Although in some of the conversations reference was also made to the ‘big opportunity’ that going to university, and of ‘living that life’, could offer, this appeared to be a rather less widely expressed motivator, as did an enthusiasm for the subjects that participants were intending to pursue. Indeed, the emphasis on the material consequences of HE seems consistent with the views expressed by their counterpart who had decided against HE. Their reasoning appeared to be primarily based upon doubts about the economic gains arising from a university education, especially once the resulting debts had been taken into account. These finding may reflect the modest scale of the study and the extent to which one-hour focus group discussions can draw out detailed and nuanced insights. However, they may also suggest the value of outreach support provided by – and to – FE college students that considers the wider social benefits of pursuing a higher education. It would be very interesting to hear what others think. Do these findings resonate with your experiences, what interventions could address these challenges and who would it be best for students to hear from? Or should we perhaps focus on the material costs and benefits of HE, rather than be concerned with what some might consider to be the less important and less tangible social and cultural aspects of the HE experience?