To those who are currently in the position where you are applying to university and picking your university options then please have a little read of my blog post today.
I have shamefully (im soooo sorry) not updated you all, but I am currently in university- yes, Glasgow University, and I wanted to share with you all some of my regrets/things i wish i wouldve done when applying to university.
1) Make sure the course is right for you:
It is quite obvious, but honestly, what you study at a-level does not always mean that university will be the same. This is to not put you off the subject, but more to really be careful and think- do i LOVE (not like!) this subject and what can it do for me after I graduate? Getting into a university is easy, it may sound cocky but you can go to any university you want, but if you don't like your course it may seem harder for you to love anything else. Afterall, you are there for 3/4 years of your life. I have heard so many people choose a subject to do at uni just because 'they were good at it at alevel'. That does not cut it. Make sure you utilise that £9,000.
2) Choose the dream university:
What I learnt is that treat your 5 uni choices carefully. I tend to have chose some just as back up in case i did not get the grades for the university i wanted. With all seriousness, make sure it is right for you and that the university caters for your needs. Currently I'm in Glasgow and I do have questions of whether this university is for me. Its so important to really and truly evaluate how that university can benefit you. I would really insist on attending open days- i did not go to Glasgow's open day because it was too far. That was one of my biggest regret ever- but that deserves its own blogpost in the future. I would really advise looking at whatuni.com (really good for comparisons!) and just looking at all your options you have. Don't focus too heavily on league tables. Make sure that the environment you are in is good for you.
3) Do your homework:
I have read previous blogposts when I was applying to university too, and I must say that I subconciously tricked myself into thinking I knew my universities from top to bottom (I think that's the phrase! The truth is, I didn't. I mean I read student satisfaction etc but I honestly did not see whether I would be content/really happy with my university. Look at the important things: how you wil be assessed and whether you like their methods, how many contact hours you have, what you are studying and the compulsory modules you have to take. Does that uni do well for your taste? These are questions that every student should figure out before applying. Applying is easy, universities tend to 'over-offer' anyway and give places to a lot of students, knowing that not all of them will even get in. Don't rush this process, otherwise you will regret it. Clearlng is a long way away so make sure you know in advance than in a rush!
4) Make sure that your personal statement is the shiz:
I started writing my personal statement in the summer, where I was at an advantage of being able to figure out whether this course was good for me or not. Originally, I wished to study both history and politics, but I later realised that it was not for me. Your personal statement really and truly tests your passion. It is better to write a lot of things you like about a subject than nothing at all. My school always sent us to personal statement classes and sometimes when I was at university open days, such as Uni of Southampton, they would have personal statement classes based on what they expect from each and every successful candidate. Fall in love with your personal statement and make it really positive. Most importantly, your statement is not going to be perfect, so keep redrafting and be-friend your tutor. Afterall, they are the one who will be writing your reference.
5) Do you want a gap year?
When applying to university, I 100% gave taking a gap year no thought whatsoever. I thought I would become way more stupid and lose my IQ (clearly did) if I took a year out. What would I do instead of not going to uni? I feared i would miss out and waste a good year rather than studying and getting university out of the way. I really regret this. I knew i was not going to be one of those 'I went to Africa and then to India for my gap year' type of people (nothing wrong with that at all, I envy that!) the thing is, you really need to think about whether university is really for you and if you're not sure then maybe you should take a year out. You don't need to be chilling with animals on your gap year but just gain work experience and other things and you never know, your path may change!
These are the holy grails to applying to university. I would also add in look at your accommodation before even getting in to that uni! I mean, both of your firm and insurance! Please do not rush your firm and insurance choice, you may change your mind halfway through and it would be too little too late.
I did have quite a traditional mind about university before. i always thought that uni was the next step for me and I would be totally successful blah blah. Thats not necessarily trus. Just because a majority of your classmates are heading to uni does not mean you should too. Take some time and really think about it. Its never too late.
