Is university the right choice for me?

What is my end goal?

A great starting point is to think about what you would like to do in the future. Thinking ahead to the career or lifestyle you would like once you have graduated or finished more training might help you to see the route you want to take more clearly.

*Top tip* Whichever route you choose, being clear about your end goal will help you make the right decision for you and get the most from your experience.

Consider the alternatives

If you made the choice not to go to university, what would your life look like? It’s important to consider the alternatives, and what that would mean for your life. There are a whole host of options. And it’s important to understand that going to university is not the only way to a happy life or a successful career.

Think carefully. Does your dream job actually require a degree? For lots of jobs, an apprenticeship could also be a great route. There are many pathways which can open doors to our future careers, including work experience, which (when chosen correctly) goes a long way to showing potential employers that you are experienced and committed to working.

*E.g. Did you know you can actually become a lawyer without going to university? Have a look at our page on Apprenticeships to find out more about this route into work.

Am I ready?

If you don’t feel excited or totally sure about the prospect of going to university right now, don’t panic! This is completely normal. You’re just coming to the end of a long period of learning. It’s not surprising you might be in need of a break from your educational journey. 

You might not know what you're interested in studying. It could be the right decision for you to take a year out (gap year) to discover your interests, volunteer or do work experience. This can be a great opportunity to try new things and discover what it is you actually like doing, and this can be a really important step in helping you to make focused decisions about your future, if you’re not quite ready now.

What will it cost?

Talking about fees and future debt can be extremely daunting… Getting a better picture about your future expenses can help to put into perspective the potential benefits of going to university, or not. Equipping yourself with this information will allow you to explore the different options and scenarios available to you.

Try looking at the rate of student loan repayments for an undergraduate degree. Consider where you would want to live, and how this could have an impact on your future living costs. Do you want to live in a city, remain living at home to save money, or move into university halls? All options will mean that the cost of living is slightly different depending on your choices. Think about the lifestyle that works best for you and the way you prefer living. If you have other commitments like a part-time job that you want to keep, or you want to do a year in industry, you will need to think carefully about the course that you’re applying for, and whether you will be able to maintain these commitments alongside your course.

*Top Tip* make a table of projected costs based on your own research.

Could you be eligible for funding? In addition to taking out a student loan to cover university expenses, there are also other pockets of money there to help students out, including grants, scholarships, bursaries or sponsorships. The difference with these forms of funding is that they don’t need to be paid back. Many students aren’t even aware they exist! Start by researching each available form of funding to find out whether you are able to receive any extra financial support.

To give you an idea of the costs involved, take a look at the table below:

Life beyond my course

As with many things in life, sometimes the most beneficial outcomes are the unexpected ones. With whichever pathway you choose, there will be unexpected wider benefits which will help set you up for those next steps in life. It could be that you develop your confidence, discover new interests, build new connections or find independence. Of course, going to university is not the only way to develop these skills, but it can often be a useful gateway to foster the qualities that you come to value most from the experience.

Is it right for me?

You might be feeling pressure to take the path that your parents, teachers or friends are expecting of you. It’s important to take a step back and really consider if this pathway is right for you.

A great way to start doing this is to really research the different universities that you think you might apply to. Make a list of all of the desired qualities you are looking for. For example, would you prefer a campus or city location (and what does that actually mean)? Would you like to live in the centre of town or in a student village? Does it specialise in the course you are interested in? Each university is slightly different, and will appeal to different people for different reasons.

By visiting the university and the surrounding area, speaking to current students about their experience and attending taster days you can think about making your decision with a much clearer view about which university might be for you - if any!

One thing is for certain, the changing nature of the job market and the ever-evolving world of technology means that many of the jobs that are on offer in the future might not even exist yet! Whichever pathway you do take offers the opportunity for continued learning and personal development –both essential skills in working life.

Examine your feelings towards university?

Is there a particular subject that you’re really excited to learn more about? What is the reality of taking this course? Does it lead to a particular career you are interested in? Do you really love learning about this subject and can you see yourself continuing to be excited about it in the future?

In most cases, going to university will involve studying a specific set of subjects or topics for an extended period of time, so it’s usually really important that you enjoy these subjects.

A love of learning about something is one of the best motivations for studying, and if this sounds like you, it sounds like you are going to thrive at university!

If not, it can be a good idea to take some more time to develop your ideas about your next steps.

So, what now?

The activities below have all been designed to help you get fully ready to take your next steps - whatever pathway you choose to take. Each set of activities ranges from a short activity which should take no more than 30 minutes, through to portfolio activities, which are longer, project-based tasks. The more time you spend on each activity, the more you'll get out of it, but you should be able to find something each week to fit into your schedule.

Why not start with the short activity first and then work your way through the remaining activities until you’ve completed them all?

Short activity

Draw a tipping scale on your page.

• On one side, list what you think are the advantages of going to university (e.g., opportunity to study a subject you are interested in at a higher level).

• On the other side, list what you think are the disadvantages of going to university (e.g., delaying full-time work). 

Be open and honest in your answers, this is about what you feel not about what you’ve been told.

• Which way does the scale tip for you? 

This exercise can be a simple yet effective way to reflect on your true feelings about attending university.

Main activity

Think about the top five burning questions you have that will help you decide if university is right for you.

For example, "Do I need a degree to do the job I'm interested in?" or, "Am I interested enough in one subject to study it for three years?"

Next, find the opportunities to ask people those questions and take the next steps to find out the answers.

Ideas could include:

• Meeting with a career counsellor
• Attending a university open day
• Attending a university and apprenticeship fair
• Requesting a university prospectus
• Submitting an enquiry to the undergraduate team at a university
• Contacting student ambassadors

Make sure you follow through with the appointments you have made. The people you will speak to are there to help and provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Portfolio

Calculate the cost of going to university.

• Think about the complete picture including expenses for day-to-day living, the different cost of living at home or at university halls, as well as potential income from part-time work or placements.

Decide on a creative way to present this information.

• For example, an Excel spreadsheet, a written budget, a PowerPoint including tables and graphs.

• Then talk through your findings with an adult or someone in your support network, and find out if there are any additional costs or opportunities for income that you haven’t thought about.

Talking about money is a good habit to get into and will help reduce any anxiety you may feel about the financial barriers to Higher Education.

PSHE lesson

Ask students to help you create a Graffiti Wall about the qualities and skills someone can develop by going to university.

• Discuss the qualities and skills that the students have identified as a class. Get students to explain in more detail exactly how university would allow them to develop such skills.

• Make sure students don’t focus solely on the academic or vocational side of university. Developing self-confidence by taking part in extra-curricular activities, for example, can be incredibly beneficial for doing well in your first role and entering the world of work.

End the exercise by explaining that, whichever pathway they choose, there will be unexpected wider benefits to attending university. It is important to think about how such benefits will help set them up for the next stage in life.