Decision Time for me - need to get life in order

Conrad11

Conrad11

Conrad11

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12 Jun 2005
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Aite, basically I know I will get a lot of sarcasm in GD, but I'm willing to risk it on the off chance that someone actually provides me some useful information.

Basically, I'm 18, having just finished school and get my A Level results (A in Business, B in Maths, B in computing).

Didn't get the grades I wanted for my firm university (Bristol - Computer Science - AAB), but did get the grades for my insurance (UCL - Computer Science -ABB).

However, yesterday, as I was getting out the pub, someone from the Computer Science department phoned me and offered me an UNCONDITIONAL offer for next year (starting 2009), which means I wouldn't have to do any retakes or anything like that.

So as it stands, I can either:

Go to UCL, my backup or take a gap year and go to Bristol next year.

I've been to UCL before, and I didn't like it particularly. The buildings were crummy, everyone looked depressed. Also its the fact its in London which means its more expensive etc (yeah i am aware that the social life *MIGHT* be better). I have applied for student finance as if I was going to Bristol so I wouldn't get a much financial support as others (unless this can be changed?). I was intent on going to Bristol uni.

If I take the gap year, I have a year where I can work etc. Chances are I will have to move out anyways, so I can't get the cheap rent with parents situation. I would have to go into full-time work (which i am happy with), but chances are it will be a £5/hour retail-type job as I have never had a real job before (so CV will be pretty dull). I have no savings, no car, no money, no valuable possessions.

I've done some quick sums and if I move out I will not have enough money to support myself even if I do get a job and I am sure there are costs I haven't even considered.

I literally have today to get back to Bristol with my decision as they need to tell UCL as UCL are still holding my offer.

So what would you do in my situation?
 
I'd hold off for a year. As you've said you didn't like the backup Uni and your going to be spending a lot of time there coupled with the fact you think you won't have the money to get through it comfortably that can completly ruin the experience.

Before you know it, it'll be 2009 and you'll be starting uni. Working will give you a bit of a chance to grow up and get some savings too.
 
I'd go with Bristol. A year out is a useful thing - take a look at an employment agency, if you can type you're usually a shoe-in for a slightly better job than retail (at least round here). Any reason in particular you can't stay with your parents?
 
I took a year out and worked to gain a bit of industry experience off my own back.

I then went to Bournemouth University to study Business IT.

Life is expensive. There's no harm in taking a year out.

My only advise to my younger self would to be extremely money conscious and budget not just for now, but for the future. Spending your student loan on drinking and a Video Card for the PC isn't the way to go.

Sort yourself out an expenditure spreadsheet to open your eyes up to the costs ahead.
 
Take a gap year and go to Bristol, it'll be worth it.

That way you get to go to the university you wanted to go to and also get the chance to make some money and/or take a break and do something interesting in your gap year.
 
Take a year out, stay at home and save up to offset some of the uni expenses. Try to avoid a student loan if you can.
 
I agree that you should do what will make you happy and if that is Bristol, great, delay it but i do have two comments:

Have you really pleaded with Bristol to take you now? Worth a go.

Secondly, London is fantastic, I know people that were at UCL (I went to one of the University of London unis that is sort of outside London) and they loved it and I always had a great time visiting. That said Bristol is very nice if you can stand the accent.
 
Masterdog said:
I'd go with Bristol. A year out is a useful thing - take a look at an employment agency, if you can type you're usually a shoe-in for a slightly better job than retail (at least round here). Any reason in particular you can't stay with your parents?
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I've weighed out the pro's and cons.

Pros:
- I liked bristol, department and people seemed friendly.
- Its somewhere else, not in London.
- Possibly cheaper.
- Better Comp Science department (unsure if this is actually true).

Cons:
- UCL is higher in the rankings (not that it matters).
- Means I will have a year out of education, will I be able to cope with going back into education after a year out? I mean the actual course material.
- Possibly higher fees next year?
- Parents want me to go to UNI this year. Chances are I will have to move out and find my own place.


The reason I may have to move out is due to the fact that I don't really get on with my parents and they don't really want me here. It would also mean I would have to adhere to strict rules (can't do it any more). I also got the impression that they were looking to sell the house and move somewhere smaller. This is because my brother is leaving in 10 days. If I do stay in the house, the rent is likely to get around £400/month with includes bills (use of utility's in a certain timespan) but likely not meals.
 
Ye i would deffo take a year out.

Also the fact that you have said you have never really worked would also make me say do the gap year.

That time will give you a chance to grow up, and realise how much you do not want those £5 jobs and how much uni will mean to you to do well!

Or go travelling! But ye, wait for Bristol
 
You lost me at 'aite'. What is this ghetto talk?

I think that either option would be better than most people will have. That being said, I'd go for London. A year is a long time to work, London is a great city and (having studied there myself) Bristol isn't that much of a fantastic city.

Obviously this is an opinion. Bristol is nice, but after 3 years there it became very 'samey'. It's big, yes, but to fill three years? Not that big, IMO.

Bristol is full of snobs, too. I wouldn't go with the 'aite' option with them! :p
 
If the living at home option is out for the next year I would do my best to get in to any this year. You will make friends whichever uni you go to, and this is a better option than passing the time for a year. It is not the quality of the Uni that matters to some extent, it is the people you meet and how you experience university life.
 
Go to www.yini.org.uk

Its a company which organise year in industry placements for pre-university students. I did the same, not only will it be a job, it will be a job related to your field of study. I did one and it has helped me gain sponsorship for my degree! Most of the placements are engineering/computing based so it could be good for you. You maybe a bit late but there are always placements available so its worth a try. Trust me, its the best thing I've ever done for my career.
 
Loosecannon said:
If the living at home option is out for the next year I would do my best to get in at Bristol this year. You will make friends whichever uni you go to, and this is a better option than passing the time for a year. It is not the quality of the Uni that matters to some extent, it is the people you meet and how you experience university life.
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It's not that I would have trouble meetings new people. I'm a very outgoing and sociable person and I'm one of those people that can get on with anyone(/stand them) regardless or race or sex.

....yeah I am fully aware that the above statement doesn't fit well to the stereo-typed computer science student
 
Well personally I adore Bristol, I came here to study in 2002, graduated 2006, haven't left.

The accent generally isn't a problem, I find it sort of cute. Odd really. Very friendly people.

I know London well enough, I have friends there, and used to live about half-an-hour's train-ride from King's Cross, so I used to go for day trips and shopping there fairly often. I realise this is the tourist side rather than the living the London life - but still, meh.

I don't think a year is that long. What you'll find is that you'll work 9-5 and enjoy the money plus use some of it to take yourself away on a couple of holidays maybe, and then you'll get to uni and really enjoy the chance to break with routine - plus having worked for real, coursework will feel much easier to just get on with.

The parents thing doesn't sound like much fun, I must admit. I can't help you with that one...

But with my experience and faced with your situation, I would wait for Bristol. I've had a blast and am still having one :)
 
Fergie said:
Go to www.yini.org.uk

Its a company which organise year in industry placements for pre-university students. I did the same, not only will it be a job, it will be a job related to your field of study. I did one and it has helped me gain sponsorship for my degree! Most of the placements are engineering/computing based so it could be good for you. You maybe a bit late but there are always placements available so its worth a try. Trust me, its the best thing I've ever done for my career.
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Definitely good advice, give it a go.
 
sara said:
What you'll find is that you'll work 9-5 and enjoy the money plus use some of it to take yourself away on a couple of holidays maybe, and then you'll get to uni and really enjoy the chance to break with routine - plus having worked for real, coursework will feel much easier to just get on with.
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Enjoy what money? That was what I was getting at. I'm not to keyed up on the whole "cost of living" situation, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't be able to afford it let alone have any "spare" money, so I'm pretty sure it will be a year of "just getting by".
 
It depends on the year out... Do you have friends not going to uni? How would you find life in the gap year? They are the questions you need to ask.

If you can survive the gap year then do it. But the actual university isnt everything.

I do admit I wouldn't want to go to a London Uni.
 
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