Ask, ask and ask again before choosing your ideal college
Ask, ask and ask again before choosing your ideal college
Choosing a college or
university is a big decision.
Tim Relf found some
pointers at a conference
designed to help youngsters
through the minefield
VISIT as many colleges – and ask as many questions as possible – before deciding on where to apply, sixth-formers were advised at Harper Adams Careers in the Countryside conference last week.
Make sure all your questions are answered at open days, interview or by phone or letter before applying, said Steve Barnett, senior tutor at the Shropshire campus. "It could save you a lot of anguish."
And dont just talk to staff, either – quiz current and ex-students. "Prospectuses will tell you one thing; students may well tell you another.
"It is terrible to put somewhere down on your application form and later find out it doesnt suit you. You cant beat being on the ground and visiting."
Its a good idea to have a list of questions before you visit universities and colleges and ask to see more than you are being shown on open days, advises The Working Approach To Education, a Potter Guides publication.
Try to see more than one hall of residence and ask where the furthest hall from the campus is, it says.
"Some halls are positively palatial; some have historic interest; some are pokey. Most can become home for a year."
A study trip…prospective students get a tour of the Harper Adams campus by third year student Helen Cartledge (right).
REMEMBER
• Keeping your options open is the best policy when selecting a course. Look also at the opportunities to transfer between courses and the choice of modules, says Robert Wilkinson, agriculture course manager at Harper. Aim, too, for the highest academic qualification you can achieve. "This is what will open doors for you."
• Resist the temptation to live at home while youre at college, advises head of student services Ian Robson. "It is, unfortunately, becoming more common but its not advisable unless its essential," he says, suggesting young people miss out on many of the best aspects of student life by so doing.
• Consider taking a year out before going to college. Whether you travel or work it will bring experiences, life skills and could allow you to save some cash. "If you have the chance to take a year out, do it," says Mr Robson. "The people who have the problems in the first four weeks of college are invariably the people who have not had a year out."