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Which UK universities should I apply to? | | Education

worldYou may be forgiven for feeling that there are many dooms and glooms at the moment. Open the newspapers and you will see that the cost of living crisis, economic recession and generational injustice are leading young people to start families and buy their own homes. You can read about how it makes it harder to do.

All of this can make you stress about getting the best grades possible in school, getting into the most competitive courses at the best colleges, and getting the highest paying graduate job. I have.

But here is the message from the experts: Please relax. There are many ways to be successful in life. Although the labor market and economy are not as favorable to graduates as they have been in the past, graduates earn an average of £10,000 more per year than non-graduates. Going to college offers many other benefits, such as better health and a more satisfying life.

Steven Isherwood, CEO of the Association of Student Employers, said, “Even though the job market has tightened, more than 75% of new graduate hires have continued as normal throughout both the financial crisis and the Covid pandemic. rest assured.

what should i study?

You may be wondering which course is best for life after graduation. Isherwood says this isn’t as important as you might think. Because it’s unusual in the UK that his 80% of college graduate employers don’t care what courses you’ve studied.

According to Isherwood, college-educated employers typically look for four things: good teamwork skills, problem-solving skills, enthusiasm for the role, and resilience in difficult situations.

“Some career options require a particular specialization. , the most important thing is to choose a course that you enjoy. Play to your strengths,” he advises.

where should i study?

The competition for college admissions has become the fiercest in the last decade. In addition to the lack of places, more British 18-year-olds are vying for the most popular courses and institutions after being over-recruited during the pandemic.

Dan Barcroft, director of admissions at the University of Sheffield, says this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim high. “But it’s worth having some options, such as specifying official insurance options, so that applicants have as many options as possible,” he recommends.

Students may also consider whether to apply for subjects similar to more popular choices. For example, law is highly competitive, but less reserved subjects such as criminology and sociology may contain a lot of the same content. All three are excellent preparations for the law reform course, so whichever route you take will eventually land you a job as a lawyer.

“Going to university open days is a good way to find alternative courses. If some courses are overbooked, you can ask staff about courses and see where students are heading after graduation. ,” recommends Barcroft.

Is reputation important?

For those wondering how important it is to get into the most selective colleges, such as the Russell Group, a recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that future students are “more relaxed” about where they will study. “need to do it. , because degree classes are paramount when it comes to earning a higher salary.

The researchers found that UK graduates with first-class or upper-second-class (2.1) honors earned on average more income by age 30 than those who graduated with lower second-class (2.2) awards, regardless of institution. was found to be high.

While certain employers in more traditional professions, such as some elite law firms, still favor the highest-ranking colleges, Isherwood says most employers increasingly rely on the colleges their students attended. not paying attention.

This means that it is important to choose a university where you feel comfortable.

Professor Katie Normington, Vice President of De Montfort University, advises: That doesn’t mean the university you study at is ranked top. You may feel that the support you receive and how the course is delivered is more important. “

This is especially true for those with specific needs, such as those with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities, but also those who have extracurricular activities that they are genuinely interested in as they help build employability skills. may be

Isherwood explains: You may find your part-time job boring, the sports team you’re captaining irrelevant, and your volunteer role trivial. Interviewers will look in your experience for evidence of different qualities you may possess. “

What do employers want?

This is why grades are not always the top priority for employers. For example, in order to attract more diverse new graduates, his PwC, a professional services firm, recently lifted the long-standing requirement that graduates take her 2:1.

PwC recruiter Andrew Bargery said the announcement is the result of changes that have taken place over the years. This is a departure from traditional competency-based recruitment, which seeks to assess potential in areas such as teamwork, leadership and business awareness.

As such, “a student’s college or degree subject matters little,” he says. “It’s important to apply your learning and prove that you can be successful.” But he says having relevant work experience helps.

Employers are looking for passion and potential, and understand that young people have fewer opportunities to gain work experience and skills through social activities, especially since the pandemic. It’s for

Ashley Hever, a recruiter at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, an employer of top alumni, says students should “not worry too much” about choosing colleges and courses. “Employers today are very open about where someone studied or what courses they completed,” she said.

He adds that it’s important to work with career services, attend job fairs, meet potential employers, and build your resume through club, social and leadership opportunities.

Andrew Oliva Hauxwell is the Executive Director of Recruitment for Teach First, which runs a paid education and training program. On the role of public service, it says it’s important for graduates to show they “genuinely care about our mission and are committed to working with us.”

However, he adds that there are “specific non-negotiable academic thresholds” that must be met. These can be achieved in any university with teachers recruited from 170 universities in 2021. The easiest way to get good grades is to study what you love. If you’re interested in, he points out, science, mathematics, computing, and modern foreign languages ​​are in short supply.

Competition for roles is tough, but college-educated employers are arguably more flexible than ever when choosing who to hire.

This is why it is important that course and university selection is based on personal preference.

Barcroft advises: Is it the course content and the reputation, or the location and student life?”

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/sep/24/which-uk-university-should-i-apply-to Which UK universities should I apply to? | | Education

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