Student loan scheme changes unlikely to hinder study plans
Possible changes to the student loan scheme may make high school students think twice about diving straight into university life.
A group of year 13 students at Waikato University’s open day talk to The Waikato Times about their employment expectations after studying what they think they will be earning by the time they are 30.
Sarah de Ruyter, 17, Hamilton Girls’ High School
‘‘I don’t really know what I want to do when I leave school, so I haven’t thought about (the student loan scheme).
‘‘I’m finding it hard to get a job now. After studying it might be easier.
‘‘I don’t know (what she thinks she will be earning when I’m 30).’’
Amy Nicholas, 17, Hamilton Girls’ High School
‘‘Not really, no,’’ (potential changes to the student loan scheme won’t impact her decision to study.)
‘‘I want to be a primary teacher so there’s usually quite a lot of demand. I should be all right.
‘‘I have no idea (how much she thinks she will be earning at 30). I haven’t really looked into it that much.’’
Haylee Reeves, 16, Hamilton Girls’ High School
‘‘Um, kind of, (the possible changes to the student loan scheme may influence her plans). Maybe I’ll take a gap year and work a bit, make a bit more money.
‘‘I want to do a bachelor of sport leisure joint with sociology. I want to be a police officer. They take people who have studied in those areas.
‘‘I haven’t really thought about (the money). I don’t think that far ahead. I want to do it because I’m interested.’’
Catherine Leet, 17, Hillcrest High School
‘‘Um possibly, but I think I’d rather go and study first. I’m scared if I take a year off I won’t want to study again.
‘‘I want to study graphic design. Graphic design is apparently really hard to get into. ‘‘I don’t know how much they earn.’’ Danieka Ng, 18, Hillcrest High School
‘‘I was planning to go to uni first. It might be hard to study after having a job.
‘‘I want to be a graphic designer. It is quite hard to get into graphic design, there are lots of strands you can do, so hopefully.
‘‘(I’d like to earn) enough to get a house. Quite a lot. Maybe like $70,000 (by the age of 30).
Mitchell Dillon, 17, Hillcrest High School
‘‘I hope to be able to do what I want through the armed forces, so I don’t have to pay for it.
‘‘I want to do engineering – electrical or mechanical – or bio-mechanics in sports.
‘‘If I go for engineering (my employment opportunities will be) quite good. There’s a shortage so the demand is quite high.
‘‘I’m not sure about bio-mechanics, but I think you’d need to graduate with honours or top five in the class.
‘‘(I think I’ll be earning) $80,000 to $100,000 by the age of 30.’’
Naveed Nassiry, 18, Hillcrest High School
‘‘Maybe, actually, (potential changes to the student loan scheme might impact his decision to study.) I’m thinking of taking a gap year . . . doing service in Israel. I’d get to know more people and open my mind about what I want to study. ‘‘I think I’ll study IT. ‘‘In IT I think ( my employment chances) are quite high because it’s in demand, there’s a shortage.
‘‘(I think I’ll be earning) over $80,000 (by the age of 30).’’