Assisting teens in choosing university for 2021 during a pandemic

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Pestomum? Oct 2020 5:58pm, 21 Oct 2020 42 posts	0 Pestomum? I have one going through this. I’ve advised them to avoid London (£££) but otherwise to find the best course and work from there.
Too Much Water Oct 2020 6:46pm, 21 Oct 2020 7,722 posts	0 Too Much Water I would consider that if they know what job they want to do, to look into is there a school-leaving option they could pursue instead which would have them 3 years ahead of competition. e.g. if want to be an accountant / work in HR - the big 4 offer very good post-18 options and you would be professionally qualified in your field by the time your university going peers graduate with no debt. When I went to Uni 20 years ago I was funnelled into going by a school which had a traditional approach, in hindsight I wish the above option had been in place as would choose it. As for uni visits I went on my own on the train, looked round the campus and the town / city. If the uni offer a courtesy bus from the station to the campus - make sure you find out how you'd make the journey without it! I ended up changing course (was in Arts / Social Sciences) as we did 3 different subjects called Part 1 courses and could change after the first year exams). However my original course was chosen partly as it had good lecturers and interesting modules for year 2 & 3. I was about a 2 hour journey from my parents' home - enough distance to make a spur of the moment decision to travel if I needed to, but far away enough that I'd only bother once a term, I still live within a mile of my hall of residence, the local job market is strong. I didn't move back to parents' after Easter break in year 1 as I enjoyed living in Reading and independence away from parents. Your Mileage May Vary!
DocM Oct 2020 5:18pm, 23 Oct 2020 37,675 posts	0 DocM with three having been through it, I have been to a lot of open days. One more to go! they all had different priorities and made different choices. For all of them liking the city was an important factor and just spending time in that place was important. The open days themselves did not contribute as much as the visit to the city. all universities say they are the best, have excellent societies etc etc.
LindsD Oct 2020 11:22am, 27 Oct 2020 41,892 posts	0 LindsD I would second what Fleecy said about making sure that the psychology dept in the places he is looking at specialise in the sorts of things he wants to do. SD is at Northumbria doing psychology, wants to do ed psych, but none of her tutors has this as a speciality so dissertation was a bit of an issue. She got in through clearing, so didn't have much, or any, choice.
LindsD Oct 2020 11:23am, 27 Oct 2020 41,893 posts	0 LindsD I've got one who's finishing 6th form college, but doesn't have a clue what he wants to do Probably not university.
Diogenes Oct 2020 8:41am, 28 Oct 2020 54,255 posts	0 Diogenes My eldest who's in her last year at college is absolutely certain she doesn't want to go to university. She set on pursuing a career in music, so it's a good job she's used to being poor.
Lorraine Oct 2020 10:16pm, 30 Oct 2020 1,601 posts	0 Lorraine I have one at drama school and one doing music. They both love their courses. They decided that if they were going to get in debt they should do something they love. On the plus side they may never earn enough to pay their loans back 😀 Because they had to audition for their courses they didn’t both with open day, they knew they would find out more at their auditions. They did both spend hours researching. The downside to youngest being at drama school ( GSA) is that we paid over £1000 in audition fees, hotel accommodation and travel. Eldest it wasn’t as bad because we didn’t have to pay audition fees. Which ever way our children go it tough for them. Eldest took 3 years “out”. She is having a really rubbish first year but being in her 20’s she has a very different mind set.
Diogenes Oct 2020 10:18pm, 30 Oct 2020 54,369 posts	0 Diogenes You have to pay to audition?!
Lorraine Oct 2020 12:03pm, 31 Oct 2020 1,602 posts	0 Lorraine Yes all Actor Muso ( which youngest is now in her 2nd year ) Musical Theatre, Acting and any Dance, whether it’s through UCAS or not. Eldest didn’t have to pay for her music auditions but she stuck to universities not Conservatoire’s
mulbs Nov 2020 10:48am, 2 Nov 2020 13,874 posts	0 mulbs Wow!!! Paying to audition seems outrageous. Hope it all works out Lorraine (for all of your brood).