Everything.... or College

Undercoverguy

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I'm 18 and did my leaving cert last year and decided to take a year out to work and as someone else put it "Life Experience". I had already pulled many strings to get myself into a college course and i then managed to get my place put on hold untill this september.

In the space of this year i've gotten myself a full-time job with good money and a company car. I've also gotten a ca of my own and finally have money where i can afford to go out each week and buy some "nice" things every now and then but noting major.

My job is with a pretty well knowen company as a network administrator/manager. Over the last 6 months i've installed ovr 700 computer systems nationwide and am now just keeping everything ticking over mantainance wise.... But my hearts not in IT or Computers for that matter. Its in media or to be more specific - Radio.

So last week i got the letter from the college with all the details of the course start dates etc as well as the college fee.... All i have to do is decide what i wanna do.

I could take the course and start a career in media and radio and keep at it for the rest of my life.... but as a result, lose my car, job, and well all forms of "Cash Flow"

OR I could decline the course and keep my job, car and money and well... see where my life goes from here on in!

Wat would you do? I just worried how i'll live with virtualy not money.

HELP!

PowerHouseDan

Why dont you go to college at night? Keep your current job...Like getting a Network admin job with no college experience is rare. But there is only so far you will be able to go.

Dave!

Well, you said yourself that you don't want to be doing this job for the rest of your life... and you do want to get into radio... so the logical thing to do as far as I can see is to do the course in college. It'll suck not having as much disposible income, but I'm sure you'll have a blast in college anyways.

Heyes

happiness and the love for what your doing is worth more than money also no matter what anyone says college education can only hold to you. and as stated above there is only so far you can go without it .

Yook

Can I have your job?

cooperguy

As a guy in college, I recommend going its well worth it just for the expierience. And you will get yourself a decent degree out of it in the end. Whats the point in doing something for the rest of your life that your not fully behind it, will you always be wondering "what if I had done media". And you can live quite easily on less money in college and still have a good time. If you got into that job so easily the first time surely you could find another one if you decided college wasnt for you or even go back to the company your with espesially with the expierience you have now gained in that area.

humanji

I'd have to agree with the night course idea. You could have a pretty good career in what you're doing and not everyone gets to do their dream job. That's not to say you should try for a media job, just don't burn your bridges. And if you do the college course, what are the chances of getting a job out of it? You can never be certain that you will, especially with media. You might be able to wangle a terrible job with the hopes of moving up, but that may not happen. Play it safe and you'll be happy in the long run.

Paladin

Ita amazing how little you can survive on in college.
And its amazing what fun you can have without being a complete pisshead.
You dont know till youve done it. Go to college. Oh, and get the degree at the end, its probably handy

Can always get an IT job on the back of experience (well maybe not guaranteed but quite likely )

funky penguin

Perhaps you could continue for the year working and apply again next year? You're only eighteen. Plenty of time for college. Plus you'll then have a few more years experience and can save a good bit of money together etc. Thats what I'd do anyway.

elmyra

Only you can know if you could stand to go from a steady income to a student life, but speaking as a student I gotta say it's not all debt and work or anything like it! You can still work part time hours and the time you spend in college will stay with you in the friends you make and the things you learn both academically and I guess emotionally. You can give up the company car and still tip around in a banger for a couple of years, if you got to where you are in the space of a year you can do it again, but the longer you have this financial independance the harder it will be to let it go, so if you do think that you genuinely want to go to college, then now is the time. If you do decide to go for it, I can't predict any regrets. It's an amazing experience, best of luck whatever you decide.

fifth

Wow, very strange I found myself in that position after my leaving cert - I'm 20 now.

I got a position in a college in dublin in a media studies course - i wanted to get into Radio myself. Then took a year out, now I'm in a managerial position at work and can only work my way up from here.

I have to say, college has become even less a priority for me and I'm considering not going ..ever. Money is decent, I have everything I need here.
I'm gonna see how it goes over the next 2-3 years.

Ruu_Old

Take a part time course so you can continue your work, or get something related to the course you intend taking whatever you are interested in. Important decisions to be made, stupid "real life".:) Good luck anyway OP.

constitutionus

i'd do the college course. job securitys a thing of the past so you could be, and probably will be if statistics are anything to go by, out of the job in 2yrs. your not that fond of it anyway so you may as well take the leap now. trust me, you'll go mental doing a job you dont like that much in the long term so hit college and get a partime job for extra cash. hell run the idea past your boss (going part time) . i was gonna quit my job to do what i wanted to and chanced part time at the urging of my manager. now i get to do what i want and have the capital to keep paying the mortgage:D

BrenC

I'd go for what ever you'd think you'll like more, you're still young,

Sam Vimes

PowerHouseDan wrote:

Why dont you go to college at night? Keep your current job...Like getting a Network admin job with no college experience is rare. But there is only so far you will be able to go.

the course he's been accepted to isn't a night course but i suppose he could apply for a different one

monkeyfudge

What college is it?

I've tried two radio courses back when I was in college and they were both terrible beyond words... Sucked any passion I had for the medium out of me.

Perhaps get involved with a local Community Radio station if you haven't already. Some of them run FETAC accredited evening courses... you'll be able to get a taste for it and see if it's for you or not.

Dermington

A friend of mine is doing sound and video engineering in LIT in Limerick and he is the head of the college radio society.

worth a look if you like that sort of stuff.

Kermitt

Take the college course, It'll be worth it in the end. I'm 22, finished college and working full time. I'm going back to college next year to to a teaching HDip, I have a car and other expenses, but I reckon I'll manage. Money isn't as big a problem as you'd imagine. Work evenings or saturdays if you have to. I ran car for 3 years in college working saturdays only. Hadn't much going out money but I managed. You'll be much happier with the career you want rather than one you're stuck with

Emmo

Personally I would see if you can do the course at night, journalism for instance in DIT Aungier Street gives you quite a good introduction to radio.

One quite good Radio DJ on Today FM started there and he has worked for 98fm aswell as Spin.

Emmo

Lump

The problem is the future, if the economy goes tits up, which it's bound to eventually, you'll have no offical qualifications and may find it harder to get a job in those circumstances. However, that's all being a bit sensible. I'd say, as others have, try do a night course etc.... the more qualified you are, the more employable you are. It's for the issues you're having now that i would have never considered taking a year out.... I knew I'd get comfortable in a job and not bother following what I like doing.

John

dangerman

Go to college. You can have 40 - 50 years of working.

Right now it might be difficult to imagine how much fun you'll have in college. I did exactly what you did, got a job for a year after school, I had the same worries about giving it up, but I did it and never looked back.

Angels

I went to college for 2 years studying Video production & film making, i now feel it was a waste of my time. Im saying this because i never went any further with my qualifications, i ran out of money so i had to get a job fairly quick. I got a job working in a call answering service have been there since. It's 3 years now & i love my job, the money is fantastic & i've just bought a house & drive a new car so i can't complain. Eventually i would like to go back to college to study something so my brain won't fry in here but for the moment life is good so why change it, thats what i'd say to you Undercoverguy. Stick with the job for the mo, you could start putting aside money for college eventually & as many posters have said do they do a night course in what you want to study??

Tha Gopher

Undercoverguy wrote:

In the space of this year i've gotten myself a full-time job with good money and a company car. I've also gotten a ca of my own and finally have money where i can afford to go out each week and buy some "nice" things every now and then but noting major.

My job is with a pretty well knowen company as a network administrator/manager. Over the last 6 months i've installed ovr 700 computer systems nationwide and am now just keeping everything ticking over mantainance wise.... But my hearts not in IT or Computers for that matter. Its in media or to be more specific - Radio.

So last week i got the letter from the college with all the details of the course start dates etc as well as the college fee.... All i have to do is decide what i wanna do.

I could take the course and start a career in media and radio and keep at it for the rest of my life.... but as a result, lose my car, job, and well all forms of "Cash Flow"

OR I could decline the course and keep my job, car and money and well... see where my life goes from here on in!

Wat would you do? I just worried how i'll live with virtualy not money.

HELP!

Jesus christ, stay the fcuk outta college! Your what, 19, 20, and you are already more sorted than 90% of the people in your class who went to college ever will be. How many 19 year olds do you know with a paid car, paid insurance? Dropping out was one of the best decisions I ever made. Ive now got a fairly well paying job with opportunity to climb the promotion ladder, and Im only 19. Employers stopped putting emphasis on degrees a long time ago. I work with loads of graduates who are only on my wage level. Put simply, I work with people aged 24- 29 who went to college, got their degrees, searched for a good job for years and have only now just got one. And, by and large, they believe that the courses they did have not helped them. Your heart may be in radio, but are the jobs? My job is fairly alright. Wouldnt say I absoloutely love it as it can be tiriing at times and the sheer incompetence of whoever runs the company (bleedin yanks) really gets on your nerves when you are the one who has to deal with their shortcomings. But its decent pay at least. Its a wage that most new uni students wont see for another 4- 5 years if theyre lucky. My mother works with plenty of graduates in her 9 euro an hour job. Hell, shes a graduate herself (she decided to do college when she was in her mid 30s, it got her feck all)

As for the whole "missing the social life" thing, its not all its cracked up to be. If going to nightclubs like Tramcos and Barcode Monday to Thursday and dancing the night away to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Your the One That I Want is your thing, then yeah, go to college. DJs at college nights are notoriously cheesy. Otherwise, work 5 days a week and have the money to go to decent clubs on Friday and Saturday night, where broke students will be the people behind the bar serving you drink whilst you wow some little blondie with your boasts of the company car and the fat wage. Gwan my son

Gurgle

Undercoverguy wrote:

In the space of this year i've gotten myself a full-time job with good money and a company car.

Its good money for someone (presumably) living at home with the parents.
Is it good enough to gt your own place and live independantly?
If its not now, will it ever be?

Going to college part time while holding down a job and enjoying your social life can be a bit overwhelming. Something usually gives and thats most likely to be college.

Maybe you can arrange things so you go to college full-time and work your job for e.g. 3 evenings a week?

You mention working in Radio - as in being a presenter?
Not sure just how easy that would be to get into even with a degree in media studies.

I can't really give specific advice, just consider your options carefully.

Lump

Angels wrote:

I went to college for 2 years studying Video production & film making, i now feel it was a waste of my time. Im saying this because i never went any further with my qualifications, i ran out of money so i had to get a job fairly quick. I got a job working in a call answering service have been there since. It's 3 years now & i love my job, the money is fantastic & i've just bought a house & drive a new car so i can't complain. Eventually i would like to go back to college to study something so my brain won't fry in here but for the moment life is good so why change it, thats what i'd say to you Undercoverguy. Stick with the job for the mo, you could start putting aside money for college eventually & as many posters have said do they do a night course in what you want to study??

It is possible to get a job with a media degree, you can even get one straight after you leave college. I don't see why havning no money would have prevented you following your prefered career.

John