How to decide to go to university?

Sitting on the fence trying to figure if you want to go to uni or not? When it’s time to decide what you want to do with your life, how do you know which path is right for you? Our student Joey explains how he made his decision and shares his four top tips to help you figure out if university is the best move for you.

1. Find out what you’re passionate about

University is a great way to follow your passion and is even a good place to find it. Joey knew that he wanted to get into digital media, which is an area where you need a large set of skills, and university was able to help him build those skills. Think about the things that interest you. Pay close attention to the topics that you enjoy talking about, reading about or the things you like watching in your spare time. If you don’t know what your passion is, then is there an area of work that interests you? And will getting a qualification in this area help you get a job in the future?

2. Do your research to find out if university is the best way into that passion

If you already know what you want to do or have found what it is you’re passionate about, it’s time to hit Google. Would university help you achieve what you want to do in the future? Take a look at career websites and course pages on university websites and see what topics the course covers.

Think about what you’ll need to get into your future career. Some jobs might need you to know how to use equipment that’s hard to access on your own, like TV studios, game design suites, fully equipped labs and studios. Other careers might need accreditations from professional organisations that have to be earned through courses like university degrees.

You might have a vague idea of what you want to do but no idea how to get started. That’s where university can help.

3. Find out what your social life will be like

A great social life shouldn’t be the only reason to go to university but it’s still a massive part of your life. Whether it’s discovering new things by joining societies or enjoying everything city life has to offer like music, culture and (most importantly) great food. Meeting lots of new people at uni can not only give you friends for life, but also connections with people who’ll be working in your industry.

The expert opinion: It's about the experience too!

Gaining your independence is important too! It’s not always fun doing the ironing but university makes it a little easier to learn those all-important life skills. There’s support every step of the way.

4. Make sure you go to an Open Day

The best way to find out if a uni is right for you is to attend an Open Day to see what the place is like. It'll give you the chance to find out more about the course or courses you're interested in, speak to staff and current students, and get a real feel for the campus, facilities and city you'd be spending the next few years in. Take a look at when our next Open Days are - at the moment, these are virtual events, but we hope to welcome you back to our campuses soon.