Choosing which university you want to go to is a massive decision. But choosing which course you are going to study can be even harder!
It’s becoming more and more expensive to go to university, so you want to ensure that the university and the course you choose are right for you.
The choice can sometimes feel overwhelming, so here are a few points to mull over that can help narrow down the options.
Do You Love The Subject?
When choosing a subject to study, it may be easy to go with the one you think you can get the best grades in, but that is not always the way.
With UK universities, the minimum amount of years you’ll be studying this course is three. For some it can be five years or more. So, you want to make sure that you really love the subject.
Yes, university is about making new friends and experiencing the world, but you also need to do the hard work. You are going to be left to your own devices much more than you have been allowed to in college or high school, so it is on you now.
The worst thing would be to choose a subject on a whim and then, two years down the line, you hate getting up to go to class and wishing you had chosen something different.
Do You Need This Degree?
For some professions, a degree (and even a doctorate) is essential. So, yes, if you want to be a surgeon, a doctor or a lawyer, university is a must.
But, if you hope to get into something more creative or less academic, maybe it would be wise to take a step back and consider if university is really the right move.
There are people out there who go to university simply because they feel they have to, or because their friends are going. Listen, friends are great. But are they really worth following to university if that isn’t going to help you out in the long run?
Perhaps getting some real workplace experience is better for the path you are looking at going down.
Bottom line: Do what is going to benefit you most, not just what you think you should be doing.
Read The Syllabus
Most universities have the content of the degree laid out in simple terms on their website or in their prospectus. It is worth taking a look at the syllabus of the courses you are thinking of taking, as different universities provide different content.
What one university provides may not be tailored to what you want to be learning, but a different university may have an alternative syllabus under the same degree title.
So, it is well worth checking that out before you apply, because it will give you a good picture of what is to come.
The Teaching Staff
Aside from the content of the syllabus, you need to know who is going to be teaching that syllabus.
There are some teachers we have loved, and look back on with fond memories, and there are some teachers we would rather forget.
Most universities will have open days where you can go and chat to the lecturers and even past students. Interact with the people you could potentially be seeing every day for the next three years and make sure you get along. Or at least that you like their teaching style.
You might go to an open day of a university that you had almost written off, and then meet a lecturer who you really like and who understands you to a great level and suddenly you see yourself going there.