If Not College, Then What?

spurious

Always the option of volunteering under the European Volunteer Scheme - they pay you an allowance while doing it.

Perhaps use some of the skills you already have to see do you really want to work in that area.

Vincent Vega

kylith

You could always get a job.

Noveight wrote: »

I always reckoned that if I hadn't gone through college (secondary teacher now) I'd have spent a few years driving trucks. Runs around the country and maybe to the continent, would've been an experience.

A couple of my family members are lorry drivers. There's good money in it, and there's work going, but the hours are unsociable and it takes a hell of a toll on your body.

KilOit

Try your luck at a public job. Clerical in hse or civil service, money is poor at the beginning but it goes up quickly and its a secure job

mariaalice

Look at it this way in approximately 20 months they will have achieved a level 7 degree if you stick it out the time will be gone in a flash. They don't hate it they just don't love it, what happens if they find everything they try they don't hate it but don't love it either.

Are they expecting their parents to support them if they drop out again or does the op have a job?

Hector Bellend

Just empty your nuts before you make a decision.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b

OP, the point of doing the course isn't to enjoy the atmosphere, make friends, etc. It's to learn marketable skills that you can put to good use.

If you drop out now to work in retail or a bar, believe me, you will regret it in the future.

Ficheall

I didn't like my course after the first year, didn't do well in it. Decided that since I'd started, I'd plough on until the uni failed me. I didn't realise, of course, how difficult it is to fail uni, so I ended up getting the degree, a PhD, and then doing a postdoc.

After a while, it becomes difficult to change direction. The job I do now, although it stipulates the requirement for a mathematics phd, doesn't really require much mathematics beyond knowing the BOMDAS rule. I often regret not switching courses after first year.


There's far too much emphasis on sending absolutely everyone to university and giving them a degree. Of course, there's too much money in it for the unis for it to be likely to stop any time soon. I have a lot of respect for people who can bail on a field of study (but who, of course, then go on to do something else worthwhile instead). On the other hand, I know a guy who spent nine years repeating his arts degree (UK), then, on his last attempt at final year, never submitted his final essays, and so ended up without a degree..

coffee_cake

Is it possible to switch to a different college without the mad commute? or move closer to the current college?
or sit in on lectures for different courses and decide if you want to switch? maybe see if it's possible and if so how much it would cost? you might get credits from what you've done?
Being brand new and uncomfortable at first is going to happen in any situation, there's no point giving up straight away.
It's true college is not for everyone but you are there now so why not look at options.

Mark25

Grass is always greener on thr other side. So if college is OK even if not great it probably makes sense to see it through.

I did a year at college but mainly got drunk and decided college wasnt for me and decided Id be better of working and ended up joining the Army. That didnt work ou for me ether and I left and life then became messy.

I ended up going back to college 3 years ago and finished up with a degree this year and am working now. The good thing these days is you can go back. I ended up finishing college about 10 years later and older than everybody else but things are getting better now.

Noveight

kylith wrote: »

A couple of my family members are lorry drivers. There's good money in it, and there's work going, but the hours are unsociable and it takes a hell of a toll on your body.

Yeah I'd imagine the unsociable hours do make it tough. I was on a late pickup from Dublin airport in recent weeks and the amount of lorries on the road at 3-4am amazed me.

starlit

Hi Op,

I'd advise to continue the course from having completed a similar degree myself other option is transfer into another business course if you feel that you couldn't restart another course. You will have more options to branch out after into a Masters or specialise into a hdip or postgrad for a year after a degree. Hours and commuting can be unsociable alright but when you start working could be earlier!?

Springboard courses be optional after a degree if you wish to specialise or do a different course. Weigh up all your options and think about what you want for your future? Its a difficult choice to make no matter how old you are. You will have more job opportunities after completing the course though and chances of going abroad for work.

Is there work-experience as part of it which would be very beneficial? Is there a possibility of transferring to a college similar course that has work-experience if where you are doesn't have it which I think might be a factor when looking for work in the future. Think about it long and hard before making any big decisions there will always the possibility of going back to college again if you decide not to continue the course when undecided about another one. Do your research on what career you'd like and what you like to achieve for the future. Is there career guidance available in the college maybe speak with them to see what options might suit you?

PLC courses might be an option could mean waiting until next year though. Don't know if the PLC's accept people at this late stage after CAO results.

If its a case you don't like the course and feel it won't help you in the long run then there is no point if you not happy with it. Is there an option to transfer into another business course they often might allow that in 2nd/3rd year or transfer into a business course elsewhere?

Going into the work-force for a while and take a year out might help you decide better but maybe try finding part-time work before you leave the course still early days yet might need time to settle in if you feel nearer to the time of projects due and exams coming near its not for you then best to leave course. Defer your 2nd year if it is possible and see how you feel about it?

Public service is an option as well don't always need a college course some jobs may require at least a level 6 not necessarily a degree. You need to have the Leaving Cert at least. How about the local county council? Christmas jobs will be coming up soon aswell so you might get something. Join the local jobs club be a help too to research what's out there before you consider leaving the course.

All the best with your decision!

batgoat

From experience, I realised in college that I wasn't going to work in the area I was studying. Completed the degree and did some additional work so I could do a masters in a separate area.

A degree lets you live in other countries much more easily, like me in Vietnam. Try to finish it it off if you can.

TheBiz

starlit wrote: »

Hi Op,

I'd advise to continue the course from having completed a similar degree myself other option is transfer into another business course if you feel that you couldn't restart another course. You will have more options to branch out after into a Masters or specialise into a hdip or postgrad for a year after a degree. Hours and commuting can be unsociable alright but when you start working could be earlier!?

Springboard courses be optional after a degree if you wish to specialise or do a different course. Weigh up all your options and think about what you want for your future? Its a difficult choice to make no matter how old you are. You will have more job opportunities after completing the course though and chances of going abroad for work.

Is there work-experience as part of it which would be very beneficial? Is there a possibility of transferring to a college similar course that has work-experience if where you are doesn't have it which I think might be a factor when looking for work in the future. Think about it long and hard before making any big decisions there will always the possibility of going back to college again if you decide not to continue the course when undecided about another one. Do your research on what career you'd like and what you like to achieve for the future. Is there career guidance available in the college maybe speak with them to see what options might suit you?

PLC courses might be an option could mean waiting until next year though. Don't know if the PLC's accept people at this late stage after CAO results.

If its a case you don't like the course and feel it won't help you in the long run then there is no point if you not happy with it. Is there an option to transfer into another business course they often might allow that in 2nd/3rd year or transfer into a business course elsewhere?

Going into the work-force for a while and take a year out might help you decide better but maybe try finding part-time work before you leave the course still early days yet might need time to settle in if you feel nearer to the time of projects due and exams coming near its not for you then best to leave course. Defer your 2nd year if it is possible and see how you feel about it?

Public service is an option as well don't always need a college course some jobs may require at least a level 6 not necessarily a degree. You need to have the Leaving Cert at least. How about the local county council? Christmas jobs will be coming up soon aswell so you might get something. Join the local jobs club be a help too to research what's out there before you consider leaving the course.

All the best with your decision!

Thanks for all the advice!

I was in a business degree and I hated it, I had a horrible experience in my first two years of college; being part of a friend group that started to push me out, not invite me, not add me to group chats, arrange events without me.. but I still lived lived with one of them, went to lectures with them (walking much faster than me), they'd still great me, say goodbye that sort of thing but arranged something right in front of me, I wasn't invited..
Between that and the course itself I wouldn't go back to the degree (best business degree/college I can commute to/from)

I have an idea of what I want to do career wise, I want to either start my own business, work in the field of or be part of a start up in the area of targeted marketing, advanced marketing, data collect etc..
Basically tailored adverts.

So IS is the right field for me, if that's what I'm going to do.
I had my first practical today actually and I enjoyed it, I like that it's just down to logic, not theoretical bullsh*t.

I think my best bet is at least sit it out for the level 7, I'm finding it easy so far, and I've been looking forward at lecture slides and notes so I should pass without too much effort.

If I can I'll try and find part time work and try to get some student accommodation..

As for the whole social side of college I'm at a bit of a loss, I've talked to people in my lectures but very little, just answering or asking questions..
I've had a look at the societies and clubs, I can't really join most if any of them because I'm gone by the time they're meeting.. so unless I extend the college day from the 6:40 bus on to another bus and a train home, but that would really take it's toll.

My problem isn't so much with the material but the overall environment, the way they lecture, the commute.. and less about what I'm learning, it's just a lot of it I could teach myself and more if I wasn't concerned with employability given I hope to be self employed and to employ others.

But thanks again.

starlit

You very welcome. I'd still recommend to continue the course and i'd expect its practical as well as theory based they go hand in hand for the Information Systems side of things to understand everything. If the material and the subjects themselves suit you and feel your career is in that line rather than business so no reason why not to continue with the course and then decide what to do after.

There are courses that specialise in Marketing and there are Degrees/Masters in Marketing as well. Marketing will compliment the IT side of things of business as well if you went down the line of online marketing. All very interesting to study when you have a good interest and good at them as well that's half the battle when completing courses. Keep your head down and focus on the course and do your best is all that be expected of you!

Best of luck!