What You Need To Consider Before Going To University
Going to university is one of the most rewarding (and slightly stressful) experiences you’ll ever have. University is a place of meeting new people with different interests, expanding your horizons, growing your independence and working hard. But choosing to go to university is a big decision, so here are some things you need to consider before you go.
1. Do you really want to go to university?
Regardless of what everyone tells you, university isn’t the only option after high school. After six years of secondary study, you may want to try something different, and that’s completely valid. If you don’t want to go straight into another 2 to 3 year study commitment, you could always try a gap year. I don’t know about you, but exploring the world sounds pretty good to me. There’s nothing wrong with taking a little break, you’ve worked hard!
Also, there’s nothing wrong with going straight from high school into employment. If your dream career doesn’t require tertiary education, or relies more on experience; then university maybe isn’t for you. As long as you work hard, you won’t need a university degree on your resume.
2. Make sure you are going to university for YOU.
Going to university is a big commitment; you’re dedicating 2 to 3 years of your life and a lot of money in student loans; so make sure you are studying what you’re truly interested in. Going to the same university and studying the same thing as your best friend sounds like a lot of fun, but you need to put yourself first. There’s no point going to university if you’re not going to really enjoy what you’re studying. So, yes you might need to make some sacrifices, but it’ll all be worth it in the long run.
3. It’ll be a lot of work.
And I mean a LOT. University isn’t like high school; get ready to be one student out of hundreds in a lecture hall instead of one out of thirty students in a classroom. You’re technically an adult now; the only person you can rely on to attend class and get your assignments done; is you. And if you decide to live on campus, you’ll be on your own, completely. You need to decide when to wake up, when to do your chores, when not to procrastinate and when to budget your spending. If you decide to get a job, you’ll have to balance your workloads and your social life. I know, it sounds scary. But on the other hand, who doesn’t love a little independence? You’ll be in control of your life, and it’ll get you out of your comfort zone and push you to do your best.
4. You might need a little upgrade.
When going to university, your laptop turns from being your best friend, to being your colleague. You’re going to get a lot of assignments, and you need your tech to keep up. Don’t be surprised if you need to buy a new laptop in the first few months of your university degree, although I would recommend upgrading everything you need before you start.
5. Check the university’s amenities.
I can’t stress this point enough; make sure your university has a good library. Nothing beats procrastination like sitting down at your university library and surrounding yourself with other hard-working students. I don’t know where I’d be without my university library. So when you’re looking for a university to attend, keep the library at the top of your list.
Other lifesaving amenities to look for include; student printing (perfect for those last minute assignments) and student break rooms.
6. Going to uni will expand your horizons… for the better.
Reading this article makes going to uni sound scary, but only at the start. Once you get into a routine, going to university will be the highlight of your week. You get to meet so many new people; people with amazingly different interests. The independence you feel is so rewarding and trust me, it’ll be the best 2 to 3 years of your life.
Choosing to go to university has been one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve grown so much already, and I wouldn’t change my choice for the world.
