College / Uni help.. Designers look in!

[360bhp]

Been going nowhere in life for the last 3 years. First year in college, got kicked out for poor attendance. Then smoked alot, got down, grew hair long, grew scruffy beard etc, the usual! The following year did a mechanics course, got few distinctions, passed level 1. Didnt carry it on, as I was working full time with decent pay. Within 6 months, the place I was at went down hill, and they had to let go of a few staff including me! Been doing nothing for the last 4 months, just 1 or 2 bits of design work.

Now I'm thinking of the future big time, and I'm thinking of starting uni (undergraduate course, as I really dont want to go to college with the 16 year olds again! lol) but this time with what I think I'm good at, web / graphics design. Anyone on here felt it was beneficial to further thier career, and what course was it you did? Or would I be better off looking for a job in design without the qualifications? I've been designing since I was about 11, good portfolio, think my work is spot on, just no qualifications to prove it!

Anyone care to help?

[Nick F]

I think if you have got enough good work then just go for job interviews to see what you can get.

I always just see qualifications as the way to get an interview, your work is the thing that will get you a job.

[Whiternoise]

There are a few uni's that'll do foundation courses i believe?

However, most will ask you for a minimum number of Tariff points before they'll let you on the course. You can always join evening classes at your local college so you'll end up with a BTEC or something to that effect in the subject you're interested in. The next chance to apply to uni (afaik) is through clearing, (as UCAS is basically finished), and then it's back to the normal cycle. That'd give you a year to sort out your relevant quals.

You say you're interested in web / graphics design? Get hold of a university you're interested in going to, talk to their admissions department for the course you want and show them a portfolio?

Web design in particular, you can always do a few odd jobs around the internet to get a portfolio for yourself, with the added bonus of experience and a bit of cash on the side?

[SiM]

Since you already know a bit about web design, maybe you could ask a uni to put you straight into the second year... of course there will be a bit of reading to do to fill in the gaps

[Marcos]

i really should have some good advice for you, being a design student and all, but nothing obvious comes to mind.

i'd say its worth doing at least 1 year of uni somewhere social and fun, just for the experience, its like a year-long holiday if you get into the right halls in the right place, somewhere lively.

[Agent]

i'd say its worth doing at least 1 year of uni somewhere social and fun, just for the experience, its like a year-long holiday if you get into the right halls in the right place, somewhere lively.

Surely thats exactly what the OP doesn't want?

[Marcos]

Surely thats exactly what the OP doesn't want?

yeah, admittedly i didnt really tailor it to him, i just give that advice to anyone whos just finished college. just for the sake of experience and taking the opportunity now while you can, cause you cant have the same experience when you're 30