How to choose the right course and the perfect university for you
So, what do you want to do as a career? We’ve all heard that question. From parents, family, teachers, career advisers, maybe even friends. And for some the answer is easy. Some people just know what they want to do and they’ve always known what they want to be. Whether it’s a doctor, teacher, police officer, actor, whatever it may be, they’ve always had that certainty.
But what about those of us that don’t? What do we do? How do we decide what to do next? Choosing A-levels or BTECs was hard enough. How do we now pick one subject to study for three years which may shape the rest of our lives?
For those that have no clear idea what career they want to do, university can seem daunting, but actually it’s filled with exciting possibilities. Here are some pointers to help get you thinking about your future and, hopefully, make some decisions easier.
Hone in on your passion
Find something you want to do. That’s the key. You’re going to spend at least the next three years doing this, make sure it’s something you enjoy.
Your passion may have been something you learned in your school classrooms, such as studying Shakespeare in English Literature, or discovering how the world works in Geography. It may be that your passions actually lie in your hobbies. Playing for a sports team, for example, might have made you consider a course in Sports and Exercise Science or Physiotherapy.
Even your downtime can lead you to your passion. Do you love to binge true crime podcasts? Take a look at courses like Criminology, Professional Policing, or Forensic Investigation. Do you enjoy giving back to others and volunteering for your local community? Perhaps a course in Social Work or Education might be for you.
To have a browse of the courses the University of Winchester has to offer, click here.
Regardless of how you find your passion, there will be a course that is perfect for you.
Where?
The next step is finding the right uni for you. Obviously choosing one that offers the course you want is essential, things might get tricky if it doesn’t. Then you need to think about some other things like location, campus uni vs city uni, support services, facilities, and clubs and societies on offer. Think about the things you want to get out of your university experience (extracurricular activities, job opportunities, fieldwork), and base your priorities on those.
Again, this can seem daunting but, similar to choosing a course, this can boil down to something very simple: find somewhere you feel happy. And the best way to do this is to go on an open day. Explore the campuses and cities, get a feel for them, talk to the students and lecturers, take a guest so you can see what they think too.
To book an open day at the University of Winchester, click here.
Tailoring your course
Many universities offer the opportunity for you to tailor your degree to what you find interesting. Unlike school or college, as a university student there will be a greater emphasis placed on you to drive your own learning and part of this can come down to picking the direction of your degree.
This is not the case in every course or at every uni, so make sure you investigate properly. A large number like to give students the chance to have a say in what they learn with what’s called optional modules.
Studying History and want to focus on the Vikings? Or maybe you’re a Business student and want to start your own company so need to tailor your degree to marketing and entrepreneurship. This is the sort of thing you can research before applying to see what is on offer from the universities you are considering to help you make your decision.
The way forward
Doing this kind of research may sound arduous, but it doesn’t have to be. Get yourself to open days, explore the location, talk to students and lecturers to try and be as best informed as possible. Extra things that might be useful to ask which you might not have thought about include:
- What services are available for a commuting student?
- What scholarships and bursaries are available?
- What wellbeing support does the university provide?
- How safe is the local area?
- How does the course prepare me for the professional world?
Find out why the people love their course, what it’s like to study, and why it might be right for you.
Once you’ve gathered your information, take the time to compare different universities and subjects, the pros and cons, and what they mean for you as an individual.
Talk to your friends and family. They’re there to support you and are a great sounding board for your ideas and opinions.
Conclusion
Making these big decisions about your future, especially if you don’t have a set career path in mind, can feel overwhelming. Yet there are so many opportunities to do something you love. The important thing is choosing a course and university you are happy with and not to feel pressured to enrol onto a course or at a university where you don’t feel comfortable.
If you have any questions, talk to us on Live Chat.
Blog written by Duncan Guthrie, third year BA (Hons) Marketing student at the University of Winchester.
Back to blog