Getting There
University - An important step
Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive,
The Association of Graduate Recruiters
We live in exciting times: exciting but also challenging.
The extent to which the world of work is changing is quite staggering. The emergence of the global economy and continuing advancements in the use of information technology will combine to ensure that the pace of change will not relent, indeed it could well accelerate.
No employment sector or career area is immune to change, so whatever career you aspire to, you will have to learn to cope with the uncertainty that goes with it.
"Employability", the ability to get a job and keep it (or find another one) is becoming more important. The Government is taking it seriously and so should you.
In my view an essential component of maintaining employability is the understanding of and desire to continue learning throughout life. Going to university and studying for a degree provides an excellent foundation for lifelong learning. However, far from being the end of the learning process, gaining a degree is a step, albeit an important one, along the way.
Going to university should help you to develop the skills that are required to successfully manage your own learning experience; and who better to take control than yourself? These skills will stand you in good stead throughout your working life.
The possession of a degree is in itself going to grow in importance. As higher education continues to expand there are going to be more and more graduates coming into the labour market. There are signs already of employers targeting newly qualified graduates as their first line recruits. This puts non-graduates at a decided disadvantage.
A degree can also be seen as a key that can open doors to a significant range of careers. With the key, access to careers is much easier, without it, the going is very much tougher. Remember, a degree is forever so, should you choose to change career direction, or be forced to, the key will always be on hand to help you step through a new doorway.
A degree on its own is, of course, no guarantee of a good job. You have to learn to demonstrate the added value that your higher education experience can bring to an employer in addition to academic success.
During your time at university take the opportunity to maximise the benefits, not just the academic experience, but the extra curricular activities as well. It is a marvellous opportunity, a privilege, and one you must not let slip through your fingers. It's no good saying, "if only I'd known" when the opportunity has gone. Plan ahead, be positive and go for it.
Thinking about university or college?
Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive,
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
When it comes to higher education, the pros undoubtedly far outweigh the cons. Most graduates you meet will agree that those three or four years spent studying were amongst the best of their lives. Of course, the primary aim is to learn in depth about a subject (or subjects, in a combined or modular degree programme) you enjoy, but it is important not to lose sight of other important added bonuses. By gaining a higher education qualification you'll boost your future career prospects - graduates typically command higher starting salaries and their earnings tend to increase faster. You'll also meet a host of new people who will, in many cases, become friends for life, and you'll have the chance to live independently and make your own decisions about your day-to-day life.
Going into higher education, for even the most confident, can be a daunting prospect. Did you know, for example, that there are over 330 universities and colleges in the UK offering, over 50,000 courses. The key to making the right decision is careful research. Know yourself, know your aims, know what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. Once you have done that, openly and honestly, you can start to focus your research on institutions that offer relevant courses.
For information on institutions, start with our web site (www.ucas.com). One of the most popular facilities is course search, which helps students search for courses by subject, region, or university of college. By using the entry profiles that appear on many course entries, you can extract a wealth of useful information on the course content, teaching styles, assessment methods and the skills and attributes that they are looking for in applicants. (Due to space restrictions, this information is not always available in the institution's paper prospectus.)
Each year UCAS processes around 2.5 million applications from 450,000 applicants. You can apply for a full-time, undergraduate course through UCAS in one of three ways:
- through apply, our web-based application system;
- through EAS (an electronic application system supplied on a CD);
- using a paper application form.
apply and EAS are available through most schools and colleges.
Whichever application method you use, it will make sense to avoid the last minute rush and get your application to us well in advance of 15 January (or 15 October for Oxford or Cambridge and for courses in dentistry, medicine, veterinary science or veterinary medicine) in the academic year before you want to start the course. After this date, universities and colleges are not automatically obliged to consider your application.
When you reach the point of making your application, either electronically using or a paper form, it is vital that you do so as a discerning consumer. This is no time for snap decisions, or hunches based on superficial information, and should only be done after a period of consolidated research. However, don't forget the importance of studying a subject that you enjoy. Of course your family, friends or teachers will have opinions about what you should do, but ultimately this is your decision (like a Formula One driver, alone behind the wheel, you need to steer a course that is right for you).
As you will find to your cost, thirty or so months studying for a degree in a town or city where you feel misplaced might end up seeming like thirty years! So, before you apply, try to visit some higher education campuses, towns and cities to get a feel for whether you would like to live and study there. All universities and colleges hold open days for potential students. Parents, too, often attend these events and, whilst there, often ask the most "telling" questions (given their financial contribution, they are obviously keen to check whether an institution can offer value for money).
In terms of possible careers, apart from highly specialised and technical subjects, such as medicine or veterinary science, there is no essential course that acts, at undergraduate level, as a prerequisite for a career. For example, if you want to be a lawyer you do not necessarily have to study law. It is perfectly possible to study a subject that you think you would enjoy then top up with a professional qualification before going into the practice of law.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or to seek advice from friends or relatives who are already at university or college from teachers, careers advisors, your parents or, of course, UCAS. In addition to teaching, assessment and exams, it is quite natural to want to find our more about issues connected to costs and, depending on your circumstances, the availability of part-time jobs during term time. It won't be all wall-to-wall studying, however, and you will also probably want to check out the nightlife, bars, clubs and sports facilities.
When you have made your choices and have filled out either a paper or an electronic application, a reference will be added and your school or college will then send it to UCAS. Once processed, we then send copies of your form to all your choices. If the university or college is interested in your application, it will make you an offer. This may be a conditional one, that is, dependent on you achieving certain grades (or UCAS Tariff points) in your exams. If you meet the conditions, you're in!
But even if you don't have any offers from your original choices, all is not lost. To start with, UCAS Extra has been introduced to give students in this position a chance to actively seek a place during the March to June period of the application cycle. And even then, if unsuccessful, there is always an opportunity to gain a place through Clearing later in the summer. In 2002, around 40,000 applicants found places through Clearing.
Above all you must remember that it is YOUR life, YOUR future and YOUR decision. Take advice, certainly, but this is one occasion when it is not selfish to put your needs first. Do what you think is best for you and ENJOY it. That way you should have the ingredients to have a great time at university or college, meet new people, explore new ideas and widen your horizons.
For information on how to obtain a hard copy of the Everything You Wanted to Know guide click here.
