Degree Dilemma!!!

[Alixw]

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!! - I left college two years ago after doing my a levels. I got a job as a barristers clerk, only stayed there 10 months and left cos i hated it! I'm now working for a property development company as a PA/Secretary. The people here are nice and the job is a much better one than the clerking job. But it just really isn't for me. I was adamant when i left college that I did not want to go to uni. Now though, i'm thinking I've made a mistake!! I've been looking into doing a physiotherapy degree. But I really don't think i could give up work and become a student!! I've become too used to the money, and the thought of having to work in a shop like tesco to pay my fees is just depressing!! (theres nothing wrong with working in tesco - i worked there for over a year!). I really don't know what to do!! I get no job satisfaction at all in what I do now and know that I would enjoy physiotherapy. What should I do?!!?

[Miss Zippy]

Have you thought about doing a physio degree part time so you can still work and not lose your income entirely? Also you'd stand less chance of ending up leaving your degree with a �15k debt round your neck. Most part time degrees take 5 years (as opposed to 3 years full time) so in the grand scheme of things it's not that long if it means the next 40 years or so of your working life will be fulfilling. 

[Alixw]

I had thought about it. I dont really know how part time hours work with a degree. i.e. would i be able to take the lectures of an evening rather than during the day!!

[Canary96]

Alixw you need to concentrate on what you want to do with your life. You say you want to go to Uni but don't want to be broke or in debt. If you wanted to go you would go. Decide what is important to you. I think that you have only thought about Uni because you are have been unhappy in two jobs. If you had job satisfaction and was well paid well then you wouldn't even have posted your question here. Decide what really motivates you -  what desire you have in life and go for it. If that is a better paid job and you have to go to Uni to do it then you have your answer. Maybe save up and go so you will not be so broke when you are there. However think about what you want. You question stems from something that is missing in your life. Find out what it is and do something about it - whatever the cost.

[ursula62]

If you really cannot afford to give up working, then what about doing a degree with Birkbeck College or the OU?

If you knew you only had to stay at work for a limited time to finance your degree it would make it much more bearable!

[Miss Zippy]

Alixw - a colleague of mine is doing an osteopathy degree part time and manages to combine this with full time work. She attends weekend classes every fortnight and has to spend a week or two each year attending classes, which she takes out of her annual leave.  It will depend on the institution though how and when they run courses for part time students.

[Miss Zippy]

P.s my colleague has just told me that the final year of her degree has to be done full time as this is when they gain clinical experience. Might be the same for physio but at least that will give you time to put some savings by to finance this final year.

[Miss Zippy]

In my post above i meant to say that she attends classes fortnightly at the weekend, hence it doesn't affect her working week (though doesn't give her much of a life!)

[kezia_88]

also if you decide to take physiotherapy like I am intrested in doing so then I think you get it paid on the NHS, I am not 100% sure though