The holy grail of university education.

mcwarre

I grew up in a caravan in the south of Ireland (I can understand Brad Pit in Snatch easily ). I have worked (hard believe me). I now have.........

ONC
HNC
BEng (Hons)
BSc (Hons)
MSc
Chartered Engineer
European Engineer
Completing an MBA

Not bad for a 'thick' Irishman who was bullied into losing his accent.

I now give something back and mentor young people who are starting out. There is hope for anyone and everyone out there - just don't give up!!!

(This is why I have the quote from Booker T Washington in my signature). I am extremely proud of where I have come from and where I am now.

P.S. [Start Irish accent]Do you want your drive tarmacced, missus? It'll cost ye £2000. Pay me £200 up front for some materials and you'll never see me again I'll be right back [Stop Irish accent]

studentphil

Equally though in salary terms a degree might be worthless.

studentphil

anewman wrote: »

I think "salary increases" from a degree are debateable. I've found although I've had interviews for jobs with wages just over £20k, a wage I could never have dreamed of without a degree, competition is always high and I never got the job, and the degree also seems to be a reason for the supermarkets etc etc to not consider me as an employee.

You just have to keep applying and going, it will all come good in the end.

conradmum

anewman wrote: »

I agree with what you say. However, some people come from single parent families with minimum income, like myself, who never had any possibility of financial support from parents. *BUT* if someone is earning plenty of money, and their child's financial support is reduced because of this, for a parent to withold money so they can buy what they want, for example a new car etc etc is selfish. At that age though I would say they should have a budget and if they can get away with calling up mum and dad 10 times during the year needing money and getting it (probably to spend on booze - but may say text books, lol), they'll probably never learn the value of money.

The way I see it your children don't suddenly stop being members of your family when they're 18. And loving families help each other. That's what families are about. The help can be practical, emotional or financial. I don't see why any one of those should be different from the rest. If my parents needed money I would give it to them. I know they wouldn't ask for it unless they needed it.
I don't see helping to pay university fees as any different from sitting down with your children to help them do their homework, reading them bedtime stories or signing them up for karate classes. I'm here to help, support and nurture them in every way. Finance is no exception. At 18 they don't have the resources to pay for themselves. The state expects me to contribute. Now, I don't agree that the state expects me to contribute but my children's prospects will suffer if I don't so I'm not going to stand on my principles on this one.

My kids aren't remotely spoilt and I know that the money won't be wasted. It's just a no-brainer for me. They're my kids and I will do the right thing by them.

studentphil

I wouldn't go to univ to get 21 000 in debt and I doubt many families can afford to pay their kids through univ debt free. You might as well work and then do PG later for 3k.

Carmina_Piranha_3

studentphil wrote: »

You could be right there, but just going because everyone else does doesn't seem much of a reason. At my ex school only 45% 5 A-C GCSEs let alone went to university, so it was far from normal there.

my school only has 45% getting the magic 5 too in some years - it changes from year to year. the comparison chart shows the county to only have 52% getting the magic 5, and england overall only 53%.

the children in the top streams would say uni is the norm while other children at that same school would say it's not.

my son would say that university is the norm because even though his school has quite low exam results he is in the top stream and so are his friends. both parents went to uni, as did most family friends and relatives. he knows that university is possible if it's what he chooses because he knows that he does well at school.

i don't see why smilebehappy's comment about university being 'the norm' has upset you? we live on a council estate with schools near the bottom of the league tables - but that doesn't stop uni being the norm for some children here.

Carmina_Piranha_3

studentphil wrote: »

You see this all the time with baby bonds and savings acounts for kids that you must save towards their "Uni" education. Or parents of 6 year olds saying they aim for their kids to go to "uni". It seems puzzling why all other modes of achievement and education are placed secondary to this thing that "Uni" is a must for so many.

back to the OP - it's just advertising. i want my children to have some savings available to them when they are 18. they might go to uni (eldest doesn't think he will) but equally they might want driving lessons and a car to give them a better chance at getting a job. they might want enough for a deposit and to put down a month or so's rent on their own place because my nagging drives them insane and they want to bring girlfriends back to their place.

i read a recent thread where the OP was stuck in a rut not being able to get a job because the bus service was poor, and not being able to afford a car or driving lessons. it's not so much about wanting them to go to uni, just wanting them to have things a little bit easier than i did if uni is what they want.

the advertisers of savings bonds aren't going to sell much if they outline other ways of spending the savings when a child hits 18 :rotfl:

Carmina_Piranha_3

studentphil wrote: »

I wouldn't go to univ to get 21 000 in debt and I doubt many families can afford to pay their kids through univ debt free. You might as well work and then do PG later for 3k.

i don't regret a penny of my student debt because i had an amazing time! and i'm glad that my husband went to uni because he learned that the laundry fairy doesn't exist we both loved our time at uni and wouldn't change a thing. it was FUN! where else can you meet men who know how to cook and iron? :rotfl:

studentphil

Carmina_Piranha wrote: »

i don't regret a penny of my student debt because i had an amazing time! and i'm glad that my husband went to uni because he learned that the laundry fairy doesn't exist we both loved our time at uni and wouldn't change a thing. it was FUN! where else can you meet men who know how to cook and iron? :rotfl:

I don't see how it's fun- depressing, full of exams, impersonal, stress, no reward for your efforts seems more like it.

alwaysskint96

conradmum wrote: »

The way I see it your children don't suddenly stop being members of your family when they're 18. And loving families help each other. That's what families are about. The help can be practical, emotional or financial. I don't see why any one of those should be different from the rest. If my parents needed money I would give it to them. I know they wouldn't ask for it unless they needed it.
I don't see helping to pay university fees as any different from sitting down with your children to help them do their homework, reading them bedtime stories or signing them up for karate classes. I'm here to help, support and nurture them in every way. Finance is no exception. At 18 they don't have the resources to pay for themselves. The state expects me to contribute. Now, I don't agree that the state expects me to contribute but my children's prospects will suffer if I don't so I'm not going to stand on my principles on this one.

My kids aren't remotely spoilt and I know that the money won't be wasted. It's just a no-brainer for me. They're my kids and I will do the right thing by them.

It doesnt mean that those families who are on a low income will actually HAVE he momney to financially support their offspring through uni though

TazCredits and Child benefit end aftre A levels- so a drop in the household income- so where are parents expected to suddenly find this cash from??