Attending a convention will help you make the right decision

Choosing a university

If you've decided to go to university, the next step is to decide where you want to go. There are lots of universities and colleges to choose from, so think about what is most important to you and where you'll be happiest.

Different places suit different people, so it depends what you're looking for. Would you like to be close to home or live in a different part of the country? Do you want to live in a city or rural area? Not only is there a lot to think of in terms of location, but also your course. Not every university or college offers the same courses and each will have different features, so make sure you think about course and location.

In last month's article, we suggested writing down the reasons why you want to go to university. Use this list when researching universities and colleges and check that it offers what you want - this will give you confidence that you are making the right choice when you apply.

Preparing for a convention

You'll probably have an opportunity over the next few weeks and months to attend a UCAS convention, or other higher education fair, where universities and colleges come together in one place for you to find out about opportunities and lifestyles by talking to staff and student ambassadors.

Ask your school or college tutors if they will arrange for you to attend an event. If not, check our convention calendar at www.ucasevents.com/conventions and arrange to visit one yourself.

There are also specialist conventions focusing on creative and performing arts subjects called 'Compose your Future' and 'Design your Future'. 'Design your Future' focuses on creative subjects such as art and design, media, architecture, fashion, ceramics, and many more. 'Compose your Future' features the performing arts and related subjects including music, drama, dance and multimedia production.

Before the convention or fair, try to carry out some of these preparatory exercises:

• Write down what you want from your university
• Make a list of the university stands that you'd like to visit
• Prepare a list of questions to ask representatives
• Identify a useful seminar (if there is one)
• Follow these up by exploring the UCAS Course Search.

After a convention

...and don't forget to stop by the UCAS Stand!

If you leave the convention or fair with only one thing:

• Make a diary date for an open day - at least two or three!
• Ask your tutor if your school or college is able to organise a trip to the open days.

 

Open days are a brilliant way of getting a feel for a place - only you know if you'll be comfortable there, so take a trip to each campus and see what it's like for you. We'll be providing more information about open days in our following articles, but for now, take a look at the open days section of ucas.com.