University advice

[Burndens Bogs]

My daughter’s 18 & is taking her 3  ‘A’ levels this summer, she’s reasonably bright - predicted grades are three ‘A’ ‘s (she’d be happy with A,A,B) but she is about as street wise as Bambi.

She fancies campus life at a uni and taking a degree, she has looked at Lancaster/Chester/Edge Hill.

Being a thicko  6 CSE kind of chap, i know absolutely nothing about Universities, so any advice on funding/loans/tips/do’s/don’ts/ etc would be much appreciated.

Is a degree even worth doing these days? She’s under no pressure from me or her mum to go to uni and we’d be just as happy if she went straight into employment when she finishes 6th form - start at the bottom and work her way up type of thing, rather than be saddled with £££££’s worth of debt at 21 years old.

[stevieb]

I don't know whether a degree is worth it these days or not I'll leave that to others. 

But I always think some people flap at the amount of debt that goes with it from the student loan. It's not like having 50k on a credit card and bailiffs knocking at your door.

If you don't earn enough or you stop earning for whatever reason you don't pay. 

Having said that it's shit seeing that 'deduction' on your payslip for years on end. Mines paid off now, think it was £13k and I didn't even finish my degree! Just got pissed for 3 years! 🤣 🤣 🤣 

So in summary... 

Don't just get pissed for 3 years 

Don't worry about the loan 

Do finish your degree 

[Youri McAnespie]

Debt? Fuck it - get the max.

Don't involve yourselves in the finance application - she'll get less.

It might go against the grain but have her claim not having owt to do with you on the form.

If she has a bit of a job don't declare it - write 'income - nil'.

Do sommat you want to do.

Edge Hill is a fucking ballache to get to on public transport.

Threaten any lads with extreme violence and burial in the woods.

Wherever she goes she'll enjoy herself.

Work can wait.

Whatever she does - read, read, read - or a douglas you can only use as bogroll will ensue.

2nd Year if you've got the money buy or rent a house yourself - for her and her mates (rent paying mates) - cut out the middleman.

 

[Spider]

Try and get to a big city Uni would be my advise.

Getting around as a student relies entirely on public transport and we all know how good that is beyond the big spots.

Max out the debt. It’s a once in a lifetime party that lasts 3 years so make the most of it.

Try and do a degree with some sort of practical use.

Wear shit clothes. 

[Dimron]

Tell her to work hard and play hard, that was the advice I was given when I went to Uni all those years ago and it was the best.

Everyone who is bright and has the opportunity should take it

[Traf]

Lancaster is a good uni and a great place to live.

[Andybarm]

I went to Lancaster and it was a brilliant university. It’s a collegiate campus set up which would suit someone who’s not ‘street wise’ as such. I was there 20 years ago and it’s since had loads of renovations and improvements so it’d definitely be worth a visit.

[Not in Crawley]

My sister went to Lancaster and hated it. It depends what she'd prefer.

Lancaster, like York is collegiate so quite traditional and you sort of stay in those groups. My sister thought everyone was horsey and posh and she wanted to be out clubbing with her mates, she would have been better at Manchester,Liverpool or Leeds.

Nowadays universities pride themselves on ability to get work afterwards, the departments are huge now for this, it's because people are paying so much. She has to be honest with herself about what she really likes, and also uni terms are short so you might not want to be schlepping her back and forth to say Exeter every 9 weeks.

I'd look at

1) what does she like doing in her free time, going out, clubbing, wants a good range of things to do.

2) Happier in a smaller but closer environment where you aren't left as much to yourself. In some subjects like History contact time can be 3/4 hours a week which if you don't make friends can be rough.

3) make sure she's happy with her halls in the first year

4) what does the course subject look like and what have ex students gone on to do.

5) finally uni isn't the only way anymore for bright kids, so make she she doesn't rush, it's not a race and what you decide at 18 doesn't predict the outcome of your life. She might want a work graduate placement, or take a year to figure it out. Do what she wants and don't let her get swayed by mates etc

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Another Lancaster mon here.

Grown hugely since, but enjoyed my time nonetheless. Lived in Galgate for a year, and on a farm in the sticks for a year too.

City life if required and countryside/seaside all around too.

Despite the above, tell her to have a look at courses and pick from those that offer what she wants. 

Imperative, especially now, to do something that she is totally invested in. No point in being a bit half hearted because she's not sure. Could end up wasting 3 years.

Equally, job market is strong- will it be as strong in 3 years?

[Zico]

Go

[Dr Faustus]

my daughter is at Edge Hill, and I echo the sentiments above. If she is on campus, its ace. There some wanker landlords about though, so be wary if looking at digs.

 

 

Just do it, it will be an experience and open up many opportunities she may not have even thought about  

[Spider]

If she is a bit shy, not streetwise, then Manchester would be ideal.

She knows she’s only half an hour from home if she needs to take a breather, but whilst in her digs, she could be the other side of the country and she gets the full experience.

Plus, she can get back for home matches every Saturday.

 

[bolton_blondie]

Ah to be young again and not excited about a new shark vacuum or have constant back ache 😩

[Rudy]

Tell her to get gone. 
1st year in halls then get some digs with some mates 

Take the debt and ride it until the wheels fall off. 
 

Even if she doesn’t find a job with what she got her degree in there are loads of firms who take on graduates even if it’s not in that field.

[Burndens Bogs]

Some brilliant tips and advice there folks. Thanks all.

For those wondering - walnut whips, but only a size 6 so maybe some growth potential in a few years 😄

Edited December 10, 2021 by Burndens Bogs

[Rudy]

Tesco and the bbc do the graduate thing they basically fastrack you into a senior position if you have a degree in any field rather at the bottom of the ladder  

[Not in Crawley]

If I went again, I look at graduate placements as part of the course. I did one practical module which gave me my career, it's important that there is some plan there. The days of just going is sadly no longer the case, the debt is just too big.

I came out with 8k of debt, some young lad at my last place had 60k debt on a wage of 25k at 25. Fuck that.

[Spider]

I spent my first student loan on an absolutely top drawer Denon stereo system and about 100 cans of ale.

 

[Not in Crawley]

I just remember being skint all the time. £10 for a night out at the union though, £1 a can. Really messed up mu nights when they put it up to £1.10

[ErnestTurnip]

Having filled the forms in a few times my experience tells me she won't be able to avoid saying she has something to do with you so you'll get hit for a contribution, anything up to about 4.5k a year it will be.

I'm another one for ignoring the student debt because it'll either get paid over time or it won't.

Word of caution, I'm guessing you will end up being a guarantor for the accommodation and if they drop out you end up having to shell out for the whole year. The partial student loan you will have had will have gone on living and you'll be paying the rent out of your own pocket. If that doesn't make sense I'll explain it more later, bit rushed atm.

[little whitt]

daughter is in 

Stratford  on the old Olympic village  facing West Ham's ground 

she loves it 

got £8 k for the Teaching 

£13k to live on Digs are £9k a year 

went in september she loves it on a 3 year course 

 

[Youri McAnespie]

22 minutes ago, Spider said:

I spent my first student loan on an absolutely top drawer Denon stereo system and about 100 cans of ale.

 

I nicked my first Denon - not from a real person - from Cash Generator.

Edit: It wasn't physical theft - it was theft by deception. Probably fraud in criminal law.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Youri McAnespie

[Spider]

Just now, Youri McAnespie said:

I nicked my first Denon - not from a real person - from Cash Generator.

You never forget your first Denon.

I still have it, and it still sounds phenomenal.

I'm pretty sure at least one of the stains on the speaker is jizz.

[Youri McAnespie]

2 minutes ago, ErnestTurnip said:

Having filled the forms in a few times my experience tells me she won't be able to avoid saying she has something to do with you so you'll get hit for a contribution, anything up to about 4.5k a year it will be.

I'm another one for ignoring the student debt because it'll either get paid over time or it won't.

Word of caution, I'm guessing you will end up being a guarantor for the accommodation and if they drop out you end up having to shell out for the whole year. The partial student loan you will have had will have gone on living and you'll be paying the rent out of your own pocket. If that doesn't make sense I'll explain it more later, bit rushed atm.

Kinda right.

Someone isn't in the SLC with glasses on nose tip looking at applications.

If an application is linked to parental income you get fuck all.

A fabricated tiff and enstrangment - well prove it wrong.

Dear do these days so a bit of Boswell style shenanigans is necessary.

 

[Youri McAnespie]

4 minutes ago, Spider said:

You never forget your first Denon.

I still have it, and it still sounds phenomenal.

I'm pretty sure at least one of the stains on the speaker is jizz.

The left channel always goes.

But I can't bear to chuck them.