What should I do, college or travel?

QueenBee1

I am 22 years of age and have a full time job as a receptionist. It’s a good job im getting 381 per week after tax and im living out of home renting a room in a house. While the job I am in is ok it is not enough and I don’t see or want to be here for years on end. I am between 2 minds of whether to go back to college or go travelling for a year.My partner is on about going again to Canada or Australia and I would love to go and have the money etc but I also want a degree in accountancy so I am tied. I know the most practical thing would be degree first but by the time I have that finished il be 26. What would you do?

Joko

QueenBee1 wrote: »

I am 22 years of age and have a full time job as a receptionist. It’s a good job im getting 381 per week after tax and im living out of home renting a room in a house. While the job I am in is ok it is not enough and I don’t see or want to be here for years on end. I am between 2 minds of whether to go back to college or go travelling for a year.My partner is on about going again to Canada or Australia and I would love to go and have the money etc but I also want a degree in accountancy so I am tied. I know the most practical thing would be degree first but by the time I have that finished il be 26. What would you do?

If I were you I would skip the degree. Look at the ACCA website and sign up to one of their courses.

1. What are the minimum entry routes to ACCA?
Irish Leaving Certificate in 5 subjects with 3Cs at 3 higher level papers, and a pass in English and a pass in Maths
Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degree or Honours Degree
If you do not have any of the above qualifications you can register on the Foundations in Accounting qualification

http://www2.accaglobal.com/irishgradguide/faq/#whatdoes

If your Leaving Cert qualifies you, you could have all the exmptions a degree course would give you in 1 year doing it with ACCA. Otherwise do the foundations course and it will take just 2 years. Working in a office is the big thing accounting firms are looking for in new recruits, you have that now. Go of to college you might lose that gloss on your CV.

LegacyUser

OP I'm in my 30's and currently planning an around the world trip to some very remote places for next year and when I come back I will be starting an post graduate degree course. So don't bring age into, you can travel at 26 and you can go back to school at 26 or 30 or 40. Hell my dad didn't start traveling till he was nearly 50 and then we couldn't stop and when I say he travelled I don't mean a two week holiday, he went for over a year to some places. Just ask yourself what do you want to do right now? You can always go to school overseas you know. Check your degree will be recognized of course but it's a great experience. I did my BA degree in Canada [though be aware 3rd level education is alot more expensive in some countries] and loved every second of it. It can be easier to travel first then school as you want to come out of school and keep the momentum of everything you've learned moving into the workplace but really there are no rules....don't worry about your age, worry about what you want to do and work from there.

skooterblue2

QueenBee1 wrote: »

I am 22 years of age and have a full time job as a receptionist. It’s a good job im getting 381 per week after tax and im living out of home renting a room in a house. While the job I am in is ok it is not enough and I don’t see or want to be here for years on end. I am between 2 minds of whether to go back to college or go travelling for a year.My partner is on about going again to Canada or Australia and I would love to go and have the money etc but I also want a degree in accountancy so I am tied. I know the most practical thing would be degree first but by the time I have that finished il be 26. What would you do?

Read your post again slowly. One of the rules of life is you cant have everything you want. You can have somethings done well, or you can have everything done crapily. As you get older it becomes harder to learn, could you and your partner afford to have you study in Canada or Australia? What will be waiting for you when you get back to Ireland? how serious are you with your partner?

I definately dont see you staying as a recpetionist as an option. Are you definately, definately sure about accountancy and what it entails. I know what it entails and I have a level 7 degree (not in accountancy) and it requires commitment and more professional exams afterwards. It requires connections as well. Accountancy isnt for the faint hearted.

Anyone who tell you, you can get a qualification in accountancy in less than 4 years is pulling your leg (WIT the exception, 3 year). Accountancy is a commitment not to be taken lightly and there is extra competition for less places. I cannot answer this question for you but I can tell you need to do serious research.

26 isnt the end of the world, but you have to make some serious decisions about this with your partner.

skooterblue2

can't log in wrote: »

Just ask yourself what do you want to do right now? You can always go to school overseas you know. Check your degree will be recognized of course but it's a great experience. I did my BA degree in Canada [though be aware 3rd level education is alot more expensive in some countries] and loved every second of it. It can be easier to travel first then school as you want to come out of school and keep the momentum of everything you've learned moving into the workplace but really there are no rules....don't worry about your age, worry about what you want to do and work from there.

My housemate did a two year diploma that was certified by a university in England. She did not go to England she did it in Ireland. A the end of it, she went around to all the accountacy firms in the city and told her if she was good it would get her a receptionist job. Then she did her IAATI course and that was want worth anything. Then she spent 4 years doing the course she should have been doing from day one. You have to be sure your qualifications will be worth something when you finish.

Spending a little more money and a bit more time researching and doing your corse will save you money and time in the long run. When you finish accountancy you will still have a number of professional exams to do. These must be one within a time frame, else you will not be accepted by your professional body. Without these exams you will spend the rest of your life "playing in division 4" as a Senior partner told me.

Joko

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Anyone who tell you, you can get a qualification in accountancy in less than 4 years is pulling your leg (WIT the exception, 3 year). Accountancy is a commitment not to be taken lightly and there is extra competition for less places. I cannot answer this question for you but I can tell you need to do serious research.

Yes you can. DIT and DCU offer full ACA and ACCA exmptions in one year diploma courses for non accounting degree holders. Likewise the OP (who has no degree) can do a BPP course and get full exemptions in one year. Like all graduates the OP would then have to do the professional exams after gaining accounting work experience.

skooterblue2

Joko wrote: »

Yes you can. DIT and DCU offer full ACA and ACCA exmptions in one year diploma courses for non accounting degree holders. Likewise the OP (who has no degree) can do a BPP course and get full exemptions in one year. Like all graduates the OP would then have to do the professional exams after gaining accounting work experience.

What does non accounting degree holders mean? You have to have degree to apply at that level? Well then you would save time and effort by simply going accountancy straight. Either way the whole arguement hinges on if you do accountancy you cant travel far at the same time. You would need to get the opinion of proper accountant. My friend previously had a qualification and she scoffed at. Beware of any institution offering a fast route to qualification. Accountancy is a technical qualification and cannot just be hopped onto. Any instituion will take your money without question whether you get a qualification that is recognised is another matter.

Joko

skooterblue2 wrote: »

What does non accounting degree holders mean? You have to have degree to apply at that level? Well then you would save time and effort by simply going accountancy straight. Either way the whole arguement hinges on if you do accountancy you cant travel far at the same time. You would need to get the opinion of proper accountant. My friend previously had a qualification and she scoffed at. Beware of any institution offering a fast route to qualification. Accountancy is a technical qualification and cannot just be hopped onto. Any instituion will take your money without question whether you get a qualification that is recognised is another matter.

I was making the point that you can get a accounting qualification in less than one year. You are giving advice on hearsay and the bad experience of a friend.

skooterblue2

Joko wrote: »

I was making the point that you can get a accounting qualification in less than one year. You are giving advice on hearsay and the bad experience of a friend.

Its not about getting a qualification ... its about getting the qualification that puts you at the top of the pile of a list of CV's. The advice I was given was by a Senior partner in an accountancy firm in Cork City who I meet on a regular basis. The best way is a full honours degree (4 years) and then professional exams be they FCA, CIMA or ACCA. If you have your degree coming in it shows you have done your project work you also get exemptions on certain exams. So far I havent seen my friend name in the paper related to any misappropriations.

QueenBee1

Thanks to everyone for replying. I have researched the degree and look to do it in GMIT. They have the most exemptions from ACCA and I can have it completed in 3 years. But my question is not about where to do the degree it is should i postpone it for another year and go travelling with my partner of 5 years or do it next september? Either I feel I am stuck in a rut I have no excitement in my life and need something to focus on

QueenBee1

I need a change is what I mean

skooterblue2

I think you should have this conversation with your partner. Obviously he is qualified in his field and wants to travel. He has made many sacrifices to get there. Maybe you might be better seeing the world before you decide.

"Accountancy is a young mans game", the faster you get qualifed and climb the ladder the easier it is. The sooner you get qualified and cut your teeth going off site for audits and late nights, the more time you will have later in life for your family later in life. I wouldnt like to be finishing professional exams and trying to start a family.

I think it is 50/50 you still have time to do both but dont be naive to let your partner go to Australia for a year and and everything will be hunky dory when you come back. Make a decision either ye both go or ye dont go. I have seen strong couples break in months over long distance relationships. I think travel broadens your horizons.

Rememeber it will take years to qualify as an accountant and climb the ladder. "Ideally" travel should be done once you are qualified.

The best thing to do would be to sit down and talk to him. I would go for it. You may have obstacles later when you want to go with work and family, this chance may not come again.