Students compare themselves to The OC, says survey

Students at university compare themselves to the glamorous world of The OC, a new study has revealed.

A poll quoted by The Guardian has discovered that 13% of undergraduates measure their lifestyles against those of characters in the popular US teen drama.

This is matched by increased spending sprees by university goers, with the poll finding that students will spend £221 per month on socialising, partying, food and clothes.

Clothes account for £72 a month of a student's spend, according to the survey.

This suggests that the traditional image of student lifestyle is changing, with undergraduates opting for risottos over Pot Noodles for a quick bite to eat.

In fact, only 11% of university goers said they would choose to cook a ready meal, while 40% claimed they would prefer to cook a Thai green curry.

Following suggestions that students are using their gap years to earn money for university, the poll discovered that 40% of students are funding this expensive lifestyle themselves and not relying on allowances from their parents.