Should I be going to university?

Immaturity

Sorry if this is in the wrong area. Well basically I have an offer from York and Durham universiy to study economics but now the more
I think about the less I want to actually go. 1) I am desperate to set up my own business 2) I see 21k worth of debt written all over it. Where I could get it from the OU for free whilst working. Hmmmm. 3) I am becoming increasingly fed up of a levels also which makes me question whether I can put up another three years of this. Sorry about fluency a d gramme of he post as it was carries out on my iPod touch.

bodmil

1) It might be difficult to start up a business straight from school. Do you have any experience or help you can call on for this?
2) You don't need to be in that much debt, you can work part time term time and full time in the holidays (and should do to gain experience for grad jobs) and have considerable savings by the time you've finished. And it's not as if the debt is hanging over your head, you pay it back as you earn.
3) Exam time is always stressful, so that may pass.

Have you thought about a gap year to save up some money and weigh up your options? Make 2 five year plans, one as if you go to university and one if you don't. Have a look at the jobs you would expect to get, your earnings, your lifestyle, input your desires now and in the future and see which route provides for those in the short, medium and long term.

mountainofdebt

Why do you think you would your get your OU fees paid for you?

Oldernotwiser

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Why do you think you would your get your OU fees paid for you?

It would be very unlikely that someone of 18, just starting a business, would earn above the income threshold for paying OU fees.

OP, I would consider contacting your university of choice to ask if you could defer for a year. You could then try to start your business but have a fallback plan if this wasn't successful.

SarEl

I would agree that a deferred year might be a good option. You have been accepted to two very good universities and throwing them over now because you are bored with studying, to start a new business that may very well fail (the majority do!) at 18 is making some very "final decisions" for the rest of your life based on hopes and prayers.

Despite lengthy threads to the contrary on here, higher education, especially from good universities, is not a waste of time. I have four degrees (one undergraduate, two Masters and a PhD) and I have never regretted either the syudying nor the fact that they have got me into and kept me in very well paid employment for my entire working life. Along with working hard of course - the degree isn't a free pass!

Premier_2

Immaturity wrote: »

Should I be going to university?

Probably not ... at least not at the moment.

There's quite a significant number who drop out of university after they commence; if your heart is not even set on going in the first place I wouldn't bother - leave the space for those that want to be there.
I won't even go into the financial cost of quitting with nothing to show for it.
Also, showing you are a quitter, or just indecisive in what you want, will not look good to any prospective employer (should your idea of being self employed not get off the ground or take longer than expected)

You've your whole life to go to university should you later decide it is what you want to do

LindsayO

I think deferring for a year is a great idea, my daughter deferred twice, so took two years out between school and uni, and worked ofr a year and travelled for a year and came back and is loving her course and has definite plan for a career after she graduates.

I've also seen alot of students who do not enjoy university and just kind of drift into it and then drop out. On the other hand there are many who go and find that it is so different from school that they really enjoy their studies after being fed up with studying in school

So if I were you I'd defer for a year (if you can), give my business idea a real try for a year and then decide.

David_Brent

It really depends on you..Some people decide to take a year out and can manage to get back into 'study mode' but my friend after getting good A Levels took a year out then extended to another year to work abroad then started university and dropped out after the first few months as he said he couldn't get back into the swing of things such as having to do essays and exams again, and not earning any money thus being skint all the time.