Universities and shizzle.

[Ramar]

I work on Sunday only at Tesco - one day doesn't do much, but I earn £72 quid (time and a half on Sunday, so are a fair few places) just for going in at 8AM-5PM on a Sunday. That's £288 a month.

 

It really does help. So much so I don't even have student loans. :p

 

I agree, I work two nights at Asda. And the money I bring in pays for my travel expenses and rent. And because you're earning you can easily put the loans debt in the back of your mind, silly I know but being skint 24/7 would remind me that my ass belongs to the government.

 

In saying that, it only works in moderation and this semester is the first time I'll have a lesson clash with a sleeping day (day following a night shift). So we'll see how it works, definitly hasn't hindered my grades so far.

[Sheikah]

One thing I will say, work as much as you like in the first year! First year requires something meager like 40% to pass, or 30% with compensation from higher grades. I look back on it and lol...

[Supergrunch]

A piece of advice I'd give everyone is to not work during uni. Its a struggle, but plenty of people do it. Those I know who do work, or at least work a substantial amount, barely make it through with a clean bill of health. Frivolity is key during uni.

I read that post a few hours ago and thought you meant academic work... only just realised what you meant.

 

At Cambridge they actually don't let you get a job.

[Smudge]

Last year (first year) I thought i had it hard, no time for anything, 'how can i get a job with all this work i have to do?' .... then i hit second year.... NOW i have no time, i kind of wish id gotten a job last year, would have made this year easier :S

 

I would advise anyone going into first year to get a job, because it will make your life so much easier for the rest of your degree, when you have no time to work... and no student loans left.

[Twozzok]

Last year (first year) I thought i had it hard, no time for anything, 'how can i get a job with all this work i have to do?' .... then i hit second year.... NOW i have no time, i kind of wish id gotten a job last year, would have made this year easier :S

 

I would advise anyone going into first year to get a job, because it will make your life so much easier for the rest of your degree, when you have no time to work... and no student loans left.

 

But you don't have to pay off your student loans until you start earning £15k a year? It doesn't really effect your life during your time at uni at all as far as I can tell.

[Colin]

But you don't have to pay off your student loans until you start earning £15k a year? It doesn't really effect your life during your time at uni at all as far as I can tell.

But for some of us who don't have divorced parents, the loan just isn't enough. I go along with his recommendation of getting a job in the 1st yr and getting a little money behind you and saving it for the 2nd/3rd year.

[McPhee]

Im not going to university any more, been looking at the new Student finance stuff and they are robbing people blind!

 

Basically by the time i finish my course i'll be in £25k of debt. Thats about £10k more than last time i applied, 3 years ago! For the job i want to do it really, really isn't worth it. I'll just try to make ends meet doing an apprenticeship + lessons + part time job instead...

[Smudge]

The debt students get into these days is ridiculous! But I wouldn't choose to be doing anything else right now. I think its definitely worth it to have a shot at the career i want... even if I'm so far into my overdraft i may be living off pees for the rest of the year :S

[Wesley]

I went to the Bradford Informatics department open day on Wednesday. I was blown away. I had been to Bradford University before on The School of Social & International Studies' open day, so I knew what the University was like and was already impressed.

 

But this Wednesday I was blown away. I am so excited about the Computer Animation course at Bradford. They have Mac and PC suites, all filled with dual-monitors, tablets, work space and the what-not. They have the bog standard software, all industry-leading and what-not. But they have so much more than what I've seen at the other Universities. They have a dedicated motion capture suite (they kind of bragged about that - showed us all the people who have rented it - including Kane and Lynch creators), blues-rooms and.. stuff. They have so much more. But I'm really excited about how involved the University is in Computer Animation and gaming. They're so close with the Game Republic (http://www.gamerepublic.co.uk/sessions.asp?t=c) who I just found out was co-founded and is directed by Charles Cecil (the guy who designed Broken Sword - which is one of my favourite games).

 

If I sound stupidly over-the-moon by the University then forgive me. I'm just so excited about it. None of the other Universities show half as much interest as Bradford do.

[Haver]

I know that feeling Wes!

 

When I was a sixth-former I did a week-long course in Photoshop and Games Design at Doncaster College (mainly to get out of class). The rooms were full of new Macs, new PCs, tablets..then the motion-capture machines, 3d cinema rooms, test labs...at the freakin' college.

 

We had a talk from the guys who made Outrun 2 and I was ready to drop Warwick :P

 

But parents, y'know. Warwick it was.

 

(All the kids there were your typical 17 year old scroats, smokers, drop-outs, etc., just there for the credit. Wasted I guess.)

[Wesley]

Ah, I remember when I went to a specialist music college. It's not until I went there I realised I has matured. Also, a lot of them were very.. erm. Yeah.

 

And Warwick too right! Top University it is!

[Ashley]

Im not going to university any more, been looking at the new Student finance stuff and they are robbing people blind!

 

Basically by the time i finish my course i'll be in £25k of debt. Thats about £10k more than last time i applied, 3 years ago! For the job i want to do it really, really isn't worth it. I'll just try to make ends meet doing an apprenticeship + lessons + part time job instead...

 

Last I head (on facebook...) is starting next year they are giving back £1000 in bursaries for new students. Dunno how true it was, I just joint the facebook group demanding those who started in 06/07 to get their money back.

[Guest Stefkov]

I finally got an email back from what I think is Sheffield. Can anyone make any sense of this?

"The language might be taken as 20 credits a year over two or three years or could be taken as an additional module - this however would have to be paid for as an additional sum to the cost of the degree. Should you wish to apply, please do so through UCAS."

uum... Credits?

I thought this would be simple..¬_¬

[Dan_Dare]

modules are worth credits, and you have to obtain a certian number of credits by the end of each year. Harder modules are worth more.

 

hope that helps

[jayseven]

modules are worth credits, and you have to obtain a certian number of credits by the end of each year. Harder modules are worth more.

 

hope that helps

 

Yeah, what he says ^, it's basically saying you can either choose to have it going towards your 100 credits needed a year for two or three years, thus meaning you'd have one less module block free for other elective modules - modules that you normally choose from a list that are more to do with your course - or you can do it as an 'extra-curricular' module, and pay for it.

 

Shorty is doing the first choice -- studying Japanese and getting credits for it that go towards his host degree. Paying extra might seem ridiculous, but it might be worth having a look at the module list for the 3 years if you can get a hold of it...

[Slaggis]

Does anyone here go to Leeds? If so, is it any good?

[nightwolf]

My tutor told me leeds was great for maths and computing if that helps? He did a masters there I think.

 

Anyway as I said in the how was your day thread, I've given up on sheffield hallam, it's ridiculous that I'm having to wait for game design when I've got games programming from them and doesn't show much enthusiam for it considering I need to get choices sorted plsu accomodation, I'm pissed beyond belief really with them.

 

Not to mention that even though I might not be going I can't even make my choice nor sort any accomdation nor loans until they get back to me through ucas..

 

yeah thanks sheffield..

[Slaggis]

My tutor told me leeds was great for maths and computing if that helps? He did a masters there I think.

 

It's nearish to me, and when I apply to a Uni I'm wondering whether to apply there. A couple of good mates are, but I don't want to apply just because they are. I'm wanting to do Zoology, but even though I like the city, I've got no idea about the uni. Thanks for the help though, 'tis appreciated.

 

--

 

 

Question!

 

When I apply, sometime later this year/early next I won't have completed my biology AS (until the january next year). Will that affect my chance of getting on the course?

[nightwolf]

Ask for a tour ^.^, he told me I'd be able to get in if I tried and I'm only at 240points level, so it must be at least ok ^.^

[Wesley]

When are we meant to be doing the financial stuff by the way... I haven't sorted any of that out yet.

[Guest Stefkov]

Don't you do that once you've got your place at the Uni, like after your results?

 

Cheers for that info J7 and Dan.

[nightwolf]

No you do it once you picked your choice first and second,once it's been sent through ucas then you sort out asap finance and accomdation, you start to sort it as though you are definetly getting those results.

 

That is what I have been told anyway and it makes alot of sense considering how bad it can be to get ahold of money and a place to live.

[Babooo]

BUMP**

 

Guys I need to reply to my offers. After that I've gotta sort out accommodation and shizzle. I'm having trouble deciding which to put down as my firm choice and insurance choice....We can only pick 2 right?

 

Help me!

[jayseven]

well what are your choices? Have you visited any of them? Social aspects good? The town nice? The course decent? Distance from home a problem? etc, etc, etc.

[Guest Stefkov]

You can't ask people on the internet to decide your future. That's just stupid. What jay said though. What are your pros and cons for each place and then you decide.