Thinking about a major change in direction.

[damien010685]

Go for it mate i work offshore allil say is to get on to rigs etc you just need experience... do the course  or whatever get a job wleding  for a year or 2 and apply to service companies... all il say is there are heaps of boys applying for the same jobs as i have heaps of welder/fabricator mates who struggle to find work offshore but work onshore but its not the same money....

[DubFan]

I quit my degree in the final year  , I didn't like the area it was heading into and realised I didn't have the talents that my fellow students had to make it in the multimedia design business.
However it wasn't until 2yrs later that I got the real job I wanted. I started this job as a trainee on £16k (all trainees got the same no matter if they had a degree or not). Within 4yrs I was on £24k basic (before overtime, etc).
I'm a sound engineer for a huge UK broadcaster.

My best friend also quit his IT degree course after 2yrs, because he'd been offered a job by the company he'd been doing a placement at. 10yrs later he's head of IT for the UK branch of an international company.

It all depends on what opportunities come your way and whether the benefit of not having thousands of pounds worth of debt is also a good idea.

[Sam]

Both degree and trade will individually stand you in good stead.

But having them both will make you much better.

Stay the course and keep fabricating in the holidays.  You're 21 FFS!

Put yourself in the postion of a HR manager.  All those shiny degress but no work experience/practical knowledge.

Then your CV comes in.  Whoa, shiny degree and three years welding/fabricating/general iron mongery skilz' much WIN.

It would even give you a fanststic grounding should you start your own business.

Its all about adding value to your CV.  You'd be shoe in for small metal working design & fabrication business.

Jonathan.

Thanks for that mate, I think that's pretty much exactly what I have been waiting to hear. People with degrees will always tell you to either stick with it (lawers, doctors, engineers etc) or f**k it (psycholog, art, english)  because they haven't done anything with there degree. People in a trade normally have never done a degree so will tell you how great it has all been and that uni is full of rioting student tossers.

I just cant seem to find anyone who has done a degree and then taken on a trade afterwards as its a rather odd move to take, with the normal reason been that there degree has somehow failed them and them been forced to 'take a step backwards'

[The Mighty Elvi]

Forget about stigma and status.

With the exception of the professions, a degree should never be seen as "ticking that box to a better job."

NO!

A degree is there to increase ones knowledge and skills in something they're interested in.

You clearly love the creativity and hands on stuff that fabrication brings.  Your degree will allow you to take those practical skills to another level.

Keep at it Sam.

[Toby]

do what you want and what makes you happy! money isnt everything!

i left school, with a garenteed apprentaship!

needed 4 E's to get in to my collage! well i did that easy 

started on £125 a week, im on that a day 4 years later and the amount of over time i earn is  and im still 20! iv got mates still at uni in 36k worth of debt and are not even garenteed a job at the end 

[VW BUSH]

Im 35 and started as an apprentice toolmaker at 17 and did a full craft training scheme with NVQ's C&G's covering sheet metal, welding, Machining, CAD, CNC machining etc etc
I now work in medical manufacturing bringing in Tech from all over the world (been to six countries this year), the stuff I get to see and play with is amazing.
dont get me wrong, just because i enjoy my work does not mean its a walk in the park but it does help when things are tough.
I am also qualified up to HNC with loads of industry specific stuff too, all paid for by my various employers.
It also helps with playing with cars

find what you like and are good at and stick to it, the respect and money will come 

[Sam]

Go for it mate i work offshore allil say is to get on to rigs etc you just need experience... do the course  or whatever get a job wleding  for a year or 2 and apply to service companies... all il say is there are heaps of boys applying for the same jobs as i have heaps of welder/fabricator mates who struggle to find work offshore but work onshore but its not the same money....

Niice, I assume you live in aberdeen and do the north sea rigs. Im a long way off yet but wouldnt mind giving it a blast when the time comes.

[jamrock]

if you can finish your degree. if you leave you will never be able to go back EVER. look at the way prices are beinging hiked up!!!

having the degree shows you have the ability to learn a subject up to a standard which will always be recognised.

experience is good if you can get it.

[Diamond Hell]

As Elvi says, really.

Doesn't matter if you don't use your degree, once you have it, you have it.

A degree done properly, by someone who's engaged in the course should teach you to think.

You won't learn that on an apprenticeship, you'll learn a trade instead.  Straight down the lines, not creative.  I think you'll realise you've made a huge mistake six months in, because you're more than that. 

If you place any value in doing a 'product design' degree then you should continue with it.  Is it BA or BSc?

Sorry, but 21 and only a year into your degree?  Where'd you waste two years already?

Points made about accidents are very valid, too.  Lose the physical ability and you've lost your income.  Being trained to think means you should be able to adapt.

I have a very good friend who did the same sort of wrestling with a similar choice two years into his psychology degree, about five years ago.  He finished his degree.  He then worked through a couple of quirky mechanics jobs and now runs his own garage and loves it.

You've started and made a three year commitment.  Shut up, man up and get on with it.

[MrBounce]

^^^What he said