Unless you mean because you could afford it without taking out loans, how did you have 4 years experience of living at uni without living at uni?
It's not starting with one arm tied behind your back at all. It's low interest, you only start to pay it back once you start working and you pay it back gradually. I think it's a worthwhile investment for what you gain, and I'd say it's sensible management of finances.
& then used the wage from the minimum wage job to purchase a modest sized family house outright instead of having to perpetually rent until your mid 30's or live with parents until late 20's. Then working your way up the company structure from the bottom without the glass ceiling of academic qualifications and increasingly competitive work environment to worry about. You sure had it tough!
You only pay 9% of what you earn over £21,000 so it's basically a tax. Not like you come home from uni to see bailiffs demanding £30,000 in cash!
One of my biggest regrets was not moving out for uni. I felt that I didn't get the full experience, because it is much much more than an education, it's gaining skills and knowledge for life. You pay your debts back in such small proportions that I reckon it's unlikely that I'll ever pay it off. That said, I only came out with £10k debt after 3 years. These days most are coming out with upwards of £40k. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
My advice to anyone who's kids have just received their GCSE's and are thinking of doing A Levels. It is much much harder than you'd expect. Don't waste your spare time. Study, and put the effort in. It feels like 2 more years of school but more relaxed, but don't treat it as relaxed. I got 10 B's at GCSE, and in my first year of 6th form, didn't really put much effort in, and came out with an E and 3 unclassified. Had to start again. Even then after 3 years I only managed a C and 2 D's. I realised my mistakes afterwards and put in the effort at Uni and eventually came out with a 2:1 in Business Management. A course I wouldn't recommend. I have many regrets from my 'higher education' phase in life, but actually going to both 6th form and Uni aren't 2 of them. The choices I made whilst there certainly are. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Couldn't agree more. My 3 years at university (many years ago) were the best experience of my life. I left home a boy and came back almost grown up. If I could have done one thing differently it would have been to do a course that had more of a vocational element and included a year on placement, as I was still as green as grass in terms of real life when I left and started work. When I was choosing universities during VI form, my criteria were a. Campus University b. As far away from home as possible c. Without being in London - I've never fancied London, even back then. I actually wanted it to be difficult and long winded to get home so I was never tempted to do so at the drop of a hat. Ended up at Essex University in Colchester. 4 hour drive or a long slow 2 legged train journey. Perfect. Simply the best time of my life.
If you find your actual mark is only a couple short of reaching a higher grade then appeal. And don't just do that if you got a 'high D' and want a 'C.' Do it if you're on the cusp of getting an 'A' or a 'B.' Think I'm right in saying that if you win the appeal the cost of the appeal is waived. The more assessed course work counted towards the final mark the more likely you are to be upgraded.
I'll be encouraging mine to go to University and have their own life there, as I did, just turned 18. She needs to learn where the kitchen is for a start. Seriously though, much as it will be gutting to see her go, in two years time, it's an experience that I had, and that I want both my kids to have.
Send them to Europe - Scandinavia and Holland have universities teaching in English with tuition fees of 0 for EU students and flights are quicker/cheaper than the train from far off corners of the country. Although we might lose that privilege after Article 50 is triggered.
Boston is a fantastic city (I know Harvard is in Cambridge, but they are close enough), but unless she gets a full scholarship it will cost a lot more than here!
Big respect for kids doing GCSEs today Not only are they difficult, there are just so many subject. Poor things have exams day after day. I struggle to remember the 5 subjects I passed (let alone the content), now some of them do three times that many! One thing that does make it easier is the quality of school education now is far better than what I received in South Yorkshire years ago. I was the only person to pass A level biology in 7 years and I had no idea what was on the syllabus. So I read absolutely everything I could and taught myself, all sorts of rubbish that was never ever going to come up. While thinking on the kids, its worth a moments thought for the teachers, who have been bust since yesterday poring over the numbers and writing reports on why the girls did better boys, why this subject is up and that is down, etc
I went through the same thing pal, breezed through GCSE the did a bit **** at AS level because I thought it would be a piece of piss. Knuckled down second year, did some resits, got the results I wanted and never looked back. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk