Is uni going to be worth the money?

[PR Design]

Hi everyone. Hope all is well.

Ok, so I'm at that point now where I need to start thinking about going to uni and I have looked at several web design courses. I went up to Teesside the other day for an interview (after being offered a place) and to be honest I wasn't impressed at all. At the risk of sounding big headed, there was nothing they had to offer me. They also seemed overly impressed with me in the interview, which isn't always a good sign.

I've also been told by an amazing amount of graduates that have taught themselves more after/out of uni, than they payed to be taught in uni! I am thus far completely self taught so will uni really help?

I suppose what I'm after is a bit of advice from graduates relating to the academia as opposed to the social aspect. I know if I don't go to uni, I will be missing one hell of an experience, but will the experience be worth £27 000 to me?

Thanks, Harry

[ianm]

it's gonna cost you how much? surely not

you looked into it all then? not sure how it works now, but it was based on the amount brought in by your parents - i ended up getting funded

it was a great experience, although i don't think it's the qualifications are worth much these days - they count for nought against experience and you have to push and be really lucky to get in anywhere as a graduate.

[PR Design]

Well last count we got was that the avg. student debt was £27 000!!! And yeah I've looked into it all, actually applied everywhere now. But it's last chance to say no before I need to accept a place. I was thinking I'd rather send my C.V. and portfolio to a few agencies in search of a job.

[ianm]

do that too - you wouldn't wanna miss out, you might be able to to catch some experience while gaining your qualification

[james]

I was facing the same dilemma nearly ten years ago now (life goes by fast after twenty! ). I decided to get a job, as I didn't want to be saddled with debt like that.

Sometimes I wish I'd done a degree (still found time to get qualified to HND level); just for the experience and good times ()...

I'd have a think about how much you'll learn from the course and weigh it up against the potential debt (and it is a hell of a lot of money, but thousands of people are in the same boat)... Like Ian says, you're obviously good and knowledgeable at web design, so you could definitely part fund it with those skills - beats working at Burger King part time!

[blueocto]

I was able to get the full student loans from the government, as I could prove that I had supported myself financially for more than 3 years, therefore i only have to pay that back one I am earning over £15k a year.
Ive taken a year out so I have not finished yet, but hope to complete it this coming year at Northumbria Uni.
The expenses you may occur is the usual stuff like petrol, food etc etc
Thats totally up to you, you might need a part-time job, you might have rich parents etc lol

What I did, I was working fulltime, I gradually reduced my hours at work, in order to get used to living off the basics. Mind Im the only student with a £10k Civc Sport! So I must be doing something right lol

[PR Design]

I've applied for Northumbria. I haven't had my interview yet but I have a feeling they will be better than Teesside anyway.
I'm still very much in two minds though.

[ianm]

fancied a trip up north then :D

[PR Design]

Well whilst on a residential trip to Newcastle uni in the summer I met a Northumbria web dev graduate who recommended the course to me so that's the reason for picking there. Teesside was sort of a last minute choice to fill up the gaps on my application lol.

[ianm]

cool, well newcastle is nice - some great gigs been on at northumbria