Covid casts a long shadow over lives. As we are discovering, the condition can persist for months or, as we may yet discover, possibly years. It also casts a shadow of grief over those who have lost – or will lose – those they love. But even those who, thankfully, have never been infected may yet find their lives have been blighted for years or even decades by this pandemic’s other long-term wasting effects.
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The labour market has rarely looked worse for young people and emerging from education into a recession can handicap a whole career. At first there are no jobs and, by the time there are, there’s another generation coming into bloom, fresh out of school or university, unwilted by months or years of unemployment.

The web is full of dodgy types and one that students in particular should avoid are the essay cheats – or, as they’re sometimes called, ‘essay mills’.

The situation they prey on is common enough. An essay is due next week and you’re finding it too hard or you haven’t done the reading or there’s some thing else more important right now – your job, your boy/girlfriend, a different essay or even just a party. For a few quid (in fact, often quite a bit of money), you can make the problem go away. You can buy a ready-written essay, dissertation or even PhD thesis online and pass it off as your own.
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Of course, the shysters offering this service don’t advertise that they’re there to help you cheat. They describe them as “sample essays” to “inspire” or “inform” your own work. However, they also describe them as “plagiarism-free” (so that, in theory, unis won’t spot it’s not the student’s own work). Why would they say that unless everyone knows the real score?

You know perfectly well this isn’t ethical and you shouldn’t do it. But, if morality isn’t enough to convince you to do the right thing, here are six reasons why you should never cheat. 

Do you know your bops from your balls? Or your CATS from your CUKAS?

Heading into the world of higher education can be like learning a new language – there's more jargon than you can shake a soc at. ​That's why we've created this handy glossary of all the weird and wonderful terms academics like to use. Let Push be your guide.

You'll need us. Honestly, it's a jungle out there. ​

Thinking about heading to uni, but worried you won’t get the most bang for your buck? Have a look at this great article by the Guardian, featuring the wise words of our Chief Executive, Johnny Rich, on how to make the most of your money.

Today, we thought we'd share with you a Telegraph article featuring the wise words of Push founder and Chief Executive, Johnny Rich.

In it, Johnny compares choosing a uni to choosing a marriage partner – “You wouldn’t rush into a nightclub and grab the first person you saw — likewise, you shouldn’t spend three years at a university without having spent at least three hours looking around beforehand."

We thought we'd share this great article that education and careers specialist, Push founder and Chief Executive Johnny Rich was asked to write for Huffington Post: 'Do I Need to Go to a Good University?'

Johnny is is also a member of the Board of Directors at the Higher Education Academy and a member of Govermnent advisory committees on higher education (BIS, HEFCE). He is a consultant to Which? University, BestCourse4me, and various universities, as well as a key consultant for U-Multirank.

He is also a regular commentator on radio & TV on issues about student life, higher education and student finance, and a freelance journalist. For more info on the man himself, head over to his website. 

Click here for some wise words on choosing the best university for you.

Head over to our Student Zone for more info on your options and more.