education for the rich only? (1 Viewer)

[doe]

more and more as i meet people who are smarter than me who dont have degrees, the only reason i can see is they came from working class or econmically depressed backgrounds. i used to think degrees were relatively free for people smart enough to get HECS places. you can defer your fees and pay them back when you can afford to. but i dont think its that simple. when you add in living costs, textbooks, daily transport, food bills etc, uni fees are only a fraction of the costs. even if i defer my uni fees, a fortnight of youth allowance + rent assitance would barely cover one weeks rent, not even including food, bills and transport and god forbid the ultimately luxury of a book to read.

seems to me uni is more and more only becoming an option for those whose parents can provide free room and board, or those who can work enough hours to support themselves to the detriment of their studies. i realise that a lot of students are lazy and are hardly harworking and earnest (i know i used to be like that), but i do believe if they are smart enough they should be given the chance. i really think its a big problem that will affect australia over the long term. people whinge and moan about the baby boomers retiring and the affect that will have on society and welfare but do nothing to ensure future generations (i.e. us) can do anything about it.

 

[neo o]

more and more as i meet people who are smarter than me who dont have degrees, the only reason i can see is they came from working class or econmically depressed backgrounds.

Either that or they were lazy and dropped out and/or deferred.

i used to think degrees were relatively free for people smart enough to get HECS places. you can defer your fees and pay them back when you can afford to.

Correct.

but i dont think its that simple.

Oh dear.

when you add in living costs, textbooks, daily transport, food bills etc, uni fees are only a fraction of the costs. even if i defer my uni fees, a fortnight of youth allowance + rent assitance would barely cover one weeks rent, not even including food, bills and transport

Are you staying at the Ritz? One weeks youth allowance pays for my rent and full board. ($205 a week) which in itself is rather pricey. Obviously you need to look for shared accom, or perhaps just learn how to manage your money.

god forbid the ultimately luxury of a book to read.

Libraries rock.

seems to me uni is more and more only becoming an option for those whose parents can provide free room and board, or those who can work enough hours to support themselves to the detriment of their studies.

You're getting 350-430 a fortnight on youth allowance. If you flipped burgers for 10 hours a week, which would in no way affect your studies youd be getting nearly $500. Get off you arse, get into shared accom, get a job, and stop whining.

i realise that a lot of students are lazy and are hardly harworking and earnest (i know i used to be like that), but i do believe if they are smart enough they should be given the chance.

If you can't pay for your accom with youth allowance, you obviously AREN'T SMART.

Grow up man, how old are you? If you're really that hard up universities offer bursaries as well as scholarships (as natstar suggested). Grow some balls, get a job (about 10 hours a week) and you'll be fine.

 

[baker182]

students have it tough, hugs for everyone

 

[doe]

Either that or they were lazy and dropped out and/or deferred.

nope. i know plenty of people who shouldve gone to uni but didnt becuase they couldnt support themselves

Are you staying at the Ritz? One weeks youth allowance pays for my rent and full board. ($205 a week) which in itself is rather pricey. Obviously you need to look for shared accom, or perhaps just learn how to manage your money.
You're getting 350-430 a fortnight on youth allowance. If you flipped burgers for 10 hours a week, which would in no way affect your studies youd be getting nearly $500. Get off you arse, get into shared accom, get a job, and stop whining.

If you can't pay for your accom with youth allowance, you obviously AREN'T SMART.

Grow up man, how old are you? If you're really that hard up universities offer bursaries as well as scholarships (as natstar suggested). Grow some balls, get a job (about 10 hours a week) and you'll be fine.

chill out dude.

im 25 and ive finished uni. when i was still at uni i looked at youth allowance. ~$400 a fortnight is $200 a week. i could pay $100/week for a room in a house near my uni living with 10 others. this was the best accomodation i could find that wasnt an hours commute from uni. that leaves $100 a week for food, bills, transport. i eat very simply and my food bill per week is $75. so ive got $25 left per week to pay for anything else.

anyway, im not talking about myself as i got a hecs position and my parents gave me free room and board. my point is, i know a lot of people who wouldve gone to uni if their parents couldve provided the same support, but didnt really see living in poverty and accumulating a large debt for 3+ years as a good choice. some do, but most dont, and i think it will have long term consequences.

 

[Atticus.]

more and more as i meet people who are smarter than me who dont have degrees, the only reason i can see is they came from working class or econmically depressed backgrounds. i used to think degrees were relatively free for people smart enough to get HECS places. you can defer your fees and pay them back when you can afford to. but i dont think its that simple. when you add in living costs, textbooks, daily transport, food bills etc, uni fees are only a fraction of the costs. even if i defer my uni fees, a fortnight of youth allowance + rent assitance would barely cover one weeks rent, not even including food, bills and transport and god forbid the ultimately luxury of a book to read.

seems to me uni is more and more only becoming an option for those whose parents can provide free room and board, or those who can work enough hours to support themselves to the detriment of their studies. i realise that a lot of students are lazy and are hardly harworking and earnest (i know i used to be like that), but i do believe if they are smart enough they should be given the chance. i really think its a big problem that will affect australia over the long term. people whinge and moan about the baby boomers retiring and the affect that will have on society and welfare but do nothing to ensure future generations (i.e. us) can do anything about it.

welcome to the real world my friend

 

[doe]

lets imagine we are the current governement. what would you do to fix it?

 

[LeftrightOut]

lets imagine we are the current governement. what would you do to fix it?

Make everyone attend one year of vocational education to give them a better clue as to what they want to do in their lives.

 

[iamsickofyear12]

Uni is expensive. Even with all the support that there is avaliable. But it comes down to the fact that theres not enough spare cash lying around to just make it free.

 

[iambored]

I eat very simply and my food bill per week is about $30. Lucky for me, water, gas, and electicity are included in my rent

you seem to have everything down pat. $30 is great for a week, considering you could get about 3 lunches of uni food with that money.

 

[table for 1]

the world revolves around money.

the end.

 

[neo o]

you seem to have everything down pat. $30 is great for a week, considering you could get about 3 lunches of uni food with that money.

Food can be so inexpensive. IF I wasn't living on college I'd end up spending about $10 a fortnight on just breakfast. i.e. Weetbix, milk and fruit.

 

[ameh]

I guess you have to budget wisely and shop around

 

[Xayma]

Exactly. I have had chicken burgers the last few weeks they cost me under $2 a meal to cook including rolls, lettuce etc. Breakfast is also cheap, lunch is also cheap.

Keeping in mind the average Australian eats ALOT more meat then they need and not enough vegetables/fruit, it isnt hard to stay cheap.

 

[hipsta_jess]

Fruit and vegies can be rather expensive too, though.

 

[Xayma]

Compared to meat they are quite cheap. If you were to buy in bulk at a supermarket it would be quite alot cheaper.

 

[ameh]

Yeah go to a fruit market like what natstar said, even flemington.

 

[neo o]

Last time I was in Sydney, I was out with my girlfriends parents and I bought stacks of fruit from their local grocer and took it back south with me because it was so damn cheap.

 

[Shuter]

anyway, im not talking about myself as i got a hecs position and my parents gave me free room and board. my point is, i know a lot of people who wouldve gone to uni if their parents couldve provided the same support, but didnt really see living in poverty and accumulating a large debt for 3+ years as a good choice. some do, but most dont, and i think it will have long term consequences.

Going to uni =/= smart.

You said smart people still have trouble. No they don't, they have ample assistance such as:

Scholarships
Youth Allowance
Rent Assistance

All of these usually have clauses/sectoins SPECIFICALLY to help people in financial difficulty. Also, lets not mention how easy it is to go to uni if you're [part] aboriginal.

In addition to this you can easily work part time for additional income (up to $250/fortnight and still receieve full youth allowance i believe).

So yeah, peple from financial difficulty MAY have things a little tougher, but of course, this is the way things should be. If there was no advantage to being rich why would anyone work?

 

[neo o]

Personally, I think I'm better off than my friends who have rich parents. They may have cars, but I spend my money how I want it to be spent.

 

[braindrainedAsh]

Scholarships
Youth Allowance
Rent Assistance

Why do I get none of these and instead am working 3 jobs? I am poor, had to move from home, hence uni is bloody expensive. Bloody Liberal government!

The university experience is significantly easier if you have wealth. It is more of a struggle for those without a lot of wealth, but is not unreachable, it just depends on how determined you are to get a university education. There are a lot of rich people at uni just for the sake of it..... you will find most people who are not rich are at uni because they really want to be. For those from communities living in poverty then it is very difficult, not only to achieve the results to get in to courses, but to finance uni.

But unfortunately money makes the world go round.... that's the way it goes.