How do I pick the right university?

Hi everyone, how are you all feeling after picking up your results yesterday?

Whether your expectations were exceeded, met, or not quite on par with what you expected, we want to remind you that you should be massively proud of yourself, and that your grades do not and will not ever define you - you are so much more than a piece of paper, and you have so many options available regardless of the grades that you have gained! :smile:

You might be considering applying to universities through clearing, or might have received offers from a few universities, and be unsure about which to pick. We are here to help!

Cancel out the noise of others, and start by thinking about what is genuinely important to you, and whether the universities you're thinking of reflect these things. We have added some pointers to get your brain juices flowing:

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Location - Are you a homebody or would you like to venture further afield? If you prefer your home comforts, you may wish to look at a university closer to home, but if you want to gain some independence - take a look at universities further afield.

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Local area - What is the local area like? What can you get involved with? Would you prefer to be in a busy city, or a quieter area?

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Campus - What is campus like? is it spread out within a city or is it a self-contained campus? Which would you prefer?

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Course modules - This is arguably one of the most important factors, as you want to ensure that the university's modules appeal to you. Ask yourself - which university has more appealing course modules for your chosen course - is there one in particular which appeals to you more? which aligns more with your interests?

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Accommodation - Are you guaranteed a place to stay in your first year? Is your accommodation close-by to campus?

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Student support - what support is available to you as a student should you need it?

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Career support - which university seems to have a better support network and resources for obtaining a career on a short-term basis (internships, volunteering, placements) and more long-term (graduate role, entrepreneurship, entry-level role etc).

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Clubs/societies - which university offers the most appealing clubs/societies that you can get involved with? What's their Student's Union like? clubs/societies are the perfect way to make friends, and so it's important to choose a university that offers clubs/societies matching your interests - especially if you have a hobby that you'd like to continue in university.

There are so many other factors for you to consider too, but we hope that this can help to spark some ideas, and lead you one step closer to finding your right university.

As always, let us know if we can advise and support you further, and feel free to add any other factors that feel should be considered! :biggrin: