u/Competitive_Split961

Hi, I’m 19M - last year, I got A*AA at A Level and received an offer from the University of Warwick to study Politics and International Studies BA and an offer in the public sector to do a Level 3 apprenticeship in Surveying, with a high chance of progression onto the Level 6 and chartered status. I decided to take the L3 apprenticeship offer and defer my place at Warwick for the next academic year, 2026/27.

I have about two weeks left to decide what it is I should do and need a little bit of help.

Starting with my current apprenticeship, I enjoy the work and feel quite supported by the people around me. I make a pretty good salary for my age and the job is flexible as I can also work from home sometimes.

I think the main thing I’m considering is the social aspect, as I’m the youngest person in my office by far so there isn’t really a way to make friends with people my age, whereas this is of course 10x easier in university, with societies and living in halls. My friends go to uni full time so I do get to see them and sometimes I’m a little envious of their lifestyle, and how much they seem to have grown since starting uni which I think I might be missing out on in my key formative young adult years. Basically, I don’t want to look back and regret not going to uni and missing out on that life experience that I think I would enjoy.

Regarding my interest in both fields, I am definitely much more interested in politics than I am in surveying. I would probably say politics is one of my biggest passions, which makes me feel like I might be squandering the opportunity to study something I’m so interested in by sticking with something more comfortable and more safe. I don’t think my passion for politics has diminished like I thought it might’ve since I started my job now - on one hand, that’s a good thing because it shows I don’t need to study politics to stay engaged with it but on the other hand I know deep down that I’d be more fulfilled personally if I studied it at university.

Finally, a really big motivator for both sides is the future. With everything you read about how cooked the job market is, AI decimating entry level jobs, general cost of living etc, making such a good salary at my age gives me the opportunity to invest in my future financially in a way that going to university would make difficult, as I’d have a crazy student loan and so much job uncertainty and anxiety after graduating. After I complete the L3 + L6 which will take 7 years total, I would be 25 with years of experience in probably (?) a much more comfortable position than I would if I had went to university, but I also might not be as fulfilled and happy as I think university might make me.

Overall, I don’t think I’m in a terrible spot as my options are open but it’s more of a question of “Do I want the life experience and fulfilment from university or do I want to set myself up for the future by staying at my current job?” I realise I’m in a good position and that the grass always looks greener on the other side (as I know some people at university who would rather do an apprenticeship) but I just don’t want to be filled with regret my whole life.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you for reading!

Hi, I’m 19M - last year, I got A*AA at A Level and received an offer from the University of Warwick to study Politics and International Studies BA and an offer in the public sector to do a Level 3 apprenticeship in Surveying, with a high chance of progression onto the Level 6 and chartered status. I decided to take the L3 apprenticeship offer and defer my place at Warwick for the next academic year, 2026/27.

I have about two weeks left to decide what it is I should do and need a little bit of help.

Starting with my current apprenticeship, I enjoy the work and feel quite supported by the people around me. I make a pretty good salary for my age and the job is flexible as I can also work from home sometimes.

I think the main thing I’m considering is the social aspect, as I’m the youngest person in my office by far so there isn’t really a way to make friends with people my age, whereas this is of course 10x easier in university, with societies and living in halls. My friends go to uni full time so I do get to see them and sometimes I’m a little envious of their lifestyle, and how much they seem to have grown since starting uni which I think I might be missing out on in my key formative young adult years. Basically, I don’t want to look back and regret not going to uni and missing out on that life experience that I think I would enjoy.

Regarding my interest in both fields, I am definitely much more interested in politics than I am in surveying. I would probably say politics is one of my biggest passions, which makes me feel like I might be squandering the opportunity to study something I’m so interested in by sticking with something more comfortable and more safe. I don’t think my passion for politics has diminished like I thought it might’ve since I started my job now - on one hand, that’s a good thing because it shows I don’t need to study politics to stay engaged with it but on the other hand I know deep down that I’d be more fulfilled personally if I studied it at university.

Finally, a really big motivator for both sides is the future. With everything you read about how cooked the job market is, AI decimating entry level jobs, general cost of living etc, making such a good salary at my age gives me the opportunity to invest in my future financially in a way that going to university would make difficult, as I’d have a crazy student loan and so much job uncertainty and anxiety after graduating. After I complete the L3 + L6 which will take 7 years total, I would be 25 with years of experience in probably (?) a much more comfortable position than I would if I had went to university, but I also might not be as fulfilled and happy as I think university might make me.

Overall, I don’t think I’m in a terrible spot as my options are open but it’s more of a question of “Do I want the life experience and fulfilment from university or do I want to set myself up for the future by staying at my current job?” I realise I’m in a good position and that the grass always looks greener on the other side (as I know some people at university who would rather do an apprenticeship) but I just don’t want to be filled with regret my whole life. After all, I’ll be working my whole life anyway.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

Hi, I’m 19M - last year, I got A*AA at A Level and received an offer from the University of Warwick to study Politics and International Studies BA and an offer in the public sector to do a Level 3 apprenticeship in Surveying, with a high chance of progression onto the Level 6 and chartered status. I decided to take the L3 apprenticeship offer and defer my place at Warwick for the next academic year, 2026/27.

I have about two weeks left to decide what it is I should do and need a little bit of help.

Starting with my current apprenticeship, I enjoy the work and feel quite supported by the people around me. I make a pretty good salary for my age and the job is flexible as I can also work from home sometimes.

I think the main thing I’m considering is the social aspect, as I’m the youngest person in my office by far so there isn’t really a way to make friends with people my age, whereas this is of course 10x easier in university, with societies and living in halls. My friends go to uni full time so I do get to see them and sometimes I’m a little envious of their lifestyle, and how much they seem to have grown since starting uni which I think I might be missing out on in my key formative young adult years. Basically, I don’t want to look back and regret not going to uni and missing out on that life experience that I think I would enjoy.

Regarding my interest in both fields, I am definitely much more interested in politics than I am in surveying. I would probably say politics is one of my biggest passions, which makes me feel like I might be squandering the opportunity to study something I’m so interested in by sticking with something more comfortable and more safe. I don’t think my passion for politics has diminished like I thought it might’ve since I started my job now - on one hand, that’s a good thing because it shows I don’t need to study politics to stay engaged with it but on the other hand I know deep down that I’d be more fulfilled personally if I studied it at university.

Finally, a really big motivator for both sides is the future. With everything you read about how cooked the job market is, AI decimating entry level jobs, general cost of living etc, making such a good salary at my age gives me the opportunity to invest in my future financially in a way that going to university would make difficult, as I’d have a crazy student loan and so much job uncertainty and anxiety after graduating. After I complete the L3 + L6 which will take 7 years total, I would be 25 with years of experience in probably (?) a much more comfortable position than I would if I had went to university, but I also might not be as fulfilled and happy as I think university might make me.

Overall, I don’t think I’m in a terrible spot as my options are open but it’s more of a question of “Do I want the life experience and fulfilment from university or do I want to set myself up for the future by staying at my current job?” I realise I’m in a good position and that the grass always looks greener on the other side (as I know some people at university who would rather do an apprenticeship) but I just don’t want to be filled with regret my whole life. Thank you for reading!

Hi, I’m 19M - last year, I got A*AA at A Level and received an offer from the University of Warwick to study Politics and International Studies BA and an offer in the public sector to do a Level 3 apprenticeship in Surveying, with a high chance of progression onto the Level 6 and chartered status. I decided to take the L3 apprenticeship offer and defer my place at Warwick for the next academic year, 2026/27.

I have about two weeks left to decide what it is I should do and need a little bit of help.

Starting with my current apprenticeship, I enjoy the work and feel quite supported by the people around me. I make a pretty good salary for my age and the job is flexible as I can also work from home sometimes.

I think the main thing I’m considering is the social aspect, as I’m the youngest person in my office by far so there isn’t really a way to make friends with people my age, whereas this is of course 10x easier in university, with societies and living in halls. My friends go to uni full time so I do get to see them and sometimes I’m a little envious of their lifestyle, and how much they seem to have grown since starting uni which I think I might be missing out on in my key formative young adult years. Basically, I don’t want to look back and regret not going to uni and missing out on that life experience that I think I would enjoy.

Regarding my interest in both fields, I am definitely much more interested in politics than I am in surveying. I would probably say politics is one of my biggest passions, which makes me feel like I might be squandering the opportunity to study something I’m so interested in by sticking with something more comfortable and more safe. I don’t think my passion for politics has diminished like I thought it might’ve since I started my job now - on one hand, that’s a good thing because it shows I don’t need to study politics to stay engaged with it but on the other hand I know deep down that I am capable and I’d be more fulfilled personally if I studied it at university.

Finally, a really big motivator for both sides is the future. With everything you read about how cooked the job market is, AI decimating entry level jobs, general cost of living etc, making such a good salary at my age gives me the opportunity to invest in my future financially in a way that going to university would make difficult, as I’d have a crazy student loan and so much job uncertainty and anxiety after graduating. After I complete the L3 + L6 which will take 7 years total, I would be 25 with years of experience in probably (?) a much more comfortable position than I would if I had went to university, but I also might not be as fulfilled and happy as I think university might make me.

Overall, I don’t think I’m in a terrible spot as my options are open but it’s more of a question of “Do I want the life experience and fulfilment from university or do I want to set myself up for the future by staying at my current job?” I realise I’m in a good position and that the grass always looks greener on the other side (as I know some people at university who would rather do an apprenticeship) but I just don’t want to be filled with regret my whole life. After all, I’ll be working my whole life anyway.

Thanks for your time!

Hi, I’m 19M - last year, I got A*AA at A Level and received an offer from the University of Warwick to study Politics and International Studies BA and an offer in the public sector to do a Level 3 apprenticeship in Surveying, with a high chance of progression onto the Level 6 and chartered status. I decided to take the L3 apprenticeship offer and defer my place at Warwick for the next academic year, 2026/27.

I have about two weeks left to decide what it is I should do and need a little bit of help.

Starting with my current apprenticeship, I enjoy the work and feel quite supported by the people around me. I make a pretty good salary for my age and the job is flexible as I can also work from home sometimes.

I think the main thing I’m considering is the social aspect, as I’m the youngest person in my office by far so there isn’t really a way to make friends with people my age, whereas this is of course 10x easier in university, with societies and living in halls. My friends go to uni full time so I do get to see them and sometimes I’m a little envious of their lifestyle, and how much they seem to have grown since starting uni which I think I might be missing out on in my key formative young adult years. Basically, I don’t want to look back and regret not going to uni and missing out on that life experience that I think I would enjoy.

Regarding my interest in both fields, I am definitely much more interested in politics than I am in surveying. I would probably say politics is one of my biggest passions, which makes me feel like I might be squandering the opportunity to study something I’m so interested in by sticking with something more comfortable and more safe. I don’t think my passion for politics has diminished like I thought it might’ve since I started my job now - on one hand, that’s a good thing because it shows I don’t need to study politics to stay engaged with it but on the other hand I know deep down that I am capable and I’d be more fulfilled personally if I studied it at university.

Finally, a really big motivator for both sides is the future. With everything you read about how cooked the job market is, AI decimating entry level jobs, general cost of living etc, making such a good salary at my age gives me the opportunity to invest in my future financially in a way that going to university would make difficult, as I’d have a crazy student loan and so much job uncertainty and anxiety after graduating. After I complete the L3 + L6 which will take 7 years total, I would be 25 with years of experience in probably (?) a much more comfortable position than I would if I had went to university, but I also might not be as fulfilled and happy as I think university might make me.

Overall, I don’t think I’m in a terrible spot as my options are open but it’s more of a question of “Do I want the life experience and fulfilment from university or do I want to set myself up for the future by staying at my current job?” I realise I’m in a good position and that the grass always looks greener on the other side (as I know some people at university who would rather do an apprenticeship) but I just don’t want to be filled with regret my whole life. After all, I’ll be working my whole life anyway.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!