DH is limiting Y12 DC to universities in the north due to ££££

[BatteredHonda]

DC is in Y12 and wants to apply to KCL, Bristol and Exeter - alongside other unis. DC will qualify for minimum maintenance loan and we are therefore expected to top up/pay the accommodation. We struggle to make ends meet as it is so DH has said DC canNOT apply to southern unis - let alone London ones. He is recommending Leicester, Newcastle, Swansea, Belfast etc instead. DC is furious but I do get where DH coming from. What are your thoughts?

There were a few students in my year at medical school who were sponsored by the armed forces. I'm not sure exactly how it worked but presumably they had to commit to serve for a certain number of years after qualification in exchange for financial support whilst they were students.
I have absolutely no idea if this still happens, or if it is available for more general degrees rather than vocational degrees but it might be worth looking into if your DS is sure he wants to go down the military route as it might make some places that are currently out of reach financially become realistic options.
I can see both sides of the argument. Ideally you would, I am sure, want him to go to the best University for his course, but you can't give him money that you don't have, so it's pointless people ranting at you!

If he plays cricket my workmate's son got paid for playing cricket for a local team while at uni so maybe he could look into that. And agree lifeguarding is well paid. Put his sporting ability to good use!

I'd also like to agree with all the PPs that said flipping burgers is highly regarded when applying for graduate jobs. Knocks the edges off new graduates and teaches them a work ethic. And doesn't McDonads have quite a good training programme if you can stick out the hard work at the beginning.

It’s no oxbridge (although it’s one of the best for forensics) or Russell’s group but to much stock is put on uni reputation and unless it’s a big name like an oxbridge, LSE Durham etc then it often doesn’t make a difference and if it’s a means to and end of getting a 2.1 to get into the military as an officer then Lincoln is more than good enough and it puts you close to RAF cranwell, has the UAS so the opportunity there is pretty good.

as a place to live it’s a growing city, but still is a smaller city, and pricing wise it’s a lot more affordable than most places. Plenty of weekend work in bars, restaurants etc.

Plus it’s a beautiful city.

if you haven’t been go on a day trip when the do an open day and I’m sure you will love it - just be prepaid to be out of breath waking up steep hill

Just looked at the link and personally I don't think its accurate, I have one DC at Portsmouth and one about to go to Lincoln. The guide says Lincoln is cheaper than Portsmouth it's not.
So take it with a pinch of salt and do your own research.
If you can top up to maximum maintenance Ioan they should be OK but if they go somewhere more expensive they may need a summer job to save up a buffer or have part time job at uni- although this can make up hard to come home during holidays so better to have savings before they go.
My DD has lowest maintenance loan and we pay her rent which is equivalent to her getting max maintenance loan and she's fine. It's important to pick a course that's right for them and a uni environment that suits them.
Tell them how much you can contribute and do a budget with them, then let them decide

@Scepticalwotsits my brother has just moved to Grantham so I will send DS up to visit at Easter and urge him to check out Lincoln uni. Thank you

This may be way out of date, but a friends husband was an RAF cadet they covered his costs at uni, engineering degree.

If your son is planning on a career in the armed forces he should see if something like this is possible - history could be something they'd cover.

If it isn't an option to get sponsorship by armed force's he should try to get a uni with a good reputation, particularly if he changes his mind about army/police career. Unfortunately status of uni counts for employability for Arts graduates.

Overall living costs will be cheaper in Lincoln than Portsmouth - so when you look at the total cost not just fees.

Plus Lincoln has a lot of fully serviced high end student apartments, which cost a fortune but if you don’t go in these the rents are a hell of a lot more affordable

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/search/undergraduate/history?pg=4

History ranking. You may to scroll down quite a bit......

Anyway, apologies for the tone. But please, your ds knows exactly where is good academically. The unis your dh has picked out are very weak academically. If he changes his mind about officer training going somewhere far lower in reputation than his ability could end up being a waste of money. All unis are not equal.

Armed forces sponsorship is still a thing. Nephew got sponsored through an economics degree a couple of years ago. Was in the cadets and had to give them I think it was 6 weeks in the summer holidays. Has now passed out of Sandhurst. Before anyone starts he went to a state secondary.

I am amazed that armed forces might sponsor a history degree. Get that they might do Medicine/STEM. DS has no experience of whatever the private schools do though - cadets? Just plays sport. But will get him to look into it. Assume he would have to choose between RAF/Army/Marines now though - how best to do that?

@EwwSprouts congrats to your nephew! Wonderful! But you say he (although at state school like my DS) was in cadets? My son’s school never offered that

Lincoln so ranked top 10 for student satisfaction.

i think unless you are going on to do a post grad or a research based job then focusing purely on reputation and academic elements missed a key part of what university is about. Yea networking is key but also it’s a place for a young person to really find out about themselves, to see what kind of person they are and want to be, and also learn to live with others who may not have the same values and views and gives a good sense of how to navigate the world.

the nightlife, the atmosphere and how much they enjoy where the live and go to uni are a huge part of that.

I could have gone to the university of hull which for what I did was far better academically than Northumbria. However the campus and the city I just didn’t gel with unlike Newcastle.

Also being out of uni for over 12 years and with what I do now is nothing like what I did my degree in, and I have worked for a few ftse 100 and 250 companies and large private equity firms so I think the reputation of going to a uni that was an old polytechnic hasn’t held me back.

also as much as I hate saying it, these days the value of a degree has been eroded and most employers treat it as a check box if you have one.

if you are wanting to work at a blue chip company or get into a much sought after graduate scheme in the city then yes reputation will still count for something but I would probabl let guess most people who went to uni in the last 15 -20 years are probably not doing anything related to their degree as a job

My friends son is being sponsored by the armed forces, medicine though

Casey’s is probably a bit to late now if uni is next year as it’s usually from about 13-18 depending on the branch.

most have separate squadrons in most cities and towns. However some schools (even state) will have a combined cadet force.

however even choosing one doesn’t lock you out. I was an air cadet for a number of years and of the handful that went onto join the military most actually joined the navy.

Edit:Cadets

He was paid while doing his A levels as well but I think that's because he's passed to start as an officer when he's finished uni

Please let your son choose the Unis that are highest ranked/ best for job prospects. These are often London ones. He may change his mind on an army career, so going to a place which is internationally renowned may help him get onto a prestigious grad scheme more easily. The financial investment of you supporting him above the max loan may therefore be worth it if he manages to land a prestigious job through going to a top uni.

also if he goes abroad in the future, where he goes to uni may make a difference to job prospects. Oxbridge, LSE, UCL,Kings are more recognisable than Newcastle, Essex or Swansea.

@BatteredHonda
No! Not exactly. But she kept busy!

At university DD was chair of a society which was allied to her subject. She chaired a faculty Ball committee and organised a ball. She did do 2 weeks work experience in a solicitors - who paid her. She then decided she didn’t want to be a solicitor. She wanted to be a barrister. Part of her course was the year abroad and that’s a great experience too. She sang in a choir and did professional performances.

She volunteered for the National Trust in her vacations and they were brilliant. She then did 10 mini pupillages as this was important when wanting to be a barrister. So she was very busy but not earning. When training to be a barrister she volunteered for the cab. She earns very well now and is a barrister. She went to university of Bristol. All her friends from there are doing well. None has had problems getting a great career and not one worked or flipped burgers as a 17 year old.

Being good at your job and making the most of university is not just about paid work. It’s about plotting your career path and doing what you need to do. If DS does history he needs to think pretty early on “what after history? and plan. Going to the best university for career prospects should be of interest to his dad!

DD2 did not work in term time either but worked in vacations in a shop.

Bristol university has an excellent navy unit, air squadron, and officer training corps. I wasn't involved but knew people who were who went on to work in the forces after graduating. Might be worth looking into and considering. I imagine other universities have similar units

That's up to your son to sort out, not your husband.

Have you told your son this is what you're going to do? He can then make an informed choice as to what to do.

@BatteredHonda
I was answering something you asked pages ago! It’s moved on!

I am going to have to say that @titchy is right. It’s vital that he goes to the best university possible for history. Forget student satisfaction. Employers don’t care! They actually might wonder why a DS who had the A levels to have got into, say, Exeter went to Lincoln instead. They will think he coasted. Didn’t push himself. Wasn’t ambitious. If he wanted to be a barrister, Lincoln would be pretty much a non starter. As you can see, other careers don’t care. He might care though! Just make up his money to max loan and leave the rest to him.

But @TizerorFizz - you may have missed this - DS wants to go into armed forces or police after graduation. They just want a 2.1 - uni or degree doesn’t matter much.

@Goldpaw - yes we’ve told him we will top up. But he is a bright boy and knows we have to guarantee his accommodation in years 2 and 3. DH fears he won’t get a job to make up shortfall - with some justification

although DH has discovered Wolverhampton do and is raving about cheap accommodation there

Your DS isn't going to want Wolverhampton with Bristol and KCL on his list.

History is a good degree. It's well respected.

He'll have enough time for a pt job.