what to think about if you're in year 12...

Are you heading down the uni highway?
 
Uni applications have now officially opened for 2019 entry. The virtual floodgates were raised on May 22nd, but don’t worry, it always starts with a trickle. The deadline is still a while away. But the dogs are now off the leash, the horses are out of the gates and the, erm, hamsters are out of the hutch.
​
Hopefully, your thoughts about what you might want to study have, like chewing gum on the pavement, been getting firmer.

The next question is where to study? Sometimes this isn’t just about where it is in the country, but about what the place is really like – the atmosphere.
No two unis are the same. The surroundings and building affect how it feels, but so too do the people, the students. Some unis are posh, some are full of students from the area, some are ethnic melting pots, some are arty, sciency or businessy.

Some are none of those things.

How can you get to know unis a little better?

Get yourself there. Nothing gives you a better idea than being there, experiencing it first hand. Universities all have
official open days, either for the whole uni or for just one department. But you don’t have to wait for an open day, just
contact the department and arrange a visit.

Make sure you get the most out of an open day or visit. Don’t let them only show you what they want. See the bits that will matter most to you.
​
Don’t just visit one uni and think you’re done. Try to get yourself to at least three so you can start to get a feel for how
they’re all different. Do you have any friends who went there? Get in touch with people and ask them what they think about the place.