For a long run level 50 build I have no idea if I will need alchemy for a pure caster or not with all the magicka regen talents & enchants. I would haft to play through and that takes too much time since you cannot respec if you make a mistake. As of level 9 right now having the abiltity to make restore magicka potions would just be amazing, the build I am going for has room for 5 points in either aclchemy, stealth (for vampire in dlc?) and or 5 points spread out elsewhere.

Advice/input appreacited thank you

Alchemy is a good choice for mages (especially in the beginning when restoration and magicka is low)
If you can you should do alchemy throughout the progressikn of your game
Always good to have something to fall back on if you run out of magic in front of a dragon

can you give a little more info of your build? perks so far etc.? I would say alchemy can replace restoration, but if you've already invested in restoration maybe don't use alchemy. If you are using a ton of destruction you need to put perks into enchanting instead of alchemy.

If you are purely a mage enchanting will help you more because you are constantly casting and need to reduce the cost. If you aren't constantly casting, alchemy is more versatile.

The college has alchemy tables everywhere, and I always considered it to be magical things that non magical people can do. But its still magical, and all the mages I have ever seen use this. I have also used it and it is a good source of income too

I agree that alchemy is a magical skill. And there just aren't enough levels to get enough perks to really play a true mage in this game. It's much easier for pure warriors to get all the perks they want.

This is the build I think I want to go with as a Breton, necromancer fire mage build. Has alchemy and enchanting.

http://www.ign.com/builds/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim?d=00000000000000000000000000000001000111100011111200000111101110110111120010131111101000111000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000510001

Edit: missing one point