anyone's dc decided not to go to uni because of the fee increase?

[brimfull]

dd lucky and going in sept after her gap yr so misses the fee increase

must be gutting to the kids in yr 12 now and of course all younger ones

just interested in how it has changed peoples plans

I think the experience of living away at university can be very broadening. Not really in the subject one studies (though it's very difficult to see another time when one can immerse like that), but all the different people one meets and the extensive differing opinions/tastes etc

This can be gained of course by many other ways, but university is a very efficient method. And I would want my DC to benefit from that.

Squidgy - am interested in your idea of discounting certain professions for your child - DC have a habit of forming their own opinions during the teenage years! There are many professions (or 'jobs' if you prefer) that require a degree. Teaching and nursing for example. Would you seriously discourage your child from pursuing either option as career just because they weren't academically able enough to get into Oxbridge or a Russell Group University?

My year 10 DS will be taking A levels but I seriously doubt whether he is is AAA+ grade material. He has no idea what sort of career to pursue, but he wants to go to University to continue studying the (academic) subject he enjoys most at school. If that means history at the local uni (non-RG, former poly, average-to-lowish entrance requirements) then so be it. He can take post-grad qualifications when he knows what he wants to do in life.

I don't quite understand why anyone should be put off doing an academic or properly vocational degree ( not Gaming Studies etc) because of the fee increase. Apprencticeships are few and far between. Plenty of research shows increased earnings over a working lifetime for the majority of graduates and having a degree still gives you far more choices.

And I wonder why more parents don't encourage their kids to go to their local university and live at home while they study? It's a shame to miss out on the social life/indpendence, but it an save a hell of a lot of money. This is far more the norm in America for example.

Mine have already decided that if they go it will be to a local university. A year in halls should give them enough of the university experience. There is nothing much to be gained by lining the pockets of landlords/living in slum for 2 years, and not getting your deposit back thanks to selfish housemates.

As for the other 'experiences' of university life. I'm not sure that doesn't come by just growing up. Maybe it depends on the type of schooling DC have. Mine went to/are at local comps with 400+ per year so they mix with all sorts!

I agree with the sentiment re: staying at home to study. Having done the whole living in squallor thing, I would not recommend it to my children and don't see it at all as the best years of my life.

I remember often feeling lonely and a bit overwhelmed, I missed my family and felt pressurised into going out drinking/clubbing although I had never done it before and wasn't really my thing at all.

I would hope that my children would opt to stay at home and study locally (we are lucky enough to be in commuting distance of 2 Russell Group universities), unless it's Oxbridge I guess.

Nagy you mention that you would like your children to go to the local university and spend the first year in Halls to get the University experience - be warned that often local students are not always offered a place in Hall as if places are limited they are viewed as being able to live at home.

Our DC are only young (oldest 9) but it's a very difficult decision for us. Do we invest the money we have in private education and then be unable to contribute to university fees, or assume the situation will remain unchanged and send them to state schools so we can help at University level?

Ok well I was challenged to say what I'd found seriously valuable for my university children and I simply replied, whilst attempting to be fairly anodyne. The eldest DD went to university pretty unformed actually, not razor sharp and has without doubt blossomed enormously in her three years which are drawing to an end.

I've no need to apologise for not mentioning the university she attends; anyhow I've heard tutors at her university say there are a good number of other universities which do an equally good job.

I don't care two hoots if she could have got the same benefits in the 'University of Life'. I happen to struggle financially at the moment and will do for the foreseeable future and don't set much store by income or capital as long as we can get by.

I've no issue if others think three years at university isn't worth the cost but please justify haranguing me if you feel this is an opinion I should not be allowed.

nagy. Slightly lost. If your child is earning so much having done an engineering degree why do you have issues with the level of fee proposed?

purits. You've checked out previous posts. I don't think I hazarded a guess that my kids were 'Oxbridge level'. I just said they were there which means other people have judged them to be so (I never mentioned it on this thread, intentionally).

mudandmayhem that is a very difficult question.

I guess it depends on what your state school alternatives are, and if you think there will be a possibility to fund both school and later university (a friend of mine intends to go back to work full time when her DD is at uni just to fund it).

I had assumed that the impact of the fees increase and indeed the economy in general would mean fewer applicants to independent school - but no, it's been a record year.

Certainly DD's secondary school decided to offer a four class entry to year seven to accomodate the extra.

I think the tighter things become in the economy and the more people realise that competition for the few well paid jobs is ever more fierce from applicants from abroad, the more they did in a fund whatever they can.

dig in...whoops

nagy I didn't read your post properly (late/ careless) and see that you were talking about a lucrative post apprenticeship salary, sorry. I'm not sure of the point about 'proper' A levels though, or needing to be sharp to work on the power supply - I don't doubt that you do need to be very switched on (no pun intended) but not sure that I implied that you didn't.

Euphemia do UK students have reciprocal rights in the EU? It isn't something I've looked into.

best thing i ever did was to get a job (a YTS actually - showing my age there ) work my way up and studied part time. company paid all my fees and not only do i have a degree but have passed all of my accountancy qualifications.

there are alternatives, not the easiest way to do it, but i have no debt, and experience to boot.

Without siding with the dreaded Clegg, your kids will actually have longer under this new scheme to pay off their debts than they do now. Going to university is and always was a gamble - you are betting the earnings of now for three years that you can recoup the spend with a future increase in earning power. You are now betting the debt as well. Millions of Americans take this bet every year, to a much higher level than we do; it's normal there to owe half a million on graduation as a doctor. Given how few jobs there will be int he next few years anyway, it looks a good bet to me if you pick your course carefully.