in a nut shell... can I still go to uni? - is it a good idea?

[R B Customs]

Yes, 'to the internet' and all that... but I’m having a mid-life-crisis…

I'm 21, and since I was in sixth form, studying double art, media and photography I decided that I did not want to go to university. That was when I was about 16-17 yrs

I left sixth form with good grades, and worked for my self for a while before I pretty much walked into the best job I could have wished for, the company I worked for went bust (credit crunch) and that was the end of that. I still work for my self amongst other things but only recently have I started entertaining the idea of going to university. My mother mentioned it in passing conversation ‘why don’t you go to university while you still can’ and it’s got me thinking further.

The idea of needing a qualification to do the things I could already do so well just did not sit right with me when I was in sixth form. At the time I made the right choice, but now looking back I’m starting to wonder why I did not go down a different route.

My worries are that when I was at sixth form I skipped all of the university ‘stuff’; enrolment, research, looking for courses and everything like that. I pretty much know nothing about university and I only know one person (my girlfriend) that goes. I don’t understand how it works, how I join or even where to look. I still can’t grasp how people find out about courses in uni’s miles and miles away and how some courses are reputed better than others.

My fears are that I'll be taking a big step backwards. It will be odd coming out of a full time job, out of self employment and then going to uni’. I've got a car, a few outgoings and a nice setup, but I think this is about my last chance to go to uni’.

The biggest problem for me will be starting university as my girlfriend is finishing. I’ve never intended to go to uni’, and we have always kind of been waiting for her to finish training as a teacher and settle into a job; Then we could start making plans.
Me going to uni’ now would be a big set back, but at the same time It could give me the slips of paper I need to bring even more to the table.

I've had a quick google about, but all of the things I'm reading is just like a foreign language. I don’t know which courses are which, what prior qualifications I need or anything. I just don’t understand how the whole thing works.

My main questions are:
1. At 21, self employed and having recently been made redundant from a full time dream job - can I get into university in the same manner as I could have a few year ago when I as leaving sixth form? Or am I now classed as a ‘mature student’?

2. Is it possible / feasible to attend full time university without having to sacrifice some of my current life’s little luxuries? (car, phone, projector etc) My family have a few funds put to one side for me for uni’, and I would like to keep borrowing to a minimum.

The path I’m looking down is that of an Art teacher in secondary school. I’ve googled it but it is still just not making much sense. I’ve just called my girlfriend (yea at 1AM lol) to ask her about her teacher course. She is always telling me about it but I’ve never understood what she has been banging on about. And the path she took towards becoming a teacher seems to be totally different from the paths I have been researching. She has done some stuff about child, health and social care. And is now doing her dissertation, then a PGCE. (The PGCE, as far as I can tell ‘turns her into’ a teacher :S)

I realise I probably sound completely thick with these questions, but honestly it seems like it was SO long ago when I last looked into going to university and I cannot remember a thing about it! I know I should go and see someone in person to ask them but I’d like some input, suggestions and opinions on the matter from people who have been, attending or due to attend university; Especially those heading towards a career in education.


cheers,
Rick

 

[R B Customs]

Hi all,

First off thanks for the replies and support, much appreciated. I’ve let it mull over for a few days and talked to some of those close to me. I realise now that it’s not too late to go to uni’ in the grand scheme of things. But that’s how it feels to me now. It kind of feels like a ‘now or never’ type thing.

I’ve talked it over, and done some more digging and realised how a lot of the qualifications work now and some of the lingo is making more sense.

I’ts not that I have changed my mind from a teaching path already but I’d like to explore a course in something that I have always dreamt of, and did not know existed. I guess I’ve chosen something that I’m following my heart, rather than my head. If I knew it existed back when I was in sixth form I probably would not be asking these questions as I’d be living in Bolton, at university. In a way though I’m glad I;ve had these few gap years as it just puts me in a much better position than I would have been – since school I’ve developed my skill to a much higher level, and this will only help.

From what people here have told me, I can do a degree in whatever I like and if I need to, I can apply for a PGCE and fall back on teaching. So IF all went completely wrong, which I’m sure it will not. I c an always do a PGCE and head for my second choice.

The course I am going after is a course in special effects development, in particular special effects makeup. I found a handful of uni’s that do similar courses but they all looked a bit ‘Mickey Mouse’, not quite what I was looking for. I’ve found one which just looks great. It’s exactly the sort of thing I’m after.

A few people around me are not too pleased with me potentially moving away, as it was a bit unexpected. I’m not 100% sure how I will cope but I see this as an opportunity, and so do others so I’m well supported. I know lots of people move away for uni’, but I still think it would have been easier a few years ago. I’m a total home-bird so it’s gonna be tough!

With my lack of university know-how I have left it a little too late, but I am in contact with said university; trying to work something out. I know that they are still taking applications for this course. And I’ve been told these speciality type course normally leave applications open for a long time and prefer applicants with suitable backgrounds, rather than those who only meet the requirements.

While it is a good idea to do what you want, it's not quite the case that you should be suckered in by New Labour trying to shove everybody into higher education.

You might also have to get A-Levels in order to get into some degrees (I'm guessing the ones at better universities). Fees are rising to stupid levels as is e.g. rent. A degree, even at 1st class isn't always determinant of a job (for which it sounds like you need further training). The degree in question doesn't always have a direct job after it. Radiotherapy has a clearer path if that makes any sense. It sounds like you're at the beginning of your decision making, but just some more points to think about.

I think I have all the grades I need to go down the teaching / special effects route. I certainly have the perfect prior experience to line me up for a SFX course! The SFX route does not have a secure end. It’s a risk I am willing to take though. I’m sure I will find the job I want and I’m confident I will be a well noted student on the course.

So while it doesn’t have a direct 9-5 job, it has the potential for one of the best jobs I could imagine. (even better than my previous job, which was a dream come true also )

Technically you would be classed as a mature student as you aren't going straight to uni from 6th form/ college. I'm in my first year doing a degree in Primary Education.

A PGCE is a post grad certificate in education, which means you would need to do a degree in a subject based degree, which could be art, and then do a year doing the PGCE making a total of 4 years.

Or you could get a straight QTS degree in secondary education which is Qualified Teacher Status, meaning you would only need to do a 3 year degree and would be qualified. There aren't many with art specialisms so a design & technology specialism would be the closest thing.

Ucas is the place to search for all the courses available at all of the uni's in the country.
these are the courses available for secondary education with QTS (sorry the links long)
http://search.ucas.co.uk/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/DIrnvotIWN3Kss1Db6T2HKifRXshs-4a5w/HAHTpage/search.HsSearch.submitForm?txtSubject=secondary+Education&cmbQual=&cmbAttend=&cmbInst=&chkQTS=Y&button1.x=30&button1.y=8

You can get assistance with finance from student finance, its all online, no you wouldn't need to give up your phone or car
Usually you need a certain amount of "points" from your a-levels to get in (these differ uni to uni look at entry requirements) and an english maths and science GCSE grade C or above.

And I'm in my first year as my boyfriends graduating, it's working fine for us. x

Thanks, this has been very helpful. My girlfriend is doing her degree at the moment and then she’s doing a PGCE. She is always telling me that they are very sought after so I had not considered it before. She had not set out to be a teacher, so did not go down the QTS route.

I’m now registered with UCAS and in contact with them, I’m also due to get help from my mothers colleague (she’s a teacher and is good friends with the schools resident uni’ expert, I only just found this out)
So far people have been very helpful! Even my old exams officer at my old school has helped fill in some educational grade gaps.

My girlfriend is setup to be working in about a year and a half’s time if all goes to plan. It’s gonna be really hard being away, but lots of people manage it. And it’s not as if we have to communicate my telegraph these days is it! The good thing is that she will also get the holy grail of holidays! Which should match up roughly with mine.

Go around uni websites, maybe check a listing of the top rated uni's for the kind of course you want to do(google for uni rankings , most sites talking of them will have various lists of whose best in what subjects), then go through the sites, see which places you like, might like to live, if the course is what you expect. Narrow it down to a few places and then go have a look around on an open day, go with a friend on random day, check out the local area.

As much as you might like a uni if its in a small town with very little nightlife and you want to go clubbing every night you might hate it and not enjoying 3-4 years for the sake of a course will probably suck for you. Likewise if you want a quiet setting then a uni with the halls in the middle of a busy area of london with pubs/clubs all around which is constantly noisey might drive you crazy.

Basically don't base your choice entirely on the course, have a look around the area and decide if you can enjoy living there.

I’m getting a better feel for the information displayed on the websites now. Before it was just gobble-de-gook!
As for the surrounding area, I’m not a very outgoing person. I’m not a hermit lol btu I prefer a social drink in a quiet pub rather than an all night booze-up in a night club. I’m safe in the knowledge that I wont do the ‘student thing’ and waste my money on intoxicating myself!

Unfortunately, the courses I am now looking at are few and far between, so I’m pretty stuck with the location.


I’m making enquires and calls today about:

-accommodation
-finance
-fees
-transport


Does anyone know anything about the Bolton area? Or can anyone recommend websites for accommodation? I’ve already come to terms with the fact that I’ll probably have to leave my snakes and frogs here  I guess ‘pets’ all depend on the land-lords yea?

 

[R B Customs]

TL;DR

+1

++1

Wow, that's extremly helpful. I'm so thrilled that your post-counts are now plus one.

Thanks again to the people who have taken the time to read and contribute.

the uni has just called me back, had a good chat with one of the guys there who is going to email me the course leaders details so I can talk to him for more info.

 

[R B Customs]

I think just being a mature student helps a lot.

A large portion of undergrads are most likely there because its probably the right thing to do, their parents went, their mates went, the teachers at school have encouraged them to go to uni etc... a lot of them will mess about in the 1st year, less so in the 2nd year and then work their ass off at the last minute to scrape a 2.1 or 2.2 in their last year. Quite a few will also drop out along the way.

Mature students tend to have worked for a bit, decided that their 9-5 job is really really **** and are now highly motivated to do something about it - if they can work 9-5 doing something very dull then they can certainly work those hours studying something they are interested in. Basically unis do like mature students as they will tend to do well and will stick with the course.

you know, this sounds so true!

A lot of my friends at school went to uni and I could tell that they were doing it just because their mates were. yea, It's a bonus if you happen to be friends with someone who is going tot he uni you are - but why follow them?

a lot of my mats are not enjoying what they are doing by the sounds of it. a very large amount of people went off to do 'computer forensics' just because it 'sounded cool' and now hate it!

I do have a genuine, deep down interest in this SFX course though It had not occure to me because I did not know it existed. onl came accross it while browsing the UCAS site.


thanks

 

[R B Customs]

I'm also 21 and in a very similar position, I wasn't ready for uni at 17/18, so I've been working for a couple of years and now I feel that I'm ready and if I want to go, I should go now. I just don't know if it'll be worth the big debt considering I would be far from guaranteed a job at the end of the course. Hard decision.

which route are you looking at mate? what happened when you were 17/18?

If I were you I'd go as you were. I can't see them taking you seriously if you turned up in a nutshell.

thing is mate, the nut cracker is in the utility draw, can;t quite get to it :S

 

[R B Customs]

If you have worked for three years or more since leaving sixth form and can proove it (i.e payslips) then you are not a 'Mature Student' (this usually applies to those over 25) - you are actually an INDEPENDENT STUDENT and subsequently any loans you receive will be calculated based on YOUR income and not your parents. Thus - you can effectively get a shed load of cash plus an 'access to higer education grant' (£1000 per year NON repayable).

I went to uni at 22 and graduated last sept with a 2:1. Hands down the BESt thing i ever did and i miss it dreadfully ever since.

Go and speak with your local COnnexions office - they helped me choose a course, apply for loans, apply for uni and basically get into uni. I cannot thank them enough for their help. Its not hard but a helping hand is always good.

Oh and visit the UCAS website for all the info you need.

Go to uni, ignore the student haters on here as you will likely end up paying their wages in the future. IT IS hard work provided you dont choose a micky mouse subject and it will set you up for life. Just make sure you do a subject that interests you. My last year was seriously difficult but ended in a 200 page dissertation which got me my desired grades. Sure there is a lot of time to **** around and have a great time but you have to work hard and play hard to get on properly. However, i do agree that the first year of uni is a complete **** up and one which should be spent mostly drunk / naked and or covered in girls - jam optional.

Enjoy the many many many beers, funny nights out, great friends and the independence.

I've just found this out when I called the student finance people. he was asking about my employment and I was trying to figure out why he was asking as he seemed to be trying to tell me that being an independent student was a good thing - without just telling me straight.

I've been working for 3 years but I explained to him that I could not prove the first year, only the last 2. as my wages were paid cash in hand - generally not very well organised. he said just try your best to prove it - get notes from parents, employers - anything. how deep do they look into it? as I said, I fit the bill but proving it is going to be hard so I may have to blag it in one form or another.

it does mean I'd have a lot more open to me if I can prove it. My parents are both in good jobs and I come from a good background so I would not get very much in that case. The savings put aside for me have proved to be not as grand as I was lead to believe but they will help none the less.




I've never understood where students get the money for booze! looking at the finances so far, I don't know where my 'spending money' will come from.

as I said befoe though, I'm not that interested int he social life. yea I'm sure it is unavoidable and I will have the odd night out but on the whole I think I'd rather spend any spare time back home, working or at study.

I'm looking forward to it to be honest. My girlfriend is still gutted at the idea though. she knows it's for the best. we're still young! still got SO much time left.