Five vital questions to ask before applying for university Are you thinking about applying for university? Have you stopped to really think about why? ‘Because my friends are’, ‘Because my parents expect it’ or even ‘Because I don’t know what else to do’ are often quoted but are they enough? Each year, around 6% of undergraduate students will drop out of their university course. This could be for a whole range of reasons, but a significant number are because their course or university life wasn’t what they were expecting. Whilst a good many will successfully complete further study or training elsewhere, perhaps a little more thought in advance could have saved them this ‘false start’. The fundamental question has to be whether a university course is the right thing for you, for your learning style and for your future goals. But, how do you work that out? Here are a few questions to ask yourself 18
that might help you to focus in on that decision. Do you need a degree for the career you have chosen? There are many professions which require a degree qualification as prerequisite of entry. There are others where a degree is an advantage, if not actually a requirement. However, there are other ways of achieving degree level qualifications than becoming a full-time student, including part-time professional study, Open University and distance learning courses, and a growing number of Degree and Higher Apprenticeships. So, before you sign up just because you feel you
Make The Future Yours! Issue 2
have to, it’s worth checking out if there are other routes into your chosen career. Where will you live? Many students choose to make going to university their chance to move away from home for the first time. If that’s true in your case, university accommodation offices can be brilliant in helping to find secure and reasonably priced housing options to ease you in. Many also offer different catering packages, if the idea of having to cook for yourself (or live on takeaways!) is filling you and your parents with dread. However, it’s increasingly true that not all students do
