Is it worth extending my degree length for vacation work?

wittyusername on 14/09/2014 - 18:02
Last edited 14/09/2014 - 23:32

Hi all,

I'm currently in my penultimate year of university, and two of my core units next semester require a camp (1 week each) over the summer holidays. Fantastic, sounds like fun!
The only problem is this is the time when a lot of the large companies are looking for summer interns. The companies I've spoken to all require me to complete the full 12 week program, meaning I wouldn't be able to go on the camps, or if I went on the camps, I wouldn't be allowed to do the vacation work program.
The easy solution to this is to add 6 months onto my degree, or just not do vacation work.

The complication is I'm already a mature age student, I've had a taste of not being poverty stricken and I'm quite keen to get back in to the lifestyle of being able to not budget so stringently, or worrying about what happens if my bills all come at the same time.

Any advice?
My Degree is a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Conservation Biology (double major).
No offer has been made yet so the problem could get solved for me quite soon, but I'm interested in people's opinions.

Thanks!

Education & Work

Comments

  • Davo1111 on 14/09/2014 - 18:26

    Do you have to do the summer courses BEFORE the semester 1 courses? i.e. are they an extenstion of the semester 1 courses or are they a separate course?

    Is it possible to do them december 15-january 16?

    • wittyusername on 14/09/2014 - 19:34

      Nope, they are fixed dates at the start of Feb.
      Apparently about 90% of the unit is done at these camps.

      • Davo1111 on 14/09/2014 - 19:44
        +1

        its sounds like you dont really have a choice. I'd just do the camps and leave uni quicker with less experience

        • wittyusername on 14/09/2014 - 20:15

          Cool, cheers mate. That's the path I'm sort of leaning towards at the moment.

  • mini2 on 14/09/2014 - 21:30

    Is this vacationer going to get you a job right after this or increase your chance?

    • wittyusername on 14/09/2014 - 23:26

      It'll increase the chance of employment upon graduation

  • yk300 on 14/09/2014 - 22:10
    +2

    I would do the vac work. I find the experience to be more worth it, assuming you still wanna stay in that field.

    • wittyusername on 15/09/2014 - 09:56

      Cool thanks, the industry is a bit quiet at the moment so I'm also thinking maybe that'll give it a little longer to recover.

  • terahammer on 14/09/2014 - 22:13
    +1

    apply for them. if u can get in, delay your course

    if not

    continue your course

    work exp may improve your resume.

    but for grad jobs and etc, it is pretty much 'how good can you bullshit to them saying you are the best'.

    yes grades may help a bit but it is really how good you can talk shit.

    srs.

  • sparkles on 14/09/2014 - 23:09

    Apply for vacation work, if you get an offer, drop the bomb you will be gone for a week. If they want you for the other 11 weeks, they'll be OK. If not, move on.

    • wittyusername on 15/09/2014 - 09:55

      Yeah the bigger companies have already told me it's all or nothing.

  • p1 ama on 14/09/2014 - 23:55

    I know at this time in your life, you look at your uni degree and think, "hey, 6 months is like 17% of my uni degree (assuming 3 years), that's a lot…etc". But think of it in the grand scheme of things. Six months is nothing, it's probably not even going to be 1% of your life.

    Will you regret wasting six months? Probably not. If you do find yourself a little bit bored extending your degree, find some interests and hobbies, do some volunteering…etc.

    Will you regret being stingy about six months? I think so. If you're going to go into the field, vac work is great to have and not having it might set you back even more than the six months.

  • wittyusername on 16/09/2014 - 09:25

    Thanks for the help everyone! I guess I'll see if they extend an offer first, then make a snap decision!

  • 2ndeffort on 16/09/2014 - 11:14

    If it is only for a short time couldnt you do the camps and then find some other non industry related work to get you by until you finish your degree

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