the Book Pond

Princes Quay Student Discount Night

2014-09-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hull shopping centre Princes Quay is holding its first ever student discount event on Thursday 23rd October 2014, and The Book Pond will be there!

Come and see us on our stand from 6pm to 9pm. We will have leaflets, and free sweets. Come and see how we could help you save money on university textbooks. Spend that money on something more interesting, like shoes. Or cake. Or music.

Princes Quay is Hull's biggest shopping centre, housing shops galore, eateries, a gym, and a Vue cinema. Lots of shops are giving huge student discounts on the night, including The Fragrance Shop, and Dorothy Perkins. Selected stores are offering up to 50% discounts on some products. Princes Quay is in a great part of town, and the centre is built upon the historic Princes Dock. It's a short walk from the interchange.

The event is being hosted by Nineties Boy (Luke Chambers), and there will be lots of fun games and activities to join in. There will be bowling by Hollywood Bowl, and beer tents from local pubs and clubs. It's certain to be an evening of fun and shopping carnage.

So come and support your uni town's shops, grab yourself a bargain (or three), and please come and say hello to us on our stand. We really want to help more of you save money on buying university textbooks, so come and talk to us and find out how we work.

You can find out more by following the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/822153144472626/

Who am I? What does your personality type mean?

2013-11-19T07:13:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about the sort of person you are?

Recently, I discovered a psychometric test commonly known as the Briggs-Meyer test. I may be waaaaaay behind the curve here but if you haven't done it I highly recommend that you do.

The test is 75% accurate. It gives you a four letter personality type from sixteen recognised types. The type of personality that you have can give a good indication of the careers you could try, and outlines your desirable qualities and also what you, for want of a better phrase, might want to work on.

Try the test here Human Metrics and come back and tell me what you are and if it's accurate for you. I'm really interested.

Me? I'm INTJ. This is the rarest group. For me as a female, it's even more rare. My good points are that I'm reliable, intelligent, and able to build systems to help others. I'm fiercey independent and capable. My challenges are that I'm not overly good at expressing my feelings and tend to assume everyone else is an idiot if they don't see things from my perspective. It's pretty accurate for me. I need to work on some stuff.

It told me that I should have a career as a scientist (probably too late for me), an academic (I'm working on it), or as a business consultant (which is partly what I do for a day job).

It also says that if I was a Harry Potter character, I would be Draco. I disagree that Draco Malfoy is an INTJ (he's a bit of a bumbling idiot). Not everyone who has an evil mind is INTJ. Evil mastermind possibly, but Draco was never a mastermind, more an evil puppet. Anyway, I digress.

So please do come back and share. I want to see if any of you are lesser-spotted female INTJs and how many of you I need to convince that I'm always right about everything and you should listen to everything I tell you! :)

* Please come and follow us on Pinterest. We do funny stuff and student shizzle. And we'll follow you back, promise! *

Brilliant study tips - from me (and them) to you!

2013-11-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

As part of my (ir)regular foray into sharing with you some of the wisdom I have built up after studying for both an under-graduate degree and a master's degree, I have passed on much advice; some of it good, some of it not so good. One of the things I have written about are study tips. In particular I have discussed best ways to meet deadlines, and reasons why students fail.

I'm always conscious when writing these pieces that I might be throwing you a duff. After all, we all have our different ways of studying and learning and what works for me might not work for you. All I can do is tell you what worked and what I observed in others so you can make a judgement about whether it's worth your while trying it for yourself. Hey, I'm not the be-all-and-end-all of knowledge. Far from it!

In previous articles, the wisdom I imparted went like this....

1) go to lectures and seminars. Attendance is important!

2) Read the textbooks.

3) Try and predict what will be tested so you can prepare. The reading list is often a bit of a giveaway. Also, read the module handbook.

5) Pay attention to deadlines and don't be late with anything

6) Use your diary to keep track of exams and assignment hand-ins

7) Create a study time-table and set appropriate priorities

8) Speak to your tutor if things start to slip.

I don't think it was anything radical, but I wanted to make sure I was talking sense, so I asked our followers on Twitter for their best study tips.

Helen said "do the reading that's suggested."

Melissa said "Be prepared! Don't leave everything to the last minute. Read loads and research."

So there you go........they agree with me!

There are no tricks to help you or short-cuts. Read, read, read, do your preparation, and don't leave it too late. Advice not just from me, but from some kind Twitter folk too.

If you've got any to add yourself, please comment below.

Cheap University Textbooks from theBookPond.com

2013-09-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here are some great textbooks that are on www.theBookPond.com right now! If you want to buy them, then please register with us and contact the seller directly. No P&P charges, no fees.

The Study Skills Handbook Third Edition by Stella Cottrell
Available at The University of Middlesex, this book is in good condition and at £5 is cheaper than a major online book retailer, and there's no waiting around!

Essentials of Economics by John Sloman
Yes, you can buy this book at the same price online (£15) but if you're at Glasgow Caledonian, you can have this book now and save P&P charges. Go look!

The Law Student's Dictionary by J.E. Penner
For £14, students of Nottingham Trent can have their own copy tout suite.

Operations Management Sixth Edition by Slack, Chamber, Johnston
Way down in Exeter, there are a selection of management books available. Go take a nosy.

The Penguin Book of Renaissance Verse 1509-1659 by David Norbrook
At York St John University for a bargain price of £5. Do you need this book?

Frank Lloyd Wright (Architecture & Design) (Hardcover) by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer
Available at Brunel Uni for only £5!! Crazy talk.

There you have it. If you need any of these books, or more, please visit our textbook trading site at www.theBookPond.com and see if any of your fellow students are trying to sell the book you are trying to buy. Cut out the middleman!

Fresher’s guide to getting home in one piece after a night out

2013-08-27T06:57:00.001-07:00

This is a guest post from David at TheUniPod.com

All the mums and dads at home are going to worry about their children at university; what will they eat? Will they be happy? Will they meet nice, new people? Will they be motivated to study? Will they get home in one piece after a night out? Hmm.

When making your choice of university these are things which don’t even come into your mind, but come Fresher’s Week, and students will tell you that some of these are easier than others; bunging a pizza in the oven is classed as cooking in the student world and scoffing it whilst in bed with a DVD is an acceptable and rather content way to dine. There will be a bit of studying and there will be a bit of fun. All students can confirm this, but getting home in one piece is quite often a blur for many and they sometimes won’t be able to tell you how they managed it.

It’s easy enough to drink yourself into a merry state, let’s admit that, and when you’re at home in a familiar town getting home is freakishly embedded into your brain, even when severely intoxicated. I’ve got some news for you. Getting drunk in a new town during Fresher’s week may be great fun… up until the moment when you literally haven’t a clue where you are and you can no longer hear the buzz of the club or bar in the distance. Here are a few tips for getting home in one piece:

It’s a good idea to jot down not only your address but a couple of “landmarks” or directions on your phone and save them in the notes section. Or, take a photo of the information so that it’s easy to find if you’re fingers aren’t cooperating with your brain (it’s happened to all of us!). Jotting down “landmarks” is pretty funny if you’re in a group as you’ll almost feel as if you’re hunting for your university, but still feel safe as you know it’s hiding nearby somewhere.

Most university towns offer an ingenious taxi service scheme that could save you if you’re one of those incredibly generous people always buying rounds and end up with no money at the end of every night out. This is problematic, unless you sign up for this pre-paid taxi service that basically uses your card details to pay for any journey home that you need. This is a great one for reassuring the parents and also means that you can relax knowing that you’ll get home safely not only during Fresher’s week but for the entire university year.

Some universities, like Leicester, for example, really do care that you come back from a night out in one piece - almost as much as your parents - and they offer bus services from the student union to halls. This is a God-send if you’re attending a city university and don’t fancy stumbling down roads that seem to look increasingly unfamiliar on your way home back to halls. It’s also a cheaper option than getting a cab, so despite all the moans about university fees you’ll be grateful they sorted you out on this one.

If you’re a cheeky student from Sunderland you will even be able to take advantage of Station Taxis “free” lift home if you’ve run out of money. All you simply have to do is show your Student Union Membership card and then sign an account at the end of your journey as confirmation. The Student Union pay for the lift and then when you reclaim your Membership Card you simply pay them back.

These kind of schemes are becoming ever more common at universities, so be sure it’s one of the first things you check in Fresher’s week. Getting back to university halls or accommodation in one piece despite wibble-wobble-walking may be easier than you thought- this is something I definitely learned as a Fresher in my first year at university. With that being said I am not encouraging that binge drinking reputation we all seem to have as students! Enjoy yourself but also be safe!

How to market to UK students

2013-08-12T05:59:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I received a message from a TheBookPond user. They said they loved the site and it was a great idea but there are not enough books on there, and that I should do a marketing event at the local university to get more interest.

They're right. The site is a good idea, and there are not enough books listed on there, and I SHOULD do a marketing event at the local university. However, and I am grateful for all the feedback and interaction I get about theBookPond, I just don't have the budget to be able to market to students in the way that larger companies do.

Take my local university for example. The University of Hull is a great institution. There are around 17,000 students there. The student's union is one of the best in the UK and frequently wins various awards. It is also hideously expensive for small businesses to get involved with. A stall at the annual freshers fair costs hundreds of pounds. An official one-off event on campus costs hundreds in exhibition stand material alone, before you've even paid the students union for use of their space.

I could potentially spend hundreds of pounds and never see any return. Even if I get lots of students using the site, I won't make that sort of money back in site sponsorship or advertising. I have other things to waste my money on.

Marketing to students on campus without paying will mean I am banished from the campus forever. Marketing to students around the campus area takes time I just haven't got.

I did once go out and speak to students armed with sweets and leaflets. I got 12 email address. 12. We were out for two hours. Please don't tell me this is an efficient use of my time because my experience suggests otherwise.

Please don't think that I am here all day long waiting for people to use the site. I have four children, I also work part-time (paid) as a copywriter and social media manager. I have to prioritise my family and paid work. As much as I'd love to spend time out there talking to students and drumming up interest in the site, it just doesn't pay back for me.

So I have to look at other methods. I have put leaflets and posters up around various universities as I have visited them. I have done at least Hull, Durham and Edinburgh. I get pretty good results from this. Sadly, the posters are all taken down at the end of term (or before if I'm unlucky), and I can't get to all 117 UK universities (and rising) every single term. I am not omnipotent, contrary to rumours.

I have put leaflets through doors in student areas in Hull and Durham. Again, this takes time and effort, but is fairly easy to do. But again, the numbers don't justify me doing this very often.

I have also paid others to do this for me in other areas of the UK with mixed results. I have to rely on them doing the job I'm paying for and not just cashing the cheque and dumping the leaflets.

Also, I have to consider that anything I do will have to be repeated at least every three years to catch the new students, if not every year.

A big draw to our site is via search engines. I know people are finding the site. Lots of people. I know these people are looking for places to sell their textbooks free of charge (because that's what the search terms indicate). But people aren't being brave and listing their books with us. I can't do much about this I'm afraid. People have to list them for there to be a large enough stock of books to give people the confidence to list them. I'm currently stuck in critical mass purgatory.

I try and get articles with back-links on authoritative blogs as much as I can. I have made some great connections doing this. But it's hard work again. The good blogs that target students are few and far between. There is no community in student blogging and marketing like there is in other blogging genres like parenting or fashion for example. Bloggers are often suspicious of being approached by someone they've never heard of before. I have other blogs. I know that getting content on to blogs without any form of payment is tricky. I am grateful to those that have let me guest post. But there is a limit to how much I can do this.

Did I ever tell you that once we were featured on BBC Click!? Are you sure? Anyway, we were. (Click on the box top right of this page to see it). This got us a mass of interest and registrations. And about 20 books listed. 20. This is the BBC for goodness sakes! Worldwide. 20!! What do we need to do to convince you to use the site?

Our best shot at getting the site publicised with minimal budget is through social media. We are on Facebook and Twitter as you may know. Twitter is easy peasy to do but gets marginal results per tweet. Facebook gets better results but is much harder work, especially when no-one's listing books to create something to talk about. I don't just want to spout nonsense on there - posting random pictures of cats in hats, or cute kids with humorous captions just to get the 'likes' up. Honestly, I would rather stab hot pokers in my eyes.

I also know that running competitions to increase page likes and retweets have excellent results (depending on the value of the prize offered) but that the new likers are mainly compers who won't hang around. I'd rather just give the cash equivalent to someone who's been genuinely using the site rather than a random new liker who buggers off again as soon as the closing date passes.

Right at the launch of the site all those years ago, I did a prize draw for £100 vouchers for all those who listed books by a certain date. We ended the draw less than 100 books better off, and some of those were mine. That's more than £1 a book to get it listed. Someone got a nice Christmas present with the vouchers, which is brilliant, but I can't be effectively paying people to use the site. It's madness.

So, students of the UK and other interested peeps, I need your help! I need to know if theBookPond.com was your website, what would you do? Bonus points if you're doing a marketing degree.

What suggestions do you have of getting more people to a) Know about the site and b) feel confident enough to list their books with us?

See, once enough books are listed, the buyers will find the site, I promise. All our listings are individually indexed with the major search engines and plenty of people have found our site by searching for a specific title to buy, or through a more general term like "engineering books in Glasgow". We need more academic textbooks listed to attract those buyers looking to save cash. If we build it, they will come!

Any suggestions you could give me would be awesome because I am fast running out of ideas. And money. And the will to live.

I know this sounds like a negative article and in many ways it is, but I'd like to use it to turn things into a positive.

Thanks

From Miss Hopeful (and Jeff the duck)

How to save money on costly utility bills

2013-07-02T03:18:00.002-07:00

Today, we have a guest - Luke from The Student Blogger.

Hello ladies and gentlemen! I'm Luke, aged 22 and from sunny old Essex! As of June 2013 I’m a graduate of Birmingham City University from the Applied Performance course, from my experiences I decided to start blogging, of all my experiences from university life, from housing and money saving to day to day life. Hopefully this will help someone!

Here are Luke's tips for saving money on utility bills......

"Everybodys favourite word, BILLS, you take this for granted when living at home but you soon realise that everything costs money, from watching TV, eating, taking a shower and being able to see in a room which isn’t like a fridge freezer! Having to shell out so much money on them can seem a pain, however there are some things you can do to help minimise the amount you spend.

Use price comparison sites to ensure you're not paying more than you have to

(An average customer can save £100′s over one year just by switching to a cheaper company. Remember that new TV you’ve always wanted?)

Money Supermarket

uSwitch

Sites like these are your best buddy as a student, they will help you to find the cheapest tariff for your home, but remember to have those energy bills ready because you’ll need to input some figures to calculate the costs, or you can estimate your usage by home averages. You’ll often receive a discount for signing a longer contract however they may impose charges for leaving early, so always read the small print! Remember our guide on saving money whilst shopping? You can get cash back on your energy ‘shopping’ as well!

Turn down your thermostat

It costs more money to heat a home at a higher temperature and by turning your temperature dial down by just one degree, you could end up saving around 10% on your energy bill. That’s equivalent to about £55, which is a massive saving for something you probably won’t notice. It pays to be savvy!

Use your heating at night

It’s a well-known fact that energy is cheaper at night, so it makes sense to use the bulk of it then. Try to put off heating your house and your water until after 7pm, or if you need to have it on before, have it on a lower setting. If you find that heating is costing you too much, it may be worth investigating whether you can switch to another tariff, which suits your usage better.

Use energy saving light bulbs

Energy savers use less energy than traditional light bulbs to generate the same amount of light, however they can take a little while to warm up, so plan your light switch on time strategically! They can also save you a huge chunk your energy costs. Go out and buy some!

Don’t leave the light on

This is common sense. Though you might forget to flick the switch when you leave, there are no advantages to leaving the lights on; it’s bad for the environment and bad for your bank balance. Try leaving post-its by the switches and get into the habit of stopping and thinking before you walk out of the room.

Turn your electronics off

This applies to Xbox/PS3′s, TV’s, laptops, the whole lot! — if you are not using them, they are costing you money for no reason!

Save your washing up for one wash

A brilliantly popular money saving technique that seems too good to be true! However, rather than heating water in drips and drabs, it is far better to boil the kettle and fill a washing up bowl with water to do all those dirty dishes in one go. Go on, we’ll let you use us as an excuse to put it off for a little longer, just this once.

Shower, don’t use the bath!

Using the bath is far more expensive to showering, especially if you like filling yours to the top (like me!). Consider the bath a treat and hop in the shower to get clean, plus knock off those extra few minutes you spend in the shower each day and you’ll be saving yourself even more!

And if all else fails, stock up on lots of jumpers and blankets and be prepared to walk around in your duvet!"

Thank you to Luke for sharing those tips with us!

Beyond the student union building

2013-06-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

As soon as you start at university you will be bombarded with information about finance, accommodation, and study skills. Every local pub will be vying for your custom, every local clothing shop fighting to get you to spend your money with them. The student market is huge with millions of pounds being spent in the UK alone. Students can easily use more than £2,000 a year on living costs alone, without even thinking about accommodation. With over 1 million full-time students in the UK at any one time, that is a lot of money up for spending.

A lot of this money will be spent within the university itself, through its official accommodation agency and its various shops, bars and services. But on-campus businesses are not the only ones to cater to the needs of the modern student. There is life beyond the four walls of the student union building, or indeed beyond actual bricks and mortar. These are just some of the independent services that I have found over the last few years which could be of interest to you.

Job Shop

Forget about the university careers and job centre. Some employers can take advantage of your student status to get cheaper labour, which is fair enough. However, you should consider selling your services and skills to someone through StudentGems.com. This is a site where you can register your skills and talents (such as copywriting, photography, or web development) and find someone to pay you for one-off projects. Yes, they’re still wanting cheaper labour, but you’ll probably earn more than working in a local take-away and you can build up your portfolio in the meantime.

Accommodation

Official university accommodation is usually better quality than private accommodation, mostly, though it can be more expensive. There are alternatives to both university and private accommodation though. Through UniHomeSwap.co.uk, you can find another student to swap your rooms in your family house with. This won’t suit everyone, but is worth a look and could save you and your financial sponsors (i.e. Mum and Dad) thousands of pounds a year.

Art

If your university projects have the potential to earn you money, then you need to look further afield than the university campus. Although some universities have business development and start up facilities and resources to help you kick-start your fledgling business, these sometimes tend toward business in the science and technology sectors. If your potential lies more in the art production industry, then take a look at BuyStudentArt.co.uk, who help sell your products to the general public on a commission basis.

Textbooks

Most universities have a bookshop and very handy they are too. They always have a good stock of the exact books your lecturers have recommended for your course. But textbooks are not cheap and honestly, you won’t use them that much, though it’s always better to have them than not come the essay deadlines. Try using a site like us, TheBookPond.com to buy your books from another student first. Or check out your department noticeboard for buying used books and other essential course items.

Careers

Your university careers service is going to be one of the best on-campus resources available to you, even if you don’t realise it until the very end. Please use them. Don’t forget though that there are other companies to help you in your graduate job search. Most of us will have heard of milkround.com, but what about newer and smaller companies like giveagradago.com? Always worth a look to broaden your reach.

What independent companies have you found useful that you would recommend to other UK university students?

The battle between e-books and traditional textbooks

2013-05-25T12:43:00.002-07:00

I have said it before. I am a huge fan of traditional printed media. I think that certain publications will weather the storm that has been whipped up by the introduction and development of e-books, indeed some publications will thrive on it. However, I am more cynical about the application of technology to university textbooks.

This infographic below (totally borrowed by the way - Source: http://www.onlinedegrees.org/e-textbooks-vs-print-textbooks) shows how university/college textbooks fare against their up-and-coming e-book rivals.

The one thing that rings true with me, and the biggest driver behind my development of www.thebookpond.com was the fact that real books can be re-sold. If you look at the price of buying a new book and then selling it at a reduced price, more often than not, it's a better value alternative to e-books or textbook rental. That's my thinking anyway.

What do you think? Do you agree with the facts on the infographic?

Some advice for new mature students

2013-01-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

We're not all teenagers, you know!

Mature students have different expectations from university and are often looking for different outcomes from studying than younger students. For many mature students though, having life experience does not make attending university and studying any less daunting.

This is a guest post from Sian, a mature student who blogs over at offcumden.com.

Have you been accepted at university? Are you over 25?

Last year I was in the same position as you. Here is my guide to the first year of university as a mature student.

Fresher's week.

I have to admit that I only went in twice in Fresher's week, to register and to go to a course outline lecture. I live a long way away from uni so I knew I wouldn't get a chance to join any of the clubs or societies. If you live closer, or even on campus, then there are so many activities that you can sign up for. There are loads of socials as well.
I think Fresher's week is mainly aimed at settling people into university life and getting to know people on nights out.
Be grateful that you are not 18 or 19 again. So many of them are having a really tough time away from home for the first time.
Expect that people will be impressed by you having a car! It surprised me but I guess they thought I was the same age.

First few weeks of the first term

Talk to everyone you can, in lectures, seminars, common room, toilets, wherever.
Don't admit how old you are (unless you are asked obviously). I found that as soon as I admitted to being older quite a few people stopped talking to me! Luckily I had made some good friends by then so it didn't matter so much.
Try and find other mature students on your course. I didn't have any doing the same course as me but there were others studying different subjects who were in the same college as me.
Work out your timetable and stick to it. If you are anything like me then you will have children, housework and a husband to juggle as well as university. I made a timetable and stuck to it.
If you want to talk to 18 year old boys, it seems the thing to learn about is Pokemon! Don't admit to having played it on your Game Boy though. It makes you look really old!

Expect the unexpected

Your lecturer might accidentally show you porn on YouTube during a seminar. You know that he will ALWAYS check the link he is about to click on in the future. The look on his face will stick with you forever!
When a boy turns up covered in red paint to a tutorial and smelling of booze, don't be surprised when he admits to having just woken up in bed with a boy and a red girl! To be fair, he did come to the tutorial, most people wouldn't have bothered.
If you are studying more than one subject, don't expect that the departments will communicate with each other. Indeed, I have found the majority of administration to be frustrating and completely inflexible towards mature students.
Don't expect the amount student finance have told you that you will receive is a definite amount. It can and possibly will change, especially if you have given them childcare costs.

Organise

You have very little time. Make the most of all of it.
Treat university like work. I am there 9-5. When not in seminars or lectures, I am in the library. This way I don't have to work in the evenings.
If you drive to university then record your notes and play them to yourself on the journey. There is more chance that you will learn them then.

Relax

Learning is tiring.
Juggling everything in life is tiring.
Commuting to university is tiring.
Make some time for yourself and grab every second that you get.
Don't worry about housework, one day you will get the place straight!

Congratulations. You are going to have an amazing time. You will meet some great people. It is hard work but really is a fabulous experience.

Thanks to Sian for sharing her experience so far with us. If you are a mature student starting university soon, we wish you very well, and hope you have a good experience, even if it differs a little from that of the younger ones around you.

We have been featured........

2012-12-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our friends at student accommodation know-it-alls unihomeswap.co.uk, we have been featured on a neat little video. It is aimed at sixth form students and is designed to help them make an informed choice on university accommodation, exploring the different options available and the pros and cons of each.

We have been name checked in the money saving tips section towards the end. Have a look. Feel free to share this with any prospective students that you know. As graduates who have spent time at university themselves, we think there is some great advice here from people who obviously know their onions.

Thank you!

How An Old Book Can Land You A Dream Job

2012-09-11T13:39:00.001-07:00

This is a guest post from Raw Egg Interns.

After university, people generally have a vague idea of the industry that they’d like to go into. It doesn’t have to be directly linked to their degree; it doesn’t have to be linked at all. However, unless you have looked at what the industry has to offer, it can be tricky to breakdown the job roles to aim for, and even to know what you might enjoy.

Inevitably if you get to interview stage you will be asked; what do you feel you can bring to this job and which aspects of the job are you most interested in? Unless you know how the job works and fits with the rest of the industry, these questions will be followed with a long and resounding uuuuuuuuhm.

Well, that is frankly awkward, so to avoid this we would suggest getting hold of some old textbooks, basic guides or industry magazines and having a good read, before doing anything else. Not all employers want a newbie with experience, but they do want someone who knows what they’re getting themselves into.

Don’t splash out, second hand books do the job, but do remember that digital and technology industries move fairly quickly, so any books that are pre-millennium are only for an understanding of basic principles, not day to day workings.

By reading up on the basics, recruiters will recognise that you have put in the time and effort to make the links between your skills and their industry. They will trust that this same level of interest, research and wisdom will be maintained once you’re in the work place.

Go forth bookworms and read yourself to a job.

Written by.......

Raw Egg Interns is more than a recruitment solution; it is a business development initiative. We connect our paid interns with industry experts so together they can generate amazing business solution, direction and insights.

Raw Egg Interns Ltd.

info@rawegginterns.com

www.facebook.com/RawEggInterns

0843 289 2554

Saving money on student accommodation

2012-08-01T05:37:00.002-07:00

Advertorial:-

Here at the Book Pond, we love things that give students choice. We appreciate the diversity in the student body in the UK, whether this is by gender, age, life situation or any other thing that means that one student is totally different to the next.

Because of this diversity, not every single service designed for students can suit everybody. As a mature student myself, I found that a lot of the societies and activities for students at my university did not fit in with my schedule or needs. That's not to say I was unusual. Around 50% of the students at my university were mature students, many of whom had children and a family life. Traditional students (18-25) are always well catered for, which is understandable, but we know that these arrangements don't suit all.

It's the same when it comes to accommodation. As a student starting university for the first time at the age of 26, I was glad I didn't have to live in halls or shared housing. I had lived in my own home for six years by then, and could not have coped with the inevitable activity and hustle and bustle that comes with sharing with lots of young people, as fun as it may have been.

Even some traditional students don't like this arrangement and would prefer something a little more like back home. This is why I like UniHomeSwap.co.uk. This is a website where you register your details and look for another student to 'swap' accommodation with. You get to move in with their family near your university, and they stay with yours. For the right arrangement, this can save you thousands of pounds a year.

The obvious downside is that your parents have to have someone just like you in their home, when they could have been looking forward to having some us-time (dread the thought), but as it's probably their money that will be paying for your university accommodation, they will likely be more willing than you would expect. It's a solution that could work for many, not everyone, but it's certainly worth looking into.

If you are looking to save money while studying at university, swapping your place in the family home with someone else is worth investigating. It might not be the right choice for you, but what's to lose in checking it out?

Essay writing services - your view.

2012-07-02T14:36:00.002-07:00

I have recently noticed an increase in internet sites selling 'essay writing services'. These range from proof-reading services, all the way through to writing the entire essay for you. I am pondering their usefulness, having never used them myself, or known anyone that has. They must get customers, and enough for more than one company to exist. It's puzzling me.

One concern I have with these services is how they know what material you have covered in the lectures, or the favourite books of the module lecturers and tutors. Two essays on 'The Works of Tennyson' would probably be quite different in different universities and with different academic staff. It's not like universities follow some sort of common curriculum like schools do. By the time you've given them your notes, reading lists and points to cover, you're halfway to producing the essay yourself anyway.

Another concern is that, especially if you were to use them for only a few essays, that style would vary between your submitted works. If you get the same lecturer for more than one module, a good academic can spot variations in work, especially if you submit an amazing one not long after a poor one. Inconsistency rings alarm bells.

Also, I think I would be too anxious. What if I order an essay and it doesn't come in time? It might not leave enough time for writing a decent essay. I don't think I could cope with that amount of uncertainty.

But my biggest problem with essay writing services is this - the whole point of university is to learn - learn how to write, how to present arguments, how to read effectively, how to manage your time, and how to prioritise. If you can't do this well enough to meet deadlines for set coursework, then you are probably better off learning study skills from your own university's study support services. Read our tips for meeting deadlines.

Assuming that you are doing a degree to help you get a job, is it really good practice to get into the habit of paying others to do your work for you?

Honestly, if you are struggling, please get help - from your tutors, from other students, from anyone who understands what you are trying to do. Please.

Have you or anyone you know used an essay writing service? Would you recommend them to other students?

Written by Joanne Brady

Why I love real books.

2012-05-28T06:39:00.001-07:00

I'm not afraid to admit it, as much as it's the content I love books for, there is a small (OK, a large) part of me that is entirely bibliophilic - that is, I love books for the physical object that they are as well as the intangible words on their pages. I'm sure I'm not alone.

It's not the smell, or the papery feel, or the glorious colour on their spines racked up on the book shelf that I like, but the whole idea that this book in my hands right now, is not just something for me to look at, to learn from, to share - but has been for someone else in the past, and will be for someone else in the future.

The whole idea that this little object of paper and glue has been on a journey all of it's own. From it's birth in the printing press, on to a lorry, arranged attractively on the bookshelf, chosen by a human hand, and taken away to a new home in a little bag.

It's been carried around in bags, placed under packs of sweets, dropped on grass, scribbled on by scholars, carefully guarded until exams are over.

Does this book remember who has read it? Does it recognise their face, or the sound of their voice? Does it mind having little notes scribbled in it's otherwise pristine margins? Who knows?

I have a book on my shelf. It is a very old copy of Little Women by Louisa May Allcott. I love my book - not just because of the story that is told through it's arbitrary printed language (although it is one of my favourite stories) but because it's not really mine at all. I am but its temporary custodian.

On the inside cover there is, in blue ink, an inscription.......

"To Betty,
Merry Christmas for 1955"

That's all it says. I have no idea who wrote this. I have no idea who Betty is.

The only clue is another small inscription on the inner title page. It says......

"15p"

.......in the top corner, in pencil.

This book that I love so much, was given as a Christmas present to someone called Betty in 1955, twenty-two years before I was even born. It was then sold second-hand at a jumble sale, I imagine, to someone else who wanted it. Maybe that was my grandmother - she then passed it on to me when I was a child. Who knows who else has been its temporary custodian over the last almost 60 years? Did they love it as much as me?

I will keep this book and pass it on to my own daughters in a few years time. It smells a bit musty and the pages have weathered somewhat, but I hope that they will come to love it as much as I do, and respect how this simple little collection of paper and glue has found it's way into their possession.

I love proper, real, physical books. e-books just aren't the same.

The Internet- Saving students money

2012-04-17T05:04:00.001-07:00

As a student, it’s important to think about being wise with your cash and to put aside some money for a rainy day. The internet is one important tool to make use of when trying to save a few pennies.

All money savvy students will know that the internet can help you grab a good deal. It’s always worth doing your research online before you go out to a restaurant, the hairdressers or even on holiday as you could find a better deal online or a voucher code to print off.

Here are a few tips for students to save money by using the internet:

• Comparison websites will most definitely land you a bargain. Whether it is your grocery shopping, new car insurance deal or utilities, you can find out who is cheapest with the simple click of a mouse.

• Fashionistas should make sure to look for discounts and offers on clothing and shoes both for online stores and high street shops. Discounts can range from free delivery to a whopping 25% off and can work out a real steal if you are in the mood for a shopping spree.

• Don’t buy tickets for coaches or trains at the ticket office- these places are usually the biggest rip off and charge for overhead costs such as staff. Make sure to find cheap coach and train tickets online. Furthermore booking ahead of time could work out cheaper with ‘early bird deals’ and at the same time guarantee a seat!

• If you’re visiting another town, city or country, try couch surfing. The concept is that you offer a place for somebody to stay at your house, and in return you can ask for a place to kip for a night or two- for free! There are numerous sites online which offer this service.

• There’s no need to traipse around town wasting time and energy searching looking at grotty student houses, or pay an estate agent a big fee. For example you can easily find a flatshare in Nottingham whilst relaxing on the sofa and in the meanwhile not have to experience messy student rooms!

• Sign up to all newsletters for pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars. They often send vouchers with special 2 for 1 deals or discounted meals and drinks. Also make use of loyalty cards as they usually end in a free meal or drink.

Always make sure to read the fine print- there’s nothing more embarrassing than using an out of date voucher!

5 reasons why students FAIL!!!

2012-04-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

OK, maybe fail is a bit strong, but through my university life I saw too many people under-achieve because of things that could have been avoided.

While I'm not going to provide you with a magic formula to help you succeed, by avoiding falling into the traps of too many other students you can at least try not to be an under-achiever. Here, with some amount of sarcasm, are my five observations from my time spent at University.

Make sure it's not your picture next to THAT definition.

1) "But, I don't understand how I missed that. I attended all the lectures!" - Sometimes turning up to lectures is not enough. You also have to stay awake during them, bring a pen and paper, not spend all your time playing Angry Birds on your phone, and make an effort to follow up the lectures by actually reading the pieces that have been recommended to you by the lecturer.

Staying awake is always a way to ensure you are listening

2) "But I don't understand why I haven't learnt anything. I bought all the textbooks!" - Gosh, and don't they look pretty, in perfect mint condition on your bookshelf? What you actually need to do now you own (or have borrowed) those magical, mystical objects of knowledge is to open them at the page which contains the information you have to learn, and start reading. And take notes. And read it again. And try and remember it. That is actual learning.

3) "But I don't understand how I was late handing in that essay. I had the same amount of time as everyone else!" - Yes, you did. But they probably set aside some time in their schedule to actually do some reading, and some writing. They probably remembered about their meetings with their tutors to discuss said essay, and kept an eye on the calendar to make sure they were doing enough to meet the deadline date. See our tips on meeting deadlines if you want more help.

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by deadlines.

4) "But I don't understand why those questions came up on that exam. I'm sure we didn't cover that in the lecture." - Apart from the fact you're falling asleep or not paying attention in the associated lectures, you can have a good stab at predicting what is going to come up in an exam. Check over the themes you covered in the module and the reading you were given, including seminars as well as lectures. Eliminate what has been tested in other ways for example in essays, or mid-terms. Whatever is left is fair game for the exam, I would say. It's not a completely foolproof method, but it worked for me. Mostly.

Face Palm - the classic reaction

5) "But I don't understand how I didn't know how and when we were going to be assessed. How do you know these things?" - What I do, dear colleagues, is when we are given the module handbook at the beginning of the term, is to read it, take notes of important assessments with associated dates, and write them down somewhere. I keep the module handbook somewhere safe, and try not to lose it. Please don't come to me toward the end of the term and ask to 'borrow' mine as refusal will offend.

So, there you go. Distractions are everywhere at university, and are there to be enjoyed, but take your eye off the academic ball at your peril. Competition for graduate positions is more fierce than ever before. Don't set yourself up for mediocrity. Mediocre might not cut it once you're released into the big, bad world.

Good luck.

How to choose your university

2012-04-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

At some point in your school life, you will start thinking about whether or not to go to university. If you decide you do want to go, then you have to make the choice of which university, or universities to apply for. There are over 100 universities in the UK, as well as numerous affiliated and independent colleges which offer degree courses.

You may have made the decision very early on in your life, or had the decision made for you by an esteemed family history. For those of us who have no family history to influence them, there is a plethora of universities to choose from and the choice can be overwhelming. Speaking to a careers tutor is often a good idea, and they will help you work out what is important to you.

Here's the low-down on what you need to consider when making your choice.

1) How good is the University's reputation? Check out the Guardian league tables for a rough idea of how your potential institution stands with regards to student satisfaction, staff:student ratios, and average career development of graduates. It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but you don't want to pick a duff one if you intend to study to further your career, and some employers do consider some universities to be more prestigious than others.

2) How far is the university from your home? Some people like to be close to home, whereas others like the freedom associated with being a bit further away. It's personal preference, but don't forget to consider the cost of returning home for the holidays or just for a visit.

3) What is the cost of living? Some universities are situated in very expensive places, for example central London. If finances are going to be an issue, then choosing somewhere with a lower cost of living might ease some of the pressure. Check out this article for some surprisingly cheap recommendations - York anyone?

4) The general feeling of the university. You really should go on at least one open day at each university you are considering. Prospectuses can give you a good overview, but there is nothing like being there and seeing for yourself. During the open day, make sure you ask about things such as on and off-campus accommodation, public transport, parking, childcare facilities (if you need them), and anything else you can think of while you are there. Make a complete pain of yourself. Universities are used to these types of questions, and the more accommodating and friendly places will deal with your questions well.

5) What type of campus is it? A closed campus has everything on one easily accessible site. Good examples of this are Hull, and Sheffield. An open campus, such as Durham or Edinburgh, has a few sites and buildings dotted around, and some of these can be quite far away, making travel between lectures a necessity. Some students don't like this and the worst type can make student life pretty complicated. Have a look round your prospective department and ask about the likelihood of needing to travel for your studies.

6) Think about the extra-curricular activities. Lectures and seminars are not the only things you will experience whilst at university. Look at the union building and it's activities. Is there something you can get involved in? Are there societies you can join that fit your interests? Whether it's sport, journalism, volunteering, or music, that you love, check out the potential for adding breadth to your three years.

7) Get to know your prospective host city or town. Think about what is important to you in a place - is it vibrant off-campus night-life, a leafy landscape, or a low crime rate? Doing a bit of research into the wider community will give you a feel for whether this is somewhere you can spend three years of your life.

8) What is the potential for finding part-time employment? Ease of access to a paid job might make all the difference between financial survival and oblivion.

9) Consider the university facilities. Check out the library - is it busy but still not too difficult to find somewhere to study? Are there adequate computer facilities and access to WiFi if you need it? Is there somewhere cheap to eat? Don't get suckered in by having a book-store on campus - you will visit this twice a year at best. I found that the cafe serving a five-item breakfast got much more of my patronage.

10) Most of all - which university provides the course you are most interested in. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, being on a course you find interesting, teaching you things you want to learn, and which will help you meet your long-term goals is more important than how a 'top' university will look on your CV.

ABOVE ALL - Use your instincts.

Good luck.

SHMXW9YGNQQM

Going Global 2012: Where Would You Go?

2012-03-19T13:10:00.001-07:00

Pass Me My Passport!

Among the hundreds of holiday jobs, part time and graduate jobs StudentJob has to offer all year round, we also have some of the best international internships going. When we say an internship abroad can change your life, we really mean it. Internships come in all shapes and sizes and now the view from your office or sofa can be a lot different to the standard doom and gloom the British weather likes to supply us with...Whether you have 3 months over summer or one year to travel or work in industry why not look into an international internship? 2012 can be one of your most memorable years yet!. StudentJob have a huge variety of part time jobs, paid placements and internships across the world...

Putting it into perspective, for many during or finishing university means to simply seeking employment . But not for everybody. Many students have chosen to travel therefore discovering the real world by going global alongside earning, learning and living life with new experiences when they venture out into the world. Whatever you fancy doing this year, StudentJob offer everything from working in Summer Camps in America to Hospitality Staff in some of the exotic holiday resorts going.

Pushing your boundaries is all part of the excitement., not to forget that all of this will be enhance your career prospects through the whole experience and creating new contacts. Who knows who you might meet? Or where you might travel to next?

Whichever stage you are at in your career whether you are looking for a career experience, change or break, exploring the world can create new perspectives a new plan for your future both professionally and personally.

Yes internships abroad can seem daunting, riding solo with new responsibilities and living in a new place, however the bigger your stepping stones, the better your experience can be. Remember - Nothing ventured, nothing gained. StudentJob has partnered with some of the best companies across the world, to ensure only the best and dependable opportunities are available for our candidates.

Destination Unknown

Don’t know where to go? Begin looking into making 2012 unforgettable and begin to plan your adventure now by visiting www.studentjob.co.uk to see the variety of opportunities we have, covering everywhere from Amsterdam to Australia, Brazil to Beijing, Germany to Greece, and many, many more!. Start to discover what is available by visiting www.studentjob.co.uk

Exploring the world in 2012. Now that sounds like a good plan.

5 Steps to Going Global with StudentJob

1 - Register at www.studentjob.co.uk

2 - Look through our global vacancies

3 - Apply to vacancy with 1 click

4 - Wait for a response from the company

5 -Find your passport!

Twitter - @StudentJobUK
Facebook - StudentJob

For more information please contact Rebecca Twohey
at r.twohey@studentjob.co.uk
www.studentjob.co.uk

My graduation: Joanne, Hull, 2006

2012-03-19T05:06:00.003-07:00

By Joanne, BA(Hons) Economics and Geography, The University of Hull. 2006.

This is the story of my graduation day.

The majority of Hull students graduate at The City Hall in Hull city centre, which is where my ceremony was held. First we met up at a nearby hotel, where we collected our robes and caps, and had our official graduation photos taken. I had a drink with my friends, and then we walked to the City Hall.

We checked in at the welcome desk and were allocated a seat based on our degree type (BA, BSc, MA etc) and then alphabetically by surname. It took about an hour from this point to be seated and to wait for the families (including my Mum and Dad) to be seated.

The ceremony host talked us through the procedure for walking on to the stage and whether we had to bow to the chancellor, or we were allowed to shake her hand. Then the academic procession began.

I was about number 30 on stage, of around 300 graduands, but it never really got dull. When it was my turn, we were quietly asked to stand and join the line, staying in order so the host knew who we were. On my turn, I nervously walked on to the stage and I was allowed to shake the chancellors hand. This is because I got a first! In your face, everyone else. The chancellor was Baroness Virginia Bottomley, and she was lovely. I had a quick look to see if I could see where Mum and Dad had been seated but I couldn't see them. My actual degree certificate was passed to me as I left the stage.

When we had all been up on the stage to accept our degree, the honorary graduands had their moment. We had a few people collecting honorary doctorates, including Dame Kelly Holmes who gave us a speech. She was pretty good actually.

Once it was all over, we all went outside in to the sunshine and I found my parents. My husband, who had been at work, came to meet up with us, and also my Nan and Auntie came to see too. Let that be a warning to anyone who graduates from their local university - you might get every man and his dog turning up. We took some photos of us all in Queen Victoria Square. Some of my friends came to see me. As I was a joint student, some of my friends were in Economics, but I graduated with Geography. Economics had graduated the day before, so it was lovely that they came back to see me and a few others.

Afterwards, we went back to the university where the geography department had put on a reception buffet. It was boiling hot by then and I was melting in the robes. My husband collected our daughter from the nearby nursery and she came and met all my friends and tutors. She was very excited and loved Mummy's silly hat. The reception was a good chance to say goodbye to the friends I'd made over the last three years.

I look back on my graduation day with happy memories. It was a lovely day which had topped off three years of hard work. The photos I had taken with my friends who'd come to visit me are some of my most treasured.

How was your graduation day? Are you looking forward to yours?

Earning cash from your hobby

2012-02-15T11:59:00.001-08:00

A good way of earning money to help you through university is to turn your hobby into cash. Of course, it helps if your hobby is doing something that someone is willing to pay money for, but if you can get money for something you enjoy doing and will be doing it anyway, then great!

There are specialist websites that can help connect you with customers happy to pay students to undertake work for them, such as StudentGems. The other option is to go it alone. One such student to have already started this process is Hayley Spiers, a third year English and Drama student at The University of Hull.

She says….. “Like many students I have a part-time job to help support myself financially, but I’ve also managed to turn my hobby into something that makes a little extra cash. I’m a self-taught photographer and I recently started advertising via my Facebook page, my website and on free advertising websites such as Gumtree, Friday-Ad Ltd and VivaStreet. I’ve had a great response with people asking for everything from headshots to family portraits to event photography such as parties and fundraisers, and it’s great to be able to enjoy my hobby and make some extra money at the same time.” HayleyMariePhotography

Hayley’s hobby is great as she can build up her experience by helping her fellow students by taking their portraits for their drama portfolios, and it’s something she can fit around her studies and part-time job. The advantage of having all the equipment in place already means that after a bit of advertising and a free website and you’re ready to go.

The work that you do as a result of your hobby will also provide valuable business experience, such as marketing, sales, customer service, and accounts which you can add to your CV. This could make the difference in helping you in to that important graduate position.

Remember if you start making money from your hobby, you should check with HM Revenue and Customs to see if you should be paying National Insurance and Tax.

If you are interested in a cheap photographer in the East Riding area, then you’d do worse than contact Hayley via her Facebook page or her website, but be quick, she won’t be this cheap forever! You never know - her hobby may take her far, as could yours.

Are you making money from your hobby whilst at university? Get in touch and you could be featured too.

How to sell your university text books

2012-02-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

After, or even during your time at university, you will accumulate textbooks that have done well for you, but that you no longer need. It's a shame to think about throwing them away, as they won't have been cheap and there's probably another student somewhere just like you who would benefit from using them. It's a good idea to sell university textbooks as it helps the environment by encouraging re-use, preventing waste, and gives you welcome extra cash.

Here are our recommendations to find your unwanted books a loving, new home.

1) Use our site, the Book Pond. It's free to use and easy to list books. The site puts you in touch with other students in your university town who need the book you want rid of. You set your own price and exchange the book in person for cash. Use the page tabs above to link through to our main site and start selling today. Yes, this and similar sites may not have massive audience numbers yet but it is free to use, fully searchable, and you can list your books in other places at the same time with no obligation to sell.

2) Put up a notice at university. This is a tried and tested method which has worked ok for me in the past. By putting a notice on your department notice board you are reaching students who are on the same or similar course and studying the same modules. They are also likely to be local so you can hand it over in person. The downside to this method is you need to be physically on campus to put the notice up, and there's always a chance it will go missing, so you need to check back regularly. Also, you need to be careful what contact details you leave on the notice to avoid nuisance phone calls.

3) EBay. Good old EBay - I love it! There's nothing you can't get on EBay, text books included. The massive advantage of this method is the sheer reach of the site. The disadvantage is that you will likely need to post it, incurring P&P costs, and that listings run out, so if it doesn't sell within the listing period, you will need to keep re-listing. Fees apply - a fee of about 50p to list, and then 10% of the final selling price is typical for textbooks.

4) Amazon Marketplace. If you want the best chance of selling your books, then Amazon Marketplace is the method for you. I have sold almost every book I have ever listed with Amazon but I paid the price for it. The registration process is more thorough than other sites, and you need to register a bank account with them. The commission is higher than EBay, and the postage that they charge the seller on your behalf does not cover what it will actually cost you to post it, especially if the book is bulky and heavy, which many textbooks are. But this is a good method if you want rid at any price, and see some cash as better than none. Bear in mind that because Amazon handle the sales automatically for you, it's probably not wise to list the books in other places at the same time.

5) Sell to a book dealer / book shop. Many university towns have independent book shops that trade in textbooks. Some will buy your textbooks from you, and this is a minimum fuss way of getting rid of them for cash. Be warned though - some book shops won't buy certain categories of books (for example, law or business), and the price they will give you will be well below the RRP at around half of what they expect to sell the book for on the second-hand market. Others offer a brokering service on a commission basis, which will give you a bigger share of the sale price, but with the increased risk of the book not selling at all.

So there you go, turning your textbooks into cash is pretty easy but you must choose the method that suits you. The method is a trade-off between getting the most value out of a sale, and guaranteeing the book will sell at all.

Don't forget of course, you can always donate your books to the local charity shop, or pass them down to a younger student out of good will.

Whatever you choose to do, please do something because having textbooks sat on your bookcase doing little more than gathering dust is a very sorry sight. They deserve to be loved and to be useful to someone. So wish them well, and send them on their way.

Getting established in the art industry

2012-01-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

BuyStudentArt.co.uk is a website where art students can sell their work direct to the general public on a commission basis. Kerri shares with us some tips on how to get established in the art industries after university.

So you are an artist….now what?

Once you have set yourself on the road to becoming a full time artist, what do you do next? You have created your next master pieces, you could have canvases stacking up or photographs filling up PC space, so how do you go about selling your artwork and becoming recognised?

See my 10 ways to becoming recognised as an artist.......

1. Decide on a name and a brand - this doesn’t have to be expensive, will you be known as your name or by a brand name?

2. Add your website wherever you can, have it as the signature on your email, on your profile on Facebook and Twitter

3. Buy your url, this is simple and a quick Google search will determine if this is available, they are usually less than £10 and well worth it

4. Design a quick and easy website – you can do this for free if you use something like www.webs.com it certainly gives the impression that you are a serious and professional artist, it is simple then to direct people to your website for sales

5 Sell your artwork, try and find outlets for your work

6. Try websites such as ours, www.BuyStudentArt.co.uk where you can upload your artwork and then a commission is taken if the artwork is sold

7. Try local fairs, lots of universities have summer fairs with stands for as little as £5 and well worth trying to sell your artwork here

8. Have posters and flyers made up – try Vistaprint for free promotional material

9. Join online networking groups, such as LinkedIn and find groups where you can network online

10. Contact your local library or adult education centre and see whether you can put an exhibition on in the foyer

11. Contact the local paper, if you have a good local story, they will love to cover you

Wish you all of the best and if we can help at BuyStudentArt with selling your artwork or advice then please drop us an email on Info@BuyStudentArt.co.uk

Thank you to Kerri of BuyStudentArt.co.uk for sharing her advice with us.

Is prostitution a good option for a cash-strapped student?

2011-12-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

The BBC today released a news report that more and more students are turning to prostitution, gambling and medical experimentation as a means of keeping afloat financially.

Now we have advocated on the blog before that the best kind of part-time work is one where you can fit your hours in around study, and where you get the maximum amount of money possible for the minimum amount of hours. Prostitution, gambling and medical experiments I suppose, fit this criteria very well. Too well. My mother always taught me if something sounds good to be true, then it probably is.

So, with the EMA being scrapped, and student loans and grants being reduced, along with rising tuition fees, students have to find ways of making ends meet, financially speaking. And things like selling yourself might be attractive to some - and it never seemed to do Belle de Jour any harm, did it? After all, she got a PhD whilst leading a double life as a part-time call girl as well.

But we can't all be as 'lucky' as Belle de Jour has turned out to be. It could've all been so much different for her, and for every Belle, there are hundreds of others who get caught up in a very disturbing world, from which there may be no return. The reason that prostitution, gambling and medical experiments are so highly paid is that the risks are high, and the losers are many.

Blah, blah..... I don't want this to turn in to a rant about how you should all be good little students and stay away from the nasty people. What I want to know is this - have you, or do you know of anyone who has, made money from a less-than-conventional method to support themselves while studying?

Apply to university after you've got your A-Level results

2011-11-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

This week, the old proposals to change the university application system so that students apply AFTER they know their results has reared it's head. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has heard this mooted in the past. For the full story, you can read it here in The Daily Mail.

I think it is a brilliant idea. If there is a system that favours the cheeky and ambitious over those with proven academic credentials, then the current system of applying with predicted grades is it. The current system is confusing, time-consuming and leads to disappointment.

It's not surprising that it is a proposal that has been dragged up again by the Conservative-Lib Dem government. The Tories especially love the notion of the free-market, and the current system allows customers and suppliers (students and universities respectively) to work with imperfect information, which is sub-optimal (see, I was paying attention in economics class).

Where students work with unknown, predicted grades, an over-optimistic student will apply to a university course which demands grades way above what they will actually go on to achieve. This leads to disappointment and a panic as they end up applying through clearing. At the other end of the scale, a student whose tutors predict low grades will apply for courses with low grade requirements where they could have got a place on a much better course and at a much better university.

Either way, the system favours the student putting in a cheeky application and works against those who under-estimate their own ability. I can't help thinking that those from families who favour high academic achievement are the most likely to try their luck, whereas the students from families where university is an alien concept will likely see elite courses and universities out of their reach. Even if they achieve way over what they expect, it will mean either accepting the course they have been offered or pulling out and re-applying. It's not an ideal way to choose to do something which will influence your career path, and indeed your whole future. Allowing a student to apply to university after they have their A-Level grades would be a big step towards giving students a university place based on actual achievement, regardless of class, school-type or influence from family or college tutors.

The proposals to move A-Level exams to earlier in the year in order to allow enough time to process results for the start of the university is not a bad one. I remember getting very bored toward the end of my two-year A-Level course and would have welcomed exams in the May rather than dragging things out until June or July. However, I still feel this would mean the window to apply would be too short. The reason you have to apply six months before you sit your exams is because the whole process - involving literally thousands of students and over 100 universities - is a huge administrative task.

Surely it would be better to either have students take a year out as standard. The gap between sitting your last A-level exam in July, and starting university in the October is too short. To this point you would have been at school for at least thirteen years, and are going to be at university for another three. I don't think that a year out to work a bit, get some money and have some breathing space to think over your course and university choices is a bad thing.

Anyway, I am in favour of allowing students to apply to university after their A-Level results. I think it can only be good for social mobility and a system that is based on true achievement and potential, rather than on the imperfect information and blind optimism it is based on now.

Do you think that the current system needs fixing? Do you think if you had applied after knowing your results, your choices would've been different? I welcome your opinion, as usual.