how do you live off student loans if it all goes on rent

kelloggs36

I was a mature student - I have 2 children at home plus my daughter at uni herself. I had to juggle going into uni 4 days per week, plus all my reading and assignments and doing housework, entertaining the children, doing all the usual home-running chores AND working part-time to boot. My university was an hour and half travelling away each way.

I am pretty sure that I have the perceived intelligence needed to get into Oxbridge, but it was out of the question due to circumstances - it doesn't make anybody better because they went there. You certainly have a negative view of other, so-called lesser universities which is without foundation if you really believe that they do nothing all day!!!

Like Bestpud, my uni positively encouraged reflectiveness in our work and the need to think outside of the box. The more critical we were with a valid argument, the better the marks - obviously.

I also have a lot of work experience in the real world to know that there is a lot of backhanding going on - not what you know but who you know sort of thing, putting many with relevant experiece out of the running for many jobs. Not all of course, but it certainly helps. Lots of PCing going on on the outside, but it is just as corrupt on the inside.

The_One_Who

I'm still waiting to know why Oxbridge will let in a Teeside graduate onto a postgraduate course if it is so bad. Getting a first from a not brilliant university is an achievement. The number of firsts awarded are few and the contact time with lecturers probably even less. Obviously getting one-to-one tutorials with leading professors is going to help!

DP99 unfortunately seems to be playing up to the stereotype of Oxbridge undergrads.

Aliiyn

The_One_Who wrote: »

I'm still waiting to know why Oxbridge will let in a Teeside graduate onto a postgraduate course if it is so bad. Getting a first from a not brilliant university is an achievement. The number of firsts awarded are few and the contact time with lecturers probably even less. Obviously getting one-to-one tutorials with leading professors is going to help!

DP99 unfortunately seems to be playing up to the stereotype of Oxbridge undergrads.

I think the real problem is that DP99 just doesn't want to admit that we are all individuals and as such responsible for our own success/failure. Yes. tutors will look at the the institution you did your undergrad at and yes, Teeside is not rated as highly as say UCL or Warwick. However, a tutor will also look at your thesis, publication record, motivation, involvement in relevant extra-curriculars etc. The University (or school at UG level) is just one piece in a large admissions jigsaw, and rightly so!

Mother_of_a_Vet_Student

Good suggestions but what if:

My daughter is going to London and did not get a full accommodation grant - cost £5540.00 per year - she got £2000 short so where does the food and basic living come in to this? She will studying Vet Med so extra work is not possible - so where can her money to live come from?????? We are not 'rich' parents with other siblings to pay for. Any suggestions

silvercar

In the calculation of the amount of grant/ loan that is made an allowance is given (off the total household income) for other siblings.

I'm afraid the decision on where to study and where to live is one that needs to take into account finances. Halls in London are particularly expensive. A student is expected to receive top-up money from parents and make use of the loans available.

Apart from that, it means taking a bank overdraft, applying for any burseries the college may offer and working. If extra work is not possible during term time then the holidays should offer time to work.

Mother_of_a_Vet_Student

Unfortunately going to be a vet doesn't give you any choices on Uni - you go where you get accepted. Regards to work - she is expected to get (and did) work as many hours as possible in a vets - again not much scope in getting extra better paid work. During all holidays, she again as part of her course, has to work at a vets - but can only work the hours the practice offers her.

silvercar

Unfortunately going to be a vet doesn't give you any choices on Uni - you go where you get accepted.

I thought there would be more than 5 unis offering vetinary science, so you could choose to apply to those in cheaper areas than London.

I can see that working at a vets may limit the opportunities for extra money; though I presume that does mean that she can find some work.

The saving grace is that it should be easy to find a job at the end of the course.

kelloggs36

Does she get paid for her vet work that she does in the holidays? if so, then this is what she is expected to live off. Has she tried applying to the university for a hardship grant?

bestpud

Mother_of_a_Vet_Student wrote: »

Good suggestions but what if:

My daughter is going to London and did not get a full accommodation grant - cost £5540.00 per year - she got £2000 short so where does the food and basic living come in to this? She will studying Vet Med so extra work is not possible - so where can her money to live come from?????? We are not 'rich' parents with other siblings to pay for. Any suggestions

You obviously have a pretty high income if she only got the bare minimum as your other children will have been taken into account.

And as high earners, I'm afraid the answer is from you. Parents with higher incomes are expected to help fund their children through uni.

This may be no use whatsoever, but I was wondering if she could make extra money in the holidays by pet sitting/walking? People will like the fact she is studying veterinary science and it should fit around her day work.

I guess insurance would be needed though.

Maybe worth looking into at least?

Oldernotwiser

Mother_of_a_Vet_Student wrote: »

Good suggestions but what if:

My daughter is going to London and did not get a full accommodation grant - cost £5540.00 per year - she got £2000 short so where does the food and basic living come in to this? She will studying Vet Med so extra work is not possible - so where can her money to live come from?????? We are not 'rich' parents with other siblings to pay for. Any suggestions

I'm a bit confused by your post as to whether your daughter starts university this year or whether she's already there.

As bestpud says, parents on good incomes are expected to contribute to their offspring's living costs, which is really what most of this thread has been about.