Choosing The Right University and Degree

A lot of things will influence your decision in making your choice about which degree you do and in which university.

The main ones are:

• Interests
• Location/Travel
• Friends
• Affordability
• Accommodation
• Qualification

So what should it be?

You should choose your degree and the university according to your own capability and interest. Following your friends around will not get you anywhere or what you want to achieve.

Choosing a university only because their social activities facilities are good will defiantly drive you away from education.

Choosing a university so that you can live out shouldn’t ever be the reason.

Your own qualification will be a major driving force in your decision making, unless you have the top marks. It is your marks from which the universities will decide weather they take you on or not.

So how do I choose?

Firstly decide what it is that you want to do. The way to do that is to work out what you’re good at. It’s better to get a 1st for a degree that may not be the most popular subject than get a 2:1 or 2:2 for a more popular subject. So take your time and choose carefully.

Carry out a research about the universities that are offering the degree, making a list from the best to worst. Check their rating in the country.

Apply to the ones that are willing to take you on with the qualification you have. Starting from the top one on your list and working your way down.

Don’ts

Studying is expensive, so try and avoid having to move out, if that is an option for you. Accommodation, food, bills will add up and drink you dry out of your money or will leave you with a huge debt.

Try and find ones that are close to save on travelling (cost and time). It all adds up at the end.

Don’t choose a course only because your friends have or because it will get you into the same university as them. They are not the ones who are going to be out there at the end looking for a job for you. It is you, so be careful and be selfish.

Don’t let someone else tell you what you are good at or what you should do. You decide, because it is only you who knows what you enjoy and what you do best.

Don’t let the cost your of studies spiral out of hand. Remember, you have to pay it off when you start working. So why not keep it down, so that when you do start earning, the money will start going into your pocket sooner.

What you decide now will decide for you your tomorrow.

One more thing for you all who are young and are about to enter the most important part of your life in education.

Parents and your teachers tell you to study hard and make informed choices now. They tell you to take life seriously and sort things out while you can. Like most teenagers you don’t listen to them and think to yourself, there is always tomorrow. Trust me there isn’t. Today is what you have. Tomorrow is where you beg to be given a chance to back to today. A wish that will never be granted.

You don’t believe me? Try this; ask everyone you know who hasn’t had much of an education, someone who hasn’t got a good job, someone who wants to go back into education this one question. What would they do if they could go back a few years and start off from school again and if they wanted to?

The answer will be surprising and something you know deep down but refuse to believe. Try not to be one of them.