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i want to go to university, but i can't decide whether to take a gap year and accumulate some money for my uni year, or just go straight do uni.
I have a fair idea of what i want to do but it isn't definitive so i can still decide otherwise. I want to do Police studies (also known as criminology) but i can't decide where to do it and what its like as a subject; has anyone done it, or any advice about taking a gap year?
I have a fair idea of what i want to do but it isn't definitive so i can still decide otherwise. I want to do Police studies (also known as criminology) but i can't decide where to do it and what its like as a subject; has anyone done it, or any advice about taking a gap year?
This is going to sound a bit mercenary,but depends on how well off your parents are.
Because my parents couldn't afford to give me much money towards Uni, I had to work part-time during my first two years, then do a year out working full-time, in order to have the money to fund not working through my final year...
Because my parents couldn't afford to give me much money towards Uni, I had to work part-time during my first two years, then do a year out working full-time, in order to have the money to fund not working through my final year...
There's a few different answers I can give here depending on what you want to do in the police and whether you really want to do a gap year or not.
First of all a friend of mine is a policeman and if that's what you want to do 3 years studying at University won't make much of a difference to getting in. Someone with a degree in criminology will have a slight edge over someone without but the advantage will be minimal.
On the other hand if say you want to join the police as someone who analyses crimes and the type of people who are likely to commit those crimes (more of a psychologist really) a degree is a must as it's a specialist area that needs a lot of theory learning instead of the "hands on" experience being a policeman requires.
So my answer is if it's a "beat bobby" instead of an "office job" in the police force you want I wouldn't bother with University and apply instead for a trainee police force job.
Onto the gap year. I went straight from college to University where as some of my friends did a gap year of either work experience or travelling.
Both have their pros and cons and I was glad I didn't take a gap year as I finished my exams in late May and didn't start University until late September so I had 4 months off anyway working part time to get a bit of cash to get through the summer while spending a lot of time relaxing and doing not a lot.
On the flip side some of my mates had a great time travelling around the world and it's an opportunity I'll probably never be able to do unless I win the lottery so I can't help but feel I've missed out on a life experience.
So far as the gap year goes I can't really advise you as it's something of a personal preference but whatever you do don't keep thinking and regretting about other decisions you could have made as you'll have them whatever you do and all they do is weigh you down with "what if's".
First of all a friend of mine is a policeman and if that's what you want to do 3 years studying at University won't make much of a difference to getting in. Someone with a degree in criminology will have a slight edge over someone without but the advantage will be minimal.
On the other hand if say you want to join the police as someone who analyses crimes and the type of people who are likely to commit those crimes (more of a psychologist really) a degree is a must as it's a specialist area that needs a lot of theory learning instead of the "hands on" experience being a policeman requires.
So my answer is if it's a "beat bobby" instead of an "office job" in the police force you want I wouldn't bother with University and apply instead for a trainee police force job.
Onto the gap year. I went straight from college to University where as some of my friends did a gap year of either work experience or travelling.
Both have their pros and cons and I was glad I didn't take a gap year as I finished my exams in late May and didn't start University until late September so I had 4 months off anyway working part time to get a bit of cash to get through the summer while spending a lot of time relaxing and doing not a lot.
On the flip side some of my mates had a great time travelling around the world and it's an opportunity I'll probably never be able to do unless I win the lottery so I can't help but feel I've missed out on a life experience.
So far as the gap year goes I can't really advise you as it's something of a personal preference but whatever you do don't keep thinking and regretting about other decisions you could have made as you'll have them whatever you do and all they do is weigh you down with "what if's".
I'm going to be going straight to Uni, no gap year for me; as although it'd give me a chance to travel with the cash injection(And visit some of the European Metal festivals!), I really can't be bothered with a year of temporary employment. Probably interspresed with a lot of drinking.
A couple of my mates are going to be going through Portugal and Spain, and I've known of people going all over the place - Raleigh International will give you a lot of opportunities to travel (I think that's the name) - Namibia and Chile among the nations they do trips to.
A couple of my mates are going to be going through Portugal and Spain, and I've known of people going all over the place - Raleigh International will give you a lot of opportunities to travel (I think that's the name) - Namibia and Chile among the nations they do trips to.
Depending on what you hope to do within the police I doubt if the course will be of that big a boost. I think it's a course more taylored for jobs in law such as solicitor and the like. Your best bet is to have a career interview and get advice on what to do, (that's what I did before I went into the police).
As well as that there is no harm in contacting your local police recruitment department and asking for some advice.
As well as that there is no harm in contacting your local police recruitment department and asking for some advice.
What age are you and where do you live?
If your young enough then the police cadets would be your best bet.
If your young enough then the police cadets would be your best bet.
Police; but i suppose for that i could reallly do anything but i figure it will give me a bit of a boost.
Depends really on what you want to do yourself.
No point taking a gap year if you don't do anything within it. Also might be tricky to get back into the studying mode after a year out.
Out of interest why do you want to do police studies? Whats your job aims after uni?
No point taking a gap year if you don't do anything within it. Also might be tricky to get back into the studying mode after a year out.
Out of interest why do you want to do police studies? Whats your job aims after uni?
i want to go to university, but i can't decide whether to take a gap year and accumulate some money for my uni year, or just go straight do uni.
I have a fair idea of what i want to do but it isn't definitive so i can still decide otherwise. I want to do Police studies (also known as criminology) but i can't decide where to do it and what its like as a subject; has anyone done it, or any advice about taking a gap year?
I have a fair idea of what i want to do but it isn't definitive so i can still decide otherwise. I want to do Police studies (also known as criminology) but i can't decide where to do it and what its like as a subject; has anyone done it, or any advice about taking a gap year?