Is my son going to get in all this bloody student debt for nothing?

[Gameofbones]

We are a very low income family. Ds is set to go to university in September. I’m really proud as he is the first one out of my lot to go.

Now I’m seeing headlines suggesting new lockdowns in September.

He has secured the maximum amount of maintenance loan which with course costs is about £18.5k a year.

I can’t believe he is going to get into all this debt if he is going to have to ‘do uni’ from home!

We are so tight for space, not sure how he is going to manage it.

If your dc went to university last year did they get money back. How did it work?

55k debt for a degree in 'media' . Why would anyone ruin their life like that? A job or apprenticeship is what is needed if he wants to work in media.

I think if he's determined to do media he'd be better off in the long run at an institution with a better reputation and that's older. If it has to be Ravensbourne then for him to stand a chance of getting media work after graduating he needs to network and do some interning when he's not studying. It's a very tough industry and nepotism is rife. He also needs to know what bursaries there are for him because of the family financial situation.

Just looked at the most recent Times rankings of universities and Ravensbourne came 130 of 131 in the UK.

This is taken from prospects.ac.uk re production roles.

Qualifications
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects at degree or HND level may increase your chances:

communication and media studies
film studies/filmmaking/film production
information technology
media production and broadcast production
multimedia
photography
television production/film and television production.
It's possible to get into film and TV production via an apprenticeship in creative and digital media. See what's available at find an apprenticeship. Organisations such as the BBC also offer apprenticeships, for example BBC Production Apprenticeships.

Although you don't need a postgraduate qualification, courses containing practical work experience in production may increase your chances of success in a notoriously competitive environment. Be aware that entry to these programmes is competitive and most require some previous experience so that you can give evidence of your practical skills and your work. Search postgraduate courses in media production.

Look for courses that provide cutting-edge technical resources, a reasonable final production budget and contacts within the industry. For information on relevant training courses, see:

BBC Academy
British Film Institute (BFI)
ScreenSkills
A degree or relevant training course alone isn't enough and you'll need to build up substantial experience in the industry before moving into the role of producer.

[quote Gameofbones]@omgthepain so he doesn’t have to have his a levels to defer? My ds got a conditional offer.[/quote]
Usually the same entry criteria apply. You can opt to defer now and providing your son gets the grades that they require in August, his place will be confirmed for Sept 2022 start.

That seems like a waste of money for a media degree from such a low ranked university. Much better off getting a job/apprenticeship if he can.

P.S. well done to your son on receiving his offer! I would also be proud if I were you . It just might be worth him considering other potential routes for learning if there is a chance he’ll be stuck learning remotely for a period of time!

What does he actually want to do with his life? Ravensbourne is not well rated and the jobs prospects are pretty poor. Media is highly competitive and there are much better institutions out there or better yet apprenticeships.
That course is in clearing so they don't have enough applicants this year and the entry requirement is 2 C grades which doesn't suggest his co-students are going to be stellar either.
I've mentored kids who went to rubbish universities to study rubbish degrees and they all feel utterly cheated that they were sold the idea of being lawyers and tv journalists and ended up working in McDonald's

My worry also
My grandson has a place at Edinburgh doing AI
Again a low income family as his dad is also a student
I’m so worried he’s going to have a really shot time
He’s worked hard for his place
Through covid and the like and the thought of him cooped up in his accommodation fills me with dread

Rubbish some of you are spouting. Ravensbourne is excellent and very well regarded. Of course pandemic will compromise the experience but lecturers are working flat out to make it work.

[quote Gameofbones]@sskanky wow talk about piss on my chips. I was feeling pretty proud of him!

The BBC production apprenticeship is closed.[/quote]
And you should be proud. A massive “well done” to him. Yes, it’s true not all degrees carry the same weight, but everyone makes their own path in life and that’s what counts. I got my first degree from a red brick uni but have gone on to do a MSc and earn a healthy salary.

@Gameofbones you are very right to feel proud.
Being the first from a family to go is a big deal (I was the first).

Loads of jobs will want someone with a degree (any degree) and I would think now a days it's also about getting good work experience alongside your course. Which he can do once he starts.
Despite what some people on MN seem to think not all degrees need to be STEM related, or lead directly into careers such as accountancy.

In regards to your OP, I don't think anyone can predict what will happen but the vaccine program is going well. I wouldn't think too much of it.

Some of these comments here are not very nice. Well don't to your son. I hope he gets the A Level results he's hoping for and has a great university experience!

It's a specialist media/ creative university I think? Hopefully because of the heavier practical/ vocational side he should have as much "normal" learning as possible.
Well done him!

Not all unis/courses will allow a deferral. He could look in Clearing when he gets his results, or use Adjustment if he achieves better than his offer grades, to look for alternative courses. Where else did he consider? London is excessively expensive to live and hard to find accommodation and student satisfaction surveys often reflect it.

Or he could decide to take a year off, find some relevant work experience/volunteering and reapply to uni/apprenticeships for 2022. Not sure BBC recruited apprentices for this year anyway. Their next grad entry scheme is for 2022.

My niece has just completed her first year in UAL and has had a brilliant year in London. She’s had nothing to compare it to. Has made good friends and literally had to be out of halls for only a couple of weeks so she’s had her moneys worth. I think this year will be even better.

Don't worry about the 'loan' too much, payments will be affordable and hardly anyone ends up paying the whole lot because of the way its structured - only the high earners.

@sskanky

Christ. He shouldn't get in that debt to study media. No one in the industry rates media studies degrees. What does he actually want to do with it. What university is it?

I agree It’s only worth getting into so much debt if there’s a potential return on investment and I don’t think a degree in Media will give that

@Blossomtoes

It’s not degree snobbery, it’s reality. Not all degrees carry the same weight in the employment market. Graduates are ten a penny now and employers are more choosy than ever because they can afford to be.

Ravensbourne media production is a good course and the TV and film industry is huge?!

Worry about him finding a meaningful direction - if he is excited about this course then I would support that. It will be a great experience. But make sure he knows how important hard graft, networking and extra work is, and forging his own direction because its the go getters that will get ahead and get careers.

What I wouldn't do is verbalise worries about the money or the course. Or covid uncertainty. He will be ok.

OP I also agree that some of the comments on here (though perhaps well intended) aren’t coming across as very polite. Congratulations to your son on being offered a place. My sister and I were the first in our family to go to uni, my dad cried when I got my degree so I understand your pride.
Unfortunately there is snobbery in the UK university system (I am a uni lecturer) and some degrees will give you a better start than others. I teach healthcare students so can’t advise, but I wonder if your son is in contact with anyone who can suggest which courses are well regarded in the industry he’s aiming for? Is there anyone at his college for instance? Or perhaps he has already had this kind of advice?
Something to be aware of is that universities are really keen to have students. So for example if he does want to defer, the uni will try to make this possible as they’ll want to keep him as a prospective student. He should be seeing it as a ‘buyer’s market’ - that might be hard to do if he’s not been around others who’ve been through higher education. Please also be aware that universities are aware that they haven’t made it easy as they should have done historically to open their doors to people from less well off backgrounds, and they are now trying to put this right. All the best to you and your son.

On a different note, please watch this video from Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert) talking to year 12 students about student finance and that it should really be called a graduate tax.

If your son doesn't earn above the income threshold after graduation he never pays any of it back. It doesn't count against you for mortgages etc. It is an investment in your future. Please stop seeing it as a debt as there are negative connotations to that word.

I’m actually stepping away from this thread.

I’ve worked since I was 16, im a single parent and i don’t get any help from his dad. I thought he was doing really well and was set to achieve big. Obviously not.

Thanks for all your advice. And that isn’t me being stroppy. I’ll get him to look into it more.

No one is saying he won't achieve big or that he isn't doing well, it's just important to weigh these things up (especially at the moment with covid..etc playing such a big part in what students are actually experiencing at uni) and in order to weigh it up properly it's important that he/you/someone has all the facts.

Why don't you spend an evening with him, have some dinner and a chat about it all and then sit down with him and research is properly together.

Ignore people here OP. If you're not reading Law or English at Bristol you're wasting your life.

Rave is an arts and creative specialist - no point at all comparing it to any other uni as others are trying to do.

Be proud of him. If he's enthusiastic and prepared to give 100% and make contacts and gain as much experience as he can and embrace all the opportunities that come his way, he'll do great.

@Gameofbones

I’m actually stepping away from this thread.

I’ve worked since I was 16, im a single parent and i don’t get any help from his dad. I thought he was doing really well and was set to achieve big. Obviously not.

Thanks for all your advice. And that isn’t me being stroppy. I’ll get him to look into it more.

You have done a great job. He is doing really well. Please don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.