Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I will never go to uni and have a career

50 replies

McHappyPants2012 · 15/01/2012 00:37

I can't afford to go to uni, have not got the intellect and I have to work at my crappy cleaning job to get the rent and bills paid

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 15/01/2012 00:39

You don't have to go to uni to have a career Smile

VelcroFanjo · 15/01/2012 00:40

You don't need to go to uni to have a fulfilling life!! Cleaning pays the bills, I did it too or a while, but never believe that, that is all there is for you. What sort of work do you want? Not all jobs need loads of certificates to make you good at them!

Original poster
McHappyPants2012 · 15/01/2012 00:43

I really don't know, i wish I went to school now as I left with all e at gcse because I skipped lessons and the ones I did go to I was distributive and got kicked out of the class room

OP posts:
scarlettsmummy2 · 15/01/2012 00:57

Have you looked into college courses? you have to start somewhere. Go back and get your English and Maths GCSE to begin with and then take it from there.

Original poster
McHappyPants2012 · 15/01/2012 01:00

Is that possible to do gcse in collage

OP posts:
thepeoplesprincess · 15/01/2012 01:02

Does it matter if you don't go to uni?

You don't need a piece of paper with two numbers and a colon on it to validate your existence dude.

Go to church i;nstead. It's cheaper and they have cake.

Iheartpasties · 15/01/2012 01:03

Yes, I pretty sure you can.

You sound like you would be keen to try and do something and that is all it takes - just a keeness to try something new and learn along the way. Not all jobs require a degree.

scarlettsmummy2 · 15/01/2012 01:04

As far as I am aware, if not your local council will run literacy and numeracy courses in the local library who would certainly be able to help.

You could google 'literacy and numeracy support in .... Edinburgh (for example)

Selks · 15/01/2012 01:05

Yes it's possible to do GCSEs, access courses and all sorts of courses that are geared towards people who have not studied since leaving school but now want to better their qualifications. Best thing is to phone your local college and ask of you can call in to speak to someone about it.
Go for it!

ilovesooty · 15/01/2012 01:05

Or you could register with Learn Direct and get your literacy and numeracy qualifications.

ilovesooty · 15/01/2012 01:08

Register with Next Step and go to see a local adviser for action planning:

nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Pages/home.aspx

scarlettsmummy2 · 15/01/2012 01:10

also- what age are you? there are lots of programmes aimed specifically at those aged 16-24 (I run one in Edinburgh), which combine practical paid work experience with additional training. For example, you would be paid minimum wage while working as an office administrator, but would also attend training days with the training provider for say a day a month.

You should contact your local careers service and asked to be referred onto something like this.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/01/2012 01:41

Go to Church instead... Isn't valuing religion over knowledge what got us into that whole Dark Ages thing? Oh well, I'll be in my bunker.

SubordinateClaws · 15/01/2012 04:47

Should have worked harder at school, eh?

ComposHat · 15/01/2012 04:58

subordinateclaws that's fucking helpful isn't it? The OP wants to take steps to make amends for her missed education and all you can do is make sneering comments.

OP ignore subordinate's bitching and consider taking the steps Scarlett and sootyrecommend. A degree is not a be all and end all, and unless you have a definite career path that requires a degree, it is not compulsory by any stretch of the imagination.

How is going to Church going to help the OP get qualifications/turn her life around?

troisgarcons · 15/01/2012 05:14

You can go to Adult Education, either daytime of night time. It is a expensive if you are over 19, but I'm sure there is assistance. The job centre (or what ever it's called "connexions") will have full details of what is availbale.

Uni isn't for everyone, if it was, it would be compulsory.

You could do an access course for uni.

But I suggest you think about what you are interested in, what you think would be fulfilling then plan the way forward. There are many vocational courses out there that employers would value over and above a degree.

spiderslegs · 15/01/2012 05:59

OP, life's funny - it waxes & wanes, just because you're doing something now doesn't mean you'll be doing it forever, think about what you'd like to do & take steps to do it as others have suggested.

Degrees aren't always the road to success. In many cases they're next to useless.

& in the mean time - there's nothing at all wrong with cleaning, we live in a society the devalues honorable tasks, I've cleaned & been a chamber-maid & I'd do it again if I had to - no shame in it, see it as a stepping stone.

ExpatAgain · 15/01/2012 06:09

Right, you sound ambitious on wanting to move on, great. any options where you are with cleaning company/agency you work for? just asking. check local paper/agencies for jobs 1 step up from what you're doing.

Write down some ideas of kinds of jobs you could realistically do into 2 columns - 1) now 2) with further study (eg with maths/English gcse/?)
how can you get there? call your local college or the Open University for advice and ideas, see if you can get some free career counselling.

don't aim to go to uni just because..where would that get you except into thousands of pounds worth of debt?

Dustinthewind · 15/01/2012 06:34

My dad left school at 15 with nothing in the way of qualifications. Since then he worked for 5 O levels, an HND and now has a master's degree.
Which is further up the HE ladder than any of his children got. But he really wanted to achieve it and worked at the same time to afford it.
Education is life-long.
So what do you want to do and how much do you really want it OP?

ThompsonTwins · 15/01/2012 06:39

Hi McHappy,

You sound completely disheartened but cleaning is what you do now to pay the bills, not what you have to do forever.

To find your local Further Education college findfe.com/ - just phone, explain your situation and ask for the best plan of action. Agree with whoever suggested you start off with GCSEs. If you could only study for one at first, suggest English Language, then Maths.

Link for university access courses www.accesstohe.ac.uk/

Oh, and Subordinate, Whatever your level of education it has clearly taught you nothing.

lifechanger · 15/01/2012 07:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

exoticfruits · 15/01/2012 07:50

Lots of people waste their time at school and realise too late that the main person they hurt was themselves. It is never too late.Lots of people have to catch up later. Take the advice and start with GCSEs.
Try Directgov site for advice.

JennaTailor · 15/01/2012 08:43

You do not need to go to uni to have a career but seeing as you mentioned it .... it is never too late!! I left school with no GCSE's and had a baby when i was 17....I did a whole bunch of jobs to make ends meet - none of which were particularly fulfilling.

Then i went back to college (the single best thing i have ever done) - it gave me confidence and i discovered i wasn't as stupid as i thought.... i got the job of my dreams and have continued to study (up to post grad level) over the last 20 yrs.

Have a look at the courses at your local college and start from there! It is possible if you want it.

pinkappleby · 15/01/2012 08:52

Sure Start Centres do numeracy and literacy courses, usually with a free creche?

Flisspaps · 15/01/2012 08:55

I will recommend the Open University if a university degree is what you want. Lots of choice, recognised degrees (and well respected by employers) and you pay for the year as you do it, you can pay in monthly instalments and if your income is below a certain amount you get a fee reduction (two years I paid nothing, had a grant of £250 for equipment and books I my first year and at the time I was working full-time) Smile Worth looking into.

Swipe left for the next trending thread