What to do In life

[doyle369]

Hii...

Im just wondering what to do after I have finished college.

after finishing my GCSE's (7 C's 1 B + 1 D ) I took up 3 A Level courses, Economics , Sociliogy , Media Studies. I failed Economics and Sociliogy and got a D in Media studies (this was after the 1st year.)

I dropped all those 3 subjects and now am doing a similar Media studies course (which is worth 2 ALevels) and Travel&Tourism. These 2 courses will finish May 2110.

I dont No wether to go Univeristy or to go out and get a job

I would like to join the Police Force, but aint 100%

There are so many courses and jobs out there..

I no its abit early to decide (or is it?)

Just wanted to no if you could advise me.

Thanks

 

[chalkie99]

Hii...

These 2 courses will finish May 2110.

Don't worry about a job.

You will be far too old for most employers by then.

 

[rb80]

Hi,

I was the same as you at that age...I ended up going to uni as I didn't know what else to do.

I would suggest only going to uni if you have a career in mind which requires a degree. However I have found that uni does more than just give you a degree - it gives you life skills and makes you more independant. But I would suggest that you think very carefully before going to uni as if you don't like the course it's a lot of money to waste!

In regards to getting a job or doing more courses ask yourself what you enjoy doing! The more you're passionate about something the more you'll suceed at it. Do you have certain hobbies or interests? If so look into careers surrounding these.

Are you passionte about joining the police? Do some research into it and maybe get some voluntary work at your local police station to see if this career is for you.

Google learn direct careers advice (sorry I'm not allowed to post links yet) as somewhere on the site it has lots of job profiles and you may find something which interests you.

Hope this helps.

 

[doyle369]

Don't worry about a job.

You will be far too old for most employers by then.

:L

can you not edit posts on UKBF?

 

[doyle369]

Those academic results are extremely mediocre. You have drifted through or are lacking ability. Your abandonment of A level courses (easier then ever, it is reported) shows lack of discipline and stickability.

You are not attractive to any employer and seem like you will drift aimlessly.

You need some pressure and distress to give you a bit of desperation and focus.

I would suggest signing up to a hard 2-year volunteer work course in some foreign hell-hole like Zimbabwe and come back with a more focussed and worthwhile view about progressing in life.

But... I doubt you will be bothered to listen. You will drift along in Woodbury, near Exeter and end up doing some dead-end job.

I would of been Happy with 5 C grades at GCSE

sorry im not at your standard

 

[doyle369]

Only if you meet certain educational standards. Sorry.

nps

 

[doyle369]

Why would you have been happy with 5 grade C?

I would suggest that 5 grade C would not make you an ideal uni candidate, neither will dropping those A Levels.

Like I said, you will ignore advice anyway, as you seem pretty pleased with this ...performance.

If I was to bet money, I would put £50 on you being in a similar mediocre position each year for the next 10 years.

Unless you break your cycle of under-achievement.

you hardly no anything about me

If I pass my Media course I am guaranteed a place at a local University, and how do I jo this? I have been in contact with them. You will proberly say "I bet you dont pass the course" well im 99% I will get an 'B' in media

 

[chalkie99]

I would suggest a training course with Ling who may be able to teach you written English to a higher standard than your own schools and colleges have managed.

 

[Moneyman]

Get to university. It may not teach you what you need to know but it does teach you how to do a project. media studies is not exactly a job guarantee.
or do something. dont just drift or you will be flipping burgers in ten years time.

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

Doyle - the word you're needing is 'know' not 'no'. I'm not having a dig but if you're studying media it's something you will need to 'know'.

It's very important to have a focus to your life; employers will look at it. My CV looks a little disjointed in places, but there was a plan behind it which then got modified. When I was in employment I looked through my staff file and the one thing that nearly stopped me getting the job was the interviewer's comments on potential lack of focus. Every interview I went for started with 'so you've got a law degree, why are you not applying for a job as a lawyer?'

 

[doyle369]

Doyle - the word you're needing is 'know' not 'no'. I'm not having a dig but if you're studying media it's something you will need to 'know'.

It's very important to have a focus to your life; employers will look at it. My CV looks a little disjointed in places, but there was a plan behind it which then got modified. When I was in employment I looked through my staff file and the one thing that nearly stopped me getting the job was the interviewer's comments on potential lack of focus. Every interview I went for started with 'so you've got a law degree, why are you not applying for a job as a lawyer?'

why didn't you apply for a job as a lawer?

 

[doyle369]

I was thinking about taking a gap year in 2010....but where to go..and what to do.......??

 

[Mister B]

On fire again I see Ling You always make me smile.

To the OP, A lot of things which Ling says makes total sense. By the look of your academic history, I would not have thought that you are ideal university material. That being said, I said the same about my son and his college tutors have said that he would thrive in a University

Take the time to think seriously about what you want to do with your life. No need to rush, and don't feel pressurised to go to University. It really isn't for everybody. Can you succeed without it? Absolutely. I graduated from the University of Life with a far smaller overdraft and a larger beer belly

Mister B

 

[Mister B]

I was thinking about taking a gap year in 2010....but where to go..and what to do.......??

A sound move if I may say so. As to where to? The world is your lobster Rodney. Read a book, watch National Geographic, there really is a large world out there to be explored. With lots of fun to be had as well!

Why, you could always do a VSO in the motherland of Ling

Mister B

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

why didn't you apply for a job as a lawer?

Short answer is that I took a law degree to gain the analytical and logical skills required in that field, which would be a transferrable skill that I could use in management.

 

[Mister B]

Short answer is that I took a law degree to gain the analytical and logical skills required in that field, which would be a transferrable skill that I could use in management.

Which in turn illustrates the point that we all start life at point A and as a matter of course, our lives take different paths as we take opportunities and develop so leading us through to points further through the alphabet

Mister B

 

[Cornish Steve]

Those academic results are extremely mediocre. You have drifted through or are lacking ability. Your abandonment of A level courses (easier then ever, it is reported) shows lack of discipline and stickability.

You are not attractive to any employer and seem like you will drift aimlessly.

You need some pressure and distress to give you a bit of desperation and focus.

I would suggest signing up to a hard 2-year volunteer work course in some foreign hell-hole like Zimbabwe and come back with a more focussed and worthwhile view about progressing in life.

But... I doubt you will be bothered to listen. You will drift along in Woodbury, near Exeter and end up doing some dead-end job.

There's much truth in this, but some of the greatest business leaders were poor students, and some even dropped out of university (although I wouldn't recommend it). They were striving for their 'calling' and didn't find it through study. So don't feel too depressed about your situation.

By thinking about what you want to do in life, you're ahead of many people who simply drift (something I was guilty of at times because everyone around me did it). While completing your studies, think hard about what you want to achieve in life. How can you make a difference in this world? One of my sons, for example, spent a few weeks in Uganda and then a few weeks working at an orphanage in Tibet. This prompted him to go to graduate nursing school. While he drifted through his undergraduate years, he's passionate about succeeding at nursing school.

You need to find your passion. Spend some time working for organizations and charities and finding unique ways to help others. While 99 percent of your friends may wile away the evening hours playing games or watching TV, you can be sacrificing your time to help others. There's nothing like helping others to sharpen your mind and to give you a sense of purpose.

Good luck in the coming weeks and months. Whatever you do, don't drift or waste time. Make every minute of every day count, otherwise you're wasting the precious life you've been given.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Appreciate you are more hopeful than me, Steve.

I'm offering the carrot; you're waving the stick. Hopefully, one or the other will jolt this young person from their complacency.

 

[Mister B]

I think that picking up on one of Steve's points, (very valid BTW,) the one about not wasting time drifting, that is probably the best reason for somebody like the OP NOT to go to University.

Mediocre grades will lead to more time in the University bar which leads to either a third rate degree of being thrown of the course. Therefore wasting lots of time and money. If you are going to drift might as well do it from home It's cheaper

Anyway, good luck with it OP.

Mister B

 

[lex]

Finish your A-Levels, since they finish in 2010 you have alot of time to decide whether or not you want to go out and get a job or go to university.

If by then you havent made up your mind, apply for university anyway with a deferred entry if you manage to get the required grades and then work for a year either in the UK or in another country.

This year out should allow you enough time to clear your head and make your mind up whether or not you want to go to university or get a job.

If by then you havent decided what it is you wish to do, tough.

Eitherway no matter what you decide you want to do, you cannot get through life half-assed, it will not work. Either try or give up, the latter sounding more suitable for you right now.

 

[Marty4]

Doyle,

2 things you have said that I can offer my words of wisdom on

Gap Year - Go for it, one of the best things you can do IMO. I went to Thailand then Australia on mine and had the time of my life.

Police Force - Great career, I'd suggest joining your local police specials first if your not 100% sure. It is voluntary, but very rewarding and gives you an inside view as to what the job is like.

Marty.

 

[silvermusic]

Police Force - Great career

Something I wish I'd have done at the OP's age with hindsight, I think I'd have turned out to be a far better person all round. Far too late now most people my age would be near retiring from the Police force.

Again with hindsight I wasted a good few years in dead end jobs after leaving school although I did enjoy my teenage years and have many happy memories. I had no inclination to go on to further education either, at 16 I couldn't wait to get out of school and earn my own money in the real world. I left with a few useless CSE's of poor grade.

 

[spammy01]

I spent most of my last years of school getting drunk and chasing girls which led to my marks being very low. I was a butcher until I was twenty and then went on one of those intensive computer courses for 8 weeks. That got my foot in the door and they sorted me out with a job at the end of the course. That was 13 years ago, head hunted many times and oneday starting my own business, I have never looked back and earn a wage in the 50k + range (sometimes 100k+) depending on contracts. What I am trying to say is that there are always many doors open to people in this country if you are prepared to just grab the bull by the horns and just go for it. If you slacked in school then it is not the end of having a potential successful career.

Getting married to the wrong women however is a different story. It does more damage to a career then bad grades. Take it from someone who nows after going grey and 1 bankruptcy later lol

 

[i234i]

A sound move if I may say so. As to where to? The world is your lobster Rodney. Read a book, watch National Geographic, there really is a large world out there to be explored. With lots of fun to be had as well!

Why, you could always do a VSO in the motherland of Ling

Mister B

Dont watch National Geographic, you will become a bore and never do anything!

I spent most of my last years of school getting drunk and chasing girls which led to my marks being very low. I was a butcher until I was twenty and then went on one of those intensive computer courses for 8 weeks. That got my foot in the door and they sorted me out with a job at the end of the course. That was 13 years ago, head hunted many times and oneday starting my own business, I have never looked back and earn a wage in the 50k + range (sometimes 100k+) depending on contracts. What I am trying to say is that there are always many doors open to people in this country if you are prepared to just grab the bull by the horns and just go for it. If you slacked in school then it is not the end of having a potential successful career.

Getting married to the wrong women however is a different story. It does more damage to a career then bad grades. Take it from someone who nows after going grey and 1 bankruptcy later lol

I agree with the doors opening bit... but i think with Doyle asking on a forum for advice on what to do is the stopping point (unless its advice that your going to act on). The doors open you need to grab them, people on the forum "who have never met him" arent going to be able to plan his next stages in life or say.. well you suck at education but your the best music teacher around...

I kind of got the impression after someone gave him an idea thats what he'd go and do instead of doing off his own back.. then ask.. How do i do it / What will i do.. GET UP, DECIDE & GO! DO

 

[murdoch]

media studies and travel and tourism as A levels. What do these say about the state of education in the UK. What kind of subjects are these, you dont get trained about 'arts' or 'science' just get badly prepared to work in some shoddy hotel or something.

On a more serious point, i agree with

You need to find your passion. Spend some time working for organizations and charities and finding unique ways to help others. While 99 percent of your friends may wile away the evening hours playing games or watching TV, you can be sacrificing your time to help others. There's nothing like helping others to sharpen your mind and to give you a sense of purpose.

Take a year out, that will help- but only if you do the voluntary work in it. (Yes I did do this and it was an excellent experience).
But most importantly, do some WORK EXPERIENCE now to discover what you like and perhaps realise that you will need to work hard starting very soon to get where you want to be in the future

 

[doyle369]

Read the original post above, then....



...in another thread. Sheesh!

So Will, are you a web designer or a poor student? Or neither? Or both? Because the website indicates you have kind of decided what you are, even though you don't mention it here.

"Will Doyle Trading 2008" - a bit different to "Im just wondering what to do after I have finished college."

yeah, thats my website that I made... and?

It doesn't mean I want to make websites all my life

 

[davidshaw89]

Will,

From skimming over this thread and a few others, I gather that you are between the ages of 18 and 22?

If you had the drive to, I would strongly recommend going to university, but you really need to WANT to go, and have a passion for whatever it is you choose to study. Otherwise you will just be a C/D student all the way through your course and would be lucky to come out the other end with a second class honours degree!

You seem to be very unclear in what you want to do with your life, which I can sympathise with, since I know of a few people in the same boat. But as I suggested to them, you really need to find something that you enjoy doing and then going from there.

As previously suggested, volunteering abroad is an excellent suggestion - it certainly makes you appreciate the wider world.

Clearly you are not passionate about website design, in which case, I think you would be wise to quit. You will be doing your clients no favours by running a business which you don't enjoy. If you did enjoy it, you would want to do it forever - which you don't.

On a side note, I would avoid games consoles at all costs - they don't motivate you, they stimulate violence, and it is much better to go outside and get some fresh air.

Regards,

 

[SCFC]

Volunteering abroad isn't a bad idea.

http://www.volunteerabroad.com/search.cfm

 

[Simon-M]

Join the Army. Go to Iraq or Afganistan and come back in three years time and tell us what you want to do. I bet you won't because you will either be dead, injured or a real man.

The thing is you have no (know) focus. You are asking others to focus you when you need to do this for yourself.

We are not talking about people who were major successes in their life without qualifications because those people just got on and did it. When I was your age the results you have achieved so far would not see you in a university place.

Anyway, just do what ever you want to do. If you don't you will regret it.

 

[lex]

On a side note, I would avoid games consoles at all costs - they don't motivate you, they stimulate violence, and it is much better to go outside and get some fresh air.

Regards,

No no no no no.

There is nothing wrong with games consoles, they dont stimulate voilence, this is just an excuse thought up by parents and the media.

How about you go play viva pinata and tell me if you feel any voilent tendencies coming on?

I agree its best to get outside, excercise etc with the large portion of obese children but thats not just games consoles.

 

[Moneyman]

Who needs an army when you have strange women with missile trucks hidden in the countryside.

 

[gogojonny]

Hii...

Im just wondering what to do after I have finished college.

after finishing my GCSE's (7 C's 1 B + 1 D ) I took up 3 A Level courses, Economics , Sociliogy , Media Studies. I failed Economics and Sociliogy and got a D in Media studies (this was after the 1st year.)

I dropped all those 3 subjects and now am doing a similar Media studies course (which is worth 2 ALevels) and Travel&Tourism. These 2 courses will finish May 2110.

I dont No wether to go Univeristy or to go out and get a job

I would like to join the Police Force, but aint 100%

There are so many courses and jobs out there..

I no its abit early to decide (or is it?)

Just wanted to no if you could advise me.

Thanks

You have asked for advice, please don't shout at people who give you advice.

The grades are OK, not great. I'm surprised you opted for 3 A-Levels, and I think you realise now that was not the right option.

Please understand how Universities work. There are good Universities and bad Universities. Some of them need to get bums on seats, and have even offered people £250 to take courses. Your local University may offer you a place, but is it a good University? There were times when you needed at least CCC at A-Level to even get a University to consider you. Now you can get EEE and still get offered places. It is the University thinking about their finances, not about your career.

I am fortunate as my University is very famous and employers know that they expect high grades from entrants. It stands out on a CV more than 'University of Upper Ramsbottom'.

Now if you want to go into the Police force all you need is often a good degree from a decent University. Doesn't matter on the subject (as long as it's not 'Cake decorating') - can you take a course, commit to it for 3 years and achieve in it? They will also look at extra activities you did at University.

 

[Delta-SI]

Or you could join the army and go to the sandy place and not die, it's not that hard...

 

[adam]

I don't understand why you asked for advice on here,

Are you interested in business? If you are that might be an avenue but it takes committment and dedication.

As for "going to university" NO don't. Leave it for people with the ability to live on their own and study academic subjects. It is not finishing school for the unemployable. Well the real one's aren't at least.

 

[Draugen]

I am fortunate as my University is very famous and employers know that they expect high grades from entrants. It stands out on a CV more than 'University of Upper Ramsbottom'.

Not entirely on topic, but really that is absolute rubbish. With the exception of jobs that require specific under or post graduate qualifications (ie; doctors, engineers etc), to most recruiters a degree is a degree. Unless it's from Oxford or Cambridge, your degree will be worth no more whether it is from York or Huddersfield. Attending a red brick university is not a golden ticket into a dream career, just as attending a new university isn't an invitation ot a life on the dole.

You're not wrong when you point out some universities are more about getting the numbers through the doors than academia, but that said, the days when people could write off a university just because it's a former poly are over.

 

[gogojonny]

Not entirely on topic, but really that is absolute rubbish. With the exception of jobs that require specific under or post graduate qualifications (ie; doctors, engineers etc), to most recruiters a degree is a degree. Unless it's from Oxford or Cambridge, your degree will be worth no more whether it is from York or Huddersfield. Attending a red brick university is not a golden ticket into a dream career, just as attending a new university isn't an invitation ot a life on the dole.

In interviews I've had it is often the first thing people mention. If a University is renowned worldwide for a particular expertise, and you have a good degree from there in that expertise, and are applying for a job in that expertise, then it speaks volume.

 

[adventurelife]

Join the Army. Go to Iraq or Afganistan and come back in three years time and tell us what you want to do. I bet you won't because you will either be dead, injured or a real man.

The thing is you have no (know) focus. You are asking others to focus you when you need to do this for yourself.

We are not talking about people who were major successes in their life without qualifications because those people just got on and did it. When I was your age the results you have achieved so far would not see you in a university place.

Anyway, just do what ever you want to do. If you don't you will regret it.

The above is good advice, stop being a waste of space and decide to do something with your life. The issue you seem to have is to much choice. Get on with it you can change the choice later.

 

[Duke Fame]

Hii...

Im just wondering what to do after I have finished college.

after finishing my GCSE's (7 C's 1 B + 1 D ) I took up 3 A Level courses, Economics , Sociliogy , Media Studies. I failed Economics and Sociliogy and got a D in Media studies (this was after the 1st year.)

I dropped all those 3 subjects and now am doing a similar Media studies course (which is worth 2 ALevels) and Travel&Tourism. These 2 courses will finish May 2110.

I dont No wether to go Univeristy or to go out and get a job

I would like to join the Police Force, but aint 100%

There are so many courses and jobs out there..

I no its abit early to decide (or is it?)

Just wanted to no if you could advise me.

Thanks

Without being so harsh as Ling, your results are not great. By no means awful but not great. Without sounding condescending (that means talking down to someone) I'd say you are not that academic which is nothing to be ashamed of.

Don't be fooled into thinking an employer will consider your Media Studies course is worth 2 A levels, employers are increasingly considering the likes of Media studies as second class easy options. Unless you have relatives at the BBC or of some strange ethnic background and especially female, you will not get a job in the BBC which limits the media options.

I’d suggest you think about what you love doing and look at doing something in that field. It may not pay much initially but you will be enjoying yourself and if you are good at something, you can always create a business around it.

Most of all, I’d go with Ling and travel abroad, work like a dog whenever you can and you’ll come back with far more skills than another couple of years at college.

 

[Sunburn]

I cant believe how nasty and horrible some of the comments posted here are, Can a moderator please close this thread.

 

[Delta-SI]

I cant believe how nasty and horrible some of the comments posted here are, Can a moderator please close this thread.

Yeah cos that would be helpful to the OP...