ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

[HelenD123]

Definitely consider a gap year. But it also doesn't do any harm to apply for a deferred entry place at uni as well. You don't have to take it up or might decide you want to study something different once you've had some time out.

 

[marinyork]

Anyway you've probably already seen it but either the book version or the website version of the UCAS book is worth a browse for ideas. My cousin did film studies for a year, disliked it, dropped out and did Politics and IR. In many social sciences split disciplines seem a bit more common too e.g. PPE (bad example as only two places do it) or Politics and Sociology etc. Oh yeah it's never really too late, you could apply, go to uni in the first time decided you've gone mad and how on earth did you sign up for such and such a course and change. The first term is bedding in time and there's a lot of faffing around, quite a few people switch courses. My former gf did Sociology and Politics and dropped the politics no problemo.

 

[Priscilla Parsley]

hmmm have you thought about going to work and getting experience of what you enjoy, even unpaid work, while you dont have many commitments financially its a good time to work for free and this will give you a greater understanding of how you see your self in the world, i agree that its a bit of a waste to do a degree unless you know what you want to do, but there is something to be said for the University experience, as it really broadens the horizons of most young people and its a challenge social so you get those much needed life skills. saying that i dropped out of my career last year at the grand old age of 29 to take up a degree in the absolute opposite of what i was doing, i don't regret my previous career choices at all, but its rare that a person so young can have the insight of what they will be doing for the rest of their lives, a degree is just a bit of a start (and an easy one at that). Im rarely impressed by kids on gap years though i think its a years work or volunteering with a holiday at the end is more justifiable. GOOD LUCK though and try to have the time of your life. x

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

I agree with Willow you can change direction at any time.
I studied graphic design for 2yrs came out knowing i didn't want a career in it.I dossed around for 2yrs after that not knowing what to do.I had always liked photography and the darkroom side of things so i wrote of to all the labs in London. I was lucky enough to get a job at the best black and white lab and 20 yrs on I'm still doing it although with the way digital has affected what I do i could be out of a job soon ! So maybe its time for me to change direction.

 

[tdr1nka]

Sig, you don't work in Poland St. do you?

 

[Willow]

I didn't do university and have no regrets, in the profession I took at the time there was no advantage to having a degree v studying part time at college at the same time as working (earning as opposed to spending!) I ended up with a senior management position in ......(not saying or I'll have to duck to avoid firing line). I am not suggesting that is that simple some 20 years on but a degree is only (word used loosely) educational there are many things you can do in terms of hobbies, clubs, charity work etc that can give you life skills which are far more valuable to an employer and develop you more as a person. You always strike me as someone who has a good head on their shoulders, listen to yourself and trust your ability to make your own decision. You can then be proud to say I tried what I wanted to do. If it turns out to be the wrong thing you will have learned about yourself in the process. Whilst you have no responsibilities you are free to experiment with those choices.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..even at my age my biggest wish is still that I would know what i really want to do...I just drift and drifting usually gets me washed up on a beach...at it's not a Tropical one either..usually some shitty polluted one somewhere on life's ocean.

If you dont yet know what will make you happy...then my advice is to find out what careers will make you the most cash and go with one of those...then all you have to do is work to live rather than live to work...and if you find something you enjoy later on then you can still change...but do make some kind of a decision and get qualified etc....it's a big Ocean out there...lot's of nasty big fish and not one of them gives a **** if you live or die....drifters usually die.

Having said all that if you do actually know what you want then for the lobe of Christ run with it asap and dont let anybody tell you you cant...because you bloody well can.

 

[dellzeqq]

I was a farmworker, got run over, decided to go to uni at 34, did Architecture for 20 years, and I've now stopped with not much idea of what to do except open a bike shop. At 54. You've got problems?

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Sig, you don't work in Poland St. do you?

No.
Whos in Poland St ?
is it The Image?

 

[tdr1nka]

No.
Whos in Poland St ?
is it The Image?

I was thinking of Ceta.
Used to do b/w and line photography for a company(long gone)in Great Pultney St. when I first left school. Certain processes we always sent to Ceta.

Them were the days, I used to be 'Photoshop'.

 

[bobg]

My three grown up kids all went to uni and none of them used the qualification in the jobs they got or in fact needed it. My 18 year old finishes A levels this year and having talked to the other 3 has decided not to follow them ( and 99% of his friends ) into uni. He's chosen to get a job and see how it pans out after a year by which time he'll have some cash to fund whatever he choses and will have maybe learned a few lessons about real life in the process. Even if he just ends up buying a round the world ticket I think he's made the right decision. Like may others here I still dont know what I want too do and its a wee bit late now as I retired 4 years ago. For what its worth I wish you the very best in whatever you decide.

 

[Morrisette]

*cough* media studies wasn't THAT bad. I did it (well, communication studies so a wider remit but about 30% was media). I seem unusual on this forum in that I do have a job related to my degree! And in fact have had 2 others as well!

But you can change direction at any point - something which I remember is never really mentioned at college. It tends to be drummed in that the decision on what to study at Uni and where to go is the Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, and irreversible if you get it wrong, but this is NOT the case at all. It's not something to decide in five minutes over a beer* but you CAN change your mind at any stage!

*I say this, and I really shouldn't tell you how I chose my course....I'd chosen one, and then as I was filling in the form, flicked the page over, saw one I liked better, and applied for that one instead - zero research. It worked out fine, though I can't recommend it as a technique for making life choices

 

[barq]

If you are toying with the idea of university then pick a few universities and look at their websites. See what courses they offer and look through the module lists for undergraduate study. You may find that your preconception of the subject isn't actually what you'll be studying - and that can be a good or bad thing. e.g. Some of my psychology students assumed they were going to study lots of Freud and juicy media friendly stuff. Then they had a shock when they spent the two years studying research methods. For other people that suits them down to the ground. So know what you might be getting yourself into rather than just assuming you know what xyz degree will entail.

Try to go to some university open days to get a feel for what campus life might be like. Try to find out what kinds of jobs their graduates end up with... could you see yourself doing any of those things?

I'd say that doing UCAS applications on your own is quite hard work, so it may be better to do one with the support of your college, even if you end up choosing deferred entry.

Good luck.

 

[tyred]

I'll be thirty in September and still have absolutely no idea what I want to be when I grow up. (At what age are you officially grown up anyway?) I've just drifted through life in numerous shoot jobs that have done my head in.

I remember going to see the "career's advice officer" at secondary school. Everything I suggested I might be interested in, she replied, "no way, too stupid" (I believe she gave this "advice" to everyone).

 

[Cranky]

I've found myself in all sorts of unexpected areas of work, many of them self-employed and often very rewarding, but have never had a career plan as such.

Ironically, the one career I actually have a qualification in - teaching/lecturing - was the worst of all the jobs I've ever had (at least the pay was regular, I suppose), to the extent that I've now given it up altogether.