Education logo

10 Things You Should Consider When Deciding Which University to Apply For

An undergraduate's guide on what to look for when choosing where to apply.

By SophiePublished 4 years ago 7 min read
Like

1) How far is it from where I grew up?

Whether you're counting down the days until you get to move away from home or dreading the day you leave, if it's your first time living away from home you won't know how you'll feel until you're there. Leaving your home comforts behind and venturing out into the (almost) real world is a big step for anyone - not to mention missing your parents and siblings (pets included).

It's hard to imagine until you actually move, but if you can picture yourself feeling homesick then maybe consider options that are closer to home. Consider how often you expect to speak to your relatives and friends, and how you'd feel if you couldn't see them for weeks - or even months - at a time. For example, if you were one of those children that cried for the entire duration of a 5-day residential trip with your school, maybe it's not for you. After all, though it's a good thing to push your boundaries in life, if you can't handle it then it isn't worth the risk. You don't want to end up feeling as if you have to drop out of uni to make yourself happy again.

2) What societies and sports clubs does the university offer that interest me?

Yes, you're there to study, but an enormous - and less talked about - part of university life is getting involved in societies. Most universities hold a society fayre at the beginning of each term to encourage students to become involved in extracurricular activities. Whether you're into rugby or you'd rather discuss politics, there's usually something for everyone. If you're particularly interested in joining a specific society at uni, for example, if you want to continue a sport you already do, it may be worth checking what societies are offered on the university's website or getting in contact.

3) Where will I live?

Most universities encourage first-year students to move into halls when joining. Halls are flats/apartments, usually on campus or within walking distance from the uni, which are owned by the university. The benefit of living in halls is that external problems are often eliminated. For example, you pay all of your costs (including rent, gas, electricity, water and wifi) in one go, rather than having to sort them all separately. Living close to where you'll have your lectures means that you won't have to use transport to get there, saving both money and time - which you'll always appreciate for those 9 AMs. In the rare case that your uni doesn't offer halls, you'd rather know in advance than be told after getting accepted.

Usually, you'll move out of halls at the end of the first year and rent a house nearby with either previous flatmates or friends from your courses. This doesn't always go as planned, but you don't need to be stressing over it just yet.

4) How green is the campus?

If you're someone who grew up in the countryside, consider whether your potential campus offers the facilities to go for a morning walk and surround yourself with Mother Nature. Many find that being around nature around simply makes them a happier person.

On the other hand, if you've been brought up in a busy city or town, consider whether which setting you think you'd feel more comfortable in. There are many options to study in major cities such as London or Birmingham which offer a more commercially vibrant way of living.

5) Can I afford to go to there?

As can be expected, some places in the UK are far more expensive to live than others. Most universities in the UK cost between £9,000-£9,250 per year for tuition fees, but that's just the beginning. You also have to bear in mind how much it'll cost to live there. This includes the adding up the cost of accommodation, transport and daily living expenses (such as groceries).

As a general rule, the south of England is more expensive than the north. Wales and Scotland tend to be slightly cheaper than average too. London is the most expensive place to live, however in some cases bigger loans are given to students wishing to study in London to help cover the high living costs.

6) Am I being pressured to choose a particular university?

All parents want the best for their children, but how well do they know you as a person and your career goals? Not everyone is capable of getting into Oxford or Cambridge, and the same goes for Russell Group universities. Be realistic about what you think you can achieve and where you'll be happiest.

Likewise, if your family keep suggesting that you apply to the nearest place to home but you'd rather venture a bit further away from the nest, make sure you stick with your gut and make it clear from the start to avoid regretting any decisions or causing internal conflict.

7) Does it offer the exact course I want to do?

If you're one of the few that know exactly which career you want and what you need to do to get there then great, choosing your university course is easy. But for the majority who still have even the slightest bit of doubt in their mind, it's easy to be swayed by universities offering such a wide range of courses. Lots of uni's offer similar courses to one-another, but it's worth considering what's best for you and your career. If you prefer the course at one uni but the campus at another, what will you do then? Or if your friend keeps suggesting that you apply to the uni they're already at, but it doesn't offer the course that you want to do, will you be honest with them?

Some courses offer placement years - whether that be a year overseas or a work placement. It's important to know in advance if these will be available to you if either are something you're particularly interested in.

8) What will I do if I don't get into my first choice of university?

No one feels great about missing out on their first choice in any situation; whether you don't receive the results you need to get into your favourite university or someone picking the chocolate you were just about to take from that new Milk Tray selection box. But if it upsets you to the point that you don't want to ever talk about it again, that's an issue. As you grow, there will be things that are out of your control that you're not happy with, and you'll be required to make honest, judgement-based decisions as to what the next step is.

If your first choice of university doesn't accept you, do you know what you'll do? Normally, there are 3 options:

  • Go with your second choice
  • Resit your exams and hope to be accepted the following year
  • Look into other options such as apprenticeships

It's important that you're mentally prepared for any outcome. By creating a back-up plan in advance you'll avoid panic and be prepared to discuss your ideas should the worst happen.

9) Am I only applying to go there because I know others who are?

Everyone does it - at first. Then you realise you're being ridiculous. We get it, you've had the same friendship group since you were 4 years old and you couldn't possibly live without them. Do you really all want the same life paths though or are you just scared to be without them?

Groups of friends often apply to go to the same uni's - and that's fine, provided they actually do all want to go there - but if they're only doing it in order to avoid being upset, more often than not it just creates problems.

What happens if one of you doesn't get in? Or what if you get there and one of you isn't happy on their course? Weigh up whether you're applying there for yourself or for others, and how you'll cope if it doesn't go to plan.

10) Do I really want to spend (at least) 3 years of my life there?

This one should be obvious. Does the idea of spending multiple years of your early adulthood there excite you? If yes, then go for it. If no, why not? You want to know that you won't regret your decision, especially when you work out the cost of going through with it. Is it one particular university that you're hesitant about applying to or is it the idea of going to university in general that seems confusing?

Only you know what is right for you, but feel free to seek advice from peers, family members and teachers. They may be able to offer a new way of looking at it.

college
Like

About the Creator

Sophie

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.