Teenager reluctant to get a job

ailuro2

btw, why would you give her money for food at uni when she can make herself a packed lunch? I'm assuming their canteen isn't subsidised...

she needs to get her finger out and get at least a Saturday job...preferably somewhere that will also supply some tips (waitressing)

rampies_wife

My DS is in his second year studying law and he works in Mac D's part time.It has taught him so much more than flipping burgers.
My 15 year DD has just got her first job washing dishes in a local pub on a Sunday lunch time.I am so proud she took the initative herself ,wrote a spec letter on her own and was delighted when they offered her a job,her earnings will now be saved to buy herself a moped when shes 16!

Oldernotwiser

I think some people are getting a bit confused because you've mentioned university but as this is an FE course and she's 18, then it's still your responsibility to support her, just as much as if she were doing A levels. After all, you will still be receiving child benefit and tax credits for her.

Jinx

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I think some people are getting a bit confused because you've mentioned university but as this is an FE course and she's 18, then it's still your responsibility to support her, just as much as if she were doing A levels. After all, you will still be receiving child benefit and tax credits for her.

Doesnt it depend on the course? My daughter did an HNC at college at 16 after doing her Highers in 5th year and I stopped getting maintenance money and child benefit and tax credits all at the same time! (in Scotland if it makes any difference though)

Person_one

OP, is she doing an art foundation course at a uni?

PS. Oldernotwiser makes a good point, if she's been assessed for EMA and not qualified then clearly the powers that be believe you should still be supporting her most basic costs, food, roof, etc.

Oldernotwiser

Jinx wrote: »

Doesnt it depend on the course? My daughter did an HNC at college at 16 after doing her Highers in 5th year and I stopped getting maintenance money and child benefit and tax credits all at the same time! (in Scotland if it makes any difference though)

A foundation art course is a level 3 course and, as the OP says, FE, not HE. It counts as non advanced FE and parents can claim CB/CTC until their child's 20th birthday. In this particular case, the OP will be able to claim these until the end of August 2011.

An HNC is higher education, for which separate funding is available in the form of student loans and grants.

Amanda65

My DD completed an Art foundation course at a local university last. We still received child benefit for her until this month and I gave her this money towards her petrol and lunch as it was a 40 minute drive in (and by the end of the first term she was taking a packed lunch at least two of her days in).

Once the first week was over and she had her timetable she found that she was only actually in Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and the coursework, whilst onerous was no worse that A-level art. During this time she held down two jobs - a weekend job at a livery yard where she has worked since she was 12 (originally just out of love for the horses) which was not well paid but is her passion. She also had a part-time job at Next. She managed to complete the course, work part-time and have money for running her car and socialising with very little input from us other than buying her art materials. Since the summer she quit Next and has been working in a bar to save for Uni, her holiday in June with some girlfriends and her car insurance.

I know getting a part-time job isn't easy atm (DD2 who is 17, is applying everywhere and really finding it hard) although at 18 your daughter will find it easier as she can work longer hours and can serve alcohol.

The employment has given my DD a completely different 'education' including budgetting, dealing with customers and goign outside her comfort zone on occassions. And remember, if your DD has to go for an interview either for work or Uni next year, any other experience she can talk about to put her above the competition can only be to her advantage.

Person_one

If it is the art foundation course, bear in mind the cost of materials.

I did the course, and it really is intensive as you have to cram an awful lot into a year, I always did at least 9 - 5 in the studios, often staying till they closed at 10 and as the work produced on this course will decide what course she gets onto for her degree, it is important that she is able to perform to the best of her ability.

If she does decide to work, I wouldn't recommend anymore than one short shift on a Saturday. Technically she might have the time to work on a Sunday as well but being over tired and frazzled is not conducive to making good art. I'm sure most of us working adults wouldn't be too thrilled at the thought of working 8 hour days, 7 days a week.

Edit: its easier to find time to work on most art related degree courses, they aren't as intense until the third year. I do recommend the idea of getting a summer job and making the money last all year though.

Oldernotwiser

Amanda65 wrote: »

And remember, if your DD has to go for an interview either for work or Uni next year, any other experience she can talk about to put her above the competition can only be to her advantage.

Art degree tutors are going to be far more interested in the quality of the student's portfolio and her thoughts about art rather than talking to her about part time bar work.

chewmylegoff

Wilma33 wrote: »

No offense, but it very much depends on your course and your uni. If you do a science at a "good" uni then you spend so many hours in lectures / classes / lab a week (on top of private study) that I don't think it's possible to do paid work for more than a few hours a week in term time if you are taking your degree seriously.

i did biochemical engineering in a top 5 uni, and whilst it was more intensive than, say, history, it was still nothing like actually having to work. from what i recall i had about 20 hours of lectures and tutorials a week and then practicals twice a week which would generally take up the whole afternoon.

also, the first year is not as intensive as the final year of the degree when you're likely to be doing a large project which can be a real time-drain. i could have easily worked 40 hours a week when i was in my first year. in my third year it would not have been possible, but i still could have done a couple of shifts a week on the weekend. it wouldn't have been as much fun, but i wouldn't have been working instead of studying.

when i started work after uni i was doing 50-60 hours a week and then studying for chartered accountancy exams on top of that. that was much more time intensive than university, and i still had time to go out on friday and saturday nights.