[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

That's pretty much the same here. But I understand in America you have to pay to go to college?

Yep, pretty much. We have to pay to attend colleges/universities. Some people consider both the same thing, unless specific. Like, I could say, "Yeah, I went to college after high school. I attended the University of Richmond."

The only instance in which you have to pay for education here is if you go to university here, but you can get a student grant - where if you can never afford to pay it, it just gets cleared, or a student loan - where rates for the loan are really affordable.

Loans are pretty much what we use. Ironically, they were talking about student loans on the news. Seems we're running out of funds to even give out student loans and some states are pulling out on granting them (or something like that; I could be wrong, or misheard it). Universities/colleges are so costly, unless attending a Community College (two-year college), and even though that's cheaper, still can cost a bit. It sucks that in order to get considered for most jobs, they'd rather see that you have that diploma as opposed to whether or not you can actually do the job.

Anyway, as for grants, you don't have to pay those back.

Also, between the ages of 16 and 18, if you go to college or 6th form, if your parents earn under a certain amound of money, you can get up to £30 a week to help with school supplies. It's supposed to help working class kids stay in higher education. I just find it unfair because, just because my mum and dad earn over a certain amound doesn't mean there going to give me any >.<

I had that problem when I first graduated high school. My parents were looking into grants. My parents are considered middle class, so they couldn't get any grants for me. Seems here those who are considered the "poor class" and the rich, of course, get all the breaks. I'm not complaining, those who are poor do need the help too, but it kind of sucks that the middle class rarely get any breaks.