dude - dont be negative about it - if you assume/worry that youll never get anywhere then you wont get anywhere - I dont want to sound like a cheesy american sales guru but there is some truth in the whole *think positive* thing.

I know non grads in thier 20s on six figure salaries - I know of one guy who is pushing 7 figures this year - these people never achieved the level of academic attainment that you will have when youve finished your course yet they are making a sucess of thier careers (if you can measure success in monetary terms).

there is absolutely no reason why you cant, with the right attitude, do better than the captain of the rugby team goody two shoes types who get recruited by the likes of accenture - a lot of the top brokers & traders who Ive met wouldnt have had a hope in hell of getting onto a grad program with an investment bank when they were starting out - few years later they could probably walk into any bank in the city and get a position. Id bet the same is true about software development - who cares if you dont get into accenture or IBM or whatever - get into a small firm - stay positive work your ass off, make a name for yourself, impress people within your field & within your industry & in a few years time youll probably be streets ahead of the goody two shoes types who got on the grad scheme at some large blue chip corp.

Quote from: PhoenixFlame

I could argue you with the student stuff if you want Sam. Just signed up for a masters after ive finished my 3 years of lazing around

The prospect of staying in education for life has its appeal

I can understand why someone would want to, its a no hassle enjoyable lifestyle.

Contrary to popular belief I have nothing against students at all. Im just dismissive against anyone who lives in cookoo land that it takes massive amounts of hard work. Youll never have such an easy life as your 3 years at uni (well 1.5 years if you take into account the 6 months a year they have off).

Unis been mixed for me. Sometimes its been a right bastard but thats mostly been down to my bad time management i.e. leaving everything to the last minute. So far ive managed to get away with it and get very good marks whilst doing so but I know it wont last forever.
Other times its just been plain sailing. Stuff ive already covered in much greater detail by myself so its really just going through the motions till the exam.


Money ive never found to be an issue. Ive worked part time every weekend ive been at uni and that brings in enough to pay the rent / bills. Student loan covers the gaps for when I need to pay out on stuff (or when I blow far too much money on upgrading my pc ). I pay my own tuition and I very rarely go into my overdraft. If I do, its cleared in the summer when I do full time work.

So yeah, uni life is pretty good for me The masters im taking should give me something extra for the CV as there are only a few unis offering something like it (MSc Forensics IT). Those that are wont have graduates for 3 - 4 years. IT security is also one of these growing fields so I might actually get a job

Failing that the backup plan is to go and work out in Iceland for an MMORPG company

of my 11 staff, the best paid two have no qualification - just a lot of on the job experience - they have worked their way up.