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

R B Customs

R B Customs

R B Customs

Soldato
Joined
22 Sep 2005
Posts
3,267
Location
Manchester
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 said:
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’?
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Yes, you are a mature student (http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/beforeyouapply/faqs/findoutmore/maturestudent). It depends on where you apply as to whether this makes a difference. 21 certainly isn't too old, if that's a concern.
R B Customs said:
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.
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It depends on your expenses. I'd say go through the OU, but I don't think they offer much in the range of teaching for secondary ages.

R B Customs said:
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)
Click to expand...
Yup, the PGCE is the teaching qualification. It's a postgraduate thing, though - hence PG. In some places you can go through a degree and train for teaching at the same time, which avoids the PGCE. http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/becomingateacher/waysintoteaching/yourroute.aspx. You'd have to ring around the places around you to see what they can offer.
 
You have more chance of getting in as a mature student as your a minority and it boosts the university numbers, plus it is a teaching course and they want people to do these so your chances look good so long as you can afford it! as you may find it hard to get any financial backing.
 
its pathetically easy to get into uni because to the majority you're simply a bum in a seat making them money.

For teaching you can probably get grants and cash towards it as the government seems utterly desperate for teachers.

I went to uni as a mature student, bah, other than a basic maths test(computing course) which it turns out I didn't have to take as they misheard me over the phone and thought I got a D for gcse maths rather than a B. They let me in, I went over got the paperwork, applied in. Did it in clearing as was working and decided in August job wasn't worth it long term, took a whole 3 days to get into uni.

The whole UCAS, competitive, exams results things is more than anything to "entice" more students to apply so they get higher numbers, other than a handful of uni's like oxbridge and a few others as a mature student as long as you don't sound retarded you should be able to find a place without any problem.

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.
 
1. Yes. You're now a mature student. This however, works very much in your favour.

2. Not really. Students are seen as being stereotypical scruffs for a reason. Unless you have lots of money saved, have someone supporting you (paying your fees/rent), or live at home I doubt you'll be able to maintain the same standard of living.

As for doing an Art degree. I would actually advise against it. You're now looking at over-inflated fees to get the qualification and art degrees (Fine Art, etc.) from experience and what I've seen students do are a complete and utter farce.

If you do a degree, I suggest doing something related but more traditional. You can always do the PGCE later and move into becoming an Art teacher then.
 
I haven't read all your post but here's a story of a Radiotherapist who lectures my students.

He left school with 5 x grade C GCSE's
He went to College and did engineering but pulled out after 18 months.
He went to see the careers officer who gave him a prospectus and told him to choose what he wanted and not what all his mates did
He chose Sports Science and got a very good grade at it after 2 years.
He then decided he didn't want education any more so worked in a warehouse for 3 years.
4 years ago when he was 23 he enrolled for University on a Radiotherapy course and 1 year ago he got a job at the UHNS.
1 year on he's one of the bosses in our Radiotherapy department.

So yes you can.

It makes me laugh that he tells my students that it doesn't matter if you don't get good grades because you can always catch up later but I always go back in and tell them to take no notice of that and do as best as you can now.
And the very best advice he gives is 'Do what you want to do and not what your mates are doing'.
My 21 year old daughter has just gone back to College to do what she wants because she followed her mates at 16 and hated it.
 
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.
 
As above. A degree helps open doors which were otherwise closed to you, but don't expect it to be a free-meal ticket.
 
As plenty of others have stated, it's never to late mate. I'm 34, and started a full-time open uni degree last Oct, after a complete career change. I intend to enroll in teacher training just as soon as I can.
 
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
 
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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.



Greenlizard0 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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 )


sparklebox said:
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
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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.

drunkenmaster said:
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.
Click to expand...

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! :D

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?
 
I'm just gonna jump into this thread without reading anything and offer one piece of advice. If you're going to uni, make sure you do a course applicable to a career you want to actually do! Then you'll be set. Don't do a degree for the sake of doing one. I got my degree in Journalism (2:1), and then a Master's in Creative Writing. I've since decided I don't want to be a journo because they earn peanuts, and my degree hasn't helped one bit with finding a job in a more lucrative field. Decide what you want to do, and do the right course.

I'm 23 now and I'm going back to uni in September to do a law conversion course (equivalent of a law degree in one year), because I've decided I would like to be a solicitor/earn some good dosh. It's never too late, but don't just do a course for the sake of doing one! If you do the right course for the job you want, you'll be laughing.
 
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