Affording School

[noodle]

Have you asked if your parents' companies sponsor Students? Some companies like to help students. For example, my dad's company sponsored one of my brother's... However, my brother was outstanding in his studies. By the end of Uni, he was classed 5th in the whole of Europe for his subject whilst being at the top 5 Universities in the world for his subject!
With that said, you should look around at companies sponsoring you. It's also a great way to set up your career because most sponsors work in a way where you work for the company at the same time as you're studying.

Search around for a little. Contact some games companies etc. Usually they sponsor people in their final year of studies, but it's not unheard of to be sponsored throughout your course!

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by noodle

Have you asked if your parents' companies sponsor Students? Some companies like to help students. For example, my dad's company sponsored one of my brother's... However, my brother was outstanding in his studies. By the end of Uni, he was classed 5th in the whole of Europe for his subject whilst being at the top 5 Universities in the world for his subject!
With that said, you should look around at companies sponsoring you. It's also a great way to set up your career because most sponsors work in a way where you work for the company at the same time as you're studying.

Search around for a little. Contact some games companies etc. Usually they sponsor people in their final year of studies, but it's not unheard of to be sponsored throughout your course!

I did work experience at the BBC and my Dad knows a guy that works there. They were impressed when I went, and I got a good reference, but I think companies only sponsor you if you are going to work for them, in normal circumstances anyway. I could try there, but I have no idea. I'm not sure about my Dad's company either, but it's possible. I've contacted a ton of games companies but it's so hard to get them to even take you on for a day, let alone pay for Uni. It's the same with the BBC in the sense your best bet is to know someone on the inside. I'll definitely look into it though, anything is worth a shot.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by MissMisa

I did work experience at the BBC and my Dad knows a guy that works there. They were impressed when I went, and I got a good reference, but I think companies only sponsor you if you are going to work for them, in normal circumstances anyway. I could try there, but I have no idea. I'm not sure about my Dad's company either, but it's possible. I've contacted a ton of games companies but it's so hard to get them to even take you on for a day, let alone pay for Uni. It's the same with the BBC in the sense your best bet is to know someone on the inside. I'll definitely look into it though, anything is worth a shot.

Noooooo... That's not true at all... There aren't many sponsors which tie you down to a company. The company will usually try to attract you to the job and get you to stay with them etc, but rarely (I've never heard of any actually) do they say you have to work for them afterwards... First of all, that's a bad choice on the companies behalf anyway, because they don't know if you're competent. It may seem like the company is just giving away free money, but they actually do benefit a lot from sponsored students... an example of how is; they get the benefit of the students skills and knowledge for cheap, even if it's for a short period of time!

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by noodle

Noooooo... That's not true at all... There aren't many sponsors which tie you down to a company. The company will usually try to attract you to the job and get you to stay with them etc, but rarely (I've never heard of any actually) do they say you have to work for them afterwards... First of all, that's a bad choice on the companies behalf anyway, because they don't know if you're competent. It may seem like the company is just giving away free money, but they actually do benefit a lot from sponsored students... an example of how is; they get the benefit of the students skills and knowledge for cheap, even if it's for a short period of time!

Ah I see then. Thanks Noodle, as always you've helped me a lot. I'll look into this option and get back to you with what I find out

[Gwen_Goth]

Originally Posted by Salvanas

Problem is, I need to make a show reel of my films, and my current camera doesn't cut it. Nor does my current editing program. I'm going to need to acquire them to show my full potential.

Aye, the course'll provide the equipment, like green screens, lighting, sound studios, the cameras and all that. But the problem is getting into the course first.
)

hmm

I'd say do your best with what you've got; they are actually forgiving when it comes to the quality, especially if you explain how you're working within your limitations..

what will get you into the course more than anything is your ideas, your expression of those ideas and your enthusiasm.

[noodle]

@ MissMisa. You're welcome. I was in your shoes not so long ago, so I'm happy to help out. To avoid people suffering like I did makes me feel better

Originally Posted by Gwen_Goth

what will get you into the course more than anything is your ideas, your expression of those ideas and your enthusiasm.

I agree with this! All the offers I got were because of my interview and personal statement. Unlike popular belief, education isn't about being a book worm. Personality is very important. Being original and showing your ideas and believing in yourself is far more important to the admissions team, than your grades (everyone can get good grades, but not everyone can be original)

[Gwen_Goth]

Originally Posted by noodle

I agree with this! All the offers I got were because of my interview and personal statement. Unlike popular belief, education isn't about being a book worm. Personality is very important. Being original and showing your ideas and believing in yourself is far more important to the admissions team, than your grades (everyone can get good grades, but not everyone can be original)

especially in the creative industry which is what they're both looking at going into ^^

[Pexster]

For school i have everything planned out and expenses paid.

So im good to go.

[Salvanas]

Hmm. I guess you're right. But there are limitations, I suppose, to everything. I'm going to have to make my films very creative to make sure the quality is overlooked :P

Thanks for the advice though <3

[Gwen_Goth]

I thought i's post this up as it may help people understand how much money things cost for uni and so on...


I went to Swansea Met (as it's known now) to do Illustration; 3 year course not too bad, i ended up choosing Swansea over Southampton because the rent is half of what So'ton was!

I'm currently re-doing my 3rd year on a part time basis; it all got a little stressful for me, and along with personal problems i just didn't do well on the last hurdle xD

I have a house with my BF (and a friend) now, and before that i was sharing a house with 3 other friends.. rent isn't so bad when you share, and if you shop around a bit it helps alot; the student house i had had bills included in the rest; kept us from fighting over who used the most electricity!, plus as a student you don't have to pay council tax ( I do now - its £972 for this year!)

to give you an idea of how much rent costs...

my student halls was £60/ week where i had a small room, shared a kitchen with 20 others on the floor (it was not a pleasant place to cook in) and was woken constantly by parties xD

the shared house i got with friends was £55/week, including bills; i had the biggest room, a living room, kitchen between us and even a small garden; was a pretty good deal

other friends got a student house for about £46/ week + bills on top at about £15/week on average but they had constant fights about who owed more on bills etc; it was really bad

my current house now is £425 / month; our friend who lives with us pays £100 (because he's on incapacity benefits, he can't pay so much) and the BF and i Split the £325; it works out at £37.50/ week each
on top of that we pay bills, tax and for things like internet and TV.. in total we spend just over £20/week on the bills

as for other fees;
i was lucky i got into uni the year tuition top-up fees hit, so i only pay £1125/year for those; although for going part time in now have to pay £12/ credit im doing that year; im trying to do 40 credits (minimum of each module) er year to keep costs down now.

for the rest of you i believe tuition fees are now something like £3500 /year yes?
but your LEA can pay that for you; especially if you're getting the loan

other expenses....

Food:
on average living alone and cooking for one cost me about £30/week; now i share with others its £20/week (we spread the cost)
others i know can live on £10/ week for food.. but its not good food

Supplies for the course..
it varies on what course youre doing....
Art, Law and the Sciences are the most expensive statisticly...
on av. i spent about £80/ month on art materials; i boutgh in bulk at whatever low rate i caould find, and it's worked out quite well

on top of that though i made some on-off investments:
£1500 on PC; £500 on a Wacom Tablet, £400 on assorted sortwares, about £300 on other peripherals (scanner, printer, webcam( that i never use))

these however i used out of my personal savings and some inheritance....

Travel:
I chose to live pretty centrally, so i walk everywhere, however getting a young person's railcard was a really good deal; it saves me 1/3 of trainfares

Socialising:
well this is the sticky one (literally if you're a messy drinker)
it really depends on how much you go out, and where to.
I dont drink so often anymore so i'll spend maybe £10/ week on average...
however in 2nd year i was out 3 /4 days a week; it cost me about £80/week, less when others bought me drinks of course!

so it is manageable; you just have to shop around a bit for deals, find the best place to live, and the right kinda people who you want to live with


do bear in mind that I'm in Swansea; prices here are ALOT cheaper than in other parts of the country.. for example cheapest rent in Oxford is around £80/week with bills on top, plus a pint here is £2.25... Oxford; more like £4