Students warned on the dangers of temporary ‘unfair’ loans

Wonga.com started a campaign targeting students for what it claimed were ‘fair temporary loans’, the rates of which however were simply outrageous for students on little to no income.

Wonga has since rescinded the campaign, which it claimed was only live ‘for SEO purposes’, and has since released a statement saying it does not actively target students.

Temporary loans can be dangerous and expensive, especially to vet students who often don’t have time to do part-time work to pay them off.

Guy Anker on Money Saving Expert has the full story.

Finances getting on top of you? Vetlife has some pointers

Vetlife has a vet student specific guide on handling financial woes while at university. A majority of students find themselves struggling with money, but vet students have it roughter than most.

There’s help at hand. Visit Vetlife for practical advice on what you can do to settle your money, as well as additional support for other stressful situations.

It’s a good time to get a little money off

With money tight and Christmas adding more financial strain, students literally can’t afford to miss good offers when they’re presented.

If you’re stumped for present ideas this Christmas or simply want to get some money off, take a look at the offers on StudentMoneySaver.com

American student debt has been labelled ‘unsustainable’

Last year’s mean debt hit $176 000, a marked increase of student debt prior to 2007. Levels of debt are now so high a graduate’s salary simply isn’t enough, forcing a number of graduates to specialise.

It’s a worrying prospect, but with student loans rising in the UK it may become a problem that changes the future of the veterinary profession.

For full details and what needs to be done read DVM360′s article for some pointers.

Internships lead to higher salaries and provide vital experience for work after leaving school. Summer has just passed but there are still opportunities available in the future for interning at practices and farms whilst studying.

Making connections, keeping them and using them to build relationships that will ultimately lead to jobs are important in securing a well paid position you can thrive in. Internships are a huge benefit to new vets, and you can learn more about making the most of them here.

Banks offer a variety of packages for students and graduates, often targetted at maximising overdraft at the expense of interest. When is the right time to leave your student account? How much should you be earning before you can focus more on interest than needing a bigger overdraft?

This guide by the fantastic MoneySavingExpert provides an extensive analysis of the best banks and accounts to save with depending on the amount you’re currently earning. This guide leans towards UK banking but the criteria apply worldwide.

Measures should be in place to provide support for students considering longer courses, says the BVA in answer to findings from Simon Hughes’ report.

Relatively low pay and courses lasting longer than 8 years, with all the fees that entails, have led the BVA to pursue a scheme to allow special programmes for students from poorer backgrounds to study. Click here to read the full statement by the BVA.

Student loans in the UK have changed and so has the best time to pay them back. Paying off the loan immediately may not always be the best course of action, especially when factoring in increasing living costs and the expense of vet school.

Read more for a complete guide on changes to student loans and the best ways to repay after graduating. Whilst this is primarily for graduates in the UK, the principles apply to student loans globally.

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An interesting article from Veterinary Economics on getting the right salary and avoiding negotiation until the appropriate time. This 5 point guide covers the delicate issue of pay from the application process to the interview itself. If you’ve found a practice how was the issue of pay decided? How did you prepare for the question... more »