1. What do those considering university in
the future have to say?

2. Andy Clarke, 19,
Labourer
“Well I decided that rather than do A Levels I
would do a part-time plastering degree at
college whilst also working for my dad’s firm. I’ve
really enjoyed working with my dad the last
three years but I’ve decided that I would like go
to university in September as I’ve seen some of
my friends leave and have a great time and think
I need to do the same. I still want to be some
sort of labourer but I now feel that I need to do a
bit of growing up and university is a great place
to do that. If I could go back I would probably
have gone to university this year rather than
wait, especially now that the tuition fees have
gone up. I think it’s getting a bit ridiculous and it
just seems to me that the government just want
to make as much money as possible, and put this
ahead of people getting a decent education.”

3. Emma Hicks, 17,
Student
“I feel quite annoyed about the
tuition fees and I don’t see how it can
be fair that I am one of the first
people who is going to have to pay at
least triple the amount the people in
the year above had to pay. I feel like
I’m being handicapped for wanting to
go out there and earn a living through
getting a solid education. It’s like the
government is punishing me for
wanting to contribute to society. I
could easily finish school and sit
around all day and live off benefits.”

4. Sukh Duzgun, 17,
Student
“I have never been interested in
university if I’m honest. I currently am at
college and then hope to get a job and
work my way up. I’ve never been the
intellectual type and I’m not from a
particularly well-off family and so I’ve
never looked at university as something I
have to do. Now that the fees have gone
up, thanks to the Conservatives and Nick
Clegg, I definitely am not considering
university or a degree – I simply can’t
afford it. I think there are a lot of people
in this situation and I also think a lot less
younger people trust politicians as a
result now.”

5. Irni Koulovasilopolous,
16, Student
“I won’t be going to university for
another two years so perhaps I don’t feel
as mad as some other people do as it’s
not like I’ve just missed out on cheaper
fees. I still want to go to university as I
want to become a lawyer and this is the
only way I can get a career at the end of
the day. I’m just going to work hard now,
hopefully go through university and if I
give it my all, hopefully I’ll be wealthy
enough to pay back my debt. Most of my
friends are going to university. Nowadays
it’s almost like a rite of passage and I
don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone who is
put off by the fees, it’s just one those
things.”

6. Joshua
Reeve, 18, Student
“Personally I’d rather I was a year older and
didn’t have to pay the extra fees. Provided I
get the grades I need to get to uni then I
think I will just have to except that it’s the
going rate at the moment. I hope in the
future that the government can look at this
and drop the price of an education. I know a
lot of people older than me who voted and I
know that they no longer trust Nick Clegg or
the Liberal Democrats anymore and I think
it’s going to take a few generations until
they can be trusted again. I’m finding A
Levels hard enough but knowing that I am
going to come out of this process, if I get to
university, in huge debt is a bit off putting
but if I want to get a good job, I need to go.”

7. Elizabeth Berry, 19,
Store Assistant
“Well I had wanted to do midwifery at university
but I didn’t get the grades last summer and
found a job at Next. At the moment I’m torn. I
could quite easily carry on with this job and live
without the fear of debt and be earning some
money at the same time. But I also want to be a
midwife, and grow up and meet new friends and
get to know myself which I can’t really do at the
moment. The problem is that if I go to university
I’m going to be in more debt than any of my
other friends. My boyfriend is at university and
at times I feel quite lonely as all my friends are
off meeting new people but I’m still stuck in the
same town, but I know that if I went to university
now, I’d just keep thinking I’ve wasted a year of
my life in terms of education.”

8. Matt
Newbould, 17, Studen
t
“I would like to go to university, as my sister
is currently in her second year and it seems
great. I think you just have to accept that
you’re gonna have to pay a lot of money but
if you work hard when you are there, I’m
sure you will get rewarded for it. If I get to
uni, and get a job I will be earning more than
people who go straight into a job and will be
able to eventually pay off my debt. I don’t
know if I blame the government really
though. I don’t trust Nick Clegg
anymore, and I will never ever vote for Lib
Dems but I understand that we are in a
recession and need to get as much money in
as possible. The price of tuition fees doesn’t
put me off, I just need to knuckle down now
and get the grades.”