Babooo Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Going to see Cardiff Uni on Wednesday as there's an open day for those who have got offers there. Really can't be bothered to make the journey from London to Cardiff but I think its really important to actually see the place you're spending the next 3 years of your life. Its like for the Aston Uni open day. It sounded really cool in the prospectus but you have to see the uni for real, the local area etc. I didn't find it that great (it was ok ish) but I feel so much better having seen it for myself. Anyway, after seeing Cardiff Uni on Wednesday, I have to go to the Oxford Brookes open day (on the 30th Jan). Heard alot of good things about this uni but it is my reserve choice so I'll see how it goes. BTW, when do we have to reply to the offers that we've received so far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stefkov Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I think it's May you have to reply to all your offers. Says it on the UCAS website somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Hull's a pretty good uni. You're going to be a in a ton of debt wherever you go - just chose the uni you like the best! Yeah...I like most of them which makes it a bit harder though. Hull is good uni, so it really depends on factors such as accomodation, and plus I really like the course there. With KCL and Queen Marys...they're both in the top 12 for English but I'm not sure if I like the course as much. Bard: Only difference with London financially is that accomodation costs about double and alcohol is slighty more expensive (vastly so in clubs). The loan gets increased to cover the accomodation prices of London anyway and it has a far more varied nightlife than Hull Students could ever hope to have. Problem is, I'm not sure I'll be eligible for a loan, and my family also wants me to work to pay for any luxuries (they consider booze a luxury, the bastards). It's times like this that I hate having rich parents. How do you go about finding out/ choosing where you're gonna stay? Hope it's not on a random basis...I'll freak if I get roomed with retards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Yeah...I like most of them which makes it a bit harder though. Hull is good uni, so it really depends on factors such as accomodation, and plus I really like the course there. With KCL and Queen Marys...they're both in the top 12 for English but I'm not sure if I like the course as much. Problem is, I'm not sure I'll be eligible for a loan, and my family also wants me to work to pay for any luxuries (they consider booze a luxury, the bastards). It's times like this that I hate having rich parents. How do you go about finding out/ choosing where you're gonna stay? Hope it's not on a random basis...I'll freak if I get roomed with retards. What sort of loan are you talking about? Means tested loan/grant, or the typical student loan? Because everyone is entitled to the latter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 O rly? Sounds good. I may have found a loophole. So do most of you that are at uni work or you planning on paying your loans off afterwards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twozzok Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Don't have to pay it off until you earn >£15k Even then it's something ridiculous like 9% of the money earned above 15k :/ EDIT: IE, if you earn £20k a year, that's £5k over £15k. So you pay the 9% of £5k, which is something ridiculous small like £450 a year :/ Or a tenner a week :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 O rly? Sounds good. I may have found a loophole. So do most of you that are at uni work or you planning on paying your loans off afterwards? Well it's financially viable to live off of the lone.. sorry, I mean SCRAPE a living off of it... I'm planning on getting a job now, 2nd year 2nd semester. Plenty of people get a job the first semester of the first year. Key is saving if you do get a job. As for paying it all off... Don't have to pay it off until you earn >£15k Even then it's something ridiculous like 9% of the money earned above 15k :/ EDIT: IE, if you earn £20k a year, that's £5k over £15k. So you pay the 9% of £5k, which is something ridiculous small like £450 a year :/ I was told it's not 'til I earn 20k that I have to pay it, but yeah it's miniscule. I was told it was something like £8 a week. But all my loans added together... well it comes to a nice £18k debt that I'll pay off in a couple of hundred years. It's a bit crappy, really. I don't know. I just don't bother worrying about it, to be honest. Fuck money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portlett Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 im in my 3rd year now and for some reason this year I seem to be much more skint so im thinking of getting a job of somesort, onky problem is I have other commitments such as lots of uni work, band etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twozzok Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Oh god, I just realised... What should I wear to my interview at york on wednesday? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nintendohnut Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Unless it is stated as a formal interview (mine was basically a friendly chat with the head of department) then just wear whatever you like. If it is formal, as in people asking you alone questions then probably best to wear a suit/something smart. Also in reply to the Bard - yeah if you go for uni accommodation the you get put with people randomly. Of course you will also meet people on your course, but in freshers week (and therefore usually for the first year) people who live with you will be good friends. And yes, you may get some freaks, but you don't have to talk to them :P We have two Chinese people in our flat of 8 who we basically never talk to, but who constantly mess up the kitchen. Just have to live with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Oh god, I just realised... What should I wear to my interview at york on wednesday? Just go in casual clothes, I don't think they'll expect anything formal, especially since all my oxbridge mates went in casual clothes too. I decided that if I got an interview, I was gonna go in a Paradise Lost t-shirt . Didn't happen though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haver Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The loan is plenty. I have something like £70 a week for bills/food etc. after £55 rent. I wore a suit to Queen Mary's. I felt like such a goon. It was the only interview I had and it was a filler choice really but I wanted to go to London for the first time. Me on the train with my oversized jacket! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zell Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Is there enough time to have a part-time job during term time? I've had my part-time job at Tesco since I started my A levels and it didn't really make me struggle in terms of keeping up with work. Although it has eaten up my social time a bit, I'm earning almost £300 a month, which is awesome and so getting this amount of money when I'm at uni would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Just go in casual clothes, I don't think they'll expect anything formal, especially since all my oxbridge mates went in casual clothes too. I decided that if I got an interview, I was gonna go in a Paradise Lost t-shirt . Didn't happen though good! It's like someone wearing a picasso t-shirt to an interview for an art placement... Try finding a Zola and you'll be away! Is there enough time to have a part-time job during term time? I've had my part-time job at Tesco since I started my A levels and it didn't really make me struggle in terms of keeping up with work. Although it has eaten up my social time a bit, I'm earning almost £300 a month, which is awesome and so getting this amount of money when I'm at uni would be great. Yeah there is :P depending on the course, of, er, course. My course is 7 hours a week, 3 days off plus weekends... I really ought to have a job I guess. 300 a month would be, what, 18-20 hours or something? If you find a job that's flexible enough then I'm sure you could do it, so long as you manage your actual reading work at the same time. It'll need to be flexible because your timetable will vary semester to semester. Perhaps don't aim for too many hours a week because you will want to socialise, you will want to chill out and, even though you won't want to, you will be required to do your own secondary reading/do essays (i imagine). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I never bothered with working during uni. The loan was more than enough to cover everything I wanted to do. It's worth having whether you work or not though imo, you'll never get your hands on cheaper money and the payback system means that you don't notice the payments when they do start coming out. I only pay something ridiculous like £80 a month on mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackfox Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Finally had a Tutorial lesson. We learnt of the monee that will be going into Uni stuff..Oh dear. Here it is for you: Fee of course - £3145 You will never see it, it goes straight to the Uni. Maintenance Loan - £4625 which you'll get 75% no matter what and the remaining 25% is given to you depending on your household income. Maintenance grant - £2835 Scholarship/grant from Uni - £various Might get it if you got very high grades or you might get it if you have a low household income. Total of £10604. ish. That's what I copied down and if it's true if any people at Uni can back this up then this is gonna be a challenge. I get less than that. As long as you're not a complete goon and blow loads a week (like me!) then you'll be alright. If you want luxeries like games and consoles and shit then you'll need to look to Natwest and get an overdraft or work. Oh god, I just realised... What should I wear to my interview at york on wednesday? I wore a suit, but it depends on the course I reckon. More arty courses won't expect you to look especially smart, more formal ones will. Is there enough time to have a part-time job during term time? I've had my part-time job at Tesco since I started my A levels and it didn't really make me struggle in terms of keeping up with work. Although it has eaten up my social time a bit, I'm earning almost £300 a month, which is awesome and so getting this amount of money when I'm at uni would be great. It depends on how many hours you're course is. I don't have any time for a job so I just sit back on the loan/overdraft combo, see what its like after a few weeks of uni to see if you'll cope.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Odwin Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I never bothered with working during uni. The loan was more than enough to cover everything I wanted to do. It's worth having whether you work or not though imo' date=' you'll never get your hands on cheaper money and the payback system means that you don't notice the payments when they do start coming out. I only pay something ridiculous like £80 a month on mine.[/quote'] All depends on what the rest of your wage is going on. I'd love to not be paying mine back as my budget is just a stress fest. When I got my loan statement this year the interest added was very similar to the amount paid off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 True but I'd imagine most graduates don't have a massive amount of outgoings and have more than likely learnt some pretty good money-management skills while at uni. Maybe if I had the money in my bank account and then it went out I'd miss it more but as I never see it I just consider it an extra bit of tax. After ridiculous rent, bills, food, transport and the occasional leasure activity the student loan payment really isn't a great deal of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haver Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The only function of getting a part-time job is to pay-as-you-go. You don't need that money unless you live an excessive lifestyle. I mean £70 a week on food and bills? £10 on bills, if that. £30 on shopping. That's £30+ for spends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I really think it depends on where your Uni is based as to whether the loan amount is enough. Average rent prices per week around Herts is £70 or so, and that doesn't include any bills. I struggle money wise, lets just say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I think it's May you have to reply to all your offers. Says it on the UCAS website somewhere. BTW, when do we have to reply to the offers that we've received so far? It was May when I did it last year. Don't worry about it, they'll email you and text you closer to the time reminding you. And about student loans, I plan on paying mine back as soon as I turn 21 as I've got money in a trust account I get access to when I turn 21 and then after that I won't take a loan out for the next year but just take money from that account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightwolf Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 It tends to be get them in before feb and you get a reply before may or if you reply just before may you may have to wait til june. I was reading something the other day about it. Either way get it in early so you can sort out places to live and finance =] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twozzok Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 Haha, so I just plain didn't like york. It was a bit meh'ish. With Kent and Essex I just got the feel I'd like the place, but York was a tad shit :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightwolf Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Got a voice message from stafford uni this afternoon asking me why I wasn't at the open day. So I'm going to say that I couldn't make it, and to see what they say, I'll have to also tell them that right now stafford uni isn't where I want to be.. funfun.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twozzok Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 Considering you can really only really pick 2 places you'd wanna go, who cares what they think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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