom line of advice would be if you have a subject you are passionate about that requires a degree to get a good job in it, then go for the degree, you won't love every minute but in the long run it will pay off. If you're highly unsure then dont rush it, get a job, make some money, you can always go to uni at a later stage. There's no point putting yourself into thousands of pounds of debt if it's not right for you.

[Rummy]

Come to my uni (London, SOAS). I need your awesome banter!!

 

Heh, I'm going to your SU tonight as it happens! Some silly election thing, but I'm mainly just going to get drunk and talk to a pretty girl I know who's kinda cool.

 

Myself? I went to uni and did a degree, but I lived at home, and didn't make too many good close friends at uni(most of my uni mates lived same distance as me, but in opposite directions). Lectures rarely finished after 4 latest, and for most people that's too early to go for a drink, I did little socialising at uni, other than in lectures, class, and sometimes after exams. I do now have a degree, and actual money with very little debt(protip:pay of your student loans as slow as you can, it's free money, maybe even save some in a good interest account if you can, that's free income!). But yeah, I lacked motivation, but somehow scraped through with a 2:1 in Psychology(I also didn't go to many lectures, and didn't go in at all for like 2 months of my second year). A big part of going to uni is the experience of living out, one which I wish I'd lived, but didn't dare place the burden on my parents. I felt kinda like I hadn't lived life at all, been in school and learning constantly from the age of 3, but luckily I have alot of goodness in my life friendwise, and I made the most of it.

 

 

 

Secondly and conversely though, I know a guy who after his A-Levels went and got a job with a bank, then went to work for another bank, and I think he was dealing personally with small business owners. I'd heard he was earning very good monies, and I saw him driving a Jag by time I was in second year. As of this year, he's actually bought himself a house, and in a kind of classy place in a few towns over(I say classy, I mean a pricey area). I kind of envy him, as here I am 3 years down the line with not alot to show I feel. Then again, I'm pretty sure he's had to work ALOT harder than me too, I reckon it's a job you've got to be a certain kind of person for, and you also have to do alot of hard graft for, and I am fairly certain he would have, and so feel he kinda deserves what and where he's gotten to. I also have to admit to the counterargument that appearances can be deceptive, and I don't know what his finances are like or if he has tons of debt or credit. So...erm, meh? I guess I lost my point somewhere.

 

 

P.S King_V, don't stop posting threads! You're busting out some awesome ones which are bringing a nice bit of thinkery and activity to general again!

[jayseven]

Well, I have had maaany thoughts about leaving the whole education fiasco.

 

I left school at 16, but have continued on at college doing a foundation art course. I've always thought about going to Uni, and I probably will - but its never ever appealled to me. I hated learning and sitting and tests, and I guess its just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I've also thought about taking a year out to work, but I worry if I don't get to uni soon, I will fall out of the education-thing way of thinking.

 

That said, at the moment, I have a job and attend college, so you don't always have to chose.

I think I'm like this. I ain't a fan of institutionalised learning... but then, i hate work. I hate the whole "you got a 24-hour day? Then you MUST sacrifice a chunk of it to do something, anything you don't want to do."

 

But then, I'm damn lazy. The way I my brain works best is when other people are running their tongues and I get to imagine different pathways... bleh. I just hate... doing stuff. In my third year at uni and as ganepark feels, i've been learning non-stop for 17 years now. That's... weird. I'm doing a course I'm adequate at, and I have no idea what I'm actually passionate about. Don't think I ever will.

 

Despite this, I still think i made the right decision coming to university. It shapes you and shows you a world that you never really thought about before. I've learned a lot about myself and how people work, even if I've learned nothing about post-colonial neo-marxism. Who cares about that shit anyway.

[nightwolf]

Well, I have had maaany thoughts about leaving the whole education fiasco.

 

I left school at 16, but have continued on at college doing a foundation art course. I've always thought about going to Uni, and I probably will - but its never ever appealled to me. I hated learning and sitting and tests, and I guess its just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I've also thought about taking a year out to work, but I worry if I don't get to uni soon, I will fall out of the education-thing way of thinking.

 

That said, at the moment, I have a job and attend college, so you don't always have to chose.

 

Why not take a design course similar to me? It's all course work based like in college, so no tests. Makes life alot easier.

 

I think you'd enjoy student life for some reason. But it's always nice to take a year out to truly see what you want.

[Ellmeister]

So glad I came university. No doubt about it in my mind. Besides I have more training once I leave university -_- YAY! more debt!

[Supergrunch]

i've been learning non-stop for 17 years now. That's... weird.

To be honest, I really like that idea. (although of course, 'tis only 16 years for me) But then I love learning for its own sake.

 

Regarding doing something you have a passion for: it took me a long time to find something I really loved doing, and it's great that I now have, but I fear that many people either don't have any real passions, or if they do, they're not academic ones. I don't think that should necessarily stop you going to university, provided you're doing something that you like some aspects of (well, this is presumably the case for the vast majority of uni-goers), but I think some people really don't suit higher education and would probably much prefer working. The government are making a mistake in trying to get 50% of people to go to university - far less than 50% of the population will actually get something worthwhile out of it.

[Letty]

Why not take a design course similar to me? It's all course work based like in college, so no tests. Makes life alot easier.

 

I think you'd enjoy student life for some reason. But it's always nice to take a year out to truly see what you want.

 

I'm really not into design, I much prefer the fine arts. Plus the course I'm on has no tests anyway ^^ (This was the main reason I applied in the first place. Exams destroyed 50% of my learning capacity.)

I also used to suffer short term memory loss, which made the whole fiasco the worst experience of my life.

 

tl;dr exams ftl

 

Anyway, bigging up da college! Woo!