advise pls. University at 25!!!!!

Lokolo

Volcano wrote: »

The OP has applied for and been accepted for uni, worked out their finances and researched what their likely starting wage would be on graduation for their desired career path. A far greater amount of preparation than the vast bulk of 18 year olds who stumble into university because it's expected of them.

There's still nothing to suggest their chances of being successful are 'slim'.

No-one is gaurenteed a job when they graduate though.

Although I agree that he's making a righ decision I can't help but think he has rushed into things a little too fast. Good luck to him, but there are a lot of people on here who come on saying they can't afford to go back to second/third year because they rushed. Or they ended up doing a course they actually don't like and such.

But I guess everyone has their own opinions to whether he has done the right thing or not.

Nat172

Hi thanks for the replies.
to clear i have thought about uni for the last 4 years and never done it.
also yes it is design i want to get in to. the course im on for the 1st year is Building studies then intend to move onto the Interior design which specialises in CAD. im also thinking of offering my self free of charge say 8 hours a week to a relavent company for me to gain experiance tho i dont plan to do this until my finances are in place and i have a part time job.

Lokolo

Also if you haven't considered it, if its just you and the mrs living at home she can get single persons discount as you don't count as a payer being a fulltime student.

Oldernotwiser

Volcano wrote: »

vocation).

Talk to the university's career people (get an appointment with them if possible) they're best placed to know the career market, plus the advice will be free/v. cheap.


)

The university's Careers Service will usually only deal with existing students. If the do see potential students you need to be aware of a possible conflict of interest as it may be part of their job to fill courses. In this situation their advice may not be totally objective!

Oldernotwiser

Volcano wrote: »

One tactic with your existing company IF you do decide to go to uni: Tell them you're starting uni but you'll still be able to work X amount of hours for them. Tell them those hours will always have to fit around uni but you're willing to do them anyway. Then say if that's not acceptable to them, then you'll have no option but to hand in your notice. Plenty of companies have relented rather than lose an experienced staff member (don't do this unless you've made your mind up to go to uni whatever the outcome though!)

The OP works for the Prison Service; these sort of tactics would cut no ice there!

ajdj

Hi, just thought i'd let you know that I too am 25 and have just started uni after giving up a well paid job (but one i no longer enjoyed!).

One thing I would say is that unless you are totally dedicated to your subject and have a plan of action of what you intend to do with your degree then you should seriously think about whether uni is right for you.

It is nothing like going back to school, there is nobody to motivate you to go, or tell you off if you miss lectures! The workload will be heavy and you are expected to do wider reading in your own time. You will be surrounded by immature 18 year olds who are just there for a laugh and a joke and do their best to distrupt everyone else! Remember, most degree courses are 3 years- that's a long term commitment, especially if you are not really sure.

If you are sure you have found the right course and the right uni then just go for it and enjoy it!

Volcano

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The OP works for the Prison Service; these sort of tactics would cut no ice there!

I'd hope his management would be bright enough to see the benefit of retaining a valid staff member, even part time. If they're not, then there's another incentive to go to uni!

Oldernotwiser

Volcano wrote: »

I'd hope his management would be bright enough to see the benefit of retaining a valid staff member, even part time. If they're not, then there's another incentive to go to uni!

There isn't always that flexibility in something like the Prison Service and those sort of decisions may well be central policy, particularly when there's no shortage of recruits.

We have no way of knowing whether or not the OP is a valued member of staff; he sounds so demotivated that this may not be the case.

lrr_2

Ive just started uni at 36 years old, due to being made redundant I decided to get retrained in engineering and hopefully by the time I finish, jobs will be better. The way I see it I couldn't have picked a better time for training. Yes the class is full of people half my age but im there to give me and my daughter a better life at the end of it hopefully.

Oldernotwiser

lrr wrote: »

Ive just started uni at 36 years old, due to being made redundant I decided to get retrained in engineering and hopefully by the time I finish, jobs will be better. The way I see it I couldn't have picked a better time for training. Yes the class is full of people half my age but im there to give me and my daughter a better life at the end of it hopefully.

I agree with you totally and wish you all the very best with this. However, would you have given up a secure job to go to university at this time if you hadn't been made redundant?