| CHOOSING COURSES | UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE? |  |
Where do I go from here?
Choosing which university or college to go to and which course to study can be a daunting task. Follow our guide to making the right choice
 Choosing which university or college to go to and which course to study can be a daunting task. |
Choosing which university or college to go to is a life-changing decision. Do as much research as possible so that you choose the right course for the right reasons. Higher education is a must for some professions, like medicine, and it can give you important skills that will make you successful in your career and your social life.
Deciding where to study can seem like a difficult task because there are so many universities and colleges to choose from. You may wish to remain close to home or decide to live in a different part of the country. Whatever your criteria, it is important that you research the institution and its location before applying.
How can I find out more?
Each university and college will have a prospectus that provides information about the institution and the courses available. Attending open days can help you discover the good and bad points of a place as well as give you an idea about whether you will feel comfortable spending three or four years there. You can ask almost anything at an open day, but it’s also a good idea to ring the institution about any enquiries you may have.
To find out more about individual universities and colleges, visit the UCAS website (www.ucas.com). Here you can find an institution guide that provides links to the universities’ and colleges’ websites. Here you can learn about the university, the services offered and course information, which will help you make a fully informed decision.
Which is the best place for me?
Different places suit different people, so it depends upon your preferences. There is no national curriculum for higher education courses, but the Quality Assurance Agency (www.qaa.ac.uk) carries out external reviews and the Teaching Quality Information website contains statistics, documents and reports about the quality of teaching. You can also visit the brand new Unistats website (www.unistats.com), which is designed to help prospective students compare universities and colleges in the UK.
There are different guides and league tables that can help you come to a conclusion, but it is important to check the source: some universities post league tables on their websites that show their courses at number one. Check the Times Online (www.timesonline.co.uk) or buy the Times Good University Guide for impartial information and advice.
How can I find the right course?
Deciding upon a course that will suit you requires plenty of research. You may be lucky enough to know which subject you would like to study, but there are thousands of students who are unsure. Here are some points to consider before making that allimportant decision:
Find a course that matches your interests, career aspirations and talents
The best way to decide what you would like to study is to ask yourself the following questions.
- Which subjects interest me?
- What are my talents?
- What job would I like to do after attending university or college?
- Which academic skills would I like to improve?
The Stamford Test is a short questionnaire that can help to match your interests and abilities to possible higher education subjects. Many students find this extremely helpful when trying to make up their minds. You can find the Stamford test at www.ucas.com.
Some professions require specific subjects to be studied at higher education level. If you know what career you would like to do in the future, research the job in detail to see if any qualifications are essential.
Consider combination courses if you would like to study more than one subject
If you are interested in more than one subject, you may be able to study a combination as part of your course, for example, English literature and psychology. You can often decide for yourself how much time you would like to spend on each subject: Joint: the two subjects are studied equally, ie 50/50 Major/Minor: the time spent is usually 75%/25%
Explore the subjects that you are interested in to discover a wide range of courses
Once you have chosen one or more subjects that you would consider studying, the next step is to choose a course that includes these subjects. These subjects branch out into more creative and varied courses. For example, if you enjoy chemistry at A level, you may want to look into studying chemical engineering, environmental chemistry or forensic science. If you prefer English, you could study English literature, journalism, creative writing or primary school teaching.
Combine work in industry with study on a sandwich course
Certain vocational courses include a year of working within the industry as part of the course. This will usually be for the third year of a degree course or the second year of an HND and, depending on the employer, may be full-time paid employment. The purpose of this is to introduce you to the world of work, while gaining valuable experience in a profession you might consider after completing your higher education course.
Learn a language while you are studying abroad
With some four-year language courses, you get the opportunity to study abroad in your third year. This allows you to learn the language of another country while living in that country, which will improve your understanding and is a great experience. While studying abroad, you would probably work within a school, teaching English. You would be assigned to a teacher who would help you throughout the year. Not only does this strengthen your language skills, it can also improve your confidence and independence. If you study two languages, you may be able to spend time in each of the two countries.
Specialist admissions services
CUKAS – Conservatoires UK
Admissions Service
If you are interested in studying a music
course, you may wish to consider applying
through CUKAS (www.cukas.ac.uk). CUKAS
is an admissions service that provides
practice-based music courses that are run at
UK conservatoires.
GTTR – Graduate Teacher Training
Registry
If you are considering becoming a teacher
and are a degree graduate, or will complete
a degree in 2007, you can apply for a postgraduate
teaching course (www.gttr.ac.uk).
UKPASS – UK Postgraduate
Application and Statistical Service
This service is open to anyone wanting to
apply to postgraduate courses at the universities
and colleges listed on the UKPASS
website (www.ukpass.ac.uk).
Information supplied by UCAS. For more details, visit: www.ucas.com
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Simple rules for success
- DO NOT make your final college selection without visiting at least your top two or three choices. No matter how well you think you know a college or university, you can learn a lot by spending a few hours on campus. Get family members to accompany you on college visits so you can discuss your impressions with them.
- DO NOT choose a college because its name is familiar. Many students equate educational quality with name recognition.
- DO investigate at least three or four colleges you know little or nothing about but offer the areas of study that interest you, are suitable for students with your grades and are located in geographic areas you like. A little research and an open mind can greatly increase the odds that you make a good college choice.
- DO NOT select a college because your friends or your girlfriend or boyfriend are going there.
- DO your own investigations. Lots of people will tell you a university or college is “hard to get into”, “good”, “a great party place”, etc, without really knowing the facts.
- DO discuss your options with your family and others who know you well and whose judgement you value. If you have a tough time choosing among two or more colleges or universities it is probably because you have done a good job putting together your list and you will be happy at whatever institution you choose.
