General Chat

No didn't go, although I was offered a place at Exeter. One of just a few regrets but out of my hands at the time (if it happened to one of my kids now I'd sue). Went to bi-lingual secretarial college instead (now grandly called Anglia Ruskin University lol) and have actually used the skills I learned. Daisy

Glad to read all the success stories of the people who didn't go to uni. My son has just decided to not go. His place is conditional but he has decided to ask to defer going until next year or so he says. I don't think he wants to go at all and he says he is going to get a job to see what the real world is like. I am worried sick about him as he hasn't got a clue what he wants to do in this 'real world 'and jobs do not seem plentiful. I didn't go to uni but went to a teachers trainign college and could have carried on to get a degree but got married instead. I regreted not having a degree and finally did an OU degree. Daniel, you seem pretty focussed and successful with your book. Maybe Uni is not for you. Tough decisions all round Chris x

No, I didn't go to UNI. Left a secondary modern school in '64, went to a further education college for 2 years then started work as a shorthand-typist. Found a secretarial position in a hospital after about 9 months and LOVED that. Often fancied being a nurse, but pleased I did secretarial studies because I would never have found a job over here without resitting my nursing exams - in French!!! Things are different now - everyone seems to go to Uni - although I do agree with what has already been said, I can't help feeling that the standards have dropped somewhat. Margaret

I wasn't worrying before but now I sort of think...no shut up Dan. What are you saying??? No I'm fine. They aren't going anywhere. I'm using my 'gap years' to try and hack it in the real world. If I can't, then perhaps I may consider uni .I didnt and still dont have any particular interest in regards to courses and I'm not so stupid to randomly pick one and have to pay for it. My family couldn't afford it anyway.

Daniel if you have the opportunity to go then do it sadly I didnt but did have a good successful life running my own Garage workshop and no regrets xxx

Dan, if you dont want to go dont worry what other people say, if you're not sure go look at a few, you can always go later, stop worrying................... Barbara..xx

I didn't!!! I work at a local nursery for 3 hours a day for the love of the job and the fact that I know the owner and like her! LOL I also have a cleaning company that is very lucrative so :opppppppppppppp. I am doing vey well and regardless of any degrees feel very satisfied with life!!!! I still wish I had gone to uni though, for the life experience!!!

These days, the world and its wife can go to Uni! Lost all credence

Hi Dan, no i did'nt go to uni - i was far to eager to go out exploring what was what and had a great time, learnt lots and eventually did settle down. My eldest (son) had no interest but my daughter has been working towards uni since she was about 8.

Education system is different over here so I think important to go to college or university as high school doesn't prepare todays' youth for good employment opportunities. But when I was in school if you got grade 12 you could get a good job. Went back to college years later thou to get my english degree and have taken several other course for employment upgrades.

i was a mother of 2 kids before i was 19 so uni was out of the question for me im 44 now and thinking about doing an open uni course in English Lit sue c x

was working in a vauxhall garage 2months before I should have left school so didnt go to uni Took the adult equivellent of maths and english gcse in 2003 and passed them at both levels (1&2)

Its a Uni now but City of London College when I was a student. Later I did philosophy and logic & semantics, as a mature student, at LSE. len

I didn't even stay on to take my o levels, left at the Easter. I'm now getting divorced and have just signed up to the Open University.

Me,me and went to one of the roughest shools in Darlington,but still trained to be a State Registered Nurse and proud of it!!!!

Because of family circumstances I had to leave school at 15, did a year in College and worked nights and weekends to pay my way... Worked 2 jobs after that for 18mths then got married and been working ever since - mostly self-employed, probably unemployable now, never could follow orders!!!!! Been running our own business for 10 years - should have done it long before that.... Responsible for the jobs of 15 people - that frightens the whatsit out of me!!

Perfectly ok Daniel, kicked out of school at 15, got an education in my mid 20's at college - evening classes, I've managed companies and retired early. But that was then, things were different in the early '60's. I think I would advise any able teenager today to get the best qualification they can, unless they are a genius. And even then I would!

I didn't, money just wasn't available to stay to do A levels, but having said that only 5 girls from my class did, and only one went to Uni. Just wasn't expected in our part of E London. I've done OK, trained at work, did ONC and HNC, and still in the same line 36 yrs later. BUT it isn't possible to get into this work without a degree now, and I think that is the case with a lot of professions. Very difficult! Suex

I didn't go and not many of my peers did either. I also left school weeks before O levels were due to be sat. Later at the 'mature' age of 24 I sat an entrance exam and was accepted to to train as a Nurse. I did that for a few years and 14 years ago I started retraining in Early Years Education and Special Needs. Still training as there is always another course to go on! Jacky :-)

I dinny go to uni :-)