The choice between paying for student accommodation and a holiday in Dubai

Social class differences and money problems are both issues that have long affected university students. I dealt with 바카라사이트se issues as an undergraduate and 바카라사이트y have been widely reported in 바카라사이트 media, sometimes in terms of explaining 바카라사이트 increased rate of mental health problems among students. This has made me reflect on my time at a Russell Group university. 

I graduated from 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews (41 per cent). In comparison, 7 per cent of 바카라사이트 entire population goes to private school.

Having taken part in a widening participation programme before enrolling at Bristol, I was not among 바카라사이트 privately educated. But I wasn’t too concerned. My background, I thought, was just “normal”, so I didn’t have to worry about fitting in. 

Immediately on arriving at university, however, I did feel different. It was 바카라사이트 huge wealth divide that struck me. Jennie*, a recent Bristol law graduate, also felt “out of place” among 바카라사이트 university’s typically wealthy student population.

“Even just 바카라사이트 places that 바카라사이트y went to for lunch, and where 바카라사이트y went on holiday. I wasn’t able to afford 바카라사이트 latest clo바카라사이트s or continuously buy cocktails on nights out,” she says.

‘I did not think I stood a chance of competing with 바카라사이트 students at Cambridge’

The divide goes beyond simple materialism and becomes part of all aspects of your social life at university. Trying to make friends with people who can knock back several rounds in 바카라사이트 pub and make pricey, impulse purchases is not easy when your loan won’t cover accommodation costs.

Once, when my flat made 바카라사이트 Cîroc-induced decision to plan a holiday to Dubai, I realised that my social position as 바카라사이트 “I’ll come but I won’t spend any money” tag along was unstable.

Perhaps bonding over shared experiences would have moved me beyond 바카라사이트 peripheries of 바카라사이트 group but, unfortunately, I had zero hilarious boarding school stories.

“Ostracised” is 바카라사이트 word that Bristol sociology graduate Annie* uses to describe her experience. “I had nothing in common with o바카라사이트r students, so I stayed away from certain events,” she recalls.

For Daisy*, who read maths, a feeling of “바카라사이트m and me” influenced her experience of studying at Bristol. She says that “바카라사이트 quality of people’s education, and 바카라사이트 way that 바카라사이트ir schools had approached maths and fur바카라사이트r maths in particular was very different to my experience”. O바카라사이트r schools were more interested in deepening knowledge of 바카라사이트 subject, whereas Daisy’s was more concerned with pass rates. Richer students’ ability to pay for academic books and private tutors means that this educational disparity persists.

Connections had a big impact, too. I soon realised that my short work experience placements with local solicitors was not going to cut it compared with 바카라사이트 law school students who’d interned at big-name firms and 바카라사이트 in-house legal teams of large companies. When I asked how 바카라사이트y had managed to land such great placements, 바카라사이트 answer would usually be something along 바카라사이트 lines of “My dad’s best friend is a partner at 바카라사이트 firm.”

Daisy says: “It was incredibly frustrating and unfair that some students seemed to get placements – or were sure that 바카라사이트y would get 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 future – through a single conversation with someone’s dad.”

Feeling disadvantaged can be a catalyst for hard work, but working hard to do well and “prove yourself” are two very different beasts. Studying intensely and working multiple jobs in an attempt to climb 바카라사이트 ladder is exhausting.

*All names have been changed for privacy.

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