Just to let you know...

[TashyG]

I will stand up if they do because this sort of chat flowed this way from car tests to amateur robbery. I will get stu to ask somebody to have this thread split somehow or other so no moans.

I know you did

thank you Paulie!!

c0cky (literally *ahem*flaskbacks of photos*ahem*) b@stard!

 

[The Negotiator]

haha, watch it, I won't be able to stick up for any of your dirty smut, leave that to PM

 

[TashyG]

haha, watch it, I won't be able to stick up for any of your dirty smut, leave that to PM

ok ok *goes to PM*

 

[The Negotiator]

She did aswell!

 

[Dr_Pepper]

First of all someone said they stalled three times and still passed, how? That's ridiculous now I'm real cross. I failed my first test with two minors and a major for hesitating too long when overtaking a milk float. How was that more serious than wasting time by stalling THREE TIMES and proving your incompetance? I was slowed up by a matter of milliseconds while stalling wastes time and annoys everybody behind. THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!! NOW I'M PISSED OFF!!!

For the record I passed second time with 4 minors, thereby making more mistakes on the test I passed than the one I failed. I don't think it makes any difference whether you passed first time or fifth to be honest - it's certainly something to boast about though for you guys who did pass 1st time. more important I think is whether you crash into anyone or not. Overall I think the test should be a lot harder especially if someone can STALL THREE TIMES AND STILL PASS!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!

 

[TashyG]

First of all someone said they stalled three times and still passed, how? That's ridiculous now I'm real cross. I failed my first test with two minors and a major for hesitating too long when overtaking a milk float. How was that more serious than wasting time by stalling THREE TIMES and proving your incompetance? I was slowed up by a matter of milliseconds while stalling wastes time and annoys everybody behind. THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!! NOW I'M PISSED OFF!!!

For the record I passed second time with 4 minors, thereby making more mistakes on the test I passed than the one I failed. I don't think it makes any difference whether you passed first time or fifth to be honest - it's certainly something to boast about though for you guys who did pass 1st time. more important I think is whether you crash into anyone or not. Overall I think the test should be a lot harder especially if someone can STALL THREE TIMES AND STILL PASS!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!

:yeahthat:

if i stalled three times i would expect to fail!!!

 

[The Negotiator]

I wasn't out of control at any point, anybody can stall. I wasn't incompetent, just had a bad few moments, BOD helped me out

I didn't think hesistation caused a major?

 

[The Negotiator]

Oh I did expect to, hence the rest of the drive was good and probably saved me.

 

[TashyG]

so if i go in thinking im gonna fail then i will pass?

 

[Dr_Pepper]

Well yes it is and I've got the sheet to prove it - they can give minors too but he gave me a major. It was a fair cop, I did hesitate too long. But staying behind the milkfloat was definately the safe thing to do - overtaking it was the dangerous move! There's no way it was dangerous in any way shape or form. Neither is stalling I know but I think it demonstrates serious incompetance - not one but three times JESUS DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK THAT'S MAD?!!!!!!!

fek me - i get £2,665 for the WHOLE year - how the hell does President Blair expect me to live off that???

He doesn't he expects you to get off your ass and get a part time job either during the summer or during term time. I think the student loan is very generous. I get the £3000 which I thought was the minimum, So far I've got £5000 earning intrest in the bank plus enough money to get through the rest of the year through working for Argos in the summer. I don't get any help from my parents (because I don't need it).

 

[black_cinq]

I'l bring this thread back from the gutter...

Congrats on passing, i passed second time too

 

[TashyG]

fek me - i get £2,665 for the WHOLE year - how the hell does President Blair expect me to live off that???

well bearing in mind hes not the President....

EDIT - just been informed this was a joke *not to self - read threads properly*

but yeah cease the trashing....Congrats!!!

 

[KirstyTL]

Congratualtions!!!

I'm starting driving lessons next week I think

 

[The Negotiator]

Richard, I believe uni costs 6.5-7k a year, correct? Assuming you have no support from your parents except outside of term time where they provide you with free accommodation and board that is.

THe loan is 3k, if you work through the summer at around 3 months and claim back any tax, the average job should make you around £2200 (at 180/week). THat leaves you with a fairly big difference in the calculated living costs doesn't it? SO then you're left with having to work during term time and other holidays (losing time for revision and hence doing worse than you could do with your degree).

The PM does ask too much, another 1-2k would help out. I think it's a farce because it assumes you have some form of financial support from your parents which is unfair on the people who don't.

 

[The Negotiator]

Oh and for the record, I would have failed myself on my particular drive, however, I assume the majority of my driving was of a high standard. I obviously don't know if that's the case on your test but I know once I had messed up I relaxed and did very well.

 

[black_cinq]

Oh and for the record, I would have failed myself on my particular drive, however, I assume the majority of my driving was of a high standard. I obviously don't know if that's the case on your test but I know once I had messed up I relaxed and did very well.

i think the only reason second time passers MAY be better drivers is when people go into their first test they're not exactly sure of the standard neccessary. Also if you fail your going to work extra hard and maybe take more lessons in between to make you more confident and better driver. Therefore a second time passer may have more experience purely because they dont want to fail and may have been at test standard for a while but they want to be perfect so they are certain they will pass.

On my first test i'd only been driving 4 months and had 19 hours of tuition - 10 lessons (i had two hour lessons appart from my first which was an hour starter lesson) I was not ready to pass and am glad i didnt as i wouldnt have had the confidence to drive any distance by myself.

I had my next test 4 months later (i had no further lessons but had my own car) and passed with flying colours - i was more than ready to pass but had put off taking my test because i didnt want to fail. After id been driving a week i had the confidence to drive to nottingham (40 miles from me) on my own. That proved to myself that i was ready to pass.

sorry about the essay

 

[Dr_Pepper]

Well to start with I'm starting to worry about you. Do you know my mum?! Actually my parents do not give me free board and accomodation at home.

Firstly I'd like to say that I'm not suggesting everybody will or should do what I did. I'm just pointing out that it is perfectly possible to support yourself with a basic summer job and the student loan. Right maths time.
Where do you get £6k a year from? Personally I pay £1125 (or is it £1250?) tuition fees to the university, plus £50 a week to live here for nine months. That's £1800. I also pay to stay at home for the other three months, but excluding that the cost of uni to me is £3000 plus food. Not £7.5k or £6k.

At Argos I worked for £5.50 an hour 40 hour week for 15 weeks. That's £3300. I also worked every overtime shift available (well most anyway)at time and a half and every seventh day I could manage at double time. I also did three weeks of nightshift at time and a half. Altogether I made about £4500.

That is/was enough money to get through the year at uni and not have to get a part time job here (which I don't believe is too difficult anyway there is plenty of spare time). But regardless I don't work at all during term (hence FF addiction) and moreover I don't use any of the student loan. I have taken it out, it is earning intrest, and I will pay it straight back when I leave uni. Cheers Tony!

So all in all if you use the loan you've got £3000. So yes if you don't work you'll struggle to pay the bills. But if you use the loan you can easily make up the rest with basic work in the summer.

And Finally, serious advice time. If you do need more money, don't borrow it from the bank. Get down the university administration and they can get your loan increased with no extra charges. They want you to continue at uni and so they will help you out.

Congratulations on passing your test Mr C!!!!!

 

[Mr_C]

Cheers , and on the uni note ... i aint going to uni simply as i never want to be in debt .... only time i'll be in debt is mortgage .... uni is good cos you'll get a better job or so thats the way its suppose to work except many graduates end up working in a call centre with a degree in music , dentistry etc etc .... a degree i feel doesnt mean your clever in one subject it means you are willing to learn more at a higher level and you have more patience and that you are ready for a job that will carry more responsability with its title, a degree also shows you have dedication as they last for so long ... as i havent taken this route i'm in a not soo good job with no soo good pay .... so in a few yrs i'll be losing out to all those who have been to uni and so on. Its a decision that you have to choose to early in life if u ask me ... have money whilst i'm young and life more .... or study hard , have little money but when your middle aged live it up. If i went back 2 yrs i would of gone Modern Apprenticeship ... you get paid to learn simple as

 

[The Negotiator]

Richard, firstly I meant "assuming you" as a general thought, not personal to you, sorry if that caused a misunderstanding.

6.5k-7k was the amount guessed at by UCAS whenever I go information from them, for me, the break down of costs:

3.1k accommodation (ensuite but SC)
1.2k tutition fees
£120 or so TV license
£120 internet access/academic year
38 weeks shopping at £23 (give or take) + £5/odds and ends = £1064/38 weeks of academic year
= £5,604 so far

Books to date including purchasing off internet and ebay = approx £160

Various odds and ends throughout the year from stationary/stuff for myself/gifts = say £300

Remember I don't socialise but if I did at £10/week, = £380/year (most people I know obviously spend more than that)

= £6,444

I don't live cheaply but by no means do I live specially, if you say my weekly food bill is high, fair enough, but maybe others spend more eating out/socialising.

So for an academic first year, the amount stated by UCAS isn't far off. Not quite sure if you live very cheaply or if you are forgetting general costs.

I admire people who can do what you do, Helz did similar, I am not sure if I would have the motivation to do so.

My student loan would only cover my accommodation on it's own, I would then have to work to pay off the tutition fees and the other costs, possible of course but Blair IMO should make more funds available.

Anyway, the fact is, like I am trying to say, Blair assumes you have parental assistance, why do I know this? Why else would you have to apply for income assesed support? The fact is the government expects that in the main, the difference between the minimum and maximum would be made up using additional funds say from parents.

 

[Dr_Pepper]

Yes that is true, I didn't bother applying for income assesed support because my dad worked out that they earned too much to get any.

Well I was just saying it's possible. I'm not at the union every night but i do go out a lot to mates. I don't know how much I spend on food to be honest but I don't pay internet or telephone fees (included in house) or TV licence (same again) and as for stationary and gifts - well I bought a ruler from Menzies the other day for 69p?! I just keep a tight lid on what I spend and I've worked out I'll get though the year no problem... I guess much of the problem is the on-campus fees are so high, make sure you get a house outside next year and one that includes bills. Do what I did and go a long way from campus where houses are cheap. I know you bike so it wouldn't be a problem - I walk (1/2 hour) and that saves me £20/week plus just on average house proces near campus.

Anyway as I've said at the end of the day "President Blair" will help you out if you are deperate (not you obviously Paul I mean anyone!). The student loans company will add to the loan if you ask nicely and the universities will help you out too. Above all don't get a bank loan or overdraft, or worse still a credit card debt!