Making A Decision
Making A Decision
When you have gathered together all the information you require you should construct your own ‘Which University is best for me’ grid listing your personal criteria and matching the courses and Universities and colleges to it. This should reduce your choices – remember you can apply for a MAXIMUM of 5 courses on your UCAS form.
You need to think carefully about your own personal preferences:
* What grades does the course require?
* How far away from home do I want to go?
* What reputation does the University have for my subject?
* What are the facilities like for my subject?
* What have previous graduates gone on to do?
* Will I get accommodation in my first year?
* Will I have to cook my own meals in my first year?
* Does the University have a good night life?
* Is it a campus University?
* Do I want to live in a large city?
* Is there a Premier League football ground?
* Will I get the opportunity to go abroad as part of the course?
* Is it a sandwich course?
* How will I be assessed – continuous assessment ? end of course/module exams?
* How much will the fees cost me and what financial support (including bursaries) will be available?
* How much will my accommodation cost?
Warnings
Do not be confused into thinking that the best course is the one with the highest entry requirements as these can be influenced by popularity of the place as well as supply and demand of the subject. Treat Higher Education ‘League Tables’ with a great deal of caution. There are at least nine different newspaper versions and high positions do not always guarantee that that University will be the best for you.
You will receive a lot of advice from various sources – most of it well meaning but often out of date and irrelevant to you. As you are investing in your education you must make sure that you choose the places which suit your own individual needs. No single university is the ‘Best’ for everyone.
We don’t want anyone to end up on the wrong course at the wrong place through his or her lack of sufficient research.