I started University nearly 10 years ago *cringe* I can’t believe it was that long ago! I loved my time at University though. I loved my course, I made some really amazing life-long friends and I really loved my chosen University. The UCAS deadline is nearly here so here are some tips to help choose the best University for you (or to help a son or daughter choose).
- VISIT – this may sound really obvious but a lot of people I met at University had never been to Leeds, let alone to the campus. Very brave if you ask me. Even if the one you think you want to go to because of the course is far away, you really need to plan time to make a proper visit. Not only will you get a feel for the campus and the facilities, but you will see what the housing is like, the city / town and the little things like the shops it has and public transport. Starting Uni is a big thing and you don’t want to have to worry about all of that when you first start.
- KNOW THE FACULTY – Kiss FM presenter AJ went to the University of Greenwich to show potential students under the skin of the university and what you can get up to in their faculties. Something like this is so important. You can see what your course / department really get up to, what course content will be like and get a feel for what the Uni is really like.
- RESEARCH – make sure you have fully researched what the course content will be like. Universities may offer the ‘same’ course but it is only the same by title. The actual content will differ as will how you are assessed. If you aren’t that great at exams, maybe doing a course that is 100% exam assessed isn’t the best idea!
- PLAN – will you be taking a car? A bike? Will there be places to park? Is it necessary to have one with you? How far is the campus from where you will be living? Is cycling that distance realistic? All of these kinds of things need to be planned out. Come the start of term you will most likely get very stressed out with all of the changes, so plan, plan, plan.
- BE SOCIAL – not necessarily meaning going out to different events and nights out, but join in with clubs and societies (at least at first anyway). Great way to get a hobby or carry on with something that you use to do back home and of course get to know new people. One other vital thing is be on Facebook! This was only invented during my second year at uni (yes, I’m old and remember having to log in using my university email) but it is such a good way to connect with course mates, and house mates and get to know who people are. Sometimes putting names to faces is hard lol.
- SAVE – this needs to be not only with money (Uni and living away from home cost a lot more than you think it will) but also save up some home bits that you can take with you. Can’t got wrong with some pots and pans, a kettle and some Tupperware 😉
Now, to be in with a chance of winning a £30 Amazon voucher, to hep you or someone you know get ready for Uni,all you need to do is CLICK on the Rafflecopter link below and complete as many entries as you would like.
The competition will run for three weeks ending on 2nd February – good luck!
You could also be in with the chance of winning some amzing start of term prizes, including an iPad mini, by visiting this link: http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/kissuniversitytakeover
Rebecca x
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Competition Terms & Conditions:
- The giveaway will run from 6am on 12th January 2015 and run for 3 weeks, ending at 11.59pm on 2nd February 2015, GMT.
- The prize is one £30 Amazon voucher only.
- Sorry, entry is for UK residents aged 18 or over only.
- Entries can only be completed through the Rafflecopter widget.
- All entries will be checked and verified.
- The winner is chosen at random, through the Rafflecopter widget, using random.org, from all valid entries.
- The winner will be announced on 3rd January 2015 and they will be emailed, as well as announced through AAUBlog’s social media pages.
- The winner will have 72 hours to respond with their details, otherwise a new winner will be picked, following the same procedure.
- The item will be sent out once winner’s address details have been sent and the prize will be sent out directly from a PR company, on behalf of Amazon.
- No compensation was received for running this giveaway.
See my other giveaways that care currently running, HERE.
I didn’t go to one, I just visited my friends at them all over the country every weekend for parties!
I didn’t go to university so I would put the Voucher towards a brevile sandwich toaster
I would love to get some new books and films x
i did 3 years at my local college doing Animal care NVQ’S , and there was no university’s anywhere near me that went to the next level (veterinary) , meaning i would have to move away (im a softie and didnt want to leave my family) luckily i got a job at the Dog Groomers where i had my placement with college. But as it was a placement they were only offering me £40 for a FULL weeks work, which just wasnt enough to pay my way. so i had to start a new career in admin, i did 2 more NVQ’s in IT and computers and also an accountancy course. 10 years later, i left work to have my baby. Hoping to do more courses in the future. xx
I didn’t go to uni. So I would use It towards a new computer.
the only University I went to was the University of Life! I would use this to buy some board books for my little Grandson.
Anthony Harrington
I didn’t go to uni , but i would put the voucher towards some party bag fillers for my eldest two boys birthdays
I didnt go but my daughter intends to go.
My daughter will be going
I went to UCLAN but dropped out, it was a long time ago 😀
i went and studied history
I didn’t go to university, just 2 years in College. Would love to buy language learning tools, like Rosetta Stone to help me learn another language.
Surrey University. We are actually going through the uni application process for both our kids at the moment. After failing to get into physiotherapy last year, this year our daughter’s selection criteria is entirely based on those she has the best chance of getting into. Her younger brother has Asperger’s so the level of support he will get is one of the most important things.
I went to the university of Northumbria at newcastle to complete my BA honours in Primary Education with QTS! Loved it there!
sorry reposted as didn’t realise I was anon!
I went to the university of Northumbria at newcastle to complete my BA honours in Primary Education with QTS! Loved it there!
I did not go to Uni but I do study now at Glasgow City College doing Built Environment
York
I didn’t go to Uni, I was a college girl. I would put the voucher towards some books as I am now studying aromatherapy
i would have loved to have gone to uni for the experience but we didn’t have the money
University of Greenwich
I went to Marjons in Plymouth (The University College of St Mark and St John) – it’s part of the University of Exeter
I didn’t got to university but i wish i had. I just went to the local college for two years then went to paid employment till i stopped work to have the children.
I’m sure if i won i would spend the money on something for them too.
Went to Leeds uni then postgrad at York. Leeds is better.
I would spend £30 on… makeup I think
Open University
i went to university of worcester
I went to what was Sheffield City Polytechnic, which got integrated into Sheffield University.
Please put me into the draw xx.
Hi
a new toaster!
I went to Queen’s University Belfast as a mature student in my 30’s
i didnt go to uni i would use it for a few new books
I went to Liverpool Poly
I would use it towards a crock pot!
Nottingham Trentx
Coventry (then Lanchester) poly
I went to University of Teesside and studies a Bsc (Hons) in Midwifery – loved every minute 🙂
University of Reading
I studied at a language academy in Madrid and the Open University in the UK doing Modern Languages.x
I am doing the Open University, I have done my first year, doing the second later this year
I didn’t go to uni but I am doing a distance learning course now!
I went to Aberystwyth University, and I visited it twice before I went. The first time I fell in love and knew I wanted to go there, and the second time I had to take my parents and convince them to let me go to uni so far away from home!
I wish this advice has been around when I went to uni as I only lasted a term then left
I didn’t go to uni, if I won I’d buy some new books for my kindle.
I didn’t go to a Uni, but I am in my final year at the Open University. 🙂
Never went to uni. I would spend on spiderman goodies for my nephew probably
I went to Edinburgh!
I didn’t go to university, made the mistake of leaving school at 16 and working in a bank. Should have followed the subjects I loved and stayed at school
I went to Thiel College for my BA. It’s a small school in the States. I finished 15 years ago(!) I remember visiting loads of schools before choosing one. My brother was in the same grade, so we did most of our visits together. Your advice is great, and we actually did most of those. One tip I’d add is to start visiting schools as early as possible. I did most of my visits in my next to last year of secondary school and started researching schools a year or two before that. It’s a lot less stressful if you start early and eliminate schools that don’t fit your needs.
I didn’t go to Uni – If I won I would buy some books!
I went to Complutense University in Madrid for about three months, dropped out, went to University of Castilla La Mancha in my hometown of Ciudad Real for about three months, dropped out because I couldn’t afford it, and I haven’t been able to afford any education since. /cheery
Salford Uni
I nearly went to Leicester University but didn’t quite make it.
I went to Anglia ruskin as a mature student. You don’t have to do it a the conventional time, but you mis the social experience if you don’t
hello. I would love to get a kindle so this be lovely to get towards that
i want to get into make up so i’ve got some stuff in my basket that i’d love to try out
Hello, no uni here family life came round early for me. If I won the vouvher I would put it towrads my sons Spiderman bedroom make over. Probably new curtains or duvet set. Thank you x
Currently at Durham uni – it wasn’t the best one that I could have got into with my grades, but it was the best one for me! 🙂
hi
I went to University of Birmingham but it didn’t last very long :/
wasn’t bright enough for uni. started a family early too. would treat myself to a few books if I won.
I went to the University of the West of England in Bristol
I didn’t go to university but my son started last year and is studying game design. He did do a year at Manchester Uni studying Chemistry but decided this was not for him, so he is at Bolton now and we live in Manchester, so not too far but too far to commute. He has realised that living alone and fending for yourself is not all its cracked up to be and was very happy to be home at Christmas haha x
Middlesex uni
I went to Solent University as a mature student at 39
I never went to university but if I had to choose, I would’ve liked to have gone to Mancheser. I think I would treat myself to a new dvd or cd album with the voucher if I won
i went to winchester university!
I went to the University of Gloucester way back in 1999.
I go to the open university so I stay at home and do it all in the comfort of my pjs
bath uni
I didn’t go to uni, but I’m hoping my children will.
I went to Newport Uni many moons ago.
Salford university!
Luton
Sheffield Hallam
University of Leeds
no uni here but i would use voucher towards a new lawn mower
My daughter attends Leeds Beckett, Id no doubt buy her something with the vouchers as shes always in need!!
Mum went to Reading, daughter hoping to go to Bristol, me I never went, something I always regret
I didn’t go, sadly.
Sunderland
Hello, I never had the chance to go to university but my daughter has been offered places at her chosen three with warwick being her first choice and coventry her second
id buy some stationery!
I went to Lancaster University and loved every minute 🙂
I went to Northampton uni
I went to Wolverhampton Uni – loved it!
I didn’t go to uni, but my son went to University of Sheffield, and he loved it 🙂
I wanted to go; I did an access to nursing course at college,as an adult, to give me the qualifications I needed, but then my health took a bad turn, and I’ve never been well enough to return. Shame!!
King’s College London
Manchester University
Oxford
Portsmouth
It depends on what you are studying, Its Colchester (University of Essex) for me though.
I have never been to uni but with the voucher i would buy something for my sons bedroom
Hi! I would buy books if I were lucky enough to win.
I’m a current student at the University of Bedfordshire.
I went to UMIST – now part of Manchester University
I went to Leeds my daughter will be going to Uni soon
I went to leeds
I did go and did one year and did very well but uni is not for everyone. I would put the voucher towards a nutribullet
I went to Oxford Brookes
I went to Manchester University
I never went to Uni.
I would buy books with the voucher.
I went to York university
I went to Leeds 🙂
Surrey
I went to Manchester University
Hello! 😀 Great prize!
I went to UCL
I didn’t go to university but I would love to help my Grandson get through all the expenses when he goes next year.
Does the OU count? 🙂 I never went, not clever enough but would’ve loved to have studied astrosphysics!
Uni of Essex
I didn’t go.
I went to Lancaster University
The most recent one was Cardiff Met…
I went to Liverpool Hope.
Did not go to University but worked at Sheffield University.
Cardiff Uni
No uni for me, but thanks for the opportunity think my kids would spend this rather quickly!!!
I went to UEA, and am hoping to return there again this September! Just awaiting a decision!
I would buy some new CDs to listen to in the car!!
I went to University of Aberdeen
I’d buy books!
I go to Essex 🙂
I go to Essex 🙂
I got my degree through the Open University while I was at home with a young family. Very hard at the time but extremely satisfying 🙂
I would save it for Christmas.
Oxford Brookes
Attended Thames Valley uni
john moores
Plymouth uni
Thank you for some tips to help choose the best University. Your right planning is really important in choosing the best University and It can avoid stress. Great post!