University Fees

Person_one

VJsmum wrote: »

My 17 year old DD is about to start applying for Acting degrees (not even drama, but just Acting). Since she was 9 years old she has never wanted to do anything else. She doesn't want to be famous and she knows its hard to be anything. At an open day for LIPA they said "don't worry about the fees, most of you will never earn enough to pay them back. If you want to be rich, don't do acting; if you want to be famous, don't do acting. Only come here if you can't possibly imagine doing anything else"

My DD is an A grade student :eek: but we can't remove her dream from her, she would never forgive us. And besides, I wouldn't want to.

Good for you! Yes it is hard to get into acting professionally and make a living, but its not impossible, or there'd be nothing on the telly.

I know a lot of people who did arts/performing arts based degrees (as I did one myself first time around) and while a lot of them are working in unrelated jobs, plenty have had success at varying levels and are working in their chosen field too. I don't know anybody who considers it a waste of time, even if they have to have a 'day job' and only act/paint/dance/sew part time or as an amateur.

bylromarha

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Unless there really is no option, I wouldn't recommend a part time job during term time.

I had a great part time job.

2 evenings a week being a theatre steward. Council pay, so the hourly rate was a decent wage.

Turned up at the theatre @ 6.45pm. Prepped for door opening, showed people to their seats, show started at 7.30pm. I opened up the books for 90mins. 20 min interval where I sold sweets. Tidyied up, got books out for another hour. Showed people out, home at 10.45pm

4 hours pay, average 2.5 hours study. Probably more studying than I'd have done at home!

Lil_Me_2

It's worth remembering that there are two loans that most students take out.

1. Tuition fee loan - this covers the £9k and the student will never see this money, it gets paid directly to the University.

2. Maintenance loans - this is what you're expected to live off as a student and this often falls short and as others have said, barely covers the rent.

Therefore if you're wanting to help your children through university it isn't the fees that they need help with, it's day to day living costs. So don't stress that you need to save £27k, teach them the skills needed to live frugally and sensibly and help them out with rent/bills/food.

neverdespairgirl

Lil_Me wrote: »

It's worth remembering that there are two loans that most students take out.

Therefore if you're wanting to help your children through university it isn't the fees that they need help with, it's day to day living costs. So don't stress that you need to save £27k, teach them the skills needed to live frugally and sensibly and help them out with rent/bills/food.

That's a very sensible and useful distinction - and achievable, too, for most people. Saving £27k+ per child is an awful lot, but putting some cash aside so they can pay their rent and eat is both attainable and very useful indeed.

FBaby

Person_one wrote: »

So the subject isn't the issue, its actually about motivation?

The subject IS an issue depending on the person and the subject. Motivation alone won't get you a career out of what you study alone.

FBaby

1. Tuition fee loan - this covers the £9k and the student will never see this money, it gets paid directly to the University.

But it is still a loan and will still need to be repaid. Ideally, I would prefer to help my kids avoid taking this loan so that when they do start their career, they will be able to save up to get into the property ladder at some point. However, as stated before, it might become a better investment to take on this loan and then get on the property ladder earlier with a deposit already available.

Of course, this is assuming my kids do go to Uni. At the moment, it is highly likely as both are very academic and do very well, but life is full of surprises and things can get in the way. All I expect really from my children is to work hard, believe in themselves and work hard, whatever it is they set themselves to do.

SpottyKnickers

Our oldest son is nearly 13 and wants to do Mechanical Engineering at University. We will help pay his rent (DH's Dad did this for him when he went to Uni). However at the moment he is adamant he is staying at home to study. We will see how long that lasts :laugh:

He has a savings account which he is saving into, and we match the amount he saves. We want him to be sensible with money and he developing a penny pinching side. He has already said they money he is saving is to go towards a deposit for a house when he is ready to buy.

Person_one

FBaby wrote: »

The subject IS an issue depending on the person and the subject. Motivation alone won't get you a career out of what you study alone.

Ok, so which are the 'leisure' subjects then?

SpottyKnickers

Person_one wrote: »

Ok, so which are the 'leisure' subjects then?

Probably the ones that end in 'studies'. There is the belief that these are not as rigorous and academic as others, and therefore worth less in the world of work.

FBaby

Person_one wrote: »

Ok, so which are the 'leisure' subjects then?

A long list as far as my kids are concerns. I don't know about others' kids.