5 Reasons To Stay At Home for University
I started university back in 2007, this makes me feel terribly old. However, this was the year the £3,000 per year fees had come in, meaning before we’d earned a penny, put a roof over our heads, bought a uni book, we’d potentially be leaving with £9,000 worth of debt. I got 6 offers from Aston, Durham, Northumbria and Edinburgh, but I opted to go to Northumbria, meaning I could stay at home for the entire time.
This was one of the deciding factors when I chose my degree, but if I’m honest, the main reason was my course; I completed BA (hons) Corporate Management, which was a three year course, offering a two year placement, however, even when on placement the £3,000 fees applied. Now that yearly fees are around £9,000, I’d definitely stay at home, regardless of course. I wanted to share with you my 5 reasons to stay at home for university.
1. Less Debt
I was fortunate enough that my parents paid my first year, and the degree I chose meant that the company where I undertook my placement at paid for my second and third year. I also didn’t have any rent to pay, which saved me a lot of money, I didn’t have to buy food, or pay bills associated with living out of home. I didn’t have a permanent part-time job during my first year either, I only got one over Christmas.
When I did get my placement in my second and third year, I paid my parents a flat board each month, which covered my living costs and meant I always knew where I was in terms of my money.
2. My Own Space
I didn’t have to share a kitchen with potentially grubby flat mates, or struggle to get time on my own in my own home. I had one friend who went back home for a couple of weeks and her flat mates used her room to dry their washing in, which left all of her clothes and bedding damp and smelly.
3. My Washing & Ironing Done For Me
This is a bit of a cheeky one and I know my mum will laugh when she reads it, but I never had to worry about the lack of clean or ironed clothes. I know there is a bit of a standing joke that students bag their washing up to take home at a weekend, or every month, but I had no problem with this, my mama had me covered…
4. No One Stealing My Food
Something that I know is rife in student accommodation, is other people ‘stealing’ your food. I know of people who have used their last £10 to buy food to last them the week, then have gone to make something and it’s been taken. I’d seriously lose my cool if that happened to me!
5. A Quiet Place to Study/Complete Assignments
The library may be ‘quiet’ but it was still too distracting for me, especially if you’re there with your friends. I preferred to work in complete silence without disturbance, meaning staying at home was the perfect solution for me.
So those are my top 5 reasons to stay at home for university, I also stayed at home for my Master’s degree, so it certainly didn’t put me off!
I hope if you’re struggling to make the choice to stay at home or move away that this helps post helps you.
If there are any other university related posts you’d like me to share, just leave me a comment below and I’ll hopefully be able to write about it, maybe dissertation top tips, assignment tips etc.
Lauren xx
Awe! I think the students that are staying home have got to agree with these points. I’m starting university next year, and I’m planning to stay home, simply because I agree with your points and I just want to be close to my family.
Author
Being close to your family is definitely a massive benefit, you don’t have to worry about getting homesick. Good luck with Uni 🙂 Lauren xx
This is such an amazing post! I think it is so important to help others who are considering university right now! Fabulous post!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan | Instagram | Twitter| Facebook
Author
Thanks Amie. I always hope I can help people with my posts! Xx
I’ve just got accepted for Glasgow (my home city) and I’m so excited. I think we’re lucky because SAAS pay our fees, but there’s so many other costs like books and trainfares and things that make uni expensive that staying at home is really great. I’m also only like a train ride away so i dont think i’ll be missing out on the campus experience too much! though my mum already makes me do my own ironing so you’re v lucky xD
Great, really useful post!
Anne // A Portrait Of Youth
Author
Congratulations Anne!! I loved staying at home, I sometimes felt like I missed out, but to be honest, in the end it worked out for the best xxx
Love this blogpost. I agree with them all, I was a stay at home student and it was biggest factor when choosing a course at uni for me too.
Would love to see this series expand and maybe we could collab as I have a few uni related posts I want to do too. Let me know if that’s something you’d be up for.
Steph xx
@StephsWorld_x
Author
Thanks Steph. I’m hoping to do some more uni advice posts & collaboration would be nice. Drop me an email xx
Hey Lauren! I’m going into Year 13 and I’m looking at Universities, however I have always loved being with my family and I’m pretty sure I’d get homesick if I moved away. So, did you find it hard to meet people and make good friends or not? What issues did you have if any? My only concern is that the University I’m looking at going to is an ex-polytechnic-will I still be able to get a good job with a degree from this Uni?
Thank you!
Daisy
Author
Hi Daisy
If I’m honest, the majority of ‘good uni friends’ that I know of, have been made by those living together or the people you regularly socialise with. My first degree only had 19 people on it & to be honest, I had friends to go out with but they weren’t lifelong friends & didn’t really get on with me. For my masters I made some great friends, who live all over the place & I keep in touch on Facebook.
I went to Northumbria (ex-poly) & got two degrees. I got a MSc with distinction & it’s never impacted my job prospects. The one key difference that was highlighted to me was that at a ‘poly’ you will be given real life examples, workshops etc. Whereas at a red brick you’ll have more theory. I had considered doing another masters at Newcastle uni but was advised that I’d fine the teaching VERY different to what I was used to.
I hope that helps. Feel free to email me.
Lauren x