What if I can't afford college?

SkinnyGenes

I'm doing my leaving cert this year and we all these new registration fee I'm worried I won't be able to afford to go to college.:(
What do you to if you can go to college seeing as the irish and maths leaving cert courses are changing next year you would have twice the work to do plus I don't think I could deal with all that strees again enxt year. So what do you do? Do you stay at home? Go back to school? Find a job for the future??
Is anyone else in the same position as me? (I'm sure they're plenty)
Do you thinik they'll actually go through with the increase in fees?

darragh16

SkinnyGenes wrote: »

I'm doing my leaving cert this year and we all these new registration fee I'm worried I won't be able to afford to go to college.:(
What do you to if you can go to college seeing as the irish and maths leaving cert courses are changing next year you would have twice the work to do plus I don't think I could deal with all that strees again enxt year. So what do you do? Do you stay at home? Go back to school? Find a job for the future??
Is anyone else in the same position as me? (I'm sure they're plenty)
Do you thinik they'll actually go through with the increase in fees?

Looks like your going to be paying increased registration fee's I'm afraid. Born a few years too late. The country is in such a bad state that students will likely be hit. You won't have to pay the tuition fee's (about €4500) but you will have to pay the €1500-3000 in. reg fee's. Fee's are increasing in places across Europe and you'd have to pay fee's in them countries.

About Irish and Maths; It doesn't matter if the courses are changing. You will still be able to qualify for college once you meet the required standards (CAO pts etc.)

If I were you, continue hard work and get the points you need for your prefered course. If you can pick up a part time job, especially over the summer. Try to apply for the grant next year. Everyone says they're going to Oz, but you'd need a degree to make anything for yourself...

jubella

If you get the grant you won't have to pay reg fees.

SkinnyGenes

I didn't think you were alloweed to pay for the reg. fees with your grant. I am entitled to a grant but I thought it was just for books, accomodation, etc.

jubella

Whatever amount of grant you are entitled to, your registration fees are also paid on top of that.
Also, yes the grant is supposed to be for books, accommodation etc. but there are no rules or anything saying you can't spend it on anything else.

Equium

Have you considered Scotland? Fees there are free for all non-UK EU students. The accomodation and living expenses are also generally cheaper than here (well most places here anyway). The only major extra cost is travelling back here, but you can get good prices if you book early.

challengemaster

SkinnyGenes wrote: »

I didn't think you were alloweed to pay for the reg. fees with your grant. I am entitled to a grant but I thought it was just for books, accomodation, etc.

You don't pay them - if you qualify for the grant the reg fee is covered also

Equium wrote: »

Have you considered Scotland? Fees there are free for all non-UK EU students. The accomodation and living expenses are also generally cheaper than here (well most places here anyway). The only major extra cost is travelling back here, but you can get good prices if you book early.

I thought that wasn't the case any more?

Equium

challengemaster wrote: »

I thought that wasn't the case any more?

Still is as far as I know. I intended on going there this year and it was going to be free for me. You have to apply for the fees to be paid though.

Leftbelle

Simple answer- get vocal.
Go to tellyourtd.com, phone your local TDs and write them letters, get involved with your local fees protest (colleges are organising individual protests in the coming weeks), write letters to newspapers, phone Joe Duffy!
Don't let the government compromise your right to education because of debt that is not your fault and should not be your responsibility to clear.
Beyond that, do apply for the grant and look into the student assistance fund and most of all- try not to worry TOO much as you still have your Leaving Cert to do and that's stressful enough.
Best of luck x

spinandscribble

challengemaster wrote: »

You don't pay them - if you qualify for the grant the reg fee is covered also



I thought that wasn't the case any more?

scotland isn't part of the English's new fee system, thankfully for the foreseen future. Fees are still free in scotland, literally. NO registration fees. If Im right I think first time undergrads who qualify for the grant at home can still receive their county council grant while studying in the scotland.

Eva1810

I'm almost finished my first year of college on a level 8 course. I was entitled to the full maintenance grant this year. The problem is, I don't like the course and want to change to a different course this September, but probably won't be able to afford tuition fees and the registration fee together. I've been told i won't be entitled to a student grant because I'm not a first time undergraduate. Is this true and is there anybody who got a grant who wasn't a first time undergrad?

jubella

Eva1810 wrote: »

I'm almost finished my first year of college on a level 8 course. I was entitled to the full maintenance grant this year. The problem is, I don't like the course and want to change to a different course this September, but probably won't be able to afford tuition fees and the registration fee together. I've been told i won't be entitled to a student grant because I'm not a first time undergraduate. Is this true and is there anybody who got a grant who wasn't a first time undergrad?

You won't get a grant. I did what you want to do - I left a course after 1 year and started a new one. I had to pay full fees for 1st year and wasn't entitled to a grant, as I had already received at grant for 1st year.

Eva1810

Ok thanks

Eva1810

Were you entitled to a grant from second year onward though?

Gurgle

SkinnyGenes wrote: »

seeing as the irish and maths leaving cert courses are changing next year you would have twice the work to do

Get the points this year, and you don't have to repeat the leaving cert. If you get a college offer, you can always accept and defer or re-apply through CAO next year with this year's results.

This information is 20 years out of date btw. Talk to your career guidance teacher (or any teacher), they can advise you on the options.

jubella

Eva1810 wrote: »

Were you entitled to a grant from second year onward though?

Yeah you'll get it for every other year, just not 1st year, as you've already claimed a grant for 1st year

Eva1810

Ok thanks that's a relief

You do realise it's not "now or never"?
Take a year or two off, work and save, go to college then

Eva1810

Eva1810 wrote: »

Were you entitled to a grant from second year onward though?

You're assessed as usual once you haven't done that year before.

Unitedfinal08

Like the user above I have done first year of an undergraduate degree, but due to changing personal circumstances I took a gap year and am now looking at doing a different course. Supposedly the fees will be in and around 6000, which I am unable to afford even with a 12 hour part time contract which I use for bills. I was wondering is there anyway possible to receive a grant of any type to go back? suggestions much needed. Thanks!

alleystar

Like what another user said, work for the year. You'll be finacially better off and a lot more mature going into college. Plus you'll have a lot more time to decide on a course that's right for you. Focus on doing as well as you possibly can in your LC for the next few months, that way you'll have many options open to you after you take a year out.

I know it's hard to get a job but there are some businesses and restaurants still taking on people. If you did get a job you could work part time in your first year of college also.

Just because you can't afford it now doesn't mean you'll never go. If you save the money up yourself you'll appreciate college all the more.

jonjoshelvey

Yeah you'll get it for every other year, just not 1st year, as you've already claimed a grant for 1st year