Top 5 tips for Applicants
Deciding which university to go to and what course to study is probably one of the most difficult decisions you’ll face. To try and help you a little bit, we asked our first year students (in the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences) at Northumbria University to offer some advice based on their own experiences.We got lots of tips from nearly 200 students across a range of topics but certain themes came up time and time again. To make them of some use to you, we’ve narrowed them down into the top 5 most popular tips.
Tip 1 - Start early
Start early and think about how you’d like to earn money after graduation. What sort of careers would give you what you want? Are you training for a field that is expanding or contracting? What interests do you have? Give yourself plenty of time to find answers to the questions you need to ask so that you end up on the right course for you.Tip 2 - Look at all the options
Think of at least three courses you think you might like (unless you’ve already firmly decided what you want to do) and then find out as much as you can about them. Do people on those courses go on to good careers – the sort of career you’d like? Would you like the university and surrounding area? What can you find out about finance or accommodation?Tip 3 - Do something YOU’LL enjoy
They say that your school days are the best days of your life but many graduates would disagree and say that life at university can be much better. This is only true, of course, if you’re doing something you like and that your mind is at ease knowing that there should be plenty of career options available on graduation. Don’t blindly follow your friends without thinking about what you want to do with your life.Tip 4 - Seek advice
Most people find it hard to ask for advice but it is very important that you find out as much as you can before making a decision. We find that most of you will talk to your families, your teachers and your careers advisors but why not also ask tutors and students already on the course you’re thinking about? Most universities would welcome the opportunity to tell you about their course and arrange for you to talk to some students so don’t be shy!Tip 5 - Attend Open Days
It is astounding that people sometimes decide to commit to a course and 3 years of their life without attending an Open day and seeing what the area is like, what the tutors are like, talking to current students (unsupervised), looking at the facilities, finding out where to live, etc.. If you do nothing else, make sure you go to an Open Day before signing up for a course. If you can’t make it, you can still contact the School and arrange another visit and have your own tour - or why not come to one of our events.If you’re looking for a course in a friendly university that will be fun, offer constant support and lead you to a solid career, check out our courses. There’s never been a better time to get the skills the country desperately needs.
