Tracym

I'm not sure of all the details, but there are circumstances where school loans in the US can be deferred for years, I know someone who's done it. I think perhaps there are some income limits (much lower than the UK though I suspect).

I think what Keith was talking about with the loans, and living expenses etc. - not to say it costs more in the UK, I'm sure it doesn't. But there's a limit to the loan amount per year, which he believes wouldn't cover tuition and lodging costs etc. without some other money from somewhere. Apparently Tony Blair reduced government help for education (so I'm told, tell me if that's wrong).

In the U.S., parents are expected to contribute. But if they're poor, or someone's going to college after they are independent, I believe that loans sufficient to cover tuition and lodging (at least at a state school) are available.

Lycanthrop

Ch-ch-ch.......chaaanges.....

We'll all probably meet somewhere in the middle.......

Bob

aye, true, but the normal out there is 3 years, plus one for honours, whilst the norm in the rest of the UK is 3 years including honours, as long as you get the grades for it.

Bob

oh sure, some people can defer for years, but the threshold is just above being on welfare, so not viable for most people.

And student loans in the UK, yes, they are crap, but they are expected to just cover tuition, your expected to work or get student overdraft/credit card to cover costs...and most banks offer interest free overdrafts and credit cards with a good limit, £1500 a year, and you have 3 years to pay it off interest free after you graduate unless you got for a masters, with HSBC at least. You do get more money for loans if your studying in London, which is how I blagged more money because my main campus was in Uxbridge, so I used that address.....people studying in Oxford would certainly struggle to come up with the cash without rich folks or a job....but then again, there's plenty of student jobs in cafes, pubs and various shops.

unicorndreams

Hi Ash,
Seems like alot of us on here have that problem.
Its weird.
Does it just get harder ?
Like you it was very different for me back in uk.
Here I have some friends but we mainly meet for holiday things or each others Birthdays. And that can be months in between times.
Realise how much easier it was just hanging out at home with mates.
Dont have the "Best Friend" thing here where I could tell them anything.
And I guess the only way we will make new friends is to join some groups.
Does seem like church is the big thing. But thats not for me either.

Take care.

simongb

There are 300 million plus people in this country. I am sure that there is a friend out there for you! I guess I have become Americanised as I use my OUTLOOK calendar to schedule meet ups with friends. I think it's just part of being busy and wanting to respect each others time. When I am at home in the UK and friends just 'pop round', I can find that intrusive, but I do 'go with the flow'. At first, however, I found the US quite isolating. I think that this was because people drive everywhere, people stay in their clicks, people my age (late 30's) are married with kids for the most part and I am not (divorced).One thing I found here was that if someone is in a relationship they tend to spend most of their time with their partner or with other couples. People in couples don't mix with singles (I am generalising). Also, people in couples don't often go out on their own with their same gender friends. I found people in England much more flexible about friendships and the types of friendships they had. When I was married and I said to my wife that we should have one night a week to go out with our own friends or maybe go out with work colleagues for happy hour, she found that very strange. Most of my family members do that kind of thing in the UK. I have since accepted these differences, but they can still be difficult for me.