to think that it's a really bad thing in the long term if so many young people become inured to debt?

[onimolap]

With the highest proportion ever of young people going to university, and today's announcement on higher tuition fees and higher loan interest repayments for all but the very poorest graduate; what is this situation doing to society's current and likely future attitude to debt?

Is the aim to produce a debt-ridden generation? Or to reduce the numbers going to university?

At what point does the "coping class" run out of ability to cope?

Not quite sure what I should apologise for - I've already stated that my comment was not directed at anyone here (mixed up sanctimonious with you).

The information isn't printed in daily newspapers. You don't get in on flyers through the letterbox. It isn't printed on the back on your UB40 - but it's there.

"yep, all of "that stuff" is hard to find out - you could argue of course that if you've got the aptitude for university you should be able to show a little ingenuity!"

and then I explained how a 17 y/o newly arrived immigrant might have missed "all that stuff". FFS woman

AP, I know the information is there.

But so is the other 'information' given out by parents and schools, for example:

'Oxbridge is only for the rich.'
'You won't cope at university, no-one like you goes.'
'If you get into debt, you'll never pay it back.'
'It's best to apply to because it sounds as if it's useful.'

etc, etc.

Of course, some 17-year-olds will manage to distinguish good, valid information from bad - but some won't, and it is quite hard to do so! Especially if the bad information is backed up by, for example, a parent saying they won't support you if you do x, or school saying they couldn't help you with an application to do y.