Hi everybody !
To start off, I would like to point out that this blog post is only based on my experience and my opinions. I am 100% fine with any disagreements or difference in thoughts that any of you may have. In fact I would actually like to hear you guys' thoughts on the matter and maybe we could start a discussion so do leave them in the comments. If you do, do so, I ask to please be respectful and sensitive towards others. Additionally, if I come off a little snobbish or rude when sharing my experience and thoughts, I do apologise and I would like to clarify that this blog post is anything but for me to boast or come off disrespectful.
Today I thought I would touch on a topic that I have never actually voiced out about before. As you can tell by the title, it is going to be about the university choices. I have personally done the whole student by day, blogger by night experience as I used to run a blog, somewhat similar to this one back when I was still in university as I found that it was the perfect way to voice my opinions on certain matters and it turned out to be quite relaxing writing for me at the same time -
I used to take English as a subject in university therefore I spent a huge chunk of my time writing extremely long reports, essays and literature therefore blogging was the less stressful, more fun part of expanding my writing abilities. My previous blog was mainly about my day-to-day experiences, observations and interests. Occasionally, I would pull out the ol' reviews on books, movies, songs, travels, celebrities, musicals, you name it. However, those along with my uni days are over now and I have moved on. Although having said that, I actually graduated from uni not too long ago, therefore the memories of fun parties, stressful exams, crazy mates and lecture halls are all still very fresh in my mind. Just as a disclaimer, I would like to point out that I did not take a gap year or any time off my profession as a student.
I understand that this blog post might be quite lengthly and filled with words therefore to prevent blurry eyes due to starring at your computer screen, tablet or phone, I have divided this post into sections so do feel free to skip right ahead to the section that interests you the most or if you would like to read them all, then by all means, please do so.
The Grades. How Much Do They Actually Count For ?
By now, the shock/satisfaction/disappointment of the A-level results should have settled and I do hope if you are one of them who got their results that you are satisfied with them. If not, my best advice to you is to carry on with all the strength and courage you can find within yourself because what's done is done and I know you are probably sitting there completely disagreeing with this statement as it is so easy for me to sit here, in front of a computer and tell you to put the past behind you because you cannot change it. I have been there, trust me, I have been there more times than I can count on two hands and I know that exam results do not just end with a grade. They have consequences and these might decide your future for you before you, yourself can voice out.
People say that good grades don't mean success. I think to a certain extent that statement is definitely true as I have learnt and am still learning when stepping into the workforce. People don't seem to care anymore about the grades, to them, its just alphabets whether it is an A* or a C. I have been in job interviews where higher level authorities are only interested in the certificate confirming your degree. But to us students, the grades are everything, thats what we work for day and night. Everyday, that is what keeps us from having 10 hour sleeps on weekdays, and is what fills our spare weekend time when we could be going for night outs, time with family and friends, laying on the sofa watching the tele etc. The reality, and the harsh one that it is, is that without the grades, there is no certificate and without the certificate, there is no employment. How are going to pay our debts ? Support ourselves, let alone our ageing parents ? What's the future going to be like ? I won't say there is no future, but let's be honest, what are the chances a miraculous life is going to come about especially in this day and age. So if you ask me, with full honesty, I think the grades are important. It is sad to think that you can only "make it' in this world if the black and white print on paper says so but I guess this is one of the many games in life, and you can either be a player or a toy.
My Experience Going To University
Uni vs No Uni, I guess that is the question that 70% of the student population today would find themselves asking and scratching their heads for answers at one point or another. Unless, like me, that was never a choice. In my family background, education is power. The past generations have always believed that with education, you can achieve limitless success and I completely agree. Therefore, I was always brought up to believe that my student life would not end until at the very least, the day I get my degree. In addition to that, I was brought up in a school that had quite a good reputation which meant that they would prefer if all of the students further their studies in universities and they were very strict with students' behaviours and academics. Therefore, we never had advice on things like what to do if you decide not to go to university and the alternatives, which I later on came to know about.. there are plenty. We were only spoken to about topics like what subjects to take in uni and which universities to go to that would best benefit us. It was never an option for me to choose if I would like to skip the university experience and move on with something else so I guess I would say that I am in some ways envious of those who are given the opportunity to choose.
Going to university was what I believe, till this day, the biggest leap for me. I had to grow up very quickly, in a very short amount of time and become an independent young adult, which was unforgettably and unfortunately, easier said than done. I moved away from home, which was my first time leaving home as I have always gone to schools close to my house and have always lived with my parents and siblings up until that point. I wouldn't say that I was particularly or noticeably shy and quiet when in school. I mixed around quite well with the other students but I did find that I could never speak to adults especially important and influential adults.
I attended the University of Warwick and till this day, I have a vivd memory of myself stepping into an interview with an important professor and completely made a fool of myself as I was not comfortable speaking to him and I barely knew what to say and how to act in situations like those. However, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and he then became a mentor to me as I was preparing for one of the debates that was held by the university. In uni, I really learnt to be a person, I built character, I learnt how to voice my opinions and how to interact along with academic studies. Of course, the parties were amazing and the carefree days were make no mistake, the best few years of my life. I find that it is incredible how being away from home taught me to stand on my own two feet. I used to pride myself on my ability to be streetwise but after having gone to university, I realise that there is more to learn and it is a completely different world being away from home.
Pros and Cons Of University
I shall keep this quite informative and direct...
Pros
- Independence
- Expanding life skills and general knowledge
- Being sociable
Cons
- Home sickness
- Lots of debt
- Pricey fees
I am not going to elaborate too much on the pros and cons of university as I am no expert or guidance counsellor. I can only speak from experience. I would imagine if you are having a hard time making this decision, you would have already done research on the facts and figures therefore I will leave that up to you.
Life Of A Uni Student
To many people be it pre-university students, uni students, uni graduates, those who have not/did not experience university, uni is just one massive party. And I agree. The university that I attended was not located right in the heart of party town UK but when you get a whole bunch of uni students under the same roof and a couple (or more than a couple) crates of alcohol, the party is never far. However, I do think life in uni so much depends on the people that you surround yourself with and it is very important to choose your group of friends with extra care. It is always so easy to be influenced by those around you especially during this time of your life which can be quite scary therefore the best advice I can possibly give to you guys, having gone to university is to keep both eyes open. I never really stuck to only one group of friends when I was studying therefore it was never as easy for me to be influenced by them and it really helped me keep an open mind and just be friends with just about everyone, or as many people as possible around campus.
If you get a group of university graduates together in the same room, everyone's stories about university will be different. As for me, I think it was about 3 years of being very carefree besides the scare of paying the bills, rent, electricity, waking up on lecture days feeling hungover, and cramming for exams. Those were some of the best days I can remember and they were certainly my most vivd memories, good and bad. With the formal education, I also learnt many life skills and one of the biggest of them all and the most important, in my opinion is that I learnt not to trust others too easily. I like to think that I was always someone who only saw the good in people, but going to university and experiencing life there, I realise that there are many types of people in the world and some that you should stay away from. One of my biggest achievements in uni as well, other than getting my degree of course was taking part in competitions that were very often held by different schools and within my university as well. It gives you such adrenaline to compete amongst the country's elite students and being in the same room as those influential candidates was enough inspiration to last me three lifetimes. During my time in university, I also did a lot of travelling as it was as simple as getting on a train with a luggage for a week or two or three when there was some time off. It helped spark my already deep interest for seeing the world.
The Besides University Choices
University is not for everyone, and although I might always be pro-university, I fully respect the decisions of others to skip the university experience. Like I mentioned before, I am in some ways envious of those who get to deicide whether or not university should in anyway be part of their future. Again, as I said before, I was always brought up such that I never thought about doing anything other than going to university. In my mind, that was my future, end of discussion. Therefore, some research was needed for this part of the blog post. If money is your concern, there are offers for debt free education that are worth checking out. Other than that considering a gap year is one of the more interesting things to do. Yes, sitting in lecture halls are a great way of learning new things but travelling and meeting people from all walks of life, experiencing their culture and way of life is also such a great way to expand your knowledge about the world. I did my travels after university for work and holidays as well and I can say that I learnt just as much jetting off to different countries as I did in my university time.
Apprenticeships are amazing for after A levels as well and the income is pretty great. Work experiences are a great way to really get into the workforce and start out. I never suffered from social anxiety or anything like that therefore it was simple for me to pick up and leave home and surround myself with thousands of other students. However, I know that this is not the case for everyone and there are so many people out there who would love an experience in university but never get the chance because of these factors. If you would still like the formal education, distance learning is something you should check out. Its definitely not the full uni experience but it is ink on paper.
I won't go on much further as I never intended for this blog post to be on facts and figures but just light advice and story-telling-time from someone who has gone through days in university. But I would recommend that you check out alternatives as there are so many other options out there if university is not for you.
This post is not for me to provide you guys with all the information as I know that many of you have probably already checked out everything there is to know about university and you have that knowledge at your fingertips. However, what I do know is that when I was applying for university, I never had someone to tell me these things about uni, and I went into university not knowing what to expect. I had to learn everything on my own and experience it all for the first time when I stepped foot into my university. I think it really helps to hear about university from someone who has gone through it before so if you are in need of things like that, then ask around whether it be your older friends, family members or there are so many people on the internet sharing their experiences about their uni days. Although they might be strangers, I find it so nice just to read through a couple of stories that are quite amusing and fairly interesting and it will hopefully or maybe give you a clearer idea of what it is like in university.
I would also like to say that whatever your decision is, that is your choice and everyone around you might have different opinions and suggestions but at the end of the day you are the one who is going to be and should be making the final call. If you are sure you want to go to university then do not let anything hold you back. If you are scared of the debt or the people, there are so many ways to overcome these issues and the government makes it a point to ensure that people like you and me get the education if that is what we want. Alternatively, if you do not want to go to university, then do not let anything push you into going. Society might say what they like but if you know uni is not for you or you just do not have the desire to do so then please follow your heart. As I mentioned before, there are other options. Even if the peer pressure is intense, just remind yourself that it is 100% okay if you don't want to go to university.
I hope you have enjoyed this blog post, I know it has been quite lengthly compared to the usual blog posts that I do. I do apologise if this is not your cup of tea, I am well aware that this might not interest a lot of you but if you are in that time of your life when you do have to decide on what to do, then I hope this has given you somewhat the slightest bit of help. Please check out my other social media sites and follow this blog as well. I am currently in the middle of a series of holiday collection blog posts which has been going well, so check those out as well. Have a great day ! Xx
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