Your thoughts on university

Pont

greenorange wrote: »

I believe student debt should not be wiped after a certain amount of time; I have 27k student debt.

I'm one of the few who would prefer to overpay and get rid of the student debt, however it's a risk, as if I overpay for 10-15 years, then life decided I earn under the threshold or become a stay-at-home parent for the next 10-15 years, then all the overpayments were for nothing, as the debt will just be written off 25 years from when I graduated, whether that is for £5k or £25k.

If the debt wasn't written off, I'd be much more inclined to overpay and get rid of it as quickly as possible.

This is exactly why I don't overpay!

In reality my student debt, 15 years later, is exactly the same as it was following graduation day. I've always paid 9% over £15,000 but with associated interest applied, in effect, it has remained about the same.

I probably could have, during the 15 years, paid it off. However, with 2 kids to raise, rent/mortgage, utilities up by 400%, fuel to get to work etc. etc. didn't happen.

I have paid off my student debt, without interest applied. Approx £50 per month X 12 = £600pa X 15yrs = £9,000! Why peeps suggest student loans are 'good' debt is beyond me. Maybe an interest free loan would be the way to go?

That's what the dastardly lot don't tell you! Interest is applied from the day you graduate, and at a rate which has no bearing on BOE base rates ;-)

ViolaLass

I'm not convinced that value for money (for tuition fees) should necessarily be the same as 'more hours spent in lectures'.

When I was at uni, not many years ago, I think I had around 12 hours of lectures a week but I was expected to do hours of reading around the topic as well as instrument practice (it was a music degree but not at a music college). I could also arrange to meet lecturers to ask questions whenever I wanted.

Part of the point of uni is that you learn to study independently. If you're always in lectures, that's not going to happen. Yes, it means you could spend your time in a job or doing nothing - but again, the choice of how to spend your time is IMO part of what makes uni 'not school'.

adindas

Pont wrote: »

Both of my children are studying what would usually be identified as 'heavy duty' courses - neither have face-to-face contact for more than 20 hours per week! This is considered very good compared to their flatmates.

Because of tuition fee costs, I believe everyone (students and parents) should be demanding value for money. Those universities that can't deliver will go under - those than can, will succeed. I guess down to market forces - the same as anything else.
!

Unless they are doing a course which have a lot of Lab works / workshops people will not get face to face contact of more than 20 hours a week. But this is the standard process for Teaching and Learning at the university level anywhere in the world.

A lot of people have misunderstood the Teaching and Learning process at the university which is entirely different with study at lower level such as in A level GCSE. The professors / the lectures there are not to babysit people as this is not the way the highly intelligent individuals (e.g brilliant student) learn.

Also keep in mind The professors / the lectures are preparing and giving out a lot of readings lists, course works, exercises to be completed at home. They give students the time for consultation beyond the contact hours in the classroom and they are marking student coursework, give them feedback, replying students queries by emails. Some of them also work as personal tutor, count all of those things how many hours this has been spent.

Good and responsible students who think about value for money will maximise their time to do consultation, readings / studying at the library. The one who are not serious will be spending their time having fun, partying, getting drunk, playing video game, etc .....

Compare it with professional course. I have seen many times it costs more than £1500 just for two days with five hours each for a professional course. So it works out more than £150 per hours ...

Buzzybee90

ViolaLass wrote: »

I'm not convinced that value for money (for tuition fees) should necessarily be the same as 'more hours spent in lectures'.

When I was at uni, not many years ago, I think I had around 12 hours of lectures a week but I was expected to do hours of reading around the topic as well as instrument practice (it was a music degree but not at a music college). I could also arrange to meet lecturers to ask questions whenever I wanted.

Part of the point of uni is that you learn to study independently. If you're always in lectures, that's not going to happen. Yes, it means you could spend your time in a job or doing nothing - but again, the choice of how to spend your time is IMO part of what makes uni 'not school'.

Yes and it's not just academics either. My university has on hand faculty librarians who are amazing, pastoral support (e.g. chapilincy), support for international students, library workshops, employment events, dedicated staff for the development of online resources, a CV team etc. The contact hours in a lecture type environment are really not the most important thing.

claire21

Thanks Spendless, interesting read on your link

tea_lover

I did easily 3-4 times as much personal study as contact hours per week. University isn't about time spent in lectures - that would just be an extension of school.

claire21

I wonder if anyone has ever applied for a job that asks for a degree (a job where the majority would think it wasn't needed) when they haven't got one. Asking for the opportunity to be interviewed and given the chance "to sell themselves" ?

Pont

tea_lover wrote: »

I did easily 3-4 times as much personal study as contact hours per week. University isn't about time spent in lectures - that would just be an extension of school.

I did too, and DD2, who is at home at the mo is doing just the same. However, 'independent studies' is just that - 'independent' (not subject to fees).

I've just done the maths. £9,000pa divided by 30 weeks = £300 per week divided by 20 hours per week contact time = £15ph

£15ph X 30 in class = £450ph

Lecturer's pay = Approx £50ph

Nice little earner - £400ph for the university!

Whilst I appreciate there are add ons such as Student Services, Pastoral Care, Library Services etc. etc. The sums don't add up IMO.

Where, in any other part of our everyday lives, do we just pay up without question? All I'm suggesting is that we question what is happening with regards to tuition fees.

I would be as mad as hell if my daughters only received 10 - 12 hours a week contact time.

Spendless

claire21 wrote: »

I wonder if anyone has ever applied for a job that asks for a degree (a job where the majority would think it wasn't needed) when they haven't got one. Asking for the opportunity to be interviewed and given the chance "to sell themselves" ?

I just asked husband, who recruits people within his role and he answered as I expected, because there are so many people chasing jobs, an application that didn't hit the 'tick box' of requirements would find itself in the reject pile most likely.

claire21

Spendless wrote: »

I just asked husband, who recruits people within his role and he answered as I expected, because there are so many people chasing jobs, an application that didn't hit the 'tick box' of requirements would find itself in the reject pile most likely.

You see my inquisitive side would have to see that person, the one who stood out from the crowd who was appearing to be such a trier. Lol