What was your education path?

danza · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:24

GCSEs > A-Levels (bummed about and flunked) > Employment as apprentice > C&G/NVQ Level 2 > C&G/NVQ Level 3 > HND (level 5 - in 3rd year of 4) > ???

Derek W · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:31

OriginalJonty said:
After GCSE's I studied my A Levels, from there I progressed to university and now work in a job that has nothing to do with what I studied but interesting nonetheless.

I've never understood this route. you study one thing and do something entirely different. Although saying that out of my uni class of about 20 or so i think only about 4 or 5 of us are actually doing what we studied for.

School - Standard Grades > Highers > Uni > Job

Initially studied architecture but failed the final project, changed uni's and did Architectural Technology. Worked in a Fife architects for 3 years, moved home and been here almost 4 years now.

krooton · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:37

Derek W said:
I've never understood this route. you study one thing and do something entirely different. Although saying that out of my uni class of about 20 or so i think only about 4 or 5 of us are actually doing what we studied for.

Having a degree shows employees that you can apply yourself, it's like getting a bunch of positive feedbacks in the Ebay job market.

aln · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:38

Freelanc3r said:
It seems the 'normal' way is to study in higher education at local colleges/upper 6ths then potentially move onto uni. I can't help but think a lot of students do this because they're not ready for employment/responsibility, which is a pretty common I think lol.

Thats why I went to college. That and just not wanting to do the jobs I thought I'd have to do if I didn't. I had no idea how we were supposed to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives as children, with no life experience, and no real understanding of what life really is like. My outlook is different now, but thats come with the experience I did not have previously.

NC -> HNC -> HND -> BSc -> Work -> MSc (p/t current)

I'm glad I have the options it has given me.

Zefan · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:39

Freelanc3r said:
It seems the 'normal' way is to study in higher education at local colleges/upper 6ths then potentially move onto uni. I can't help but think a lot of students do this because they're not ready for employment/responsibility, which is a pretty common I think lol.

That's what I did. I did poorly at A level due to being immature and not taking it seriously enough. Somehow I managed to scrape into uni, I thought I really wanted to be there but in the end it worked out to be exactly what you describe, I just wasn't ready to grow up.

Dave · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:41

I've had a slightly odd path from living in France as a teenager. Missed out on GCSEs, but then did the International Baccalaureate, MEng degree in Chemical Engineering and have now progressed onto PhD in the same discipline. I do computational work so I'm self-teaching myself a couple of programming languages (Python and good old Fortran) and bumping my maths up a little more.

4Play · 2 Mar 2011 at 13:50

GCSE's, 4 A levels, LLB Law Degree graduate. Now im working in a bank totally the opposite to what I would have seen myself doing lol. Though I am very grateful to have a full time job that has good hours and pays well at 21 so.

I think the main ingredients for success are experience and blooming hardwork with a touch of luck mixed in as well.

Freelanc3r · 2 Mar 2011 at 16:10

Zefan said:
That's what I did. I did poorly at A level due to being immature and not taking it seriously enough. Somehow I managed to scrape into uni, I thought I really wanted to be there but in the end it worked out to be exactly what you describe, I just wasn't ready to grow up.

Seems that way with the majority of people attending my college, and most seem to be doing 'micky mouse' degrees at Uni's which aren't that great. Extension of your social life isn't worth a tonne of debt imo lol, as that's the way they're seeing it, partytime.

I'm currently studying AS levels, which I don't enjoy that much and admiteddly I could try harder.
Apprenticeships in electrical engineering are looking fairly appealing... or full time at OcUK

j0s · 2 Mar 2011 at 16:22

GCSE's > job > worked up the ladder > set up own company.

with a dash of unemployment mixed in

Raptor · 2 Mar 2011 at 16:31

GCE's > Work/Apprentice leading to HNC electronics > HND electronics > recently BSc Computing and IT
Not sure what to do next, maybe post gradute course, I like to keep busy.

Mr^B · 2 Mar 2011 at 16:45

Derek W said:
I've never understood this route. you study one thing and do something entirely different. Although saying that out of my uni class of about 20 or so i think only about 4 or 5 of us are actually doing what we studied for.

You might study something because it's interesting to you - university degree choices shouldn't necessarily be vocational, and traditionally they never were. My degree has very little to do with what I actually do, I just found it interesting and it was nice to to spend 3 years studying it.

Derek W · 2 Mar 2011 at 17:49

krooton said:
Having a degree shows employees that you can apply yourself, it's like getting a bunch of positive feedbacks in the Ebay job market.

Mr^B said:
You might study something because it's interesting to you - university degree choices shouldn't necessarily be vocational, and traditionally they never were. My degree has very little to do with what I actually do, I just found it interesting and it was nice to to spend 3 years studying it.

I think i may be one of the few people that knew what i wanted to do when i went to uni rather than do something which interests me then go off on a tangent afterward.

DAnDan · 2 Mar 2011 at 17:51

Derek W said:
I think i may be one of the few people that knew what i wanted to do when i went to uni rather than do something which interests me then go off on a tangent afterward.

I knew what I wanted to do from quite young, and now I'm doing it I'm actually enjoying it still, shocking right!?

My path was;

GCSEs -> A-levels -> MChem in Chemistry (Currenty in year 2 of 4) -> Hopefully a Phd after.

PikeyPriest · 2 Mar 2011 at 17:56

GCSEs -> A-levels -> MBBS -> Bsc (intercalated) -> Finish MBBS

I`m sure a MD or PhD will follow eventually, but I need to earn money first!

Glaucus · 2 Mar 2011 at 17:56

GCSE > A levels > Degree
Then did a job, which you need no qaulifications for. Tried applying for lots of training jobs/degrees within the company, but I suck at interviews. Managed to go up the ladder one rung, but need two more rings before I think I'll be happier at work.
Or I need to find some capital to become a small food producer and build up from part time to full time.

Kemik · 2 Mar 2011 at 17:58

A Levels -> BA (Hons) Accounting -> Chartered Accountant (ICAS) & Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) - Half way through. No gap years yet!

mrbios · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:02

GCSEs > College BTEC crap > worked part time supermarket job > 6months unemployeed enjoying a career as a semi-pro gamer (lol) > Full time work in IT

In each step the same applies:
Lots of mates but few proper friends during GCSEs > a dozen close friends during college > a handful of friends > just online friends > a **** loads of friends, a missus, a big house and a child

Needless to say a proper career is what my life needed!

jakejacob0 · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:04

straight to uni then onto an ACA course

skippy2421 · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:11

GCSE's > A-levels > Bsc (Hons) Mathematics (doing third year now) > hopefully a job of some sort.

Pawnless Endgame · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:27

10 GCSEs > 4 A levels > uni degree including a sandwich year.

I think I should had stopped after my A levels because my degree showed no relevance to any of my jobs, nor did any of my jobs required any sort of degree.

I am currently doing an NVQ level 3 while I'm working, so at least I'll be able to update my CV both work-wise and education-wise. I think this is important because I don't think anyone will be interested in GCSEs / A levels that I took in the mid-90s.