University or work?

[Spuds]

Ugh, can't believe I'm asking HxF this.

Anyway, long story short I'm starting my final year of college next year even though I should really be starting university however my first year after school I decided I didn't like sixth form. Can't decide whether to go to university and do a graphic design course, whilst paying 9K per year or opting for the graphic design job I've pretty much got if I assemble a good portfolio.

Negatives of work -

Moving away from Manchester
Possibly hindering my qualifications
Can't think of any more

Negatives of university -

9K per year
Probably move away from Manchester
Can't think of any more

Pros of work -

Foot in the graphic design industry which is seriously hard to get at a young age
Paid
No debt
Add live work to a portfolio which already includes Saatchi & Saatchi + VISA

Negatives of work -

No friends in the area, cry


Yeah, what would you do. Personally leaning towards the work option although I'm not liking the idea of knowing nobody my age...

[GommeInc]

University is a waste of money. If you can do the Graphic Design job I'd go for that. Qualifications are good, but if you're already receiving custom without qualifications then you must be doing something right :P A portfolio seems more useful than a framed piece of paper telling you you're amazing without evidence, anyway. Hopefully who you're applying to work for understands that qualifications aren't always good.

[Spuds]

Yah, that's what I was thinking. I mean, I've already been at the work for experience and they said feel free to come back any time as it'd be a pleasure, you have a great future blah blah blah. So I think I may give uni a miss, do all the applications just in case I decide to opt for it at the last minute.

[Shar]

University is a waste of money. If you can do the Graphic Design job I'd go for that. Qualifications are good, but if you're already receiving custom without qualifications then you must be doing something right :P A portfolio seems more useful than a framed piece of paper telling you you're amazing without evidence, anyway. Hopefully who you're applying to work for understands that qualifications aren't always good.
This. If you can secure that job what's the point of going to uni when you're going to end up in a lot of debt.
I know someone who left college after their first year and returned 4 years later and now they're at uni. You can always go back later if you change your mind.

[The Don]

Ugh, can't believe I'm asking HxF this.

Anyway, long story short I'm starting my final year of college next year even though I should really be starting university however my first year after school I decided I didn't like sixth form. Can't decide whether to go to university and do a graphic design course, whilst paying 9K per year or opting for the graphic design job I've pretty much got if I assemble a good portfolio.

Negatives of work -

Moving away from Manchester
Possibly hindering my qualifications
Can't think of any more

Negatives of university -

9K per year
Probably move away from Manchester
Can't think of any more

Pros of work -

Foot in the graphic design industry which is seriously hard to get at a young age
Paid
No debt
Add live work to a portfolio which already includes Saatchi & Saatchi + VISA

Negatives of work -

No friends in the area, cry


Yeah, what would you do. Personally leaning towards the work option although I'm not liking the idea of knowing nobody my age...

I too also took a year out after GCSE's ( I didn't like Sixth Form either :P )

Maybe take a year out, Take up the job offer, and go to uni the next September, this way you've already got the experience, and when you come out of uni you'll have the qualifications to back it up. The Job could go wrong, and then you'll be stuck doing nothing for another year, which seems like a huge waste of time, so maybe university would be the better option.

[Recursion]

Remember a lot of companies have promotion ceilings if you don't have a degree.

I'd still go for that job though.

[Shoe]

I say go for the job but still apply for uni, just incase as you say you change your mind at the last minute.

Then if the job doesnt workout you know. also if you get a place in uni this time but you want to take the job you could defer your place for a year incase you need to do it the year after, this way your keeping your options open :D x

[Robi]

If all fails, try an apprenticeship? Both of best worlds :)

[Alexx..]

I'd say go for the job cause you're going to Uni to get a job anyway. BUT if you do go to uni generally they do a year in placement so you get to go to uni and the experience as well.

[GoldenMerc]

I want going to choose University about 2 years ago, but then decided agaist it due to the fact that studying isn't really my thing so i'd prob quit out anyways

[beth]

i've just left university to work for a year because i just wasn't ready to be self sufficient and got into a lot of trouble. that said, if i get a job i really enjoy with good lifetime prospects, i won't be going back into education.