uni?

kacie

I'm currently doing a diploma in childcare and education, and recently we went to a UCAs fair to collect prospectus but i've never really wanted to go to uni. Now i'm not sure if i want to go or not. I'm doing a level 3 so i should be able to get a good job just with that, but if i go to uni i could go into more specialised areas, but i not sure if i could commit to several more years of education - as i've never really enjoyed it and i'm not that good at essays. Plus its really expensive, and i could hopefully but a house in the time that i would of spent at uni. I'll be almost 22 when i finsh this course and i'm not sure if i would fit in or not.

Any thoughts welcome on the subject to help me choose

Nicifer_noonoo

I was 22 when I started my degree (this year) and I fit in fine There are four of us on my course, aged 19, 22, 37 and 48. There's a huge mix of people at university - everyone fits in somewhere

Gingernutmeg

Couldn't you go into more specialised areas with 'on the job' training, which would be more practically based, or training through specialist accredited courses? Seems like there isn't much about the work side at uni that you'd really enjoy, given that *most* courses will have a fairly theoretical basis in the first year at least, which usually means a fair bit of written work. If there's a particular specialist area that you want to go into, it might be worth looking at the training routes into that - a degree might not be the best option.

Also, not going to uni now doesn't mean that you'll never be able to go. If you've had enough of education for a while, then leave it, work, earn money and reassess the situation in a couple of years when you're more focused on what areas you really want to know more about. Uni IS expensive ... I personally think that if you're not sure, it's better to wait rather than get into debt for something you're not totally committed to.

G-G_4

If you don't do it then you need to ask yourself whether you will regret it or not?

I am 24 and going uni next year when I will be 26, shud be great fun

x

kacie

i have to look into the on-the -job training

aqueoushumour01

when I was in my first year, I was a year older than everyone else but that was no disadvantage.

Whatever age you are there is always going to be the trade off between going to uni and missing out on some income for a few years and going into work and making money.

There is a lot of financial help available and although you'll have to pay back loans/tuition fees, it's taken straight from the wage and so isn't that noticeable. In theory, you should be able to command a better wage when you graduate and, if you wanted to get into something else, a degree would make you more marketable.

merlinormartin

I think you have to decide what area of "childcare" you want to work, if you want to work in the early years sector with a direct hands on role then i suggest not going to uni, but your wage will probably be around £13k ... you will be able to work your way up to "management" with your diploma but the governement have recently introduced the new EYPS(early years professional status) and they plan to have a person with EYPS leading every early year setting by 2015 but you need a degree or foundation degree to gain the EYPS status. Or you could go to uni for 4 years and become a early years teacher with a starting wage of around £21k... personally i would go to uni, i loved every minute of my degree; it makes you grow in so many ways not just academically. The money aspect can be daunting but you may be able to get grants/bursarys etc from your local council and uni. You can also apply for a student loan that you dont start to repay until you earn over £15k or so.

Good luck with your decision!

foreign_correspondent

it may be worth looking at the ope universsity - you can study from home, whilst you work - and they have some very good childhood and youth studies courses, which can either be taken alone, or as modules towards a degree in childhood and youth

Dwayne_Quest

I am in my first year of University and I am 21; it is more of an advantage than a hinderance. Don't let your age put you off going.

kacie

i don't think OU would be for me, i get distracted to easily from home. I'm not sure of what area i want to go in yet.