Panicking about applying? 8 things to think about...

Applying for uni can be quite an intimidating task so if you’re feeling overwhelmed about it, do not panic! Everyone feels the same and it’s totally normal to have no clue where to even start let alone to actually click the button that submits your application!

But what are you actually meant to be looking for and how do you choose the right course and university for you? Here are a few things to think about when you apply that really helped me…

Campus or non-campus university?

I always knew that I wanted to be on a campus where the uni was all in one place as opposed to dotted around a city so this was a really easy starter for narrowing down some options for me

Open days

This is one of the best ways to get a feel for the university, walk around and speak to current students studying the courses you’re interested in. This really helped me when I was comparing universities as it is a lot easier once you have a feel for the environment and can experience it in person

How far from home are you?

I’d suggest looking where the university is actually situated and what transport links there are to access it. If you’re someone that is commuting, will the journey actually be feasible? If you’re someone who may go home multiple times a term, how long will it take you and what is the cost of the transport?

Course content

Although many universities will share the same name for the same course, quite often the actual course content can differ so it’s always a good idea to actually look into the module descriptions on the university course website. This helped me choose the university with a course that suited my interests best

Assessment style

Are you someone that excels in coursework and group projects but doesn’t perform as well in exams? Or perhaps you like a mixture of assessment methods? Every university will examine their courses differently, some will have a mixture of examination style while others will be solely exams or solely coursework so have a look and choose what would suit you best

League tables

This is a super quick and easy way of comparing online which universities have been voted the best for the specific courses you’re interested in

Does a year abroad interest you?

Some universities offer you the option to study in another country for a year which is great if you’re interested in travelling and exploring other cultures while you complete your degree!

Grade requirements

It’s very important to search online what grades each university is asking for because you really don’t want to get excited about a uni and then realise you’re not studying the right subjects or don’t have the right level of grades to be accepted

I hope some of this information was helpful for you. Good luck with your applications!