Questions about education after secondry school

[Ivelliis]

I go into Year 11 in September, which means I leave school in less than a year.

I have absolutally no idea what I can, or should, do after school. I know there is college, but I have no idea what college is like, or even what you do.

My dad keeps saying something about Law (at Uni), but personally I quite like I.T, and got an A* in the exam, so I thought about something in that. I've never had experience with law, but to me it sounds quite dull.

Can someone (or more than one person ) tell me what college is like, what you do there, etc. I know it won't be too similar because it won't be in the same area, but any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[Aerich]

You don't ask easy questions, do you?

College is interesting. It will broaden your horizons, let you meet new people, and will give you more control over your own education than you've probably had before. No one will hold your hand or make you go to class.

Generally, the college or uni requirements consists of going to lectures, doing the assigned work, and writing exams. The thinking part is not optional if you are serious about learning and improving.

In reality, most people at college do a mix of the following, in varying degrees: get drunk, go to lectures, sleep, attend labs or write papers, do homework, and whine and complain about the amount of homework they have yet to do.

Do what you are interested in, but take a variety of courses so you have an idea of what is out there. Don't worry too much about not knowing where your direction is. Most other people don't know either.

I can speak from experience that Law can be dull, but it has its attractions as well (I've got six full years and counting of post-sec, 4 year in undergrad history and 2 in law, with one more to go).

Talk to your peers and to people older than you to get their impressions of various careers (wait, that's what you're doing now, isn't it ). Tell your dad that a pre-condition of you even considering law is that he has to set you up with at least one lawyer (preferably more) that he knows so you can get an idea of what goes on.

[Felix The Assassin]

Bravo Aerich. [img]graemlins/jumpclap.gif[/img]

I.T.; I have been in and out of this field. As the time drew near for the end of my military career, I studied heavy in I.T./C.S. and e-commerce. Now I'm on the civilian side as a Training Manager. (Go Figure).
As a young person, you can land a nice starting position, with nice salary, etc.. Without further development, a few years later you will still have the same job. By development I do not mean staying current, that is a must. What is meant, adding management, business or human resources to your portfolio. If not, 20 years from now, Ivelliis will still be an I.T. guy at corporation X, as opposed to the unlimited world of law. Where Judge, congress, senate, Govenor, etc.. Iveliis resides.

Keep your options open, and take everything with a grain of salt, and reality. I.T. is fine and all, but what do YOU want to be doing at my age? At age 55?

[robertthebard]

Aerich forgot to mention that the sleeping is during the lectures, as your too busy getting drunk at night to sleep. Be sure to get a good tape recorder, so you can record the lectures for later.
Seriously though, I've had limited experience in college/uni. I do have some credits though, and basically, it's just like going to high school, er, not sure how you refer to it in England, but I hope you take my meaning. The course selection is what makes the major difference. You will develop complete control of what you want to learn about, within set boundaries, anyway.
For example, if you want to major in Law, you will have courses that are required to take, which is obvious, I'm sure, but the elective courses are what will help you broaden your horizons, so you could try a minor in I.T. If you find that law isn't for you, and who could blame you there, you still have the minor to fall back on. However, give it a shot. Law is a very lucrative career. Myself, had my circumstances been different, ol' Michael Creighton may have based Jurrasic Park on some of my work. I was way into paleontology as a child.
It's going to be a fun time, and it's going to prepare you for life in the real world, bet ya' didn't know you've been living in the fake world, did ya'?
Lots of luck. You have plenty of time to research what you want to do. I encourage you to look into the respective fields, and see what you think. You are your own best judge of what you can and cannot do.

[Gabrielles blades]

College isnt something you have to go to right after high school - I did, and I regret it. I changed my major several times because I didnt know what i really wanted to do with my life. I think getting a job or a few jobs at that is a better use of your time. By working in the field you will get a better understanding of what it is you really want to do (and what do *dont* want to do) with your life. After you know what it is you want to do, go to college so that you wont be wasting time and money on courses you dont need. Many colleges are overrated too, be sure to pick one that has teachers who are actually worth their salt. In the end, a degree is just something you use to get higher pay though, what you really need to know in a job is going to be taught at your job most likely. Unless of course your in a higher thinking type job like lawyer or doctor - then you actually have to know a lot before you become one.

[Bungleau]

A large number of people change their majors during the course of their college or university studies. I know I did (from engineering to French), and what I also know is that by and large, your undergrad major has little bearing on what you will do in life.

*puts on flame suit, remembering a previous discussion*

Now, that's not to say that undergrad isn't important -- far from it. Rather, I mean to say that undergrad is about expanding your horizons, giving you the basics of a few different things that you may later work on. If you're going to be a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a social worker, business person, or another "professional" position... you'll be getting more specific training in a master's program that will train you to a much greater depth in your target area.

That doesn't imply that other professions that don't reward for master's degress aren't professional... it's... aw, heck. Just flame on, those who will. There are exceptions to every rule, including this one.

Basically, undergrad's purpose is to teach you how to think critically. To become trainable. Most careers you go in to will give you additional training about what they do in their world. You can learn IT, but you'll then learn IT in a software development company, or in a manufacturing company, or a finance or services company. Same job, but vastly different.

Know and accept that you'll change your mind. The reason I did was because one day, I realized I didn't *love* engineering enough to become an engineer. I did love languages enough, and added Spanish and a bit of German and American Sign Language to my repertoire. I rarely use them these days, but they taught me a lot more important things... like the ability to appreciate art (which doesn't flow easily to this tech-head).

It's a journey, not a destination. Only by thoroughly enjoying and experiencing the journey will you get the greatest rewards.

[Ivelliis]

Thanks for the helpful answers guys.

I'm still no clearer about all of this, but I found a link to "one of the best" colleges in the area, or so I've been told. I've had a look round, and I know many people who are in my sets. Many of the teachers reccomend it too, so I think it's a fairly good contender.

Link to the College website here
A few more questions however

How do I find out what I want to do? I know there are open days for the colleges/Uni, and stuff like that, but I'll take any advice given to me at the moment. You've all said "You won't know what you want to do", but then how will I know which direction I should aim in when I go to college?

[Winter Wolf]

If you've the option, you can just take mostly electives or required-for-graduation courses (sciences, english classes, and that crap) the first year to see what's out there. I'll just offer this bit: Do Not front-load classes for your major if you can avoid it. I did that for my first year thinking I' get all the boring prerequisites for my major out of the way so I could focus on interesting classes later. Then changed majors the next year.

I screwed myself out of ALL of my electives after that since none of the classes overlapped with the major I ended up in. Spent the next three and a half years taking classes I *had* to take just to get my receipt...i mean, diploma. (excluding my Japanese classes, which I loved despite being required for completion.)

Also, not sure how it is in the UK, but in the US, if you're not in a high demand field, you're pretty much forced into a master's degree program to get a decent job. But if you're going with IT, you're probably set.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally posted by Ivelliis: How do I find out what I want to do?

That can only be answered by you!
But the advice above about taking the required core set is invaluable. That will allow you at least 1 year at the institution of learning to adjust, adapt, and figure it out.

What type of person are you? Introvert or extrovert?
Are you a leader or follower?
What are your goals in life?
When and where do you want to be dropped off the turnip truck?

Goals can change, and expect them to.
I missed my retirement goal [img]graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img] . I wanted to retire from the Army at 20 years 1 month, at the marketable age of 38. I retired at 23yrs 7 months at the age of 42, still marketable, but over the mountain. I have two technicals, and an associates degree. I'm still working my BA, and pondering an MA.

My drop off point is 55. Location is North Eastern Oregon. If my retirement, 401K, ESOP, and savings account won't pay the bills, I'll greet you at the Wal-Mart entrance. But mainly I'll be tending too the garden and the horses.

[Lavindathar]

Ok, for one, I'd like to point out that English colleges are very different from the American colleges.

Americans (correct me if I'm wrong) stay on in school until they are 18, thus doing our college in school.

They then have further eductation after that.

We leave school at 16, head to college, and then at 18 go to Uni.

I went to college, but was bored of it. It's just messing about (or was for me). For us, college is the exact same as school. Except, you can wear your own clothes. And, going to lessons is NOT compulsary. You'll stive live at home etc, go 9-5. Uni is the fun one!


I then went to study Marine Engineering, at South Tyneside College, which is not too far from your Ivellis. It's in South Shields. I study Marine Engineering, it's a good job, excellent pay etc...

I did this as I didn't know what to do. I had my A-levels etc, but had no idea where I was going.

You can go to study this course at any age from 16-24. You need to get sponsored by a company, who pay you to go to the college for three years. They also give you a well paid job at the end of it.

I'm 20, and have been all over the world with my job. Hong Kong, China, all of Europe etc.

If your interested, give me a bell. Just because I'm going away again in two weeks, all over the Med and the West Coast of Africa.