Universities

You may think GCSE’s and AS Levels are hard, but just wait until you have to decide on a university.

It’s now time when you are in your last year of sixth form or now leaving the nest you’ve known for the past 18 or so years to explore by yourself.

Or you have just entered the wonderful world of A Levels.

I’ve already decided after looking at numerous amounts of prospectus and university campuses that it’s not really for me, I know I wont sit there and work for another 3 years without something pushing me to do it but some people can and I wanted to share my experience of university choosing/deciding.

First thing you have to know, every university is going to say they are the best; “you will love it here, everyone is so nice”, and sell themselves to you like never before but try and remember to focus on the important stuff like where you will possibly have to live for the next year or so of your youth and most importantly who with.

Also now would be a good time to learn to cook and use the washing machine unless you have a lot of money to pay somebody to do it for you (if you do decide to go.)

Second, ask yourself if you can see your self at whatever campus it is you are view and do you really want to study that subject, so no pressure then.

It’s good to talk to people already at university who can tell you what its really like, the cold hard truth, not those that are there to show you around the campus because likelihood is they got something out of it or do just really love university.

That is a very important thing to do.

Every prospectus will have the students from the course you want to do that have succeeded and go on to bigger and better things, but remember to ask about the average Joe’s and what happens to them.

Third, don’t just follow your friends. Its hard to leave behind the people you have grown up with and become so close to but don’t settle for a university because it is close to you, go to one which will be best for you.

Try not to freak out when you see how many UCAS points they want, it’s mostly about your personality but try and aim for those but don’t be disappointed if you don’t get the grades you want, there’s always resits or other options which may only become clear when you think you cant get in to the uni of your choice.

I’m not saying all this to put people off going to get a degree, I just know from experience that High Schools tend to spoon feed students and when they leave they end up like a fish out of water, which to put it frankly, won’t help in the long run.

You need to hit the ground running if you get what I mean?

Obviously, university is good for a lot of things and is one of those things that lots of people do to get life experience.

You get a degree at the end of it which is crucial to getting some jobs in the economy these days.

It’s the place where most people make their friends for life, not that I know myself, but my older friends that are at university have told me.

You get a taste of the real world, no mum’s to do your washing and ironing and pick up after you or drive you around which is freedom for some people and really does help.

My friends love it where they went, it was a shock for some leaving a small little village for the big city life but everyone wants to get something different out of university.

Even if you are unsure of what you want to do, who says you have to decide straight away, apply in a few years time so you can travel, save money or just take a break from education which has been your life for about 12 years.

Saying all that, starting to order prospectuses now or even thinking about options after A Levels is a very good idea, I didn’t for until earlier this year and regret it now because I could have saved myself time and focused on what I want to do which is becoming a journalist.

I just think young people need to prepare themselves for what’s ahead; sample a bit of everything, go to all the higher education fairs, see the universities for yourself (not just the pretty pictures they put in the book) and eventually something will stick, I did!