Colleges tap into social networking

These days there are lots of new ways to check out campuses and courses — some you can do without getting out of bed. Universities are even willing to meet you on Facebook and Twitter. Here are some tips.

The knee-high stack of glossy university prospectuses sitting in the middle of my room looked a little scary. It was the month before the UCAS deadline, and after  visiting university open days and researching courses, I was still gazing at shiny photos, thinking that each university looked better than the last.

But once I got down to it, I soon realised — just as you will — that picking the right place to study wasn’t so hard after all, and the effort will definitely be worth it in the end. And these days, there are all sorts of new ways to do your research.

Let’s meet...online

In fact, most universities are so desperate to come across as cool that they’ve joined Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, and are happy to meet you online. Once you have your place sorted out, you can even use the web to make friends before you get there.

So here’s our guide to all the new ways you can find out about universities, without even leaving bed — although you probably should leave your duvet behind eventually: it’s a good idea to at least have a peek at the place where you’re going to spend the next three or more years. The first step, though, is to work out what subject you want to study.

Then, once that’s in the bag, start researching which institutions offer your course, before working out the differences between each course and each university, and making a shortlist of top choices to write on your form.

Choosing a course

One of my friends sheepishly admitted to me that he’d confused psychology and psychiatry on his application, so it wasn’t until he was sitting in the first of three years worth of psychology lectures that he realised what he really wanted to study was psychiatry. But choosing the wrong course isn’t always a disaster: Most universities are accommodating about switching courses, but might insist on particular exam grades, and it’s a lot easier if you get things right to start with. So make sure you know all about the module choices involved in the courses that most interest you before you pick what and where to study.

The subject prospectus is a good place to start: this is usually available in more detail online, through faculty websites. You will probably also have access to a ‘careers and further education’ office with stacks of this kind of info. Read about the course, what it focuses on, the kind of books you’ll be reading, and the teaching methods. Does the course mainly use formal lectures, or smaller tutorial sessions? If you hate exams, look into how courses are assessed — lots offer some opportunity for coursework or a dissertation, and some won’t have any exams. Other things to look out for are opportunities to study abroad and to participate in industry work placements.

Look beyond the smiley faces

Search beyond the smiling photos on university-made documents: those hot students adorning university websites or prospectuses will probably have left by the time you start anyway! The tutors, however, are far more likely to still be on campus, so read a bit about their interests, and note down names of faculty members that you might like to talk to at open days. If you have any other questions at this stage, most tutors and admissions staff are easy to track down online, and happy to respond to a polite email.
You can also use the internet to help you to “experience” academia without leaving your room. A lot of institutions offer free podcasts of lectures and tutorial recordings via their individual websites or Apple’s portal iTunesU.

For the eager beaver

Oxford University, for example, offers downloadable lectures and tutorials at PodOxford, where prospective students can also listen to discussions about courses, colleges, how to apply and what happens in the often-dreaded Oxford interview.

If you’re a bit of a keeno, once you have a university place in the bag, you could even listen to a few lectures to swot up before you arrive. But before you set your heart on a particular course, make sure you find out about entry requirements. There’s no point wasting one of your few slots on a course that requires three As if you’re predicted a much lower result. Also, check whether you need to do any extra admissions tests, so you can book and prepare in advance.

Choosing a university

Once you’ve sorted out where it’s possible to study your chosen course, it’s time to think about institutions. Work out your key criteria first — for example, if finances are tight and you need to save money, then attending a university near your home will mean saving on accommodation. You might also want to look into scholarships and bursaries at different institutions. Most students are eligible for a loan, and many universities offer extra funding. Also, if you have any special requirements, such as needing halal food, think about that before visiting a campus — sort out your practical needs.

Look at alternative prospectuses, too — these are written by students, for students, so they offer a less formal, and often more honest, view of student life. Some universities also publish a parents’ guide, which will answer all of the boring questions about transport, money, and other practical things that your parents will probably be grilling you about.

Look into job figures, too: since one of the big reasons most people do a degree is to help find work at the end, it’s helpful to look into the proportion of graduates who find work after leaving.

Other things to think about include distance — you might feel like you want to get as far away from home as possible, but that seven-hour train journey won’t be so enjoyable six times a year — and facilities.

If you’re a wannabe Andy Murray, for example, are the tennis courts any good? What is the accommodation like, how much does it cost, and, crucially, is it guaranteed for all fresher students? If you have a family, are specialist family lodgings on offer? If you’re a mature student, does the university offer good provision for you? Is there a good social life and active students’ union? And since you’re ultimately there to gain a good degree, look into whether the library is well-stocked for your subject, too.

Notch up ‘Net’ gains

The best way to answer a lot of these questions is by speaking to current students. One way to find them is through attending open days, but you won’t be able to get around every one. So use the internet to meet students who are there.

Check out general student chatrooms which have forums for individual universities, where you can find current undergraduates to answer all your questions. This kind of site will let you log whatever stage of the application process you’re going through, so can be a great way to meet your soon-to-be fellow students before freshers’ week.

Facebook is also useful: most universities have both official and unofficial groups that you can join to contact students.

Visit universities’ own websites. Most have invested a lot in online tools including virtual tours, advice, and YouTube videos covering course information, student work and interviews. Many also have online live chat advice services, where you can get instant answers to your questions from academic staff and current students.

Don’t chuck away your research when you’ve found your favoured university — keep a note of any other courses that are similar to your top choices but have lower entry requirements.

Even if you don’t manage to find a single university that makes you feel warm inside, don’t worry.

Wherever you end up studying, you're going to spend three (or more) years meeting hundreds of people, making friends, learning amazing things and discovering that washing clothes isn’t nearly as bad as your mum probably makes out. You’re bound to have a fantastic time, so start stacking up those prospectuses, go online, get out there — and good luck with the start of your university career.