Millions of young adults dream of going to
university, and thousands of them do each year throughout the UK. Due to
friends, family and many parts of the media, university – no matter what
institution you attend – adheres to a specific image, and it is that image,
from partying to socialisation, which trumps the education part every time. If
there was no social element to university, it is highly likely that application
numbers would fall dramatically, and because of increased fees, some as much as
£9,000 a year, higher education application figures have indeed slumped.
When it comes to
university, one thing is for sure – it’s not for everyone. There are many
elements of higher education that don’t appeal to people, with the financial
burden topping the list. However it’s not all about money. Let’s take a look at
some of the experiences you’re going to be facing at university, and see if
moving away from home and starting a new educational and social chapter in your
life is the right path for you.
The Debt
One of the biggest
commitments which turns people away from university is the staggering debt
you’ll rack up. If you’re lucky enough to have your parents pay for your
university education, then you’ll be in a very select group of young people
leaving higher education without any debt. The vast majority of teenagers need
loans to go to university, and although these loans are easily accessible, they
will leave you in thousands of pounds in the red. Due to the increase in fees,
with some universities charging the maximum £9,000 a year, you’ll be finishing
higher education with a debt of just under £30,000. Some students even decide
to do masters! If you’re not prepared for this debt, or being financially sound
instead of having a degree appeals to you more, then university is not the
place for you.
The Social Aspects of
University
Another element of
university that tends to scare potential students are the social commitments
you have to make. Not everyone is good at making friends, and many people are
simply naturally awkward in social situations. Sports team have a huge influx
of people wanting to sign up in the first weeks of university, and if you’re
not a sporty person or don’t enjoy group activities, you’re going to find it
difficult to make friends at your campus.
University is all about
trying new things, from playing sport to identifying with parts of your
personality you’ve never seen before. Student accommodation with Urbanest will introduce you to living with
other people, and if this doesn’t interest you that’s perfectly OK – however
going to University might not be right option for you. Thankfully, there are
online university courses you can take, which require little or no social
interaction at all.
Your Course
It is very important you
don’t just head off to university for the social aspects. Higher education is
about forwarding your learning, and at times university can be mentally
straining. If you’re not prepared to work as hard as you play, you’ll quickly
find yourself behind the rest of the class, and quite literally chucking your
money away.
Author Bio:
David is a former
student that is looking to always pass on his higher education experience and
advice to new students.