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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder how DD can earn enough cash to see her through university?

75 replies

AtYourCervix · 04/02/2012 18:58

I have suggested pageants and maybe some moggling but as she rightly pointed out she is a bit short and can't walk in heels. She is however staggeringly beautiful so that bit would be covered.

Any ideas?

OP posts:

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 04/02/2012 19:21

Her best plan is to do a degree that will actually result in a job at the end of it, so that she can pay it off as quickly as possible.

Original poster

AtYourCervix · 04/02/2012 19:22

Holy - that's what I need. ^Ideas*!

OP posts:

oiwheresthecoffee · 04/02/2012 19:22

Yes do a deree that teachers an actuall skill. Accounting for example.

oiwheresthecoffee · 04/02/2012 19:23

*Degree !

oiwheresthecoffee · 04/02/2012 19:24

Er theres money in plant biology so i hear. Only its fecking dull.

Portofino · 04/02/2012 19:26

My niece worked in Wetherspoons throughout her degree.

seeker · 04/02/2012 19:27

We went to an 6th form open evening recently where the Head said that in his opinion, if you didn't either have a very clear idea of what you want to do for a career, orbthe ability to get into a Russll Group university you shouldn't go to university at all. He said that getting a non specific degree( that is a degree that isn't vital for q career choice) from a non Russell group doesn't now give you enough advantage to offset the disadvantage of the debt.
Interesting.

Portofino · 04/02/2012 19:28

Does she WANT to go to Uni? I foresee a resurrection of the BTEC type stuff at local colleges. More sensible in many cases....

Portofino · 04/02/2012 19:31

And trying to get some work experience as soon as she is 16. I worked pt from that age. Cafes, restaurants, chamber maiding....etc Waitressing can be good as the tips can add up.

FabbyChic · 04/02/2012 19:33

My son won't be working whilst going to Uni he can survive on his STudent loan and bursary, your child will get all that if your earnings are low enough, and if they aren't then you should support her.

CMOTDibbler · 04/02/2012 19:35

I worked as a psychiatric nursing assistant, all holiday, every holiday, taking all the overtime/extra shifts I could. By living very frugally (chose cheapest hall, walked everywhere etc) I supported myself with a v small contribution from my parents and came out debt free.

Asinine · 04/02/2012 19:40

Babysit/au pair

If she lives in she can get cheap accommodation, and save loads.

Original poster

AtYourCervix · 04/02/2012 19:43

CMOT - i think that is what she will do. she is very hard working and focussed. but it would be lovely to discover something, or invent something, or sell my soul to see her Ok for the next few years.
Also I am going to be doubly stuffed if DD2 decides she wants to go too.

OP posts:

mizu · 04/02/2012 19:47

I'm hearing you PippiL, I have not had to pay my student loan back - a ridiculously small amount compared with loans of today - as I do not earn enough and i graduated in 1995.

I too did English Language and co-ordinate a language dept in an FE college. Will probably never have to pay it back as I have heard that it gets written off eventually.

MsGee · 04/02/2012 19:47

I worked in the university library during term time. Low hours, very easy. and you can check the computer to see what your tutors are reading

Also pub work, worked all holidays etc. there are lots of jobs within universities. Friends of mine did admin, cleaning, research guinea pis etc.

EverSoLagom · 04/02/2012 19:51

If she's the confident sort she could try life modelling. It kept me out of my overdraft when i was an undergrad. It was also really lovely - lots of nice old ladies feeding me tea and coffee, about £17/hr to sit down in a warm room, some really good art work (quite a bit of which i still keep).

Original poster

AtYourCervix · 04/02/2012 19:57

she'll be fine. it would be nice to tell her i could pay her rent, or overdraught or something.

OP posts:

marriedinwhite · 04/02/2012 20:00

Well, if she really wants to go then she can repay the loan. If she doesn't really want to go she needn't.

It is a very harsh system. When I was 18 in 1978 only about 6-7% went to HE and that included the old Polys. It was possible to fund the top 6-7% it really isn't possible or fair for the rest of the population to fund degress for 35%+ that really aren't needed.

Every week I interview graduates from former not very good polys who have degrees and sometimes masters degrees who are no way near as clever as girls I went to school with and left at 18 with a couple of good A'Levels to enter banks, the civil service, etc. Notwithstanding the girls who started nursing at 17 with a handful of O'Levels and who are probably as good if not better at it than those who came 10 years later and did nursing degrees.

Most jobs do not require a degree and if the system is to fund university education again then the sheep need to be sorted from the goats.

seeker · 04/02/2012 20:07

Look, she can get a loan she doesn't have to pay back until she's earning a decent salary, and which will be written off when she's 50. Why should you feel bad because you can't subsidise her?

Serenitysutton · 04/02/2012 20:11

A year out working followed by working around lectures?

Tbh, most degrees are not work intensive enough to affect this- in fact, if you can time your classes right (evenings) you can pretty much work full time. It's tough but many do it and many post grad qualifications demand you do, purely to weed out the not very dedicated. If she doesn't want to work or get a loan I question. Her commitment to a degree.

dreamingbohemian · 04/02/2012 20:11

If she works as a server, better a restaurant than a pub -- will get tips and probably free food. Also much more flexible than most jobs, can work nights and weekends.

Does she type well? I've done freelance transcribing for years, it pays quite well. You have to type quickly and have good grammar/spelling though. Medical transcription would be even better.

remember that students can, if they have to, really live on nothing. They're not eating 3 proper meals a day, they can live in tiny rooms in dodgy neighbourhoods.

Seven years ago I moved to London as a postgrad, I spent 500/month total, that's rent, food, everything. Obviously I was ridiculously frugal but it's possible, and that way a part-time job can practically support you.

JoanaM · 04/02/2012 20:13

My son is off to a former poly this year to do accounting & finance he will be taking out tuition loans and we have agreed to pay half his rent. The rest of his rent + food + book + beer money we are making him work full time this summer. Hopefully that will be enough but he may have to apply for the maintenance grant too.

gelatinous · 04/02/2012 20:20

baby sitting seems to be very well paid these days and she can do her studying at the same time. She will need to supplement her loan with some extra income because the loan isn't even enough to cover accommodation costs in a lot of cases.

Pachelbel · 04/02/2012 20:38

Threads like this bug me as the sentiment is always 'get a loan like everyone else' but it's not that easy.

If your parents are low earners, you're entitled to help. If they're high earners, they can afford to help you out financially.
If they're in the middle though...hard luck.

I'm not entitled to grants/bursaries, and my loan doesn't even cover my rent this year - let alone food and living expenses. And in a small city with three universities, jobs aren't easy to come by.

I feel for your DD AYC, my best advice would be to try and get a job with a large company so she can transfer between home and uni and always work regardless of whether it's term time / holiday.
Not much help if she can't find a job though!

Naoko · 04/02/2012 20:44

She could go abroad. There are several European countries where fees are much lower or non-existent that run degree programmes in English. She could then work part-time to meet her living costs or get a loan, or both. American universities sometimes give full scholarships, even to foreign students.

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