Freaking out about University choices

So recently, I attended an open day for my University of choice. I had my heart set on going there.. but upon sitting in on lectures for classes I would be interested in, I just didn't feel like I clicked. I felt out of place, quite upset, and mostly, like I didn't enjoy or feel like the courses were right for me. I don't want to move out of where I am right now, but I am highkey nervous as now I don't know where I want to apply for. I attended lectures for Music, Theatre, Film and TV and Theology, as these are the kind of things I'm into and looking to pursue at university, however now I am really unsure as to where. Any advice would be massively appreciated. I am panicking.

Reply 1

McGinger

20

Nowhere does it say that you have to go to Uni, or that you can only do it straight from school.

Step back, and plan a gap-year - get a job (any job), earn some ££ and do some travel etc. This will give you some life-experience, a wider perspective, and enable to make a more informed choice about what you might want to do next - and why, There is no point in just rushing into Uni if it isnt what you actually want to do.
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Reply 2

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post

by Anonymous

So recently, I attended an open day for my University of choice. I had my heart set on going there.. but upon sitting in on lectures for classes I would be interested in, I just didn't feel like I clicked. I felt out of place, quite upset, and mostly, like I didn't enjoy or feel like the courses were right for me. I don't want to move out of where I am right now, but I am highkey nervous as now I don't know where I want to apply for. I attended lectures for Music, Theatre, Film and TV and Theology, as these are the kind of things I'm into and looking to pursue at university, however now I am really unsure as to where. Any advice would be massively appreciated. I am panicking.

The image that people have of a particular university doesn't necessarily match the reality, and open days are great for establishing that.

You say that you "don't want to move out of where I am right now'; is this the only uni which is commutable from where you are? If so, then the fact that you don't want to move has left you with few options. :frown:

I suggest you attend some open days at other universities. If you find one that you fall in love with, you then have a choice to make. Would you rather attend a university you love, but have to move, or avoid moving by attending a university where you "just didn't feel like I clicked"?

Reply 3

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

15

Original post

by Anonymous

So recently, I attended an open day for my University of choice. I had my heart set on going there.. but upon sitting in on lectures for classes I would be interested in, I just didn't feel like I clicked. I felt out of place, quite upset, and mostly, like I didn't enjoy or feel like the courses were right for me. I don't want to move out of where I am right now, but I am highkey nervous as now I don't know where I want to apply for. I attended lectures for Music, Theatre, Film and TV and Theology, as these are the kind of things I'm into and looking to pursue at university, however now I am really unsure as to where. Any advice would be massively appreciated. I am panicking.

Hi there (:

I'm sorry to hear it wasn’t what you expected - but that’s exactly what open days are useful for! They help you realise what doesn’t quite click, which is just as important as finding what does! 🙂

For uni courses, the UCAS course search tool is great — you can filter by subject, location and a bunch more! I’d recommend making a list of any that catch your eye and checking if they have upcoming open days so you can get a better feel for them before applying. You've still got time, and it's okay to feel unsure right now - it’s all part of the process! UCAS search tool <-- just linked this here for you to have a look 🤗

As others have highlighted, it might also be worth looking into other options like colleges, apprenticeships, or different routes into the subjects you’re interested in - you might find a path that suits you even better!

Hope this helps, I know it's easier said than done, especially when you were pretty set on the place, but try not to worry- it happens, and now that you know it wasn't right for you, you can start exploring other options!

goodluck!

Emily
Year 3, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 4

The_Lonely_Goatherd

20

Hiya,

Sorry you were left feeling disappointed by the open day you went on. I'm a bit curious that you'd set your heart on a particular uni, when you haven't finalised a subject choice. Theology is quite different to the other (creative arts) subjects that you mentioned... so I'm wondering whether attending so many different lecture tasters for different subjects has caused internal conflict or confusion.

I wonder whether it might be worth narrowing down to one subject or a joint honours combination and confirming that in your head, and then looking for nearby unis (if you really don't want to or can't move out) based on what you want from the experience of studying that subject? Even within a single subject, these can be taught very differently (in terms of course content and assessment style). Certainly that's the case with music (I can say that with some knowledge, as I did a music degree myself).

You've had some great advice and input above. Try not to panic: as has been said above, uni doesn't have to be done straightaway (or at all)! There's time! :h:

Reply 5

ARU Graduate

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

So recently, I attended an open day for my University of choice. I had my heart set on going there.. but upon sitting in on lectures for classes I would be interested in, I just didn't feel like I clicked. I felt out of place, quite upset, and mostly, like I didn't enjoy or feel like the courses were right for me. I don't want to move out of where I am right now, but I am highkey nervous as now I don't know where I want to apply for. I attended lectures for Music, Theatre, Film and TV and Theology, as these are the kind of things I'm into and looking to pursue at university, however now I am really unsure as to where. Any advice would be massively appreciated. I am panicking.

Hiya,

I get why this would make you nervous but it’s great that you’ve recognised this and are really thinking about it. Have you considered postponing uni until you’re more sure on what you’d like to do? There’s nothing wrong with just working for a while and researching different courses in the meantime to see what might suit you better! It’s never too late to study so don’t feel that you need to make this decision quickly. I didn’t start uni until much later in life and my age hasn’t held me back in anyway.

Also try to think about what your long term goal is. What would you like to be able to do career wise when you’ve finished uni? This can help give an idea of what’s the best past to take. Remember that some things during any course you take might feel a little tedious or boring. I certainly found certain subjects throughout my course less enjoyable than others but I was focused on the end goal!

Really get stuck into your research in what’s involved in different courses and what career paths you can take. I done this for a few years before making my decision and honestly taking that time to figure it out was the best thing I could’ve done!

I hope this helps! Good luck making your decision and whichever avenue you decide to go down.

Sophie 🙂

Reply 6

Manchester Met - Student Rep

Official Rep

16

Original post

by Anonymous

So recently, I attended an open day for my University of choice. I had my heart set on going there.. but upon sitting in on lectures for classes I would be interested in, I just didn't feel like I clicked. I felt out of place, quite upset, and mostly, like I didn't enjoy or feel like the courses were right for me. I don't want to move out of where I am right now, but I am highkey nervous as now I don't know where I want to apply for. I attended lectures for Music, Theatre, Film and TV and Theology, as these are the kind of things I'm into and looking to pursue at university, however now I am really unsure as to where. Any advice would be massively appreciated. I am panicking.

Hey,
It's completely normal and valid to feel the way you do after an open day, especially when you have your heart set on a particular university or course. It can be unsettling when things don't feel like a perfect fit, and it's understandable that you're panicking a bit right now. Many students experience this kind of uncertainty, so please know you're not alone.
The good news is that realising a course or university might not be right now means you're being smart and saving yourself from a potentially unhappy experience later. This is a positive discovery!

Since you're keen to stay in your current area, here are a few thoughts that might help you move forward:

•

Explore other local universities: Even if you had one in mind, there might be other universities or colleges nearby that offer Music, Theatre, Film and TV, or Theology courses. Their teaching styles, campus atmosphere, or even specific module content might be a much better fit for you. Take some time to look them up and see what their next open days or virtual tours are like.

•

Look at the course content in detail: Sometimes, sitting in on one lecture doesn't give you the full picture. Go online and check the module breakdowns for these subjects at different universities. You might find a course with a slightly different focus that genuinely excites you, even if the university isn't your original top choice.

•

Consider joint honours: If you're interested in multiple subjects, explore joint honours degrees. This allows you to combine two passions, and sometimes the blend of subjects can feel more engaging than just one on its own.

•

Trust your gut feeling: That feeling of "not clicking" is important. It's telling you something, and it's wise to listen. You want to choose a place where you'll feel comfortable and engaged for the next few years.

This might feel overwhelming right now, but you're still in a great position to find the right path for you. You've identified what doesn't feel right, which is a big step!
If you have any questions about how to research courses or student life, feel free to ask. You'll find somewhere that clicks, I promise.😊

Rachel - Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism

Reply 7

JiyaForensicSci

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

So recently, I attended an open day for my University of choice. I had my heart set on going there.. but upon sitting in on lectures for classes I would be interested in, I just didn't feel like I clicked. I felt out of place, quite upset, and mostly, like I didn't enjoy or feel like the courses were right for me. I don't want to move out of where I am right now, but I am highkey nervous as now I don't know where I want to apply for. I attended lectures for Music, Theatre, Film and TV and Theology, as these are the kind of things I'm into and looking to pursue at university, however now I am really unsure as to where. Any advice would be massively appreciated. I am panicking.

Hi,

I am so sorry you're feeling this way. It is important that you don't panic! It is super normal to feel unsettled or uncertain after something you were excited about not fitting your expectations.

I would like to reassure you that many students go through & have gone through what you are describing, & what you have learnt is valuable. It's good to see that you are aware of the types of environments that suit you or don't. This, of course, does not mean your love for film, theatre, film, TV, or Theology are wrong (they sound cool!), it may just have been presented in a way in which the university style might not fit you. Every university teaches differently, has different approaches, so I would suggest going to more than one as (5 at the max if you can).

You may consider:

•

Looking into a joint course if other universities offer them

•

Reaching out to ambassadors & academics at the university to get a sense of the style of teaching, how students find the course, pros & cons, the content

•

Attend more open days at different universities

If you like, I could help you look into this & we can discuss this further together?

Kind regards,
Jiya Mahmood (Jiya Constancia Windsor)
Forensic Medical Science Year 2
Careers Ambassador (2023/2024)
Student Ambassador
PAL Leader (2024/25)
University's Content Creator
Student Voice Representative 2024 Forensic Medical Science Year 2
Student Room Representative
Scholar of Academic Excellence

Reply 8

dirtmother

9

My son hated one university at open day, so didn't apply there. Straightforward rejection from one, challenging experience at his preferred place, so put in a late application to the hated one. Totally different feeling on interview day.

Freaking out about University choices

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