University

[dalecan]

I'm a university Prof. Here's my advice: work your ass off from day one and you'll never regret it. You should think of Uni as a full-time job. The classes should excite you, if they don't then you might be in the wrong field. There's no substitute for hard work. As for money, get a part-time job. For what it's worth, I didn't do my first degree until I left the army at 29. Then I did a BSc, MSc, then PhD back-to-back. During those 10 years I had a part time job.

Sorry, just my two cents.

You had to go and spoil it.

Then again, I did have 13 years in the army to do all my partying! Believe me, there was lots of it.

 

[markeg]

So, off to be a paramedic. Or as our Health Secretary calls it, an "Ambulance Driver" :roll:

My wife works in EMAS, and quite a few of our friends are Paramedics, so let me know if you need any info around the course/job Are you doing this through the Uni or through a Trust? One friend is currently doing her course through Sheffield, and through EMAS so gets a bursary. She also is a member of LEMR (Lincolnshire Emergency Medical Response) with the RAF which, although it doesn't pay (being voluntary) does add additional experience onto the CV - we can check for a contact with your region if you are interested in doing this?

Regarding Uni life - and surviving on a budget - think thats been covered by everyone else above. My personal experience was surviving on beans, cheese and pita bread, so I had more beer tokens. Got to prioritise, what with all those vitamins, minerals etc in beer

 

[dalecan]

Uni in the UK is pretty cheap. The university that I teach at in Seattle costs $40,000 a year.

 

[Bing]

Top drinking tip - I discovered that an entire bottle of port is not only pretty cheap, but is just the right amount of alcohol to get you nicely wasted but not falling down.

However, drinking out of the bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag on the back of the bus wasn't the classiest look, and the hangovers were pretty epic.

On a more serious note, cj's advice is very sound. The other thing I'd say is don't worry about your age. Nobody cares, and the girls will love an 'older man' who drinks port and retains the ability to speak and stand on a night out

 

[jimmybell]

Bing is correct - port is the drink of kings. However, here's your warning - fortified wine? You thought a wine hangover was bad... it's a fortified hangover... absolutely savage. Small price to pay for a big night out on £5 though.

 

[MrPT]

I'm a university Prof. Here's my advice: work your ass off from day one and you'll never regret it. You should think of Uni as a full-time job. The classes should excite you, if they don't then you might be in the wrong field. There's no substitute for hard work. As for money, get a part-time job. For what it's worth, I didn't do my first degree until I left the army at 29. Then I did a BSc, MSc, then PhD back-to-back. During those 10 years I had a part time job.

Sorry, just my two cents.

I think this is very valid and sensible advice. My experience was completely different - generally dossed about and didn't take my course very seriously. There's nothing I learnt from my degree that I use today (and it's in the same field).

But I grew up. Learnt how to live with other people, learnt how to balance work and play, manage my own finances etc. And I realised that while I could slack off quite a lot with the studying, I couldn't just do nothing. It took two failed years to realise that!

So I'd say the thing I got most out of it was just getting ready for the real world in a safe environment. I'm sure you'll love it, Ste, but I wouldn't like to guess how you'll look back on it afterwards. Everybody has their own path.

[EDIT - just saw your post where you said you're 24, so it doesn't sound like you need any life lessons at all. Ignore the above - work as hard as you f*cking can and play the older man thing, like Bing says.