Student Loans 2012

The_One_Who

setmefree2 wrote: »

The thing that stands out for me about Exeter is that employers don't target it for recruitment which I think is a big downside.

There are many reasons for that, not always related to how 'good' a university is. Recruitment fairs and events are expensive, even more so when you need to include travel and accommodation for those doing them. The further away from head office and/or large student hubs you go, the less economical it becomes for the companies.

setmefree2

PaulW1965 wrote: »

Another downside is that a Uni charging £9k is effectively at war with the government and therefore could suffer large funding cuts when your/our childen are in later years of their university life. A Uni charging £7k is likely to be in a more stable position.

I think you're right. Unless one side shows a white flag, a Uni charging £9k is a potential battle field.

setmefree2

The_One_Who wrote: »

There are many reasons for that, not always related to how 'good' a university is. Recruitment fairs and events are expensive, even more so when you need to include travel and accommodation for those doing them. The further away from head office and/or large student hubs you go, the less economical it becomes for the companies.

That's all true but

• there is no point in going to a "good" Uni if in doing so it gives you less chance of getting a job (or getting a job is just much more difficult.)
• Nor is there much point in paying top dollar if there is no job at the end of it.
• Nor is there much point in going to a Uni that can't be bothered to encourage employers to come to visit 'cos they obviously don't see getting a job as a priority.

Unfortunately, for my kids getting a job is going to have to be a number one priorty. Sadly, we are not wealthy enough to keep them eternally

The_One_Who

setmefree2 wrote: »

That's all true but

• there is no point in going to a "good" Uni if in doing so it gives you less chance of getting a job (or getting a job is just much more difficult.)
• Nor is there much point in paying top dollar if there is no job at the end of it.
• Nor is there much point in going to a Uni that can't be bothered to encourage employers to come to visit 'cos they obviously don't see getting a job as a priority.

Unfortunately, for my kids getting a job is going to have to be a number one priorty. Sadly, we are not wealthy enough to keep them eternally

You do realise that recruitment fairs and events are just a way for companies to get their name out there, don't you? They don't give students jobs there. And often it is only the big companies (who everyone knows about) that can get to these events. Any and all questions students want to ask can often be found on the company websites, or they can email the company directly.

A degree is not a golden ticket to a job, as more and more graduates are finding out. A degree is just a bit of paper, often just a tick in the box for some jobs.

If you read the statistics (which are flawed, but never mind) then you'll find that students have a better chance of getting a job by going to a former poly, possibly because they offer more vocational courses and more courses with work experience and/or work related aspects.

setmefree2

The_One_Who wrote: »

You do realise that recruitment fairs and events are just a way for companies to get their name out there, don't you? They don't give students jobs there. And often it is only the big companies (who everyone knows about) that can get to these events. Any and all questions students want to ask can often be found on the company websites, or they can email the company directly.

A degree is not a golden ticket to a job, as more and more graduates are finding out. A degree is just a bit of paper, often just a tick in the box for some jobs.

If you read the statistics (which are flawed, but never mind) then you'll find that students have a better chance of getting a job by going to a former poly, possibly because they offer more vocational courses and more courses with work experience and/or work related aspects.

And you do realise that some of the biggest employers only recruit from certain Unis on to their graduate training schemes don't you? It's not that employers don't think there are good people at the "other" Unis, it's just that they know they can pick them up later on in their career. It's not cost-effective for companies to trawl widely, so they concentrate their efforts. I think my kids should think about this when looking for a Uni.

I would agree that the choice of course is important (more important?) to their job prospects.

I'm not independently wealthy, so unless my kids have a mad passion about something, I think they should be looking to pick a Uni that enhances their career prospects not limit them. And since Exeter doesn't do that and nor does it look like it is going to be cheap, then since my son only gets 4 or 5 UCAS choices I think he can safely rule Exeter out and not feel like he is missing out.

But,hey, that's just imho.

By the way I graduated in 1983 and you couldn't pick a worse year to find a job as a student. That colours the way I view everything.

setmefree2

I don't suppose we want our kids to go to one of these either:-

A growing number of universities will run the risk of bankruptcy as a result of the Government's higher education reforms, the National Audit Office will warn today.

Today's report urges HEFCE to name the institutions considered at risk so students are warned of any potential financial difficulties.

Well that would be nice, wouldn't it?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/tuition-fees-will-bankrupt-universities-says-watchdog-2231798.html

One of the Unis at risk is TVU which is really sad imho because 25% of their intake are kids who have had FSM (free school meals) which makes them worth saving and they should be supported in my view.

But I'm not sure, in all honesty, that I'd think my own kid should go in to a Uni with the potential for a cash crisis half the way through their course.

The_One_Who

setmefree2 wrote: »

And you do realise that some of the biggest employers only recruit from certain Unis on to their graduate training schemes don't you?

Source?

Investment Banking and some law firms are the only two industries that I can think of that do discriminate based on university, although for both of these going to the 'right' university is only the first step.

Char_pdc

setmefree2 wrote: »

And you do realise that some of the biggest employers only recruit from certain Unis on to their graduate training schemes don't you? It's not that employers don't think there are good people at the "other" Unis, it's just that they know they can pick them up later on in their career. It's not cost-effective for companies to trawl widely, so they concentrate their efforts. I think my kids should think about this when looking for a Uni.

This does happen, but from my experience it happens at the universities that I would expect to charge £9000 a year

PaulW1965

setmefree2 wrote: »

One of the Unis at risk is TVU

Another one is London Met (i read it in the paper this morning)

Helix

PaulW1965 wrote: »

Another one is London Met (i read it in the paper this morning)

They have been in trouble for the past few years after they fiddled the figures and ended up having to pay back a lot of money to the government.