Tips on finding a university!

If you’re in year 12, year 13, or even year 11 and want to find a university, it can be difficult to know where to start, or understand how the process works, or what things you should be prioritising when you’re looking for a university. So I’ve compiled a short list of things you should do, to point you in the right direction.

Although everyone’s method to narrowing down their university choices is unique, I began from the fundamental point: the course. This was probably the lengthiest part of the process, as unlike some people at my school who already knew that they wanted to be doctors, lawyers or psychologists, I had no idea what I wanted to do (and still don’t!). So, if you are in the same position that I was in, my advice to you would be to be open to lots of different things, and do your research about things you wouldn’t ever have considered. I studied English, French, History and Sociology, so I looked into Journalism, Marketing, International Relations, Publishing, History, Sociology, Literature, Social Policy and so many other different degrees. Seeing as I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I decided to do something generic, that would open a lot of doors for me.

Even after lots of online research, you might not find a course you like, so the next step you can take is to go to a local university (like Surrey, Roehampton, Kingston, Brighton, Sussex, Portsmouth, Chichester, anywhere in London etc)  and attend an open day. I went to Bournemouth for mine (and got a free hoodie, win win) and went to a lecture on ‘Sociology and Anthropology’. I strongly disliked the course and the uni, but it helped me by ruling it out and gave me a taste of what an open day would be like.

After having finally settled on doing History and Sociology joint honours, I was weighing up multiple factors in deciding the university. I wanted somewhere a couple hours away from home – so that I was far enough to be independent but close enough to be able to see them – and I wanted it to be a uni in the top 50 on the league tables. I decided to make a list and write down things that were important to me :

1. The vibe – and this is something you have to experience for yourself by going to open days. You have to feel welcomed, and feel like you fit in. Feeling happy there was probably the deciding factor for me, which I felt at only 3 universities.
2. The surrounding area – I personally love lots of green spaces and nature as well as modern, well-kept buildings. On one occasion, I visited Manchester*; the city was simply too big for me, and it didn’t feel welcoming at all. I also went to Sussex which too empty and unkempt, though I loved being by the sea. You might prefer a campus, or you might like city universities: it’s a good idea to find out which you prefer. (Don’t be too put off by my personal assessment of these universities!)
3. The reputation – it obviously depends based on your predicted grades and if you want a guaranteed place or prefer to be a little overly ambitious – try to be a mix of realistic and ambitious when you are making 5 choices, with at least one easy insurance choice.
4. Any additional factors – this might be personal support, accommodation (though remember this is only for one year!), societies, specific modules, distance from home, buildings, course length, nightlife, transport etc.

At the end of the day, university lasts at least 3 years, so if you feel happy there and you feel as if you could move your life there temporarily, then it should definitely be a contender. I have just found out that I am going to Warwick University which I am incredibly happy with – but choosing a university really isn’t a one shoe fits all experience, so play around with different ideas and priorities!