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Not sure what to study in univ
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
My first year will be starting this september and I applied to basically business management/administration programs. I'm pretty sure I'll get in because my marks are good, but the thing is I'm not sure if that's really what I want to do. I seem to like many different things but maybe not be good at it. For example philosophy really interests me but if you asked me to defend a philosophical thesis I came up with, I wouldn't do such a good job. I like technology, and building things but I don't think I'm smart enough to get into engineering plus I don't have the prerequisites.
Basically what I'm asking, is how do I figure out for sure that what I pick is right for me (and trust me I've spent a lot of time researching all the areas and I still can't come to a conclusion)? I just don't want to get into a program and then realize I don't like it as much because that would be a waste of 4 years. Thanks for any input.
Basically what I'm asking, is how do I figure out for sure that what I pick is right for me (and trust me I've spent a lot of time researching all the areas and I still can't come to a conclusion)? I just don't want to get into a program and then realize I don't like it as much because that would be a waste of 4 years. Thanks for any input.
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
This I agree with.
Is it not possible to an NVQ in Engineering first? Or get some work experience related to this area of interest?
Do what you enjoy.
Yes, maybe my advice was based partly on personal experiences, but I stand by it. I'd recommend a gap between college and university for anyone. Frankly, after four years of studying GCSEs and A-Levels non-stop, anyone could do with a break. I have no regrets, but I look forward now to starting in just over five months time.
no, i never once said it was MY personal opinion.
eta: though i perhaps could've made myself clearer. i guess THEY think it makes them...
I've found that I'm under alot of pressure to either go to uni or make up my mind as to what I want to do when I leave school. I've basically been forced within a matter of days to make up my mind because I've messed up in my January exams. It's always 'talk to the careers adviser' even when I said I KNEW exactly what it was I want to do after I've finished Year 12. Then there's all the uni talks which we seem to have most weeks during the period when we're meant to be with our tutor. I don't think that many people want to go to uni or interested in all these talks,. I for one am not interested in them. I already know what I'm doing, but can't really do anything until I'm about 20, because I need an NVQ in Level 3 to study what I want to study at uni.
There is absolutely no shame whatsoever in saying "right, I'm not going to uni yet and stuff what the college thinks". Frankly, the decision has to be the one that's right for you, and you only. That was one of many reasons why I waited, and anyone who implies that those who do not go to university straight away are failures (the brush Lucifer Devil just tried to tar me with) are fruitcakes.
damn SG stop taking stuff so personally, noone tried to tar you with any brush, she was just trying to say colleges like to have more of their students go on to uni because it makes them look better statistically than if everyone went off to find jobs, purely from a higher educational point of view, seeing as college is a stepping stone to uni for most, i would never have gone to college if i wasn't going to bother with uni.........
as for people going to university who have no place being there, lol yeah most of the people i bumped into in the first year i never saw again, and i know a lot of people still trapped in there repeating various modules and years, some people just aren't cut out for it but made to feel lesser for not going so the pressure is definitely there........
TBh i'm really not sure what the big deal about going to univeristy unless you really like what your going to study - we don't necessarily need 3 million people who have a 2:2 in media studies and then discovere that they cant' get a job in the media - i've loads of friend who earn far more than me despite having never been to university.
I think the obsession with everyone having to go is a bit unhealthy - not everyone in the world is academic nor do we need them to be - I think instead of pushing everyone to go to uni we should instead be celebrating the fact that we are all different and that everyone is just as valuable in society, becuase lets face ti someone with a BA in history isnt' necessarily going to be equipped to help you mend a burst pipe.
Many people are made to feel that, if they do not go to university, that they have somehow failed. This is ludicrous nonsense. Many of our best-known businessmen in this country did not go to university. For example, Sir Alan Sugar founded Amstrad from scratch and is now worth millions. Or take Sir Richard Branson. He did not spend three years doing a useless degree in something like Social Studies. Rather, he founded Virgin, and he has made his billions. All without a degree, and all with excellent, intuitive brains.
For many people, university simply is not necessary. If you wish to go into teaching, or the law, then there is clearly a strong case for a university education there. However, for many career paths, the value of a degree is highly questionable. And before anyone says it, yes, I do worry that the degree I am about to take might be even less useful than a chocolate teapot. I do worry that I will not be able to get a job at the end of it. Am I alone in this, however? I suspect not.
This what I'm going to do - I meesed up my A Levels and am doing an NVQ in September. I'm going to do that for 3 years, take a year out (maybe to get a job in the field I want to work in) then go off to uni.
That's just rubbish.
Agreed
Indeed. And if the Government insits that everyone (or nearly everyone) should go to ni, then surely THEY should pay for us to study? (well, scrap the tution fees)