Choosing the right university could be quite a tough choice for many- I know it certainly was for me. On the one hand, the ranking of the university in the league tables is a dominating factor in the decision process, but it is also important to consider whether the university you are prioritising feels like ‘the right one’. For example, you are comfortable with the teaching style employed, there are a range of opportunities outside the curriculum you feel comfortable participating in and transportation isn’t a major hassle. The reality is that this can only really be discovered if you attend the university prior and seek more information whilst attending, from existing lecturers, students and asking questions!
Personally, my decision to study at the University of Birmingham was majorly influenced by attending the open day. For starters, the open day gave me a brief insight of what Chemical Engineering is all about, and some of the content we will be studying. This is helpful to know because for many, they end up finding along the degree that it wasn’t the right subject for them and some end up pulling out; therefore, more knowledge of the subject content beforehand will better inform your decision on whether the chosen degree subject is the most appropriate one for you.
We were taken through the course schedule and it was clear to me there were many tutorials and drop-in sessions for students to raise questions on a 1-1 basis with the lecturers. What also caught my attention was the PASS scheme, where peers studying the degree from upper years support those in the lower years; that is literally free tuition! I liked the fact all lectures were recorded and available for us to return to, at any time- these factors were all adding up in my head and definitely informed by decision. I also enjoyed the beautiful landscape of the University and could see the high quality facilities offered on campus, through the upgrade on the library and pathways to offer more green space. I also had the chance to check out student accommodations in the area and found out it was much cheaper to rent a house that was close to the university- commuting and finding the right place with adequate rent were two important factors I only got to experiment when attending the open day!
It was clear to me after attending that everything about this university felt right, the people seemed very friendly, diverse and I enjoyed the introductory session on the degree a lot. Another undoubted benefit for me at the time was how attending the session helped me in writing my personal statement. I remember noting down everything the lecturer was saying about Chemical Engineering and the skills one will develop throughout the degree, and I remember incorporating all of them into my personal statement and relating the skills back to my experiences in life, which eventually got me the place!
