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Monday 30 March 2015

University Talk | Choosing the right one for you


Hello My Lovelies,

I hope you are all doing well and have had a fabulous weekend. I am actually jetting off to Barcelona with work for the next few days so I might be a little quiet over on the blog this week. I promise I will be back with lots of exciting posts upon my return. Part of my New Years resolutions for my blog was to branch out and write more diverse posts for you all, so today we are getting a little more personal on the blog. I was recently approached by St Mary’s University and was asked if I would like to talk about my experiences when choosing which university I wanted to attend. I thought this would be a great post and campaign to get involved in because I would have loved to have read something similar when I was making such a huge decision but also because it is always nice hearing about someone else’s journey. Also, this has arrived at the most perfect time because I am in the process of deciding whether I want to go back to University and study for a second degree or masters.

Firstly, I thought I’d talk to you about what I decided to do. If you follow me on various social media platforms then you will know that I graduated last year with a 2.1 in Business Management (literally points away from a 1st- boo!) and to this day it still feels like a complete dream. I remember sitting in one of my first ever lectures and thinking to myself that this was going to be my life for the next 3 to 4 years but I kid you not, the time literally flew by…even whilst writing the dreaded dissertation! If you have been following my blog from the very beginning then you would know that I started my blog during my first year at university as a creative outlet whilst studying and it was one of the best things I ever did.

Like I mentioned above, I studied a Business Management degree. Originally my degree was set to run over four years, however, during my second year I decided a placement year was not for me anymore and opted to change my course to three years. Placements were something my sixth form were really pushing when we were applying, however, I guess I never really knew if it would be something beneficial for me until I started my degree. This is something you should consider when thinking about your course. At the time this seemed like the perfect decision for me and for what I was aiming for in regards to my future I personally feel I made the right decision.

University is such an exciting yet scary experience because you are literally pulled out of your comfort zone and everything you knew and just thrown into a selection of completely new scenarios. Even though I decided to stay local when choosing my university it was still such a nervous experience having to jump into something new that I knew would be my life for the next 3 to 4 years. I am such a quiet and shy person until you get to know me quite well so I was quite anxious diving into something new but I got there in the end!

I chose to study at my particular University because it offered me everything I wanted and more. It was close to home so I could still work alongside my degree and I felt extremely comfortable knowing I was still in an environment I knew quite well. Occasionally I wonder what life would have been like if I left to live away at university but I have no regrets. Sometimes the options that are on your doorstep turn out to be the best for you! Even though I decided to stay local whilst completing my degree I still had your typical university lifestyle and had all of the experiences that came along with it. I joined a few societies including the Cheerleading team (1st and 2nd year), I went out with friends, I went on dates, I dived into as many activities as I could and during my final year I even had the opportunity to become a student representative with one of my close friends…I did pretty much everything!

There are so many options when deciding which university to go to these days and if university is the right decision for you at all. I know so many people who decided university wasn’t for them and they have jumped into so many amazing opportunities. During sixth form at my Upper School I found they were quite pushy and pressurised us with university…even though they were not that helpful with it. To be completely honest I don’t think anyone knows for sure what he or she wants to do with their lives at 18…I mean I know you have an idea but it is quite daunting having to make such a big decision before experiencing it for yourself.  I think this was why I chose to study such a versatile degree; however, Business had always been something I really enjoyed and was always interested in. I studied Business at both GCSE and A Level but I also grew up in a very business oriented environment with my Dad having his own Advertising and Marketing business and was inspired by my Dad to have my own desire to succeed. Something I did look at when choosing my degree was the actual units involved – at the end of the day there are so many different Business courses. My Business Management degree covered so many great aspects from Accounting, Law, Marketing, Project Management, Operations Management and so much more.

When making such a huge decision don’t ever think that you are alone, there are so many different people you can talk to or resources you can find. There are a huge variety of forums, videos and groups online when you can speak to people who have done your degree or who can share their experiences with you. Don’t ever worry about asking a silly question because there are no silly questions when it comes to your life. These options are great if you can’t make a specific open day or you just want something to watch instead of reading through countless prospectuses (I literally had towers at home). St Mary’s University has made a selection of fantastic videos that can help you in your decision making process from the comfort of your very own home. They are doing so much to support individuals who are looking to go to University with the ‘Be Part Of It’ campaign. The campaign celebrates St Mary’s inclusive culture where students are encouraged to be a part of St Mary’s in everything from their course, to their halls, sports teams and extra curricular activities. They asked a number of existing student and alumni why they chose to ‘Be Part Of It’ and they came back with tons of reasons that covered everything from the campus, to the library, Students’ Union and more. I think this campaign is such a great idea because you don’t know what life at the University is going to be like until you are there yourself. This way you get to see and hear first hand experiences from students and alumni, which might help, make your overall decision easier.

Overall, I really do hope this post has helped you with making your university decisions – I think it is always nice hearing a little bit about someone else’s experiences. I didn’t go into too much detail about my overall university experience but if that were something you would like to hear about then please let me know. I hope you all enjoyed this post and I would love to hear your thoughts on the ‘Be Part Of It’ campaign and what yours plans are regarding university. Like always lovelies, if you have any questions, requests of if you just want a chat you can contact me on my social media or leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you all and I make sure to read every single comment…they really make my day!



Lots of Love
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10 comments

  1. This is such a lovely post for those who are struggling with unis! x

    lotsofloveliz.blogspot.com

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  2. I love this post- I felt exactly the same!

    Uni was soo scary - but I am so grateful I had and still have you as a friend to go through it all with :)

    I miss it a little, but then I think about certain things and think.. nah! It is stressful but we've developed into new people for the best xx


    Kirsty
    misskirstyworsty.blogspot.co.uk

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  3. I'm in love with your blog and I think that it's a great job!
    And I'll wait for the new one!

    Diana Cloudlet
    http://www.dianacloudlet.com/

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  4. It's been years since my college days, but I think it's great how universities are getting so involved in social media. It definitely would have made my decision a little easier!

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  5. I was points away from a first too and it has annoyed me for years x

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  6. wonderful post! I remember myself how hard it was to pick a school to go

    Laura
    Pink Frenzy

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  7. This is a really wonderful idea! Great work!

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  8. Lovely post! I graduated in computer science back in 2012. I hated the course and was close to changing uni and course during first year but things happened and stayed to finish instead. I'm kind of glad I stayed till the end

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  9. Great post Sophia and congrats on your 2:1. I did a Criminology degree for my undergrad and a masters in PR and stayed at home for both, I do regret not going away for uni as I think I would have had a completely different experience but if I'd moved away then I would have never started seeing my now husband so everything happens for a reason I guess! xxx

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  10. I loved reading this as I never went to uni so have no idea of what it's like to even think about choosing the right one for you! Lovely pics and congratulations on your 2:1 :D

    Louise x

    With love from Lou

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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog, have a little read and leave a comment. Blogging has become such a huge part of my life and I am loving every single second of it. I absolutely love hearing from you all and I will do my very best to answer any questions you may have. Lots of Love, Sophia ❤

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