Only you know what's best for you but I'd definately recommend university. I had a great time there, got a good degree and was able to walk out into a job which I loved and am still doing 10 years later at a senior level. I see some of my colleagues struggling to do a part time degree while working full time and bringing up a family. Lots of people do it but it's a real struggle for them and a lot wish they had gone to uni when they were younger. You can always get your own cats when you finish studying and if you've got your own place you can have as many as you like

I'd say go to uni too, but find a degree that's not a dead end , something you're really interested in too.

I can't remember how you become a vet in England, wouldn't that interest you, or do you think you can't because you don't have marks good enough ?
Give it a thought...
Or perhaps vet nurse (but the money isn't the same of course ) !

I didn't go tu Uni as such because in France it doesn't really work the same (you've got unis and you've got the "great schools" (grandes écoles), kind of an elitist system, you enter them after a competition (not sure that's the right word ) and vet school is one of them), but I just loved it, living on a campus among other students is really a great experience... .

This is one of the hardest decisions of your life and I don't envy you one little bit. Unfortunately we can only give you our stories the final decision is up to you.

I never went to uni, it didn't interest me. I got a full time job as an accounts trainee and did my qualifications on day release and distance learning (like open university). I was getting paid, valuable work experience and qualified at the same time. I was lucky that my career enabled me to do this.

Rob (the OH), went to uni for 3 years. He was lucky that there were no fees back then and managed to have a blast, gain some valuable life experiences of the big wide world and get his degree. He would always advise someone to go.

A friend of mine went to uni, got up to her eye balls in debt, had a "wild" time with "many" life experiences - think the extreme stero typical student life and you have hers!! She obtained a decent 2:1 degree and she now works as a waitress - but I must stress that she is very happy with her life.

As you can see it depends on the person and what you want to do. I am not going to influence you either way, you have to weigh up all the pros and cons and go with what is right for you.

But if you do choose to go - you will have a fantastic experience.

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Kato & Leon

Hey there, as everybody's said uni's a blast! I did take a double gap-year to work though and was able to raise enough money for a holiday to Australia and Thailand as well as a deposit on a small house in a crappy part of London. I have two uni friend renting rooms here to pay off the mortgage and in return I get to keep cats!

I'd definitely recommend a gap year, once I'm out of uni I'm not really going to have the chance to just up sticks for five months and wander around. Uni's fun but the friends who have graduated have found the real world a bit of a shock to the system. All their plans of travelling once they've worked a year in a professional job are being stunted by long term relationships they've made at uni and the competitive nature of postgraduate careers.

But yes, I'm sure your parents have a lot to say about it and you're going to know bettre than anybody else what will work for you. Good luck

Everyones different, go where the wind blows you & where your heart desire's ..

Jim & the snoring moglet.

Thank you everyone so much for your advice, it is highly appreciated.

I am going to be deep in thought for the next couple of months, hopefully I work out the right thing to do.

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Dawn & Danielle
--Fairislebanks Bengals & Forgebanks Snowshoes--

perhaps you could combine them and go to uni to do vet studies? Not sure what the entry criteria is... But if you want uni AND you want to work with animals, that's what I'd be looking at.

Maybe I'm coming at it from the wrong side, but uni to me was never about having a blast. It was always about advancing myself and providing a career path. Then again, I also spent a few years lecturing at a masters level, so perhaps I'm a little too far on the serious/lecturer/study side!!

but yeah - I'd go with the uni thing

I don't make the grade to be a vet, and veterinary assistants can't really progress.

Today I am taking the Uni prospect more seriously and looking into the local one tomorrow. If I like the course and Uni then I will most likely apply there and take the huge step into the big wide world...admittedly I am scared of going!

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Dawn & Danielle
--Fairislebanks Bengals & Forgebanks Snowshoes--

Well we went to the open day and the Uni is beautiful and not too far away. The course sounds great, and we spoke to a 2nd year mature student who really helped with lots of info. I'm getting excited about going now!

Thanks again to you all for your advice and personal stories, very helpful! *hugs*

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Dawn & Danielle
--Fairislebanks Bengals & Forgebanks Snowshoes--