Uni experiences?

Yes, guess what? Two were mathematicians, two electronic engineers, a computer scientist, a chemist and a lone historian. I could have logical and intelligent conversations with other people, it was wonderful. I still spent lots of time on my own, in my room, or in the library, but I enjoyed time spent with friends. 

Other factors to consider is how far away is it from home? 

Do you want a campus university or a city centre university?

I made the mistake in the 1980s in going to the old Sheffield city polytechnic, now renamed Sheffield Hallam university, it had almost no campus to speak of, teaching was done in an 1960s style office block.

Since then I have discovered that other universities are far far better, proper campuses, green spaces, better facilities, historical buildings.

If you can, stay at home and study locally.

I recommend you visit the place in person on an open day before you commit yourself to spending three plus years there.

If you like the physical environment and feel at ease, go there.

If the place creeps you out don't.

And you enjoyed having those friends? I find friends exhausting (that's definitely not normal). I'm not sure if I want to live independently, I could just go to a local uni.

University was the only time in my life that I had more than two or three active friends, at the same time. Discovering that I could live independently, and rather enjoyed doing so, was a major revelation. I did have problems, I had no idea that I was autistic, and I think that my poor executive function and stress before exams led to a lower degree class than I deserved, but, overall, I did enjoy the experience.

I'm certain it would have been. For one thing, if there had been a quiet room to retreat to whenever the university environment became overwhelming. Also, if they'd adapted their teaching methods for people who were unable to keep moving about into different groups. It takes me a while to focus and feel comfortable in a group of people. Then to be asked to change groups or work with someone else sets me back to square one. This constant uncertainty, and dread of being put into pairs and groups during classes absorbed all of my attention and exhausted me.

I understand why that makes you angry. I would hate that. I don't understand why anyone would enjoy socializing with random strangers

It's the one thing that makes me angry. I feel that the system failed me.

thank you for your honesty, that sounds horrible

It was the worst part of my whole experience, piggy. You were forced into socialising with complete strangers. Even in lectures, you were constantly being forced into small groups or pairs with people, and then swapped from group to group. They thought they were using clever teaching strategies, but for most autistics being constantly moved from group to group with new people is the worst thing possible for someone with ASD.

so do you think your experience would have been better if you had support for your autism?

I had a terrible time at Uni. As well as the actual noisy, busy environment of the university and autistic-unfriendly teaching practices, I was also having to work part-time in the evening. Eventually, I burned out and had to drop out.  This was a long time ago and now, knowing about my ASD, I would be able to do things very differently.

But, back then, I just had to struggle along in ignorance and with zero support and an academic system that was completely autistic-unfriendly.

One aspect which really threw me was suddenly finding myself in Halls of Residence with lots of strangers. I was completely unprepared for the anxiety and distress of having to socialise and interact with so many people all in one place.  And boy, were they noisy! I couldn't concentrate on my work in the evening.

In my second year I moved into a house with a group of friends, but by that time, I was already burning out. I look back on those years as some of the worst in my life. But, I can't really blame myself. Not entirely. If I'd had a diagnosis and some awareness of my sensory challenges and if the university had some autistic-friendly practices, I'm sure it would have been a very different experience.

The education was not set up to accommodate autistic students in the early nineties.

the social side is what is putting me off, and the debt. 

I enjoyed university, I have to admit that I enjoyed the social side more than the work. In retrospect I, did the wrong degree, but at eighteen what did I know about university courses? I stuck it out and finished, and the part of the degree that interested me most led to a career in biomedical research that lasted for 34 years. I went to university with no clear idea of what I wanted to do as a job, only that I did not want to teach or do accountancy or anything else to do with money.

If you have no other options why not start studying formally something that YOU are interested in, then you can get yourself into crazy life long debt but at least you will have increased your knowledge and experience into what you enjoy doing. It can't hurt you having qualifications and if money comes easy in a great job offer scrap Uni and finish later if you feel the pull. Start your own business on £500 in what you enjoy doing and also enjoy filling out the reams of paperwork that goes with running a business, and sacking people - oh the joys. The world is your oyster (apparently).

thank you for your honesty.

that's kind of my main issue, I don't know what I want to do. I have been looking into teaching but I am not sure and I hate not having a plan.

I wouldn't recommend University, to be honest. 

You're basically cut loose from, spoon-fed, Schooling and expected to fend for yourself. I had the brains and knowledge, but not the sixth sense to spot trends in the market.

I flew too close to the sun, and got my wings burned by studying IT over twenty years ago. Final year was Hell, as I lost motivation and concentration levels plummeted. 

Unless you want to be a Teacher, Doctor, Nurse, etc, don't go there.