University or ATC?
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Privatesandwiches has just given away the identity of a PPRuNe poster on here - admittedly it is himself, but will he get his posts pulled and a ticking off?
Naughty boy, enjoy the delights of corporate food - though you will probably be fed a load of sh!t, as is management style...
I'll have a Bacon sarnie with brown sauce please Private, bring it in tomorrow on your first morning, I'm on nights.
Ta
Naughty boy, enjoy the delights of corporate food - though you will probably be fed a load of sh!t, as is management style...
I'll have a Bacon sarnie with brown sauce please Private, bring it in tomorrow on your first morning, I'm on nights.
Ta
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This is a good thread, with many very valid points.
Another one to consider is that once you valdate (lets say on radar) well, you're there for he next 30-35 years of your life! And aside from moving around from one facility to another, it's really the same thing whereever you go. Don't get me wrong. I'm passionate about my career and love every minute of it, but I didn't start at 17.
So all this to say that it might be nice to spend a few years at the tender age of 18 to 21 or so doing other stuff, be it uni or whatever.
Another one to consider is that once you valdate (lets say on radar) well, you're there for he next 30-35 years of your life! And aside from moving around from one facility to another, it's really the same thing whereever you go. Don't get me wrong. I'm passionate about my career and love every minute of it, but I didn't start at 17.
So all this to say that it might be nice to spend a few years at the tender age of 18 to 21 or so doing other stuff, be it uni or whatever.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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I tried uni then ATC and I wouldn't do it any differently. Being an ATCO is a rewarding and challenging job, but the student lifestyle is amazing fun. You will come out of it with a ton of debt but that shifts fairly quickly once you start earning (last loan repayment this month = woohoo).
Any other failed biologists end up as ATCOs?
Any other failed biologists end up as ATCOs?
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I am not talking from a NATS employee position here as I am in my second year at Loughborough University.
I was in the same boat when my A Levels were wrapping up, do i apply or not? I didn't and I don't regret it at all because I still have plenty of opportunities to apply in the future.
There is no way I was mature enough when leaving school. Pratting about with mates in our 1.2l Fiestas and drinking way too much too often (which I still do now). I've met a great bunch of mates at University and I have learnt how to study when the temptation of sitting around is always looming.
I say go to Uni it's been the best time of my life so far and you won't be any worse off for doing it. The personal experience can only lead you to being a more well rounded person.
Cheers Dom
I was in the same boat when my A Levels were wrapping up, do i apply or not? I didn't and I don't regret it at all because I still have plenty of opportunities to apply in the future.
There is no way I was mature enough when leaving school. Pratting about with mates in our 1.2l Fiestas and drinking way too much too often (which I still do now). I've met a great bunch of mates at University and I have learnt how to study when the temptation of sitting around is always looming.
I say go to Uni it's been the best time of my life so far and you won't be any worse off for doing it. The personal experience can only lead you to being a more well rounded person.
Cheers Dom
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I'd say go to university first. I found university a really rewarding experience and you have far more opportunities to 'broaden your horizons' than you would getting tied down to a fairly unflexible career path at a young age.
Putting the financial debate aside, the chance of exchange years abroad, long summer holidays to do what you wish (travel, charity work etc...), the wide circle of friends you'll make who will end up in a diverse range of careers, etc etc etc..... are all opportunites you will get if you choose to go to university.
The fact your asking the question suggests your not completely 100% sure you want to start a career as an ATCO at this point and your curious to experience university life- so have both and go to university first!
Also, you can get through university with minimal debt if your careful with your money- don't blow your student loan on drink and rubbish- get a part-time job to pay for this (which will again widen your appreciation of other career paths), and if you are able to invest your student loan do it (you won't get a chance of a financial loan on these sort of terms ever again and your going to have to borrow money at some point in your life!).
Anyway, I'm preaching a bit now but hey, that's the path I took and I wouldn't change it for the world!
Putting the financial debate aside, the chance of exchange years abroad, long summer holidays to do what you wish (travel, charity work etc...), the wide circle of friends you'll make who will end up in a diverse range of careers, etc etc etc..... are all opportunites you will get if you choose to go to university.
The fact your asking the question suggests your not completely 100% sure you want to start a career as an ATCO at this point and your curious to experience university life- so have both and go to university first!
Also, you can get through university with minimal debt if your careful with your money- don't blow your student loan on drink and rubbish- get a part-time job to pay for this (which will again widen your appreciation of other career paths), and if you are able to invest your student loan do it (you won't get a chance of a financial loan on these sort of terms ever again and your going to have to borrow money at some point in your life!).
Anyway, I'm preaching a bit now but hey, that's the path I took and I wouldn't change it for the world!
Thread Starter
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Thanks for all the replies! I turned 18 last wednesday and ive applied. ive got the documents for stage 1 in front of me as well.
The things im worried about, doing ATC is being able to make friends with people my own age. Not being able to prat around.
(Ive drunk everyday since wednesday, pretty heavily and im going out AGAIN tonight! NOT good, my liver will be pickled!)
I wont be able to go out as often if i go straight to ATC. however, i will be able to earn money straight away, do something ive wanted to do for years and not have £20k+ of debt. It was only the other day i heard on the news that unis are about to be able to choose their own pricing on tuition fees with debts £30k+ soon.
I need people to persuade me to do it, as at the moment people are telling me to go to uni. Is there anyone who started at 18?
The things im worried about, doing ATC is being able to make friends with people my own age. Not being able to prat around.
(Ive drunk everyday since wednesday, pretty heavily and im going out AGAIN tonight! NOT good, my liver will be pickled!)
I wont be able to go out as often if i go straight to ATC. however, i will be able to earn money straight away, do something ive wanted to do for years and not have £20k+ of debt. It was only the other day i heard on the news that unis are about to be able to choose their own pricing on tuition fees with debts £30k+ soon.
I need people to persuade me to do it, as at the moment people are telling me to go to uni. Is there anyone who started at 18?
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Ross, you're going to find lots of people that will tell you it's fine to do ATC without Uni and then you'll find lots of people who tell you to go to Uni first.
The point is that it can only be your decision. If you have any nagging doubts, then don't get into ATC yet. I personally didn't get into ATC until I was 25 so I'd had a bit of freedom before hand, so I was ready to get stuck in. I did apply when I was 18, but decided against it and never went through the process. I was worried about being tied down to the same job and possibly the same company for 40 odd years. Having that bit of freedom before and time to do what I wanted meant a lot.
I love the job now and can't think of anything else I'd rather do, but if I'd gone straight into it then I might well be getting itchy feet.
Anyway, as I said, others will disagree and advocate going straight into it at 18. The choice is up to you, but make sure you feel as sure as you can be.
Good luck with the decision!
The point is that it can only be your decision. If you have any nagging doubts, then don't get into ATC yet. I personally didn't get into ATC until I was 25 so I'd had a bit of freedom before hand, so I was ready to get stuck in. I did apply when I was 18, but decided against it and never went through the process. I was worried about being tied down to the same job and possibly the same company for 40 odd years. Having that bit of freedom before and time to do what I wanted meant a lot.
I love the job now and can't think of anything else I'd rather do, but if I'd gone straight into it then I might well be getting itchy feet.
Anyway, as I said, others will disagree and advocate going straight into it at 18. The choice is up to you, but make sure you feel as sure as you can be.
Good luck with the decision!
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It was only the other day i heard on the news that unis are about to be able to choose their own pricing on tuition fees with debts £30k+ soon.
.
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So many testimonies. I went to university first since I had no clue what I wanted at the time. In retrospect I wonder if I would have had the maturity for NATS at 18 (some might say now 
). University was one of the most incredible, fun, enlightening and educating (well, duh) experiences of my life. It was also VERY expensive. Personally, it was worth every penny but not all experiences are the same.
My advice would be to do things like university, backpacking etc while you're young and worry about the career (a little) later. 18 years old and the world at your feet. Take a look at a little of it before you choose your place.
My caveat advice would be make the decisions that feel right to you. Have no regrets. When something goes wrong simply make a new decision and put it down to experience.
Exeter University Surf Club rules!
West country, lah lah lah, west country, lah lah lah!
). University was one of the most incredible, fun, enlightening and educating (well, duh) experiences of my life. It was also VERY expensive. Personally, it was worth every penny but not all experiences are the same. My advice would be to do things like university, backpacking etc while you're young and worry about the career (a little) later. 18 years old and the world at your feet. Take a look at a little of it before you choose your place.
My caveat advice would be make the decisions that feel right to you. Have no regrets. When something goes wrong simply make a new decision and put it down to experience.
Exeter University Surf Club rules!
West country, lah lah lah, west country, lah lah lah!
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University including ATC
Well..if you were in some other countries (such as France, Turkey, USA, etc.) you would be able to go to a university providing B.Sc. + ATC license approved by civil aviation authorities. Therefore, you would realize both interests at the same moment.
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(Ive drunk everyday since wednesday, pretty heavily and im going out AGAIN tonight! NOT good, my liver will be pickled!)
I wont be able to go out as often if i go straight to ATC.
I wont be able to go out as often if i go straight to ATC.
As a side note, I would defo recommend that you stick with NATS. I went down to Swanick a few months back to do a TRUCE day and I have to say had a thoroughly enjoyable day, learnt a lot, increased my admiration for the guys and girls that do it for a job ten fold from already stratisferic levels and personally would give up my seat in the flightdeck in a heartbeat to go to Air Traffic. An infinately better working environment and thoroughly more enjoyable!
