Personally, i'd look for an apprenticeship but i wouldn't completely dismiss the Level 3 course, but perhaps apply for a part time job whilst studying.. i'm sure plenty of places in the tourism industry would take you on part time or as work experience.

I'm currently stuck in the same situation as you... I have:

• Conditional (must get a C in any higher) for HNC Web Development
  
• Conditional (must get a C in any Higher) for HNC Software Development
  
• Unconditional (no conditions must be met) for HND Software Development (I think the guy who interviewed me liked me )

Anyway, I want to do web development and either way, I have to get a qualification to show an employer that I can do what is required, blah blah.

College is just 100% learning. An apprenticeship is 70% experience, working for a business with 30% learning.

Nowadays, in Scotland anyway, you must have experience otherwise no one will bring you on. FACT: 2/3 apprentices get picked over graduates because the apprentices know how to do the job because they have experience. Employers want to employ you then for you to get to work straight away; not to get you in the door then give you 8 months of training.

Either way, it's still your decision - and I think I might go for the HND Software Development in all honesty. And btw, I applied for 3 different colleges.

I know this from my older brother.

Some employers will give you a deal where they will help pay for school if you stay with their company after your apprenticeship blah blah blah. It's quite common in the medical field.

If thats the case, why not go to school and work with your apprenticeship?

Ethan- wrote I know this from my older brother.

Some employers will give you a deal where they will help pay for school if you stay with their company after your apprenticeship blah blah blah. It's quite common in the medical field.

If thats the case, why not go to school and work with your apprenticeship?

Most of the apprenticeships I have looked over in the IT field will send you to college 2 days a week (so you'd be working for 3 days).

Then again, apprenticeships might always pay to send you to college, I'm not too sure.

j0sh wrote

Ethan- wrote I know this from my older brother.

Some employers will give you a deal where they will help pay for school if you stay with their company after your apprenticeship blah blah blah. It's quite common in the medical field.

If thats the case, why not go to school and work with your apprenticeship?

Most of the apprenticeships I have looked over in the IT field will send you to college 2 days a week (so you'd be working for 3 days).

Then again, apprenticeships might always pay to send you to college, I'm not too sure.

You can also go on block release depending on your course where your either there for 1 day a week or 1 week a month. I'm currently one week a month but there are courses that allow the choice of one day a week.

I jumped to an apprenticeship for a couple reasons, the biggest being I had a company sponsoring money so I had to lol. I'm a unionized apprentice carpenter, my starting wage is roughly $25/hr. That's pretty good considering min wage is $10/hr in my area and I'm 18 with no work experience lol. That's not from the apprenticeship though, what that apprenticeship will do is get me the experience, so in 4 years I'll jump up to over $50/hr. Again that's union rates and I get a raise ever 6 months, but for me in my field and my options, the apprenticeship / union path I feel is the right one for me. I'd rather make money than go in debt to a school.

I was going to do an apprenticeship when I left school but decided not to.

When it comes to getting a different job after your apprenticeship you'll find it very hard because you'll lack the qualifications after GCSE. Regardless of what people tell you about going straight into employment with an apprenticeship, you'll be best off getting your Level 3; then possibly applying to go to Uni. (I did 4 A levels then Uni0

Most people who suggest apprenticeships will not realise the importance of qualifications when getting a WELL PAID job when you're older because they're probably on 12K a year working 9-5 in an office.

If you spend another 3/4 years in education you could be on 3 times as much as that when you enter employment just because of your qualifications.

Yes, you'll also need work experience but I'd suggest getting a part time job whilst at college or Uni in the area in which you wish to go into.

Would you rather stick it out and get qualification or would you rather leave, get experience in the working world whilst making a little bit of money! What ever your answer is then that's what you should do!