Talking about uni as it's all in the news at the moment.

[pussnboots]

Just want to say about 2 different uni senarios. My daughter, left school at 16 and went to work at Macdonalds then The Disney Store for years. When she was 35yo went to uni, by then she was married with 3 kids. She got a Law degree and is now working as a solicitor. My son went straight to uni from 6th form, he has a BSc a MSc and Phd in engineering geology, couldn't get a job in this area so now works in IT. So to any A level students out there who think uni is the only path, it isn't so don't worry.

[cazzz1975]

I agree puss, uni is not the only choice!

[yelenots]

I agree, my eldest didnt go to uni but worked in a shop, then got made redundant and just by luck applied for a job in the NHS- he is now a Pharmacy Technician with no debt - my daughter is at uni studying dianostic radiography and will have debts of around £7000 at the end of her degree-hopefully she will be able to get a job!

[ChocolatChip]

I agree completely, I started doing A levels, and became seriously unwell and had to leave within the first couple of months. A year later I returned to study a National Diploma instead, and after doing this, I feel that A levels are a dying breed (not particularly a bad thing!)
Its not enough these days to prove theoretically that you can do the job. There is much more chance of finding work when you have good and relevant work experience, which the Diploma offers.
I got an unconditional place at university before the A level results came out, and have a scholarship to study Psychology at university. Please don't tell me that Psychology is a waste of a degree because I don't believe you. There are many professional and well paid jobs within the NHS crying out for newly trained psychologist, along with private institutions and self-employment.

[janzman]

Donkeys years back I had a work mate who was a graduate of Nottingham Uni with a degree in geography.I asked him why geography,unless you want to teach the subject what good is a degree in geography.He said it was the easiest subject on offer,maybe today it would be media studies or some such. He ended up working with the Goodyear International Racing Division so with his geography degree I guess he knew where all the Grand Prix circuits were around the world,lol

[wolf63]

Psychologists can do good work - I have seen one and she was a tad condescending. My psychiatrist is lovely and cute and nice and cute......

[pussnboots]

Even if you stack shelves at Tesco and do it well and be reliable it is still a great stepping stone to better things. By the way I am retired now but would quite like a few hours a week stacking shelves at Tesco, just to get out and meet people.

[ChocolatChip]

I'd also like to point out to any a levelers or people about to go on to university to make sure that this is the degree that you want, and it's not because 'all your friend's are doing it'
My husband did a degree in culinary arts several years ago, (financed by himself,) which has been fine up until now, due to the fact that he has been a high up chef in hotels for the past 15 years.
Two years ago he developed epilepsy, because his seizures are unreliable and somewhat uncontrollable. He was told by the doctor he was no longer medically fit to work in a kitchen, and therefore could no longer be a chef.
So he felt the way forward would be to apply to do another degree in enivronmental health (to become and EHO) where he could use his previous experience to his advantage. He got in, and was due to start next month.
A couple of days ago, he was told by student finance that they would not fund his degree because it was his second. And he would need to find £11,000 worth of tutition fees to pay the university. It completely destroyed him
I am extremely proud of him, as he has picked himself up, and after a meeting with a careers advisor, he already has interviews for restaurant manager and hotel manager jobs only 24 hours after beginning to apply.
Just make sure you know that this is what you want, if not, it will be your second expensive mistake!

[pussnboots]

Good luck to your husband chocchip.

[ChocolatChip]

Thank you pussnboots, he is wonderful man, and really deserves a good spell of luck :)

[pussnboots]

I used to work for Encyclopedia Britannica and their motto was .......the harder you work the luckier you get, I still feel that from experience that if you work hard in anything then the luck will follow eventally.