If you are at uni there will be lots of new things to focus on, but that doesn't mean Scouting has to be put on hold. You can be a member of the Scout Network in your own County or Area and also become a member of the Scout Network in your new city or town. This gives you the opportunity to make new friends and continue with the types of activities you enjoy.

Student Scout and Guide Clubs

Additionally, in many universities and colleges there are Student Scout and Guide Clubs. These offer you the chance to do Scouting activities with your new friends. If there is no club, you can still join the Student Scout and Guide Organisation and find out what activities they are organising locally.

Check out their website for more useful information at Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO)

Student debt: the fact and the fiction

So, you're trying to decide whether to go to University? You've heard that students can't avoid debt, and you don't want to end up owing thousands of pounds! So, is it worth it? Well the decision lies with you, but it's always helpful to find out as much as you can first. According to recent research into graduate careers, graduates tend not to earn much more than their peers who didn't go to University - at least initially, although much depends on the type and class of degree you gain.

On the whole, a BSc is more likely to lead to a higher paid job. There are some jobs that you do have to have a degree for, including teaching, law, and medicine for example.

The debt itself can be anything up to £30,000 if you're doing medicine, although it obviously depends what your parents can afford to contribute, and how much part-time work you're prepared to do. Avoid credit cards - it's very easy for a student to fill up several, and you'll find the interest is quite punishing. Even a very small amount can take you years to pay off if you only make the minimum monthly payment.

You do however get plenty of time and reasonable interest rates when paying off Student Loans, so it is certainly worth considering these. Just don't spend it all on beer! Budgeting is the key to keeping yourself afloat. Many banks have student branches with specialist advisers to help you budget - and that sometimes means taking painful decisions - like learning how to cook instead of buying in TV dinners!

University, though, isn't all about the job at the end of it. It teaches you a lot of independence, study and research skills; it takes you places you never though you would go, and is an amazing social experience. So is it worth it? That's for you to decide.