How thick are students...

[HampshireSeagulls]

Oh my, I really seem to have upset you. But lets be honest you really dont mean your threat of violence now do you. We both know you're far too middle class to do anything but write a few words of vitriol and big yoruself up about how you have me soooo summed up.

Think again, or not, I really dont care.

Oh, I think you are bothered. Because you have to reply when I comment. You can't help yourself. Now, put your Red Wedge tour tape on, calm down, and come back when you feel the ghost of Che guiding your typing hands. And your spelling is getting worse, which means you are typing in anger.

But we won't mention the class comment half way through because that would really betray your reason for getting so cross, wouldn't it?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

So i should more a less give up 4 or 5 years of my life to save for education, in which i'd still be nowhere near having enough money to be debt free. I've worked since 12, and still have 2 jobs, if you expect kids to work every free day they have, spend no money on any form of luxury, just to pay for higher education, you'll be left with just a group of loaded kids at university who can blag it off their parents.
If i saved everything i earnt, about 2k a year, i'd have saved 14k between the age i started work and intend on going to university. Thats still 4k BELOW the INCREASE in fee's alone, add on the other 9k you would be paying before the increase. So nobody intending on University should take driving lessons, go to football matches, go out with mates, because by your logic i couldnt afford to do both.

£2k a year @ £5.93 per hour means you only work 6 hours a week !!!! I think any student can find at least double that to work. I used to work 30 hours hence why I came out with no real debts.

 

[bhaexpress]

Knee on good for you. Dont listen to the ignorant bile being spewed here by bitter tories who have no answers but to blame the Labour Party, Gordon Brown, students or the unions.

At least you are getting out there and standing up for what you believe in, getting yourself heard and actively taking part in politics, instead of sitting here spouting from behind a pc.

That is beause you have a democraticly elected Tory party in power. Is a simple fact of life that they will ty not to hurt the rich, I know I will lose out too but I am just being practical, I do't much care for it but Like the fact that this country has so much debt even more,

Bet it's the NHS next.

 

[clapham_gull]

I'd imagine the NUS are feeling a little bit silly.

My memory isn't that good - but were they marching on mass like this when tutition fees were introduced by the last Government ?

.. horse, bolted etc...

 

[Foolg]

I went to a Poly and worked at the same time. as others have suggested, if student bothered to work ( and I don't mean 3 hours in Asda every other Saturday morning ) they could easily cover most of the extra fees. I got a very small grant that didn't come even close to paying the fees and my living expenses.

If a student comes out with £20k of debt after a 3 year course then they clearly haven't worked during that period.

So how much do you think is reasonable to charge for Uni fees then ?

I intend on working throughout, and did even before the proposed rise in fee's.

As for not working with a 20k debt, if you take £4000 for accommodation (per year), £1500 for meals etc, and £500 for an annual bus pass, as well as your £3200 fee's that leaves you with a debt of £9,000 per year. Include the fact that doesnt include other things, like train journeys back home, other living costs (clothes, going out, trips with universities and so on) which could well be another 2k your looking at £11,000 x 3, £33,000. A 20 hour job on minimum wage would see you earn about £5000 a year (seeing as your under 22), times that by 3 and your looking at £15,000 earnt over 3 years, still in 18k debt.

Thats if you can work 20 hours a week, if you work 5 days a week thats 4 hours a day, on top of university work?

 

[KneeOn]

£2k a year @ £5.93 per hour means you only work 6 hours a week !!!! I think any student can find at least double that to work. I used to work 30 hours hence why I came out with no real debts.

Actually, given teh bankers f***ing up the economy, we struggle to find jobs.

I got mine, and its only 4.35 an hour. I have running costs such as lunches, travel, top ups for my less-than-state-of-the-art-phone and the odd albion game away. The season ticket i have was a birthday gift as was my albion shirt from a friend.

 

[clapham_gull]

One possible solution would be for more Universities to offer part time courses over a longer period.

I've just finished a Masters after work and it was really a case of either watching TV or listening to a lecture / doing coursework etc...

I know many people who are doing their first degrees - all after work, three at Birkbeck (like me) which is completely geared up for that.

 

[bhaexpress]

The issue is that NOT everyone is tightening their belts though.

Tory darlings Sir Philip Green and Vodafone are not paying any tax, easy pickings such as those in PAYE schemes and students will though.

You're very naive if you think that only certain groups will be hit. This country is in deep financial shit and we will all end up paying. However the Tories will not be too concerned if the less wealthy suffer more.

 

[Foolg]

£2k a year @ £5.93 per hour means you only work 6 hours a week !!!! I think any student can find at least double that to work. I used to work 30 hours hence why I came out with no real debts.

I'm presuming by working 30 hours a week you had very little life outside of work, especially if you were studying at the same time. I'm at college full time, and have work which i'm required to do at home like any other student. I work all day Sundays, and also Saturday mornings in a newsagent. You've also quoted the adult minimum wage, given the fact i'm 17, thats not relevant to me. I earn £4.00 an hour working saturdays cash in hand, because at the time that's the only job i could get, despite handing out numerous CV's.

That 2k a year would also factor in that i dont spend a penny all year, nothing for my mobile phone bill and so on.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

Part time courses - works for the OU. Work and study at the same time, needs some self discipline, but you get tutor contact, quality materials, etc. The age of people signing up with the OU is dropping apparently - people are even bypassing the A Level stage and going straight to OU courses. Best of all worlds - you can defer the cost of the course and pay in installments, a good range of qualifications and most employers we have dealings with value an OU degree as it demonstrates an ability to time manage and dedication to task.

 

[KneeOn]

I'm presuming by working 30 hours a week you had very little life outside of work, especially if you were studying at the same time. I'm at college full time, and have work which i'm required to do at home like any other student. I work all day Sundays, and also Saturday mornings in a newsagent. You've also quoted the adult minimum wage, given the fact i'm 17, thats not relevant to me. I earn £4.00 an hour working saturdays cash in hand, because at the time that's the only job i could get, despite handing out numerous CV's.

That 2k a year would also factor in that i dont spend a penny all year, nothing for my mobile phone bill and so on.

If your willing to be degraded McDonalds will probably employ you.

Find a part time position near by and after a year you can transfer across to the city your uni is at.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Actually, given teh bankers f***ing up the economy, we struggle to find jobs.

I got mine, and its only 4.35 an hour. I have running costs such as lunches, travel, top ups for my less-than-state-of-the-art-phone and the odd albion game away. The season ticket i have was a birthday gift as was my albion shirt from a friend.

Then given we're talking about Uni and most people are at least 18 when they go ( unless you're particularly gifted ! ) then you're employer is paying you an illegal rate.

 

[KneeOn]

Then given we're talking about Uni and most people are at least 18 when they go ( unless you're particularly gifted ! ) then you're employer is paying you an illegal rate.

Thats a good point, i'm 17 at the moment (i'm still in college, and i'm young in my year). 4.85 is adult payment at McD's i think.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

I'm presuming by working 30 hours a week you had very little life outside of work, especially if you were studying at the same time. I'm at college full time, and have work which i'm required to do at home like any other student. I work all day Sundays, and also Saturday mornings in a newsagent. You've also quoted the adult minimum wage, given the fact i'm 17, thats not relevant to me. I earn £4.00 an hour working saturdays cash in hand, because at the time that's the only job i could get, despite handing out numerous CV's.

That 2k a year would also factor in that i dont spend a penny all year, nothing for my mobile phone bill and so on.

To be fair most of my students work full Sat or Sun and half day on the other. They also put in evening hours. Then again, we don't bring them in 5 days a week - they come in three days for full contact time - they get 30 minutes off between half nine and five. No hanging around, no "dead" time and retention and attendance are pushing 95%+ because they have no time to wander off. On their two days off they tend to spend a day producing assignment work and then they can also work on the other day if they want to.

We do lose students from the two year course after a year because they decide that money is more important than qualifications, but we know that some of them make the move to the OU or Apprenticeships/Day Release courses, or jobs where they are sponsored to gain job-related qualifications.

If you want to be a policeman, apart from the fact there are no jobs at the moment, they don't tend to take people under the age of 23 because they want real-world experience and they are now actively stating they would rather people spent 200 hours as a Special, then Uni is not required - any Police recruiter will tell you that. As for the "secret service" - forget it. You will need a very specialist background with associated skills. But then again, 90% of the secret service are data analysts and not field agents.

 

[The Ringleader Returns!]

I'm at College.

My view, vandalism doesn't help. Infact it does the opposite.

Just get on with it. Stop moaning.

 

[clapham_gull]

Part time courses - works for the OU. Work and study at the same time, needs some self discipline, but you get tutor contact, quality materials, etc. The age of people signing up with the OU is dropping apparently - people are even bypassing the A Level stage and going straight to OU courses. Best of all worlds - you can defer the cost of the course and pay in installments, a good range of qualifications and most employers we have dealings with value an OU degree as it demonstrates an ability to time manage and dedication to task.

Yep.

Not had any experience of OU - but again know a few people who have done it.

What I will say about Birkbeck is you don't need that level of self discipline because you have to obviously turn up for lectures / sit exams constantly. I always found I take in information better in a lecture - than having to read it myself - although I'm aware that lectures are online these days.

So from talking to OU students I'd imagine it's personally harder to get yourself up for it.

In view of that I have utmost respect for those who do it and for whatever reason can't physically attend a college three timesa week after work.

Another thing about working is you gets you a routine anyway - and attending college afterwards is just an extension of it.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

If your willing to be degraded McDonalds will probably employ you.

Find a part time position near by and after a year you can transfer across to the city your uni is at.

A job is a job. It pays the same money as a job in a trendy clothing store. Granted, you smell worse after your shift.

 

[KneeOn]

A job is a job.

Very true, I also like the people there for the most part. Very nice, quite young crew.

It pays the same money as a job in a trendy clothing store.

I wish that were true! out of my group of employed friends and people at college the only person i earn more money than is a kid who is on 2.30 an hour and doing an apprentiship.

Granted, you smell worse after your shift.

Alas this IS true.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I'm presuming by working 30 hours a week you had very little life outside of work, especially if you were studying at the same time. I'm at college full time, and have work which i'm required to do at home like any other student. I work all day Sundays, and also Saturday mornings in a newsagent. You've also quoted the adult minimum wage, given the fact i'm 17, thats not relevant to me. I earn £4.00 an hour working saturdays cash in hand, because at the time that's the only job i could get, despite handing out numerous CV's.

That 2k a year would also factor in that i dont spend a penny all year, nothing for my mobile phone bill and so on.

I worked in hotels and did whole days Saturday and Sundays and 3 evenings a week. Combined with Poly hours I probably didn't do more hours than many people work full time now.

Plenty of social time both with work colleagues and mates.

 

[Joey Deacon's Disco Suit]

If your willing to be degraded McDonalds will probably employ you.

Find a part time position near by and after a year you can transfer across to the city your uni is at.

Degraded? You really do have a very high opinion of yourself, don't you?

I think I'm going down the pub. I've just about read enough of your posts tonight.