A-levels or Uni degree?

[Artist]

Cheers, will do. Nothing short of an exocet is gonna keep me from getting out of lympstone!

I used the train when I passed out of training and my car when I was based there a few years later.

Crack on Royal!

Artist

[Tartan_Terrier]

Lol yeah I'm 'just' a regular marine. Still in training - week 27

Noo noo didn't mean it liek that, liek if you've completed officer training and become a normal marine.

Tell me rossy, what's your native language? Afrikaans?

[Jack1988]

When I did my POC, I had only A levels (or I was about to achieve them), they did say it would be helpful if I went to uni. I was actually doing my POC and AIB for a bursary, to be paid(about £2/3,000 a year, i think?) to go get a degree.

Plus the fact if you have a degree (also making you over 21), you a promoted to 1st lieutenant/Captain, a hell of a lot quicker compared to otherwise. Also you get to experience the life of being a bum, and all the fit, up for anything totti/men(?) that comes with getting that degree!

1st Lieutenant? In the Royal Marines? Hmmmm......

Yeah, you start as a 2nd lieutenant, then then next step up from that is a full lieutenant, or is it the "1st" bit i put in that confussed you?

[dave55555]

does the degree you take or the university you attend effect your chances of getting in?

[letsrole]

I think a double first from Oxford University would hold you in better sted than a degree in surf bored design from Thames valley Uni.

[Guns]

The AIB really is about as fair a system as you can get. As a degree is not a prerequisite for entry, there will not be points offered for having a degree, or for attending a certain university. Generally speaking if you are applying without a degree you are likely to be younger and will have to demonstrate in the interview that you have qualities/experiences attending a university may have afforded you. These, as you know, will include examples of organising things, overcoming challenges, leading teams etc. There are a few guys in the Batch at the moment without degrees, including 2 eighteen year-olds. Once in training the only difference concerns pay.

[Mitch]

Guns are you a graduate? And, do you have any tips, perhaps from the undergrads in your batch, about things to be doing to help with AIB? I do a lot at the moment but would love to have some extra things to add. I am looking to start training after a gap year from A-levels.

Mitch

[Guns]

I am a graduate, but I would say the same rules apply if you are or not. Think about what the Board will want to hear in the interview and then use your imagination. The interview is relatively short which gives scope to milk a few good examples. As an example; one guy in the Batch used the internet, picked an extreme endurance event, roped in a mate (or should I say team) and organised everything for the two of them. Plenty to talk about and the Board loved it. Try, if you can, to get away from the whole grad/non grad thing and just start putting yourself out there so you've got lots to talk about. Obviously your maturity will be assessed, but this will come down to you as an individual. Hope this helps

[Mitch]

Wicked, thanks a lot. As I say I already do a lot but my gap year should give me lots of time to get stuck in with other things.

Thanks
Mitch

[lil_dinger_bell]

Hey Gun, So they gave me the age waiver , or atleast told me to come back for the 09 batch, so I am quite excited about that.

My credentials are as follows and I was wondering if you think I should partake in some other activites to get my AIB merit more appelaing

- College Diploma
- University Bachlors Degree
- Manager of Restuarant
- Primary caregiver since the age of 12 for my mother who is a paraplegic
- Team/Project leader in all University Research Projects
- Organiser of a week trip for 30 friends to go whitewater rafting and paintballing
- A year backpacking through Australia
- 3 Months backpacking through Europe

With having a year now until my next shot, should I volunteer, or do somthing which would increase my appealability for leadership?

Any suggesstions would be grand...from Gun or others.

Hopefully I see you at the bar next year when I come back for another Black Tuesday.

Cheers

Dings