Right - time to get out your crystal balls

[Allen]

First time in ages I've agreed with every word you've said Vaul!

[Stewart]

First time in ages I've agreed with every word you've said Vaul!

Careful son. Thats how it starts. You agree with me, then find yourself doing it more often, then before you know it, you are posting threads about freestyling on Marrowfat peas.

Take 3 asprin 2 times a day and get plenty of rest.

[yamangman]

Pity it's a load of balls. I work almost every other hour I'm not studying and I barely get by.

[directhex]

Typical student thinking...

And 2.3% for a loan IS low, it's lower than inflation so logically they are giving you money!

2.6%.

and the interest is frozen when you start paying it back, else it's impossible to pay it back for those on less than £19,000 a year

[Galant]

China. China, China, China, China, China.

Oh and something's going to have to happen with the UN - it will either eat some humble pie, get new leadership and become something worth while, or solidify its stance and for once go to war - against the USA.

As for the USA, I think we'll see a few more years of the current situation before the left take over and the happy western world will all hold hands and dance their way into oblivion.

[Tobeman]

This is a hot topic in our 6th form atm, with the majority of my friends intending to carry onto Uni, I just think I dont want to, I mean, yeah you end up with prospects of a very nice job, but in the mean time, your building up this fat debt you have to pay off. Or, you could work your way up through a new career instead of uni, get paid, end up in the black instead of the red after 3-4 years or w/e and probably be in a comfortable job that your settled down in? I know i'd much rather go out and get a job instead of having a pop-tart and a pint for dinner.

Im much more liking the idea of an apprenticeship, or getting involved with a job with some kind of training. Im so much more hands on (but I guess thats my interest in Design & Technology and building PCs rubbing off) - sitting writing essays on logarithms. I mean all for people that want to go off and become scientists, without you we wouldnt be here today no doubt, but I just dont think it appeals to me.

[Reading over that post, it hardly makes sense, but then it fits my stereotypical teenager persona ]

I work some nights after school, and every saturday, I also do odd-jobs for friends of friends like PC servicing and what have you that earns a little bit. I have expensive tastes, and I cant possibly work anymore with my school work being sacrificed but I still find it hard to save.

[Allen]

2.6%.

and the interest is frozen when you start paying it back, else it's impossible to pay it back for those on less than £19,000 a year

It's still better than any opportunities than I'll ever get. I've been working in accounts for over 8 years, much longer than most students will study (2 years for A-Levels, 3-4 years for a Degree), I'm finally in a decent position (supervisor) and I earn less than most students would get on their first job. And any debt that I'm in through my own choice, as well as your debt is your own choice, I have to pay back at stupidly high interest rates! Plus most students have had a better social life, have better clothes and computers, some even have cars, but all they do is moan about unfair loans etc which are normally spent on alcohol.

Obviously this isn't the way all Students live, but definately the majority.

[Spud1]

Pity it's a load of balls. I work almost every other hour I'm not studying and I barely get by.

Exactly, being a student isnt the lazy do nothing life that many people think it is - The first year maybe, but after that...I'm working every hour that I can when not studying just to keep my bank balance near Zero - thats including the loan that we get...Its very rare for students to blow all their money on phones etc etc like you say - and those that do find themselves in huge amounts of debt very quickly...This is why my PC has only just been upgraded for the first time in 2 years - and even then its only because half the parts were free.

And frankly yes education should be free, or at least subsidised. Its free until your 16 - so why not after? Its benefiting the country too, who's going to write the next game? the next groundbreaking piece of software? Who's going to defend you in court (not you personally you understand ) Who's going to teach people to read and write? Whos going to negotiate with terrorists.. etc etc. All the above professions (and much more) are pretty much graduate jobs ( i know there are some exceptions but still..) They all benefit the country as a whole.

I *Chose* to go to uni so that I could get myself a decent job and contribute to society. Why should this be restricted to people with rich parents who can afford to pay out the 20-30k needed to be at uni for 4 years? That was the whole point of the grant system, to allow people from 'average' families to go to university aswell as the rich kids..and now phony blair and his joke of a government is increasing the costs! further alienating people who might well have the potential to go far if given the chance..instead they may well end up working for a supermarket the rest of their life..that doesnt help anyone, least of all themselves. Its soul destroying enough just doing 20hrs a week (on top of 40hrs of study..)

As for the tax point - Your right that is my view on taxes, same as yours is basically saying the same thing but in reverse - sod those who have spent years working damned hard to get to the top of the career ladder, they dont mind giving almost HALF of their wages away each month..geeze bit hypocritical there...The only real solution would be raise the taxes equally accross the wage barrier, but no party will do that.

[Rave]

I say- graduate tax on high earning graduates. You benefit from a degree, you pay more tax as a graduate. If you go on to do a public service type job which doesn't pay that well (e.g. teaching, nursing), then you don't. Seems entirely reasonable to me.

What doesn't seem reasonable is that Blair, Prescott etc. got their degrees for free, and yet expect young people today to pay for theirs. Yeah cheers, you selfish bastards.

[Spud1]

Not a bad idea Rave, I would support that if it were suggested But I seriously doubt theres going to be a reform of the tax structure in the near future

[Auran]

Right here's my rant about Universities and students......

1. Far too many people are going to University to do nonsense degree's, as far as I'm concerned if it's not maths, science or engineering then it ain't a degree. But will conceed that some people might like to study English Literature or other such wierd subjects beyond A-levels, but they should be sent to special places

2. With this drastic reduction in University numbers the government could then afford to pay for all "proper" degree students. Which would be in the countries best interest as all of these students would be doing something of benefit to society

3. "Proper Degree" students would also include Doctors and Vets as they are useful to society. But they still don't do proper degree's - learning by wrote hardly pushes back the boundaries of human understanding does it

4. Yes I do have a proper degree - the first was in Physics / Astrophysics and the second Food Science & Engineering

[Auran]

I say- graduate tax on high earning graduates. You benefit from a degree, you pay more tax as a graduate. If you go on to do a public service type job which doesn't pay that well (e.g. teaching, nursing), then you don't. Seems entirely reasonable to me.

So Doctors and Vets that end up with well paid jobs, but rack up an obscene debt getting there and provide a public service should pay more in tax.

Poppycock I say In fact, what about engineers and scientists that go on to do work that benefits society - should they pay more tax; NO.

But I am with you on namby pamby arts students etc. that go on to work in media or become journalists. They should pay loads more tax

What doesn't seem reasonable is that Blair, Prescott etc. got their degrees for free, and yet expect young people today to pay for theirs. Yeah cheers, you selfish bastards.

Prescott has got a degree I'd have thought that the only way he could get one was if it was honourary

[directhex]

You can count on it mate... well, from me anyway.



Ah, so it’s a case of 'pull the ladder up Jack and sod the rest'? Happy for high earners to pay taxes to fund your greasy student existence, but not so keen to pay up your own taxes when you are earning?



Very amusing.

You *chose* to go to Uni, where you will be educated to a very high standard, probably getting the qualifications you need to walk into a 30k a year job at some stage, whilst eating Rice Crispies from the box, watching 15-to-1 and generally being a studenty student, and then call the fact that *shock, horror* you might have to *pay* for all this education, 'victimisation'.

So, you want what, exactly? Free education, then you walk into a 30k job, the Uni says 'thank you very much for honouring us with your presence' and you have it away on your toes?

Perhaps if, as seems to be the norm, students didn't tend to spend their grants on a new mobile phone and 700 packets of maltesers, 38 JD and Cokes and an Ant Farm with digital camera built in, you'd be in a better position.

If you think you are being victimised, then drop out and go and work in the local chippy for minimum wage.

Bloody students...

****ING STUDENT SWINE!

i say start early - charge £4,000 a year for first school, from age 4. anyone who doesn't pay up made that choice, and isn't gonna be able to walk into a cushy £12k a year job

[Stewart]

****ING STUDENT SWINE!

i say start early - charge £4,000 a year for first school, from age 4. anyone who doesn't pay up made that choice, and isn't gonna be able to walk into a cushy £12k a year job

Witty.

[Nick F]

Ant Farm with digital camera built in

Bloody students...

Was that a reference to me? I am a student and I gotta say its been the best and most relaxing years of my life. I think if I did all my work I have done together it would only take about a month.

[directhex]

Witty.

you disagree? i wouldn't give the bastards an inch, if they want education thyey can damn well pay for it