HOW TO KNOW IF UNIVERSITY IS THE RIGHT DECISION... Do I Regret It?

[@bethm163]

Hi, just thought I'd answer the student finance question for anyone who is worried about it (I'm a first year student like Molly). Basically the amount you get for maintenance depends on a variety of factors, including whether you're living away from home or not and if you're planning on going to uni either in or outside of London. Your tuition loan (which is completely separate from your maintenance loan) goes straight to your university so that's not something you need to worry about. With your maintenance loan (and I'm just going to base this off what I know as I know it can change in amounts and other things each year) if you live at home you will get a minimum of just over £4000 (which everyone who applies will get) and a minimum of just over £7000. If you are living away from home this changes to a maximum of £8700. If you are going to uni in London or are doing a study year abroad you will get a bit more on this but as neither applies to me I'm not too sure. You need to apply for student finance for each academic year and this may or may not change depending on your personal circumstances. This is due to your parents (if you live with them) and their income, so if your annual household income is £25,000 or less, this means that you are pretty much guaranteed to get the maximum student loan, however if your parents earn more than this then you probably won't get the maximum amount and will get a bit less. As you have to apply every year, just because you get the maximum one year, doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the same the next year as you're parents collectively could start earning more than £25,000 per annum. I will just point out though that if, for example, your parents are separated and you live with your mum and she has a new partner (who also lives with you), his earnings will also be taken into consideration so if in your first year, for example, you only live with your mum and she earns under £25,000, you will get the maximum loan; however if in your second year she is living with her partner and they both collectively now earn over £25,000, you will no longer get the maximum loan. If you are looking at living away from home I would suggest comparing the rent for the accommodation that is available to you as I know some people in my accommodation whose student finance doesn't even cover the rent, let alone everything else they need to buy on top of that. Also the maintenance money gets paid to you each term - at the very start of the academic year, after Christmas, and lastly after Easter. I know that you can apply for burseries from your university and there may be more options for you to get more money from student finance depending on your situation, for example if you are a young carer or if you have a child. If you google student finance then there should be more information on their website and I'd also recommend seeing what Martin Lewis says on student finance as I know he recently covered this in his show and can explain it way better than I can. p.s. sorry about this complete and utter verbal diarrhoea, however if you do have any other questions then I'd be happy to answer them :)

[@MollyThompsonx_]

thank you this is goign to be so helpful for everyone!!xx

[@jennx1725]

Student finance: you get 2 loans per year. 1 covers your tuition fee. It goes straight from Student Finance England (SFE. or student finance wales or scotland..depending where you are from), to the university. You never see that money. The 2nd is your maintainence loan. You get this in 3 installments (september, january and april). How much you get depends upon whether you live at home, whether you live in London, and what your parents annual income is. The more your parents earn, the less you get. This goes straight from SFE to you. This is designed to cover your rent, food, socialising etc.. If you find you are short on money, look at working for your university. They often recruit students as ambassadors (and pay you for it) and you can fit it around your studies and they're flexible with hours as they want you to be able to work and study. Hope this helps some. It seems daunting; but it isn't too bad once you know a bit more x

[@PenguinPieProduction]

I had a completely different experience to you at uni! I moved away and into a flat with my boyfriend, I never really had that many doubts about my course and moving away from home wasn’t really an issue for me. If you’d like someone else’s perspective on uni life I’d be more than happy to share mine!

[@charlottedawson6166]

This was so helpful, thank you so much!! when you mentioned about not clubbing and going drinking I was so happy because I don't like to drink alcohol for very personal reasons. I still enjoy going out though but I just don't drink and I thought I would be so left out, this has eased me a lot! :)

[@rishikamalwankar7483]

Going to Uni is such an important choice but a scary choice nonetheless 😂😂I was lucky in the sense that I knew I wanted to go to Uni for a long time, but I feel like a lot of students can get caught up with the idea of Uni and feel like thats what they want, when really, it just isn't anymore aha x But well done for uploading this because it's such an important topic that needs to be addressed more xx

[@laurak5724]

Rihaboo my gosh this exactly my situation! All I considered was uni... but it wasn’t for me (yet anyways 😅) xxx

[@rishikamalwankar7483]

Laura K I was going to say that it’s actually a good thing if you realise it earlier on so you don’t end up going and then feeling bad if you find out afterwards aha xx Hope you end up where you’d like to be! X

[@laurak5724]

Rihaboo wise words! Thank you so much 💓

[@jadelauren2269]

Great video Molly! I personally always knew that I wanted to go to University to study journalism, but I felt immense pressure to move away because that seems to be the norm when attending Uni. But I got an Unconditional offer for a local Uni that did my dream course, ended up commuting and am so glad I did because it really worked for me. I was still able to have a social life as a fresher and whatnot so all my worries washed away. Good luck to everyone currently weighing up their options, always go with what you want and never give in to pressure that makes you uncomfortable x

[@MollyThompsonx_]

Thank you for sharing your experience!! It can be such a big decision!x

[@roseberry3588]

This is the best advice video I've ever watched. So honest and also if you have learned that not everything (in fact, nothing. Absolutely nothing. And this comes from a Maths degree holder.) is "black and white" then you have already learned more that most uni students ever learn. Great job!

[@MollyThompsonx_]

Thank you so much this is so kind!x

[@TheBeckyElizabeth]

This video is sooo important, I moved away to go to uni in September and immediately knew that it wasn’t right, I lasted about 2 weeks and dropped out 😭 it was the hardest decision I’ve ever made and my life has been far from easy since (been dealing with anxiety about uni/life in general ever since) but I know that it could’ve been so much worse staying where I was when I had such a strong gut feeling that it wasn’t right... The most important thing for me is that dropping out/not going to uni immediately has given me time to properly think about what I want to do- and made me realise that there’s no rush!!! You can go to university at any age and there’s no harm in trying different things until you work it out! I plan on going back to uni (the year after next) somewhere closer to home where I can commute and hopefully it will all work out a lot better. I just wish I had someone to tell me all of this when I first applied in sixth form, because I knew I was unsure but just went along with the crowd because that’s what was expected of me 😭

[@TheBeckyElizabeth]

Also I little note on if anyone is ever in my situation, each uni is different so look it up on their website but I didn’t have to pay any tuition fees for the time that I was at uni even though I had already enrolled, because they had a buffer period which allowed people to drop out (think it was about 4 weeks?) So if you’re seriously considering dropping out, look in to this and be mindful of it because I would’ve had to pay back student finance around £2000 as soon as I left if I had stayed much longer

[@MollyThompsonx_]

this is such an important message because you really do have to do what's right for you, it's so important!! I'm glad you worked that outxx

[@MollyThompsonx_]

this is such an important message because you really do have to do what's right for you, it's so important!! I'm glad you worked that outxx

[@vansf3433]

It depends on your goals of life or what you really want to do with your life whether going to a univ is the best choice for you to make or not If your ambitions are merely about material values , you do not have to get any knowledge at univ levels, while it requires only three things for anyone to be able to accumulate material values successfully 1) grabbing at opportunities faster tgan others 2) know-how to make use of other people's ideas and labour to accumulate material values, while you don't have such abilities as theirs 3) using money wisely That's all what you have to learn to become as rich as you want If your goals of life are not merely spinning around material values, but they are also about other values than material values, then it is always the best choice to have a univ education which always gives you much more knowledge , and thus a broader picture of life for your own personal interests, and also for tye common interests of overall society

[@PhangirlOakley]

Just what I needed!! Thankyou Molly, I literally can’t make up my mind whether to go or not😂

[@laurak5724]

Ahh Molly this is crazy timing! I’ve been following your uni journey with great interest as I have recently graduate high school (I’m in Aus!). I went to uni for a week... I was soooo unsure of what I wanted to do, and I hoped that going to uni would make me find my calling. But uni didn’t feel right and I was so confused. And then I thought, ok I’m going to defer for a year. And I felt this amazing sense of relief!!! I’m so happy with my decision!!! So thank you for sharing your journey Molly, really appreciated xxxxx But also you haven’t written on the screen the other options for what to do after school hahaha. Not a major issue but just thought I’d let you know xxx

[@MollyThompsonx_]

ahhh yeah i completely forgot to do that haha, but yeah that sounds like the perfect solution for you!! sometimes you just need time!x

[@laurak5724]

Beauty Spectrum 😘😘😘

[@kate5093]

Such a fab video!! I love your honesty so much. I moved away from Teesside to Liverpool, loved it for the first year but got so depressed the year after I moved home. I studied at the local uni and 4 years since I moved home I am graduating for the 2nd time this year as a psychological therapist. So anyone reading this comment... go with what makes you happy, and not what you think is expected of you from anyone. Good luck!!

[@MollyThompsonx_]

this is so inspiring, thank you for sharing it!! x

[@kate5093]

Beauty Spectrum aw thanks Molly, you’re so welcome x

[@chloerogers656]

Thank you for this video! I left college last year and I moved away to uni in September but I was reconsidering my decision. I came back home and I’m currently taking a year out and I’m so glad I did because I now know what I want to do as a career and I know that uni is what I want to do and I will be going to university this year! Xx

[@MollyThompsonx_]

thats so good that you've worked it out!! Have fun in september!!xx

[@_paula_860]

Im doing an art foundation course (in London) and personally it has really helped me making my decision about where I want to take my art next. I was sooo confused and stuck for the longest time. XXX

[@SimplyAnais]

i had the worst first year uni experience when i moved to montreal for a year after high school but i am glad i went bc i still had an amazing experience and met one amazing person but i decided to study WHAT I LOVED and change everything ( moving to paris to purse what i love) and honestly to anyone who might needs this, its okay if your first year is not what you expect if it turns out bad, remember that you are not alone and everyone goes thru the same thing also know that theres ALWAYS a solution out there for you❤️

[@MollyThompsonx_]

this is so true and will be so helpful for everyone scared about going!x

[@emilysadler6448]

I think this is so helpful. I’m already in my first year of uni but this would’ve helped me a lot this time last year. There were so many times I thought about dropping out. Now I feel a lot more settled and happy. Xx

[@MollyThompsonx_]

thank you so much, I feel exactly the same!xx

[@aimeewilliamson9131]

This video was sooo needed at this moment in time!!!

[@sarahbennett3243]

Thank you for this! I’m really struggling on if to go or not!!! X

[@CH-os8ed]

Can I just say that I preferred the thumbnail font in your New York videos rather than this one!

[@katherine3980]

Thank you so much for this!! It was so helpful! I definitely feel like there is so much pressure to go to uni from sixth form/teachers etc. I don't know if its for me so I'm doing an art foundation course next year to see if I like it xx

[@agatha_1376]

this video is so good and i really love ur sit down vids, ive loved following ur uni journey aha ilyyyy xx

[@maneskinnnnn7190]

ok your opening credits is ASMR for me, reminds me of my childhood noises

[@Rosie4511]

I left school at 17 and I remember my guidance teacher asking me what I’d be doing, I had to lie and say I was going to college to do a science course just so I could leave school.i remember the look she gave me when I said college. I eventually did go to college and studied health and social care, although the course was good I’m now in a totally different area of work and I feel I sort of wasted 2 years of my life at college. I see lots of people I went to school with have been to uni and because of my teachers too I can’t help but feel like I’m sort of the odd one out. I knew I couldn’t go to uni. I didn’t do too well at school. But I never wanted to go to uni anyway. And the fact that my sister went to uni for 3 years sort of makes me feel like I’m not the good enough person. I don’t even know if that makes sense.😂💕

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I totally get that, theres such a pressure on students by teachers and staff but there is NOOO right or wrong, you do you and dont regret your decisions!x

[@karonfarley3910]

Love this Molly it’s different but in a good way. Love you Molly and hope your week will go well cxx

[@jessh1445]

This video is so helpful, I’m currently in year 12 and have absolutely no idea what I want to do after sixth form, but we’re being pressured into making decisions already. I do English language and English literature and am not sure what other options I have following sixth form, if possible could you do a video/answer the questions about the other options available please? Xx

[@bryonylucas921]

Please can you do a video on living on a budget at uni and all your tips on how to manage money??? I’m going in September and that’s one thing I’m worried about!!

[@MollyThompsonx_]

honestly I'm not the best for this because I'm not in a usual situation because I don't have a loan and I'm awful at budgetting haha, but I think there are some really helpful videos online if you youtube it haha xx

[@bryonylucas921]

Beauty Spectrum I’ll have a look into it! Thank you, this video was SOOO helpful xxx

[@meganduguid8790]

So excited for this video feel like it's going to be really helpful

[@mollyk2654]

Does anyone have any tips for people who are academic & such and do well in exams but gets in the absolute worst state of mind before an exam?

[@rishikamalwankar7483]

Personally, I feel like half of the anxiety comes from just thinking too much before your exam. What I did back at ALevel was to avoid everyone before an exam since they can also, unintentionally, pass on stress towards you. I reckon you just have to keep reminding yourself that as important as the exam may be to you, its not the end of the world if it doesn't go your way x There will be a heck of a lot more plan B's available than you think, Good luck!! xx

[@rachaelmccormack5513]

I agree and I also did that! But another thing if you are thinking of going to uni and are an academic and determined person, is to look for courses that are more coursework/assignment based rather than exam based because then you can channel your knowledge and skills into a piece of work with time to go back over it and not be stressing in an exam about whether you've included everything! Xx

[@millienichols1801]

Such a helpful video, thank you x

[@maneskinnnnn7190]

i moved to London for university from Ireland on my own when I was 18, it was a major culture shock, especially cos I had only been to London once before and didn't know anyone in England at all

[@MollyThompsonx_]

omg wow that must have been a shock!! well done!!x

[@jessbaldwin]

When I was at uni you could drop out in the first 6 weeks and don’t have to pay it back xx

[@savingwithjas9528]

Hi Molly I’m about to watch the video so sorry if you have already answered this question but is it hard to make friends at Uni because it’s one of the things I feel I might find difficult?

[@MollyThompsonx_]

It can be difficult but you do just fall into friendships and it gets easier the longer you're there!x

[@savingwithjas9528]

Okay thanks so much for replying!!

[@AddittiAgrawal]

thank you for this video!

[@kerryhooks862]

Needed this video more than I realised

[@bethhood5356]

I’m in year 12 and I don’t think I like the idea of going to university so I’m considering an apprenticeship relating to finance and wealth management. Do you think an apprenticeship restricts your future career and limits you to working within the same business where you did your apprenticeship ??

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I can see why you might think this but honestly no, I think you can retrain into any profession at any age, I think if you feel like that's what you want to do you should go for it!

[@pollyamelia9481]

I'm going to Cardiff uni in September (hopefully!) And my boyfriend of 4 years is, all being well, joining the RAF at basically the same time. I'm scared shitless about coping with lack of seeing each other and even texting each other 😬

[@MollyThompsonx_]

honestly all you can do is be positive and hope for the best!! You've got this!xx

[@pollyamelia9481]

@@MollyThompsonx_ thank you ❤

[@alin628]

I have commuted to uni now for 2 years and I still am not overly keen 😂

[@bethlangley5485]

Does anyone have any more tips on how to choose between uni’s? I’ve applied for psychology and can’t choose between Nottingham and Cardiff as I really like both and they’ve offered me the same grades!!

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I'd just really recommend going and spending some more time in both places tbh!!xx

[@georgialilyyy7488]

Early squaddd❤️❤️ Loved this xx

[@Kara-ih2io]

This video is so helpful !

[@Ali_lamb]

Amazing loved this

[@niamhleong1393]

I know when I’m at Uni I’ll want to go home quite frequently e.g. once every week/ two weeks but I’m worried people will judge me as even now, when I’ve expressed how I feel, I’ve had people being negative. Did you get this and if so how did you deal with it? Xx

[@neurodivergentdawn]

I have done this so i know how you feel, but if it makes you happy and helps you you should definitely do that! I went home every weekend last semester nearly,and this semester i haven't went home quite as much because i think i am settled in now. If people judge you about this, they probably don't understand how hard uni can be. But if they do get it and still judge you, you don't want anything to do with them. It is your life!

[@niamhleong1393]

@@neurodivergentdawn I'm glad to know someone else is in the same position! Did it help going home frequently?

[@shannybeaar]

I go home most weekends as my boyfriend lives and works full time there. As it becomes your routine people really won’t mind as they just know that’s how you want to live your life. If you get invited to an event at the weekends stay at uni and enjoy it but also make plans at home and go back for that! It’s completely up to you and it’s your life!!

[@niamhleong1393]

@@shannybeaar I hope I meet people who understand at uni.

[@neurodivergentdawn]

@@niamhleong1393 It definitely did. For me i was struggling with my mental health so i felt like i needed to go home to feel better before the next week ahead, and it was a great refresher. I somehow have got used to things now so i don't go home as often but it is reassuring to know the option is there and that it helps!

[@caitlinross3407]

You haven't put AD in the title, very misleading

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I dont have to put ad in the title as the video isn’t a full dedicated sponsor, they’ve just sponsored part of the video, it can be confusing I know, I thought I needed to as well

[@caitlinross3407]

@@MollyThompsonx_ Quite frankly you said in the video you would put it in the title and for the sake of transparency you should have. Putting ad on the screen for only part of the 'sponsored' part of the video is also misleading as then it is very vague in terms of knowing when the actual 'sponsored' part has finished. Also in the description box there is a link for the app but again you haven't mentioned that you were paid to speak about them. I feel like in recent months you've become very ambiguous and not consistent or clear in the slightest when it comes to paid content.

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I think this is really unfair to be honest, I had AD in the title and my manager took it out, they follow the guidelines CONSISTENTLY and help me make sure I'm 100% transparent all of the time. Once I'd uploaded the video I couldn't take out the clip were I'd said it would be in the title. I think it's clear and obvious throughout that I'm getting paid for that section, I'm sorry if it bothers you.

[@caitlinross3407]

@@MollyThompsonx_ I still believe that at the very least you should be disclosing it in the description box.

[@klaudianatalia3268]

So im going to the university of hull in September and im now starting to hear mixed reviews about its night life and the city and what it offers in general. I guess im a little concerned as to how much im going to enjoy my time there now 😕

[@MollyThompsonx_]

It completely depends what you want from the city, having grown up there I was naturally a bit bored of it but I think any new place is exciting and it’s completely to do with the friends you make and how the course is!!

[@No-rb2vw]

Did you need a gcse language to get into uni? It’s just because our school is constantly saying you need a language to get into Uni

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I have a GCSE in French but honestly I think that’s all such a lie, just your school trying to convince you hahah! I know loads of people that don’t have one

[@No-rb2vw]

Beauty Spectrum thanks so much! They are probably just trying to boost there profile.

[@lauren3409]

the only uni I’ve ever seen that requires a language gcse is UCL !!

[@No-rb2vw]

Lauren :) yeh it’s only the best universities.And I don’t really want to move away after seeing what my brother will be staying in.

[@KateAshworth]

Are you there for just one year, or longer? And what is your plan for the next year after this foundation course? 😊 xx

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I'm just here for a year, until May!! I'm going to do KZbin full time as of then and see how it goes haha!xx

[@KateAshworth]

@@MollyThompsonx_ awesome idea 😁 it's so good of you to stick uni out til the end even though you think it's a pointless course lol 😊 xx

[@emilybassett6803]

I live like 40 minutes to an hour from central London and have thought about living at home while going to university, what is your opinion on this situation? 💜

[@maneskinnnnn7190]

it's better to move to where your uni is, when commuting, you miss out on some of the experience

[@MollyThompsonx_]

I do think that if you're commuting you can miss out on some experiences and things that are only experienced there, howeverrrr if you feel like you'll be really homesick and want to save money living at home could be for the best!??

[@emilybassett6803]

Beauty Spectrum thank you for the help ❤️

[@emilybassett6803]

Dragon Fly thanks 👍🏼

[@betsyflintsmith1549]

Does anybody know if (say after you get your results or before) there are any apps where you can talk to people who are applying to your course and uni the same year you are?

[@neurodivergentdawn]

The student room!

[@betsyflintsmith1549]

Stephanie when do people tend to start using it? Also is it normal to like overthink all life choices about uni after applying? Anyone help me out please already nervous 😅

[@annabelosman7105]

Betsy FS campus society is good!

[@rachaelmccormack5513]

Try searching for a group on Facebook (my course had one but I'm not sure if this is a common thing ) or see if there's a 2019 applicants group for the university and then put a post in asking if anyone is on the same course :) xx

[@betsyflintsmith1549]

Amazing thanks guys xx

[@Emma-vi2pi]

Omg was the uni you looked at in London Ravensbourne.. went to an open day there and hated it 😫

[@amandamakesstuff1383]

Its Emma Yes Thats the one she went to! She vlogged it AS well

[@MollyThompsonx_]

Yesss it was!!

[@aazeem398]

why

[@Emma-vi2pi]

@@aazeem398 just gave me weird vibes as a whole and experienced really rude and arrogant people working there. didn't have a clue what was going on and felt completely out of place. bad area for living aswell. if you want a normal uni experience where you will actually be able to make friends etc then its a big no

[@aazeem398]

@@Emma-vi2pi it was really that bad?? was it the staff who was rude and how dou u mean its a bad area

[@nimrahahmed1902]

I’m first #earlysquad btw I love your videos

[@caoilinnneal2291]

Love you

[@serinat2181]

Hi, How are you? I watched this and I am already at uni aha

[@alexsmith1800]

I've applied for uni in September and made all my choices and everything, but I love my job but because I work at McDonalds, everyone thinks I can do so much better and I don't know what to do. My head is a complete mess as everyone expects me to go to uni because I'm smart and all that shit but I love my job... Urg

[@rachelsophie5773]

I hated uni with a passion & much preferred working at McDonald’s... (I ended up working there for 6 years haha) I did finish uni but I’ve never regretted doing McDonald’s full time. Do what your heart says! Good luck ❤️

[@maisiedarby9339]

why is ad not in the title?

[@lucylocket118]

I regret going to uni

[@princesschi7689]

Why

[@peter11612]

put #AD in the title Molly, I wasted my time clicking on this advertisement.

[@MollyThompsonx_]

It’s not a full sponsored video so it doesn’t need ad in the title as long as it’s in the description and the video itself, the advice is the same wether it’s sponsored or not it shouldn’t make any difference between you watching it

[@aazeem398]

@@MollyThompsonx_ Why u getting so much hate for not put AD in the title

[@nicoledsylva4580]

FIRSTTT

[@Itwasntmeitwaspatricia]

You’ve wasted so much money on uni (and time) :(

[@MollyThompsonx_]

It hasn’t actually cost me anything at all other then the rent of the flat, which obviously is a lot but I wanted to try moving out into Leeds