Afraid of growing up college worries and money

LegacyUser

Hi as above says.. Im afraid to kinda grow up ,I come from a poor family back ground, awaiting my leaving cert results in august but Im afraid of having to go college living off a grant and have to worry about money. So I am thinking about doing fas courses until Im 23 doing one a year happily having a bit of money no worrying then getting the back to education allowance at 23 or hopefully have a part time job from the courses I shall do. But Im afraid how people will react to my life choice am I making a mistake?

st_andalou

Hi,

I came from a poor background, too, and college was really a scary thought for me at the time. Firstly, and most importantly, your college has a financial advisor who you can talk to.

I think you might regret not going to college when all your friends are going. I lived off the grant in college too, and I was fine. You could also get a part-time job. Is your family able to help you out at all financially? You could consider a loan. In some cases your college can offer financial help. There are lots of options.

Are you sure this is just about money? Going off to college, moving away from home, is terrifying for everyone but you gain a lot from it. Remember, everyone's in the same boat, and it could prove to be the best experience of your life.

Please, if you're worried, find someone to talk to about it. If they're older they probably have lots of experience with this.

I read that 80% of college students have been in a position where they've been seriously worried about money, so remember, you're not alone!

Chuchoter

Go to college. I know the whole moving away/ not having as much money thing is scary, but you have to do it one day. And to be honest the economy being the way it is I think the Fas courses will become worthless in the next few years. You can get a part time job and go to college, and then in the future you'll have more money than if you didn't.

Nevyn

Apply for college and if you need to defer and get any sort of a job and save for the year or so and then take up the college course and get a part time job.

This way you have a cushion to by college texts, clothes and shoes and get past the first term while waiting for the grant to be sorted out.

Agent J

If you are under 23 then the government really does shaft you on 3rd level support.

I understand your thinking and on paper it is a good idea.

However consider the following

1)They change the rules on the BTEA(Back to education Allowance)/Free frees

5 years is a long time and in the current situation it is well possible they might change the schemes before you become able to use it. With the Jobless rate going up and more people trying to get on it then the more likely they do something about it.

2)Long time to wait.

It basically biding your time until something becomes available. Personally i think its a bad idea. Unless there are some FAS courses you want to do then by all means. But they dont last 5 years. And then you have a further 3/4 years before you even get a degree. There is a lot more you could put your time to. Hell id even suggest leaving the country if possible.

3)College at 18 with no Money.

It can be done. It sucks and with less causal work out there it makes it harder but it can be done. No doubt having the back up of the BTEA is a nice security blanket but with the grant/part time job you can get by. It aint pretty but it can be done.

Worst case?

You fail college for whatever reason. It happens. Then you get a job or do something productive. Try part time education while working( It sucks but it can be done - Personal experience)

If nothing comes from that then you have other options.

If 5 years pass from that point(left college) then you can go back to college under free fees again (Second chance clause) at which point you'll be old enough to get BTEA and grant again anyway. (Notwithstanding my point about schemes changing)

So try, if it doesnt work out then you might end up waiting a few years anyway but you took your shot.

donegal lass 4

It really depends on the course you are thinking of doing, in college or otherwise, ie fas. As the other poster said, a fas course is well and good if it is something you really want to do, but not something to do just to pass the time so to speak. College will be hard financial, but in posting your worries here, you are showing yourself to be alot more mature than your average 18 yr old, and probarly more than "ready" to tackle college. Do the course you have an interest in, firstly, and then formulate a budget and plan on how to cope financially. Investigate all your options for financial aid, this maybe something you can do now to start your plan!

tenchi-fan

If you get a grant you'll be laughing. It would pay for your digs while at college. A part-time job could make up your spending money.
Remember, in the UK people take out huge loans to get through college. In Ireland everything is free yet people claim they are being "shafted"

I don't see the point in wasting 5 years of your life doing fas courses here and there. And do you really think btea will be around in 5 years time?

Now's the time to get college out of the way and you'll be better equipped to earn big money in a few years time. The part-time job while at college is more important than you realise... a lot of graduates are blaming the government when they can't find jobs.. however there are jobs for graduates, they just go to people with good exam results and a proven track record (i.e. work experience!)

It is complete bull**** to even mention your "poor family background".. all the more reason to try your best now, rather than hopping between the fas workshop and dole office every couple of months. I'm not slagging off people who did proper fas courses or apprenticeships, but a school leaver should not be planning on doing a mickey-mouse course once a year in the hope of claiming benefits in 5 more years.

up for anything

There is a limit to the amount of FAS courses you can do within a certain amount of time. You should check that out.

Life finds a way Op and if you get the grant, that's you sorted. Work part time jobs, like giving out stamps for night clubs etc.
Aswell as that, you'll do one or two fas courses, then start thinkin 'i'm not even trying to get a job with these, i'll just wait for college and get a job then' and you'll stop.

oil painting

Hi Op, i know where your coming from, i was from a poor backround i was on my own from the age of 18, and did fas courses and vtos courses which got me into 3rd level when i was 23, which was dead handy at the time because i qualified as a mature student and i know if the scheme wasnt there i would never have got an education, it was amazing to have so much support, i qualified for rent allowance and the grant and it really gave me the chance i needed in life because i am now working full time in my area, and i would never have grown the confidence in myself if i had not been given the chance to grow in college and get educated.

Basically i feel you should weigh up your situation with how much pressure it is going to bring you, if it is too much too soon then do take your time, you are only young and it might be good to do a PLC anyway to just think a bit more and get a bit more experience before going straight in.... but weigh it up by how much pressure the change will bring if you can manage it and feel it is right then go for it but if you feel it will make life really miserable then dont do it, your instincts will tell you which choice feels better, All the best.

tenchi-fan

tenchi-fan wrote: »

If you get a grant you'll be laughing. It would pay for your digs while at college. A part-time job could make up your spending money.

I'm confused about why 'living off a grant' is so awful. Isn't the grant generous enough? I remember one of my college friends was getting almost as much money for living at home than I was getting from my loan for everything. Am I missing something here? I remember people being pretty well off when receiving the grant and working part time. Very well off, even.

Remember, in the UK people take out huge loans to get through college. In Ireland everything is free yet people claim they are being "shafted"

Yep. Drives me mad. Ireland is one of the most generous countries in the world towards students and now people seem to expect a free ride all the way through. You're getting an education, why not expect to pay something for it?

I don't see the point in wasting 5 years of your life doing fas courses here and there. And do you really think btea will be around in 5 years time?

I agree. The policies can easily be changed and may not even exist in 5 years time and FAS courses are often a waste of time.

Now's the time to get college out of the way and you'll be better equipped to earn big money in a few years time. The part-time job while at college is more important than you realise... a lot of graduates are blaming the government when they can't find jobs.. however there are jobs for graduates, they just go to people with good exam results and a proven track record (i.e. work experience!)

Yep. It's not as easy to get part time work as it used to be, but there's always grinds and things like that.

It is complete bull**** to even mention your "poor family background".. all the more reason to try your best now, rather than hopping between the fas workshop and dole office every couple of months. I'm not slagging off people who did proper fas courses or apprenticeships, but a school leaver should not be planning on doing a mickey-mouse course once a year in the hope of claiming benefits in 5 more years.

I agree. It's a massive drain on resources.