University

[Billie Erin]

I will be applying to unviersity for entry in 2011 and have just started writing my personal statement. I was wondering if any slayalivers with experience of university and the application process could give me any advice, on how to adjust to the new environment of uni, how to get accepted by the more competitive ones, how to choose the right place, how to deal with being rejected etc.

(I couldn't find a thread for this anywhere else, sorry if there is one)

[Tea - Total]

I am applying next year, just wondering is it scary.

[Tea - Total]

^^ The whole university experience. Anyway i am lucky to have three close university, so i don't have to move out, which is great news.
I am applying for graphics designer, but i got another year left of sixth form, so i am going too Cross the bridge when it arrives.
But i am considering university.

[drusillacakes]

Just wondering, as the application process may be different-- are you applying to schools in the UK? In the US? Or elsewhere?

[dusk3333]

Yes, that would be good to know because I think appying to US schools is a lot different than applying to UK schools. I can shed light on the US school process, but don't really know about the UK process.

[elenasaur]

I'm going to be a freshman in a US school this year. So that means I've got the American application fresh in my mind, though it seems like everyone who's wondering is from the UK at this point..

Still. It's exciting. And a little nerve-wracking.

[dusk3333]

^ You'll do fine, Elenasaur. The hard part is over, I'm assuming, and you've gotten into the school you wanted. Its going to be a great new experience. It will take some adjusting, but once you're settled in, it will be amazing.

[Billie Erin]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I am English- I'm applying through ucas in the UK, I know I want to study history and I'm allowed to pick 5 universities. I'm going to look around 7. I went and saw Sheffield last weekend and that was awesome and Bristol today was also great. The accommodation was better at Sheffield and they'd let me study abroad for a year which I really want to do, but the history syllabus at Bristol looked a lot better and the professors seemed more enthusiastic. I'm really nervous about the whole thing. I have a feeling each rejection may end in 3 tubs of Ben and Jerry's

[Tea - Total]

Jun 22, 2010 19:58:28 GMT -5 said:

Digital art courses or graphics or any digital media related courses are quite popular.

As for moving out.... well, that is completely a different experience, I would say to get the full university experience you do need to move out, being independent is completely eye opening.

Digital art course sound interesting, i thought thats was just graphics..
And for the moving out part, i am not ready to move out just yet.
I am applying in the UK, its out of northumbia or Newcastle.

[Billie Erin]

@ewr Yeah it would be too expensive to go to the USA I think but if I chose to go to france on the ERASMUS scheme then I'd get a grant to cover all extra costs etc. so that could work, and I'd like to keep my lnguage skills.

Also I think I want to move out, purely to get the experience of being a bit more independent before I'm forced to be really independent and get a job etc.

Tea - Total I'm looking at Newcastle! I've got the open day really soon!

[Tea - Total]

Jun 27, 2010 16:35:30 GMT -5 said:

BuffyLover you should definitely have a look into digital art's courses or types of courses that involve computing art if you're interested in it.

In fact, I'd advise anyone applying to uni to have a good read of the description of the course and any that you are also considering!

I might, i am really interesting in graphics,and taking my own photo and manipulating them on photoshop.
I seen a graphics degree show in university, it looks interesting.

[Talkie Toaster]

Jun 28, 2010 6:49:07 GMT -5 Tea - Total said:

Jun 27, 2010 16:35:30 GMT -5 said:

BuffyLover you should definitely have a look into digital art's courses or types of courses that involve computing art if you're interested in it.

In fact, I'd advise anyone applying to uni to have a good read of the description of the course and any that you are also considering!

I might, i am really interesting in graphics,and taking my own photo and manipulating them on photoshop.
I seen a graphics degree show in university, it looks interesting.

check out this guys digital art www.bymichaelo.com/archive.htm

[dusk3333]

Wow! The UK process sounds completely different from the US process. I'm so intrigued. Explain more, please

[Talkie Toaster]

Jun 28, 2010 15:31:07 GMT -5 said:

@Dad thanks for that awesome link, I'm actually going to pass it to my housemate who studies Digital Art and technology. He also has his own site that he updates with some of his artwork and projects, he has to use a camera/video recoreder and uses a computer a lot, particuarly he had to do a 'day in the life of' which required so much time recording and editing. His site can be viewed here.

no problem, also (i know i've posted this somewhere here before) missgee.net/ is my friends site.

And that was also an awesome link you provided ;D

[Billie Erin]

Thanks EWR, I would really recommend ERASMUS

You gave a very thorough account of the UCAS system! All I think that's left to say is if you decide you want Medicine/Veterinary/ Dentistry/ Oxridge then you need to complete a UCAS form by October 15th instead of January, I don't know whether that effects anyone here.

I'm looking at another two unis this week, I'm very excited

[Tea - Total]

How do you actually apply for university.

[dusk3333]

Wow, that just sounds really complicated to me. But I am sure it isn't.

In the US you just apply straight to the University you want to go to. And you can apply to as many or as few as you want to. Its up to you. But there is an application fee at most universities to apply and process the paperwork and what-not. And from there, it is up to the University whether they want to accept you or not. For most colleges, that isn't that big a deal, but some of the nicer more Ivy League colleges are harder to get into. And most deadlines are December of the year before here, though some Universities take late applications.

You do have to have your transcripts and ACT scores sent to the college along with your application too. So, I guess in its own way, its a bit complex here as well.

[Billie Erin]

I'm off to look at Newcastle tomorrow. Not looking forward to the 4 hour drive but the uni should be good. I've just registered with UCAS and finished the first draft of my personal statement. I handed it in to my History teachers yesterday, I'm really worried that they'll say it's awful.

[drusillacakes]

Jun 30, 2010 13:07:07 GMT -5 dusk3333 said:

Wow, that just sounds really complicated to me. But I am sure it isn't.

Yes, it sounds really complicated to me too. It was nerve-racking for me as well applying to undergrad, but I'm a grad student now so it has been a while.

Anyway, good luck with your visits, Billie! In case you want to study abroad in the US, I'm sure we could give you an overview of what the system is like here.

[dusk3333]

Jul 1, 2010 16:47:34 GMT -5 drusillacakes said:

Jun 30, 2010 13:07:07 GMT -5 dusk3333 said:

Wow, that just sounds really complicated to me. But I am sure it isn't.

Yes, it sounds really complicated to me too. It was nerve-racking for me as well applying to undergrad, but I'm a grad student now so it has been a while.

Anyway, good luck with your visits, Billie! In case you want to study abroad in the US, I'm sure we could give you an overview of what the system is like here.

I'm going to be doing that soon, myself. Applying to Grad schools that is. I'm excited, but afraid of the rejection letters I know are coming. But its all part of the process. But hopefully the fact that I have two published articles in scholarly journals gives me a little leg up on the competition. ::fingers crossed::

Any words of Wisdom for me, Dru?