Student advice chat with Suzy Tobias
Suzy is from Leeds University Union (LUU). She dropped by to answer your questions on student money matters, making friends and starting societies.
**Helen**: Right then, let's get started with the first question.
Twisted Trinity: I'm finding it difficult to make friends at university because I'm never invited to things and when I just tag along I feel like I'm imposing. What could I do within the university to improve my chances of making friends? I am already going to classes in the evenings.
Suzy: Hi there. OK, first of all, try not to feel like you're imposing. Everyone at university is in the same boat at the start and there to meet new people and make new friends. You are not alone in finding it hard. Try to join as many societies as possible that interest you and sit with different people in your classes and make an effort to say hello. You may also want to look at volunteering opportunities within the student union as they all tend to be really friendly. It's a great way to really get involved and settle in to uni life.
Twisted Trinity: What advice would you give to those starting up societies?
Suzy: Well, all unions work differently, but the best thing to do first is to make sure there isn't already a similar society at your university. Try and find a passionate group of people to start it up with you and make sure you have enough interest to be able to keep the society going in the longer term. You may want to try running taster sessions to give people an idea of what to expect and look at similar societies at other universities and how they work.
Twisted Trinity: I'm really paranoid about making my money last. I don't get any extra from parents, but I'm suddenly finding extra things which are expensive but essential, such as phone bills and new books. What can I do to make sure my money will stretch? I've already drawn up a budget, but it's not working!
Suzy: It's always hard to balance work and play as a student, especially at the beginning when you want to be out as much as possible making friends. Money is always an issue. There is a great website called studentcalculator.org.uk ,which can help with budgeting and also gives more general hints and tips about student money matters and how to save.
All universities are different but yours may have emergency funds for students in need, if it comes to that. Also, you could make use of an interest free overdraft while you can, if you haven't already got one.
innocent_kate: I need to write a 'feature' article for our university magazine, because I've said I would and because it's a good thing to do for my CV, and I think I'll quite enjoy it. However, I'm completely stuck for ideas!
Suzy: That sounds like a great thing to get involved in and there are so many things you can write about. One idea may be around NUS campaigns, especially the high profile ones. For example the current campaign about changing the fee structure at universities will be something that people can relate to and find interesting.
"Unless you have a specific career aim to persue it can often take a few years to realise what you want to do in life."
Or, there's the credit crunch and how it might affect students in particular. You could do some research on tips on how to save money.
If you wanted to do something a bit more light-hearted you could do something like "What not to do as a Fresher". I hope that gives you some ideas to think about.
Marina Aniseed: Today one of my lecturers told me something a little depressing. My uni and one other in the country are apparently known as the 'graveyards of ambition' because a fair whack of graduates take lower paying jobs just so that they can stay in the area. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Suzy: Sure, it's actually a similar feeling here in Leeds. Students come from all over the country to uni and enjoy it so much in their chosen city that they don't want to leave. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though. Unless you have a really specific career aim to pursue it can often take a few more years before you realise what you want to do in life. As long as friends are still around, graduates often take jobs that give them an extension of their student-style freedom until they're ready to move onwards and upwards and really use their degrees.
ShyBoy: Due to the credit crisis, I've found myself with less money coming in than I've got going out because of my own irresponsible borrowing when 'things were good' (i.e. mobile phone contract costs £40). I got my student loan through yesterday and it hasn't even cleared my overdraft. I'm basically broke :( Help!
Suzy: Hi there ShyBoy. First thing you can do, if possible, is cancel your phone contract and get a pay-as-you-go one so that you can monitor your spending and try and cut back as much as possible. You may also want to try looking for a part-time job if you can fit it in with your studies. You should be able to save a bit of extra money that way.
Also, have a look at studentbeans.com. It has city-specific offers for students so you can get some good money off vouchers and freebies.
ShyBoy: I've got an Internship at the university that pays £6.50 an hour, which pays for food and going out, and I can't cancel my phone until February without having to pay the rest of the contract anyway. I inquired about the Access to Learning Fund but I have no extenuating circumstances, just stupidity :(
Suzy: Maybe have a look at the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Its website has some good budgeting info for students and your union might also be able to give you some more help to save in the long-term. Shame about your phone contract, but just try to use it as little as possible and if you have friends that you live with you can all buy things like tea, bread and pasta in bulk and share the cost. You can save quite a lot on food this way.
**Helen**: That's great, thanks for your time Suzy.
Suzy: No problem at all. The key thing to remember is that your student union is always there to support you where it can. Make sure you use it as they're usually a really friendly and helpful bunch of people.
Student advice chat with Suzy Tobias
Suzy is from Leeds University Union (LUU). She dropped by to answer your questions on student money matters, making friends and starting societies.
**Helen**: Right then, let's get started with the first question.
Twisted Trinity: I'm finding it difficult to make friends at university because I'm never invited to things and when I just tag along I feel like I'm imposing. What could I do within the university to improve my chances of making friends? I am already going to classes in the evenings.
Suzy: Hi there. OK, first of all, try not to feel like you're imposing. Everyone at university is in the same boat at the start and there to meet new people and make new friends. You are not alone in finding it hard. Try to join as many societies as possible that interest you and sit with different people in your classes and make an effort to say hello. You may also want to look at volunteering opportunities within the student union as they all tend to be really friendly. It's a great way to really get involved and settle in to uni life.
Twisted Trinity: What advice would you give to those starting up societies?
Suzy: Well, all unions work differently, but the best thing to do first is to make sure there isn't already a similar society at your university. Try and find a passionate group of people to start it up with you and make sure you have enough interest to be able to keep the society going in the longer term. You may want to try running taster sessions to give people an idea of what to expect and look at similar societies at other universities and how they work.
Twisted Trinity: I'm really paranoid about making my money last. I don't get any extra from parents, but I'm suddenly finding extra things which are expensive but essential, such as phone bills and new books. What can I do to make sure my money will stretch? I've already drawn up a budget, but it's not working!
Suzy: It's always hard to balance work and play as a student, especially at the beginning when you want to be out as much as possible making friends. Money is always an issue. There is a great website called studentcalculator.org.uk ,which can help with budgeting and also gives more general hints and tips about student money matters and how to save.
All universities are different but yours may have emergency funds for students in need, if it comes to that. Also, you could make use of an interest free overdraft while you can, if you haven't already got one.
innocent_kate: I need to write a 'feature' article for our university magazine, because I've said I would and because it's a good thing to do for my CV, and I think I'll quite enjoy it. However, I'm completely stuck for ideas!
Suzy: That sounds like a great thing to get involved in and there are so many things you can write about. One idea may be around NUS campaigns, especially the high profile ones. For example the current campaign about changing the fee structure at universities will be something that people can relate to and find interesting.
Or, there's the credit crunch and how it might affect students in particular. You could do some research on tips on how to save money.
If you wanted to do something a bit more light-hearted you could do something like "What not to do as a Fresher". I hope that gives you some ideas to think about.
Marina Aniseed: Today one of my lecturers told me something a little depressing. My uni and one other in the country are apparently known as the 'graveyards of ambition' because a fair whack of graduates take lower paying jobs just so that they can stay in the area. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Suzy: Sure, it's actually a similar feeling here in Leeds. Students come from all over the country to uni and enjoy it so much in their chosen city that they don't want to leave. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though. Unless you have a really specific career aim to pursue it can often take a few more years before you realise what you want to do in life. As long as friends are still around, graduates often take jobs that give them an extension of their student-style freedom until they're ready to move onwards and upwards and really use their degrees.
ShyBoy: Due to the credit crisis, I've found myself with less money coming in than I've got going out because of my own irresponsible borrowing when 'things were good' (i.e. mobile phone contract costs £40). I got my student loan through yesterday and it hasn't even cleared my overdraft. I'm basically broke :( Help!
Suzy: Hi there ShyBoy. First thing you can do, if possible, is cancel your phone contract and get a pay-as-you-go one so that you can monitor your spending and try and cut back as much as possible. You may also want to try looking for a part-time job if you can fit it in with your studies. You should be able to save a bit of extra money that way.
Also, have a look at studentbeans.com. It has city-specific offers for students so you can get some good money off vouchers and freebies.
ShyBoy: I've got an Internship at the university that pays £6.50 an hour, which pays for food and going out, and I can't cancel my phone until February without having to pay the rest of the contract anyway. I inquired about the Access to Learning Fund but I have no extenuating circumstances, just stupidity :(
Suzy: Maybe have a look at the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Its website has some good budgeting info for students and your union might also be able to give you some more help to save in the long-term. Shame about your phone contract, but just try to use it as little as possible and if you have friends that you live with you can all buy things like tea, bread and pasta in bulk and share the cost. You can save quite a lot on food this way.
**Helen**: That's great, thanks for your time Suzy.
Suzy: No problem at all. The key thing to remember is that your student union is always there to support you where it can. Make sure you use it as they're usually a really friendly and helpful bunch of people.