More and more people are going to university - and normally it pays off. Its been proven that you're 50% more likely to get a job on graduation than someone straight out of A-Levels, and it will probably be at a higher level too - graduate starting salaries are 35% more than the national average. So, even though you've worked up a debt with all that partying; it shouldn't take that long to pay off.

Let's look at the pros and cons of going to university:

PROS

1. Going to university gives you the chance to have loads of fun at a prime time in your life for three whole years.
2. You'll make new friends, and moving away from home will be a life-changing experience. You'll quickly become more mature, experienced and self sufficient, without being thrown in at the deep end.
3. You'll get to meet loads of different people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.
4. You'll become a much more able person - with better all-round general skills, as well as an advanced specialism in one subject.
5. Your qualification will give you a jump start into the world of employment and will open many doors - not only at graduation, but for the rest of your career.

CONS

1. You may get lumbered with a large debt, which could be hard to pay off unless you go to a good university, or learn a subject/set of skills that are in high demand. It is important to realise that not all graduates get good jobs.
2. If you have no self-discipline, then you may find it hard going. University is not like school, because you have to push yourself. If you're not going to be able to do that, then it might be best to quit while you're ahead.

dropout + no degree + large debt = bad.

3. If you want a vocational or highly practical career, i.e. plumber, mechanic, carpenter etc. it might be better to look at a vocational course such as an HND or BTEC, as these would be better focused to learning the skills you need. Degrees are normally very academic and probably won't contain any work placements.

Check out the next section for a look at full time employment.
Or go back to 18+ choices.