Worth going to Uni for IT Qual or look for Job in IT?

Tom|Nbk

Tom|Nbk

Tom|Nbk

Soldato
Joined
12 Mar 2006
Posts
23,133
Location
N.E England
Hey all atm I'm at college and looking to go into IT working around networking/systems support. I am currently studying A2 Applied IT DBL Award and Business Studies AS (Already have a GNVQ in Business).

Now the time has come where I will be leaving college very soon. I don't really feel keen to go to Uni. Is there a possibility i will come out over qualified for the job im after (networking tech/system support role) and end up in no better situation??. Really don't know where to go atm.

Wouldn't mind going into a Networking support role where I am on the move a lot (might be better than being stuck in an office) and have a driving license which would allow that, guess I would need a bit more exp for that though?, Advice would be great.
 
The Uni cost also puts me off and I would hate to dedicate 3 years of my life to it when I could have been working and ramping up those experience points ;)
 
Theirs all sorts of lines you can go into. I would go someone at your college about furthering your education and they will point you in the right direction, sort of if you live in the North West their is a company called Connexions.

Uni is a good start but their are hundreds of ways to get into the IT business, best way is (if you have great grades) check what BT have to offer.
 
Sinny said:
Theirs all sorts of lines you can go into. I would go someone at your college about furthering your education and they will point you in the right direction, sort of if you live in the North West their is a company called Connexions.

Uni is a good start but their are hundreds of ways to get into the IT business, best way is (if you have great grades) check what BT have to offer.
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Im in the North East and have heard of Connexions yes and dealt with them a few times will go check that out.

But I feel I could get a whord of useful information here first to start giving me some ideas :)
 
Tom|Nbk said:
The Uni cost also puts me off and I would hate to dedicate 3 years of my life to it when I could have been working and ramping up those experience points ;)
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If you want to save money live at home.


Student loan = £9k
Uni Bursary = £3k
Maintainence Grant = £2.4k

Total debt = £3.6k for me.
 
This question on these forums will always eventually open up the can of worms regarding to go to uni vs to get experience, as everyone tries to justify their career route was the best one. I went to uni and did CompSci and don't regret it at all. Having a degree for me at least, has opened doors that would otherwise be shut.

I would go to University (and live there) purely because the experience is amazing.
 
Energize said:
If you want to save money live at home.
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I completely agree.

Student loan = £9k
Uni Bursary = £3k
Maintainence Grant = £2.4k
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Errr you wont get that unless you fail like every means test out there. I get no bursary, no grant, and minimum loan. This is annoying as it means I have to make compromises I'd not otherwise need to make, such as chosing a 3.0 over a 4.4 :(
 
If you can afford to go to Uni then do it, and i mean go to uni. A lot of people will say stay home etc to save money, but i know people who have done this and its never the same experience (no offence to the people that are doing this, the ones i know are perfectly normal people if a little quiet). Uni isnt just the course or the job you get at the end, which a lot of people think it is. Its the entire experience, and mainly the people you meet. You should make life friends at uni, people you will grow up with, your peers, and i think thats what i will be glad of when i leave uni this year.. not the prospect of working in London, or for IBM, or wherever i decide to go.
 
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Bah what a dilema, I really wanted to start on the pay role, I don't fancy the prospect of poor student much longer...

What a dilema.
 
I am in pretty much the same situation right now, go to uni or try get a low level IT job and do things like comptia and or a cisco.
 
You are only 18, theres still a lot of time left. I went straight to uni out of sixth form, but im one of the youngest in our house. Loads of people take time out, or go and work for a year to help the financial side of uni funding.

I definitely wouldnt miss out on uni though in your 20s, unless you land the most amazing job ever that you could be in for the rest of your life and they wont let you do a degree.
 
gord said:
You are only 18, theres still a lot of time left. I went straight to uni out of sixth form, but im one of the youngest in our house. Loads of people take time out, or go and work for a year to help the financial side of uni funding.

I definitely wouldnt miss out on uni though in your 20s, unless you land the most amazing job ever that you could be in for the rest of your life and they wont let you do a degree.
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Aye, this is what I was thinking, if I took a year out gave it a go at finding some work and if it didn't work out go to Uni the next year?
 
analog said:
Not think you would find yourself not wanting to go to uni after a year out? that's what i worry about.
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Hmm.

Just looking at the BT apprenticeship site now..


Seen this kind of fits what I'd be after, plus you study a foundation degree in IT.

Installation And Support Technician (Higher) - £13,800 starting salary
Want to meet the major players? As a BT Global Services Technician, you'll be working on a number of sites, for some of the world's best-known businesses (so you'll need to look sharp). You'll also be working with the most sophisticated communications technology around, learning how to commission and maintain complex systems. You'll face fresh challenges each day, moving from one office and system to the next, sometimes at short notice. And with coaching from your mentors and managers, you'll work towards a foundation degree in Information Technology, too.

Required qualifications

5 GCSEs at grade C or above (or equivalent) and 2 A Levels (or Scottish Highers) at grade C or above (or equivalent). GCSEs must include English Language, Maths and either Computing, IT (or ICT), Physics or Combined Sciences plus 2 others.

A levels must be either Business Studies, Maths, Computing, IT, Physics or Combined Sciences plus 1 other.
 
Bah, that BT thing kicks me out as i do non of those subjects, i did IT but dropped it...silly me.

Out of interest where in the north east are you Tom? i am just outside of Sunderland.
 
analog said:
Not think you would find yourself not wanting to go to uni after a year out? that's what i worry about.
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I would say it is better to go to Uni when you want to rather than when you think you should. My sister was the polar opposite compared to me, she didnt want to go to uni after sixth form, she worked for several years and then went. It was actually one of her jobs that made her realise what she was missing.
 
analog said:
Bah, that BT thing kicks me out as i do non of those subjects, i did IT but dropped it...silly me.

Out of interest where in the north east are you Tom? i am just outside of Sunderland.
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Near Middlesborough, the only thing Im concerned about is I don't think I'll have two C grade A Levels, will have A Levels in Business and App IT but not sure about grade C.
 
Tom|Nbk said:
Near Middlesborough, the only thing Im concerned about is I don't think I'll have two C grade A Levels, will have A Levels in Business and App IT but not sure about grade C.
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:confused:Surely Uni requires stricter grades than the BT apprenticeship?
 
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