Share your top tips for choosing a university!

Hi everyone,

I know many of you are trying to make may decisions at the moment on which university to go to? Campus or city? What course? etc. So I thought those of us who have already made these decisions could share here what helped us make them, and our top tips to help others.

My top tip is open days!! This really helped me make a decision as I learnt so much at open days. I got a feel for the universities and surrounding areas, found out more information about the courses, and spoke to lectures and students. I also felt I learnt something new at each open day as to what I should be looking to get out of a university and what I did and didn't like.

Make sure to make the most of your open days and ask staff and students any questions you may have as they will be happy to help.

I hope this helps and make sure to add your top tips :smile:

-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Reply 1

WaistcoatRich

9

Yup, open days! Most of all, you'll get a sense for how close things really are – how far to the shops, to the nightlife, are there shops on campus, is the campus convenient and accessible, and can you imagine spending your days settled in the library?
Yeah, libraries... not even kidding. The closer food and a shop are to the library, the more you'll be doing what you came to do. Plus, in the dead of winter, if your accommodation gets a little cold, you'll appreciate a library that's warm and open.

Thanks for this thread. Here's five things I would recommend looking at when choosing a uni...

1.

Course structure - what are the modules like? Do any of them capture your interest? Do any of them link to your career aspirations?

2.

Local area/Campus - what is the uni's campus like? Do I like the city? Can you see yourself living here happily for 3-4 years?

3.

Ranking for your subject - What is this uni's reputation and ranking for your subject? The Complete University Guide's website is a good resource to see where different unis rank by subject and in different criteria such as student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.

4.

What do current students think? - Try chatting to current students on UCAS' 'Chat to Students' page, at open days, and offer holder days. The best source of advice on what its like to study a particular course/at a particular uni are the students themselves.

5.

Life beyond studying? - There's so much more to uni than studying, so what other opportunities are available to you when studying here? What societies and groups are available? Are there part time or casual job opportunities? What is the student culture like?

I hope this is a good source of inspo for you to start asking questions and taking those next steps 🙂

Holly
University of Bath

OP

Original post by WaistcoatRich

Yup, open days! Most of all, you'll get a sense for how close things really are – how far to the shops, to the nightlife, are there shops on campus, is the campus convenient and accessible, and can you imagine spending your days settled in the library?
Yeah, libraries... not even kidding. The closer food and a shop are to the library, the more you'll be doing what you came to do. Plus, in the dead of winter, if your accommodation gets a little cold, you'll appreciate a library that's warm and open.

@WaistcoatRich

This is a great point!! I spend sooo much time in the library (currently I am in the library lol).

And yes I am so glad I am a 10 minute walk from Aldi and don't have to carry my bags back on the bus or a long way. It makes a huge difference the location of everything.

-Grace (Kingston Rep) :smile:

OP

Original post by University of Bath

Thanks for this thread. Here's five things I would recommend looking at when choosing a uni...

1.

Course structure - what are the modules like? Do any of them capture your interest? Do any of them link to your career aspirations?

2.

Local area/Campus - what is the uni's campus like? Do I like the city? Can you see yourself living here happily for 3-4 years?

3.

Ranking for your subject - What is this uni's reputation and ranking for your subject? The Complete University Guide's website is a good resource to see where different unis rank by subject and in different criteria such as student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.

4.

What do current students think? - Try chatting to current students on UCAS' 'Chat to Students' page, at open days, and offer holder days. The best source of advice on what its like to study a particular course/at a particular uni are the students themselves.

5.

Life beyond studying? - There's so much more to uni than studying, so what other opportunities are available to you when studying here? What societies and groups are available? Are there part time or casual job opportunities? What is the student culture like?

I hope this is a good source of inspo for you to start asking questions and taking those next steps 🙂
Holly
University of Bath

Hi Holly @University of Bath

Thanks for sharing these tips! These are definitely important things to consider. So many questions to ask at either open days or here to the reps and students on The Student Room :smile:

-Grace (Kingston Rep)

Share your top tips for choosing a university!

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