[UsualStudent]

I am from a council flat and my family have no spare money ever and most things are a struggle. I am working working to get on in life and my school is really cool and helps me a lot. I am attending Uni open days and predicted good grades and want to get into a good uni.

I just wonder how rich students feel towards people like me because i know there are a lot of you at posh colleges and it makes me wonder if people like me can get on well there. Do you just kind of not notice people like me, or do you take time to get to know us? Is it kind of tense or hostile between poor students and rich students at college?

I noticed that a lot of the cooler kids with posh accents and money and nice clothes kind of gang together, is that how it is?

I hope to be cool too, so this isn't some kind of whine but i wanna be prepared and know what i'm heading into. What are the survival tips for poor kids at posh colleges?

Thanks.

[TheSownRose]

I just wish I lived in an age in which it's acceptable to have a walking cane so that I could knock them out of my path.

Spoiler:

Show

Joking.

It varies from uni to uni, but in general there isn't a huge division. Consider that, regardless of background, many will be living purely off of student loans.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

I throw rotten cabbages at them from the sunroof of my limousine.





Except not really.

Define 'rich' and 'poor'.

I can't really say otherwise.

[goape]

as long as you're not a reverse snob, you should be fine.

[AnyoneOutThere]

(Original post by UsualStudent)
I am from a council flat and my family have no spare money ever and most things are a struggle. I am working working to get on in life and my school is really cool and helps me a lot. I am attending Uni open days and predicted good grades and want to get into a good uni.

I just wonder how rich students feel towards people like me because i know there are a lot of you at posh colleges and it makes me wonder if people like me can get on well there. Do you just kind of not notice people like me, or do you take time to get to know us? Is it kind of tense or hostile between poor students and rich students at college?

I noticed that a lot of the cooler kids with posh accents and money and nice clothes kind of gang together, is that how it is?

I hope to be cool too, so this isn't some kind of whine but i wanna be prepared and know what i'm heading into. What are the survival tips for poor kids at posh colleges?

Thanks.

At uni, I don't think people care. Almost everyone's broke anyway, as life is when you're a student. :L Don't think about differences in background, put yourself out there and get to know people for who they are, you'll be fine.

[Miss_Scarlett]

(Original post by goape)
as long as you're not a reverse snob, you should be fine.

I like this comment.

And I dont really judge people based on that. From my point of view appearances can be deceptive. I have had that proved to me on more than one occasion in the past.

If the individual is genuine, works hard but has a great sense of humour/knows how to have a good time and isnt a complete bitch/ 2 faced douchebag.....thats good enough to me, regardless of colour/class/income/yada yada yada

[LETSJaM]

(Original post by UsualStudent)
I am from a council flat and my family have no spare money ever and most things are a struggle. I am working working to get on in life and my school is really cool and helps me a lot. I am attending Uni open days and predicted good grades and want to get into a good uni.

I just wonder how rich students feel towards people like me because i know there are a lot of you at posh colleges and it makes me wonder if people like me can get on well there. Do you just kind of not notice people like me, or do you take time to get to know us? Is it kind of tense or hostile between poor students and rich students at college?

I noticed that a lot of the cooler kids with posh accents and money and nice clothes kind of gang together, is that how it is?

I hope to be cool too, so this isn't some kind of whine but i wanna be prepared and know what i'm heading into. What are the survival tips for poor kids at posh colleges?

Thanks.

Treat them as humans.
Don't be a reverse snob.
They could end up being really great friends.
Ignore pompous idiots, they're just really nervous.
Most of them will be on some form of student loan and therefore not going to be rolling in it.

<3 x

[Aspiringlawstudent]

I don't care if you are poor, but if you're one of those 'them and us' types that carry Socialist Worker placards and hate people that have more money than you, I am certainly going to have no desire to be friends with you.

I would probably just generally ignore you if we didn't mix in social circles. It would be a bit awkward trying to befriend someone that couldn't afford to take part in the same activities as me - I just don't think it would work on a practical level. We'd never see each other outside of seminars and tutorials.

[willbee]

As long as you don't bang on about being poorer you'll be fine, just don't try to guilt trip anyone into feeling bad that they were born into a better financial background. As for people looking down on you, you get a rare few like that, but it depends on what uni you're at. The more prestigious unis probably have a higher percentage of snobs because they have more well-off students. People judge people on personality though, nobody really cares how much money you have or who you were in high school. As long as you're likeable you'll make friends easy. I'd advise against Unis like Exeter which are full of posh students because the accommodation fees are so high, but there really isn't a rich/poor divide anymore. Everyone has a loan and you probably have more of a loan than some.

I don't get the full loan but it doesn't mean I can expect my parents to support me. They have a higher income than some of my friends but I have less money because my loan is smaller and my parents can't actually afford to give me any money, so one of my friends on my hall has more money than anyone, although ofc it's all loan money so he'll have to pay it back.

I wouldn't worry. So many people go to uni that class hasn't been much of an issue for a long time. If anyone is snobby, it's their problem, not yours.

[zara55]

(Original post by UsualStudent)
I am from a council flat and my family have no spare money ever and most things are a struggle. I am working working to get on in life and my school is really cool and helps me a lot. I am attending Uni open days and predicted good grades and want to get into a good uni.

I just wonder how rich students feel towards people like me because i know there are a lot of you at posh colleges and it makes me wonder if people like me can get on well there. Do you just kind of not notice people like me, or do you take time to get to know us? Is it kind of tense or hostile between poor students and rich students at college?

I noticed that a lot of the cooler kids with posh accents and money and nice clothes kind of gang together, is that how it is?

I hope to be cool too, so this isn't some kind of whine but i wanna be prepared and know what i'm heading into. What are the survival tips for poor kids at posh colleges?

Thanks.

I gave you a pos because you are brave to raise this - probably a lot of people have worries about this kind of thing.

One important thing to realise as you visit universities is that privately-educated kids like us (I assume that's what you're talking about) are brought up and encouraged to act confident and look good even when we might not always be feeling that way inside - you might not think it, but "posh" students are often just as worried about how they will be accepted when they first go to Uni as "non-posh" students. It soon dissolves though, Fresher Fear doesn't last too long luckily.

Also of course it doesn't really matter what other people think of you or how they act towards you if they are a bit wierd or standoffish, there will always be other people with whom you get on fine and have fun.

Really, after about a week you will be into your course, making friends and forgetting all these assumed differences.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by UsualStudent)
What are the survival tips for poor kids at posh colleges?

Thanks.

Are you the person who was asking similar questions on one of the Oxford applicants threads?

As someone who went to Oxford from a comp and the lowest parental income bracket, let me assure you that very few people will notice, let alone have an issue with your upbringing or class. It only becomes an issue a) if YOU make an issue out of it, or b) you are unfortunate enough to encounter a complete ****er. Those who are snobby enough to look down on others tend to be unpopular even with their own class/parental income bracket, from what I saw over my three years.

If the put downs are serious/very upsetting/constant, then you just report it to the college authorities. I did that once and the person in question nearly got chucked out of Oxford. I said I didn't want that and so he wasn't

Try not to worry too much about these things and feel free to PM if you have any Oxford-related questions

[TobeTheHero]

As exactly as they would towards any students. They may bragg a little, but that's human nature.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

What a worthwhile way to raise a dead thread.

[TobeTheHero]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
What a worthwhile way to raise a dead thread.

i just happend to stumble across this thread while browsing the forums

[umarrehman187]

they wanna be like us...cuz we the **** man!...we know the streets

[poony]

As long as you don't have chip on your shoulder, you will be fine. No one cares if you have £ or not. I came from East End, mixed well with other students. I have said th the past that I can't afford to dine at certain restaurant and won't join them at certain outings. Do they care ? No. Be yourself and enjoy university life.

[Mishmashmoo]

As a wealthy student who has experienced both sides of the wealth gap (My dad earning 300k+ per year and my mum with nothing and then living with my mum for the past 6 years)

I can say that I find poor students doing well is extremely impressive as I know how much easier it is for us. Although I do agree with some of the other posts, don't use it as a whole 'woe is me' feel sorry for me and give me money story.

[lukas1051]

I'm not at university yet, but I've spoken with my share of rich kids at university open days, interviews and the like. I'm quite clearly from a working class background but I can't say I've ever been treated badly - I know I haven't had the full university experience, but still... I do remember speaking to one really posh girl who couldn't get her head round the fact that despite always having wanted to go to Iceland I've 'never been able to afford it', and couldn't understand some of my slang like 'it was wicked' - quite a funny/strange thing I've never experienced before, but she was nice nonetheless. Just don't bang on about how much money you do or don't have and there won't be a divide in the first place.

[I<3LAMP]

I didn't ever notice a problem at UCL and I'm from a working class/council flat background.

There were the rich kids with the 'accent' but no one was rude or branded me common. It's not like I brandished a bank statement crying out how poor I was or that I wore ripped dirty clothes or anything!

The only difference was that I couldn't afford a Mac and I had to go to work to pay the rent but I don't even rate that as significant. I generally stuck with those with a similar background to mine anyway because that was how it worked out.

[LionKingLover94]

"Eugh, they don't have money? Scum. Burn them at the stake papa."