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

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




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

I have my A-levels so I assume they will still count for something, but at 17/18 I just wasn't mature enough to endure more education and support myself I don't think, didn't feel as though it was what I wanted at that time really. I feel more ready to learn and I have a new-found maturity in regards to wanting to learn now, so hopefully I'll see it through if I decide to go.
 
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.

I'm the same age and didnt choose to goto uni even tho i would have loved to.

I feel if i went now i couldnt stand being there for 3 more years(leaving at 24)while the rest of my friends would have already left uni 4 years ago and have got decent jobs. I would be always 1 step behind them.
 
I do believe you can however you'll find travelling to and from uni and actually learning at uni would be rather difficult in a nutshell also finding one big enough would be your first problem.
 
I have my A-levels so I assume they will still count for something, but at 17/18 I just wasn't mature enough to endure more education and support myself I don't think, didn't feel as though it was what I wanted at that time really. I feel more ready to learn and I have a new-found maturity in regards to wanting to learn now, so hopefully I'll see it through if I decide to go.

See post #6 because it could be you.

What A Levels have you got?
 
only thing someone told me was, if you go from job to uni you quickly miss the income, so makeusre you have cash saved or are prepared to live on less cash :D
 
My family have a few funds put to one side for me for uni’, and I would like to keep borrowing to a minimum.

Why? Borrow every pence of the student loan you can get. It's the cheapest debt you'll ever find and you don't pay it back til you're earning greater than £15,000 a year.
 
Tell me about it, its not so bad between student loan and job but if you don't have a decent part time income its going to hurt.

ps. I am 30 and planning on starting Uni this September, if your over the hill at 21 I may as well be put down. :(
 
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.
 
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.
 
DO IT. Get as much proof as you can really mate - notes and all that are good. At the end of the day they cdont go in to it very deeply and they would rather give you the money. Hell, see if you can get some info from the employer that paid you cash in hand?
 
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