Making choices - how to choose.

Choosing a subject.

The most important decision is about the course students will study. They may already have a clear idea; they may still feel very undecided. Here are some key questions to consider:

What are students most interested in?

If students choose a subject that genuinely interests them, they are more likely to perform brilliantly and enjoy their studies. They now get to choose something they actually really like, and spend the next few years studying it with people who actually really like it too! So, students must think…

What is my favourite A Level subject now?
If I could take any academic book away on holiday to read for interest, what subject would I choose?

Also worth saying here is that if students are interested in a ‘new’ subject, they must make sure they understand what it really entails. For example, they could study something new and exciting-sounding, like forensic science or marine biology… But make sure they read prospectuses, read academic books on the subject, go to open days and, if possible, talk to university students who study the subject, to make sure it’s really what they think it is.

Choosing an institution.

For some, the university will be chosen purely based on the course they offer as discussed above, but others may wish to consider the following questions:

The key thing: entry requirements.

Applying to a university with appropriate entry requirements is a crucial decision. Students must be ‘realistically optimistic’! They want to aim for the best university they can go to, but there is no point in applying to a university whose entry requirements are beyond what they are likely to achieve. Check out university department website at all the universities they are thinking of applying to and study their entry requirements carefully to make sure students have the relevant subjects and are on target for appropriate grades.

Open Days

Given that your young person will be living and studying at university for at least three years, it’s well worth visiting the universities they are interested in. Look on university and department websites to find out when the official open days are, or on www.opendays.com. We really encourage students to look at universities they are serious about, so if they need to take a day off school to do it then they can just collect the Open Day form from reception to get this organised.