So, how the hell do you afford uni for your kids?

[F0XCUB88]

Just been looking at prices for accommodation, £200 per week!

So looked at Money Saving Expert to see how much we need to contribute on top of loans. It says we need to save £358 per month.

We earn £50,000 between us, mortgage payment just went up by £££ and now can't actually get to the end of the month so how do we save £358?

Do we just say no she can't go? What do other people do?

I know it's a first world problem but she's really bright. Neither of us went to uni and finding it all a bit confusing. I just can't see that everyone else can afford it?

Yes they are.

Well the partners decide who to retain after qualification. A big part of that is who they get along with since nearly every graduate who comes through the door is smart enough to do the job.

You don't see it do you?

It wasn't so long ago men were saying the same about women entering particular professions.....' I mean, we tried but they just didn't fit in'

It's disgraceful

Hmm. I know some very financially successful people who happened to go to both of those universities. But I think you are partially on the wind up anyway.

maglin I take your point about derailing. But it isn’t irrelevant. The point I was trying to make is that there is a lot of privilege entrenched in the uni system. So for my students coming from families where they are the first to go to uni, they face different challenges from those who have parents who know exactly where to look and how it all works. Accessing finance and working out how to pay for it all is part of that. I’ve been negotiating the finance system for my DD and I’m acutely aware that it’s easier for me cos I’ve been to uni and teach uni students.

I wouldn't bother..some posters love making these threads all about them and their 'superior knowledge'. Most of its absolute bollocks anyway.

She’ll have to get a job or stay at home and commute to the nearest uni like the rest of us did. Uni is her choice, she’s gonna have to contribute to her there. If not next year she’ll have to take a gap year and save like hell for the accommodation etc. sorry to sound harsh but it’s not your burden when she’s going to be an adult making this choice, she’s gonna have to support herself, perhaps with the odd
bit of input from you, but you’ve no other cjoice

Also we are banned from accepting family members of employees so please do apply and don't overlook these summer schemes because you think they're not for your kids. Part of changing involves having enough applications from other backgrounds to sift through. If enough people apply we are more likely to find ones that we like outside of our usual pool.

The proportion is lower compared to a top uni. Also I am not having a laugh unfortunately. I've really not exaggerated. The posters say it's an old boys club and the parents know what to do. Well I'm telling you. Don't turn down an internship that might lead to a good job to shovel fries at McDonald's.

I think intelligent hr people realise there's a world in between.

I know the CS uses blind recruitment. I work in CS Policy in a central Whitehall department. I'm surrounded by Oxbridge/RG graduates regardless. If you go into Ops and the lower grades, there are less Oxbridge/RG graduates though. So it depends on where you end up but I'd argue that for Policy in a central Whitehall department is still very geared towards a certain kind of person.

Unfortunately there are hoops you need to jump through to get a high paying job. Life is easier if you jump through those hoops. It's better to be aware of them early isn't it than to be ignorant. You can play it the hard way and go to Swansea or the University of East Anglia or you can go to a university that is more likely to get you onto one of the competitive schemes.

Clueless.....absolutely clueless!!

No acknowledgment that some people aren't aware of these 'hoops'.

That doesn't make them ignorant, it's just that they come from backgrounds where this isn't the norm and just considering university is a big deal.
The fact that there are different types of university isn't something some groups are even aware of..... again, they aren't ignorant they just don't have that knowledge or experience.

Are these perhaps the same people who are picking unis based on cost rather than long term earning potential?

There's really nothing wrong with Swansea or UEA. Even the kids from non-ignorant families go there!

Cost is a big factor. Obviously if you went to Oxbridge it's very cheap.

At my firm the partners call it the University of Easy Access.

How long ago was that? What were tuition fees like? Which city?

Who cares. The more you say the more I don't believe you do what you say you do anyway, unless you have a day off today.

Don't turn down an internship that might lead to a good job to shovel fries at McDonald's.

It's not quite that simple.
Firstly, lots of internships are unpaid. I work in careers and employability and know that there are still lots of unpaid internships around.
Secondly, they're ultra competitive and those with contacts and informal networks often have a better chance of securing one.
Thirdly, some people 'shovel fries' because they need the money and they need this to be a steady, regular income.

Thank you! I'm working now but will come back to this

intelligent hr people

🤣

Well, OK, you have a point

And all the others, I will read all again later. Thank you, I do feel a lot better about being able to manage it somehow!

Oxymoron

At my firm the partners call it the University of Easy Access.

They sound like dicks.......

Apply for universities in cheap parts of the country: northern England midlands, some east of England and Wales
Only select the cheapest accommodation as options.
Universities do have hardship funds.

Vote whatever opposition party is most likely to beat the conservatives in your constituency in every election from now and hopefully the loans will cover living costs when your children go

Note though that if your children have good practical skills they may be able to make a better living using them than their intellectual skills due to AI. However would be a terrible shame for bright young people to miss out on the university experience.