Tips on how to choose your course!  

Hey! I’m Tia, a first-year Human Geography student here at York St John University. Deciding to come to university will leave you with a lot of decisions you will need to make about your future, one of which is what course you will study at uni! Whilst it may seem daunting now, I am here to tell you my top tips. These helped me when deciding on the perfect course for me to study here at YSJ. 

Why I chose YSJ! 

Choosing the university you want to study at can greatly help in choosing what course you want to study. I decided to study here at YSJ for a multitude of reasons! Firstly, it was one of the few universities that offered Human Geography as a stand-alone degree. The campus itself is in the heart of York, about a 5-minute walk away from the York Minster (YSJ students graduate here at the end of our degrees!). Not only is it in a great location surrounded by amazing shops, cafes, and architecture, but the university is very friendly and welcoming. I never felt out of place, and as the campus is relatively small. You get your bearings after a few days. One of the main drawing factors for me, too, was the class sizes. Most class sizes are small so you get more 1 to 1 interaction with your academics! 

Background research

In the months leading up to writing my personal statement, I narrowed down my course option list to 2 courses. This allowed me to thoroughly research both courses so I could finally decide which one sounded more suited to me. Background research using University websites, going to UCAS fairs, or maybe even speaking to someone who is already enrolled in the course are great in aiding your decision. By doing this I realised that I liked the sound of the geography course more as the modules outlined were what I am interested in, alongside the work experience we will get to partake in.  

Open Days

One of the most important things I would recommend to prospective students when deciding which course they wish to study is to visit the open days of the universities you are interested in. Not only does this allow you to explore the campus, accommodation sites, and also the city, but you can also engage with academics who teach the course you are interested in. When I came to visit YSJ at one of their open days, it made the decision far easier as they were able to tell me how the course runs and also the way we get assessed, which was another important factor for me as I did not want to sit in any exams.  It is also worth noting, most universities will also hold virtual open days or similar events so do not worry if you cannot make any of the dates! 

Pressure 

Whilst it is important to speak to your parents, friends, and teachers about what course you want to study at university, for any advice they may have for you. One of the most important things is to not choose a course because someone else is telling you to. If your parents want you to study history but you do not want to, this is completely OKAY as the decision is yours only. If you are going to the same university as your friend, it may feel more comforting to choose the same course as them. However, you cannot pick a course solely because you know someone who does the course! Picking the course you want to do, even if you don’t know anyone on the course, is the best option as you will make friends and come out with a degree you have enjoyed at the end of the years! 

I hope my tips have helped you in deciding what course you want to study at university! Lastly, make sure you pick a course you genuinely have an interest in, as you will be studying this for the next three years! 

Tia  

If you want to find out more about life outside of your course, read Grace’s blog about Welcome Week.