Choosing a course.

gizmo111

Patrick20 wrote: »

Thats my main problem though. My main concern is that I end up at a job that has no real benifit except to line the pockets of billionaires. I want a job that provides some sort of service to society and one that i can enjoy aswell.

So social work? Teaching? Nursing?

Patrick20

Gizmo ive added more to that post above yours if you want to look over it again. Social Work could be an option though.

Patrick20

BTW if anyone knows, if applying through UCAS what is more important Grades or UCAS points. My Grades are terrible but I have 330 UCAS points which seems to be enough for alot of courses.

gizmo111

So teaching could be an option - or not being funny if you like building things then maybe a learning mentor with aspergers kids something along those lines.
Not too sure how UCAS works - but I know with the Social Work Degree in England experience is looked upon as well as qualifications. Scotland is different but I know no details.

atypical

Patrick20 wrote: »

BTW if anyone knows, if applying through UCAS what is more important Grades or UCAS points. My Grades are terrible but I have 330 UCAS points which seems to be enough for alot of courses.

Points tend to be used by the old polytechnics whereas the red bricks often will state grades required. Depending on the course they may even specify a certain grade required in a certain subject.

You're also best to check whether the university you want to apply to will accept general studies or key skills as part of your points, assuming you have qualifications in either.

Patrick20

Since my grades are quite weak maybe i could squeeze in a few highers before the next ucas application go in. I've missed the 2009 apps obviously so the next deadline to apply is jan 2010 and i would be starting a course aug/sept 2010. So hopefully ive not missed the deadline for higher applications.

Oldernotwiser

I can't see the advantage of throwing random ideas around with total strangers on a website compared to discussing your situation with a trained professional whose job it is to help someone in your position. You could have a general discussion with him/her initially and then go into more detail as you begin to narrow it down.

Hopefully a Careers Adviser, unlike the posters here, might ask you what subjects you took as Highers before discussing suitable courses!

olly300

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I can't see the advantage of throwing random ideas around with total strangers on a website compared to discussing your situation with a trained professional whose job it is to help someone in your position. You could have a general discussion with him/her initially and then go into more detail as you begin to narrow it down.

Hopefully a Careers Adviser, unlike the posters here, might ask you what subjects you took as Highers before discussing suitable courses!

I disagree.

Once the OP works out his interests and what possible jobs could lead on from them, then he should go and see a careers adviser.

However I agree it's a waste of time looking at courses until then.

I work and have worked with people, know people and have family and friends whose original A level/degree choices have absolutely nothing to do with their now careers.

Plus I only worked out what jobs I might like doing by talking to people who weren't close to me, and finding out why they liked their jobs, what the job basically involved and would they didn't enjoy or disliked about their job. People close to me (apart from one) had stereotypical ideas of careers I could go in to. And the careers advisers I talked to seemed intent on pushing me to do an engineering course because I was a girl good at science.

Oh and if you want to go into something involving people it's a good idea to try and do some voluntary work first if possible.

Lokolo

Although I slightly agree with Olly (cool name ) the OP has to be realistic. I like football but doesn't mean I should become a professional footballer.

Im not sure if the OP really has a decent idea to be honest. Leaving a supermarket job after 2 years, dropping out of HND course. He just seems to be wombling about picking something that looks interesting rather than career wise, which is pretty stupid unless you are rich and don't need to work.

When I chose my course I took careers and interests.

I like computers, gaming. I want to be a programmer for a career, good money and fun job.

Courses I could have gone on, Software Engineering, Computer Games Technology, Computer Games Programming.

I went for the latter. I now have a placement job at a decent company as a Software Engineer and hope to impress them for a chance at a graduate position. I start on Monday EEEEK.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk <-- for types of jobs

Oldernotwiser

olly300 wrote: »

I disagree.

Once the OP works out his interests and what possible jobs could lead on from them, then he should go and see a careers adviser.

.

But it's a large part of a Careers Advisers role to help the client work out his interests, strengths and priorities.

I agree totally about the voluntary work.