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Well this is awkward. Last post we were talking about how university rankings could become a source of toxicity. However, at the end of the day those rankings are just numbers and if put to good use can be useful in choosing a university. University rankings should be used with caution and taken with a grain of salt as they are just surface level indicators of what a uni can offer you.

Where to Find Them

University rankings are all over the internet and give different rankings depending on their respective criteria. It’s important to note what aspects of a uni they evaluate and how they evaluate to actually be able to understand the meaning of the rankings givens. Notable university rankings include QS, Complete University Guide, Times Higher Education, Study-in UK and The Guardian.

How to Use Them

University rankings should be used as an indicator of what unis you should be looking at. This is because they don’t tell the full story of what your uni experience should be because in most cases uni rankings are too general. As a general indicator, uni rankings will be able to tell you a few things.

First, whether if a uni is good or not. This is quite a no brainer but uni rankings are good at mapping out extremities. They are usually a good judge of a prospective uni experience if they are at the very top of the table or on the very bottom.

Second, uni rankings are useful in singling out unis that you might be interested in. Say you have a course that you would like to take in mind but you do not think of going straight to the course rankings or you don’t care. Checking out the uni rankings before hand is a decent move and even if the course at the uni you choose isn’t as good as others you will still be able to benefit from getting into a high-ranked uni.

Third, they are usually a good judge of a unis research quality. Rankings such as QS usually hold research to a high standard and rankings usually do a decent job at judging a unis research quality. If for some reason you as an undergraduate are interested in the research aspect of a uni, university rankings are a good reference to go by.

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Although pragmatism is a great mindset to uphold it isn’t the only mindset out there. People often use their universities as a tool for raising their social status. This might not be as important as other factors for choosing a college but it is real. This post will be mainly about the existence of the social status a uni can give you and why it’s something you shouldn’t buy into.

Social Status

Social status is usually something instigated by people who are in a “better” university intentionally or unintentionally. It’s basically an irrational comparison of unis that’s only purpose is to enforce unrealistic views towards uni rankings. Although it might not always come from a bad place it certainly does have its implications towards some people. Regular banter is overall fine but it should be noted that such things can snowball into something much more detrimental.

Dealing With It

When faced with situations where illogical comparisons of universities are apparent there are a few things that should you should keep in mind.

First, it doesn’t make any sense. People who compare unis to each other to put one above the other are doing it for reasons that don’t usually make sense. The only reason they’re doing this is to make them feel better about themselves and it really has nothing to do with you.

Second, you’re in your uni for a reason. Whether that reason be a good one or a bad one you are in the best place suited for you. Wherever you go to uni is the place the is best-equipped to prepare you for the future which is the ultimate goal of going to uni.

Third, it’s okay to be jealous of another person who goes to a “better” uni. Being envious of what another person has is only natural and very hard to fight. However, this stops at the point of only understanding that you are human and it’s okay to be jealous. Continuing this mindset even further is not advised as per the previous points , there is no reason to. Be grateful for what you have and continue on with your life.

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The end goal of going to uni is to get a job and secure your livelihood. Thats usually considered to be a priority but not something to be enjoyed whilst studying. However, job opportunities should be sought after during college because it can lead to a whole bunch of interesting experiences. This makes job opportunities an incredibly important consideration when choosing a course.

Job Prospects

Taking job prospects into consideration early on is probably one of the chief factors when deciding where to go for various purposes.

First, it will become much easier to map out a plan for the future. This directly correlates with your plans during university such as the modules in the course you will take and extracurricular activities. You should always keep in mind that the course you choose should help lead you to wherever you want to go.

Second, the proof of your learning experience will become invaluable. Although academics aren’t everything when translated into the professional world your university degree is still a significant credential. It may not be necessary to have a certain degree but considering how competitive job applications will continue to be a specific compatibility to the job you want to pursue with your degree will be important.

Societies

Societies can be an important consideration in terms of job opportunities when choosing a course. There are courses such as Literature and Medicine that have societies which play a prominent role in a students uni experience and could provide an extra bit of enjoyment out of the whole learning process.

Taking part in these societies will help boost your academics and non-academic endavours where you will meet up with people who are going through similar things you are. For example, when taking IR there are usually IR societies where students can join. These societies hold events such as socials, networking events, seminars, career fairs and even competitions for students to have fun while indulging their professional interests.

However, it should be noted that joining societies will take up your time and requires sufficient planning to fully utilise the opportunity of getting into one.

Internships

Internships are a great way to build up your CV and practice your academic knowledge on the field. There are courses which offer internship schemes and even ones that are done abroad.

These types of courses are usually found anywhere and are often very beneficial for a student’s learning experience. For example, Westminster provides an internship for their Finance and Accounting course in prominent institutions such as Barclays for students of the course to enrol in.

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Leaving the confines of the classroom there are still ways a course can provide a enjoyable social life. These options usually require students to expend a bit of extra effort but are all worth it in the end.

Societies

Societies aren’t necessarily tied to a course but societies that are quite common such as UCL Medicine’s RUMS society. These societies are usually helpful in a number of ways and go beyond simple get togethers. These societies help students by doing things such as hosting events such as sports outings and music recitals, allow easier organisation of group tutoring, providing networking opportunities and help students meet other students from the same course. There are usually societies for any course in a university and you shouldn’t be afraid to join them.

Course Structure (Out of Class)

Course structures can be an indicator of what a social life can be in a course outside of the classroom and this is usually in the form of extraordinary opportunities.

Extraordinary opportunities such as student exchanges can become unique social experiences. Some course offer a year abroad or any other type of experience that can help students make interesting memories.

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Although academics play a huge part in a student’s university life, the social life of a course is an integral part of a student’s livelihood in general. This is because socialising is an important aspect of survival and enjoyment, especially for a young person who is probably living alone for the first time. The social life in different courses usually have their own stereotypes and shouldn’t be judged based upon those pre-existing biases. However, they can mainly be predicted by the following factors.

Study Time

Study time is probably the most tangible and universal of factors that can affect a courses timezone. Study time can probably impact a courses social life in two main ways.

First, study time can make the students of a course less sociable. This is apparent in courses such as Medicine where students are required to allocate massive amounts of their time to independent study. Usually this does make students less sociable but there cases such as UCL Medicine where students of the Medicine course get together and empower each other to graduate together.

Second, study time can make students more sociable. This possibility itself has two potential scenarios; lots of study time or less study time. In regards to the former, lots of study time for courses such as engineering require students to work together. This allows time for bonding and helps social life bloom. On the other hand, the latter just allows free time to its students. The students can basically pursue whatever they want due to not being busy.

Stream of Knowledge

The stream of knowledge of a course to refers to the academic umbrella class they are categorised to such as the sciences, social sciences and arts. This might be the least credible indicator of the social life of a course but can give a bit of insight.

First, courses which are within the realm of the sciences are usually less sociable. This doesn’t mean they are completely desolate of human interaction but might have less time for it compared to other streams. However, courses in the sciences can also facilitate student bonding through rigorous group assignments.

Next, courses in the social sciences are probably in the middle in terms of social life. Courses in this stream usually have a lot of reading time but generally require lots of discussion with peers. This type of learning experience can lead to a colorful social life if utilised correctly.

Lastly, the arts are probably the most social of the streams. The arts themselves are ways to express oneself in whatever they create. Coupled with the necessity of being comparative in terms of creating art, the arts are an incredible course choice for people who seek an exciting social life.

Course Structure (In Class)

Course structures can be an indicator of what a social life can be in a course and this is seen from a few indicators.

First, the teaching mechanisms of a course can show how much students will be exposed to each other. Teaching through seminars and group projects usually promote social interaction and is a positive sign for a good social life.

Furthermore, studying hours can be seen from a course structure. This correlates with the first point where students can roughly calculate how much time they’ll spend studying from examining the course structure.

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Academics does not have to be confined within the walls of a classroom. Universities have programs and mechanisms that allow them to provide student with opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. This serves to both allow students to apply their knowledge in extremely practical situations and attain knowledge taught outside of the classroom. The most common ways unis do this is through internship programmes and exchange programmes.

Exchange Programmes

Exchange programmes are opportunities for students to go to other unis for a specified period of time. This is useful in gaining new experiences in other unis and is a great addition for a CV. This can be a consideration when choosing a course because some courses in some unis have a designated year where student’s travel abroad. For example, KCL’s Politics course has a year abroad in unis such as NUS, Georgetown and UNC. However, some courses do not have a designated year but allow students the opportunity to apply for a year abroad such as UCL with their Erasmus+ programme.

Internship Programmes

Internship programmes are another way that unis teach their students by giving them an opportunity to get a first-hand taste of what the real world is like. Although internships can be applied to independently, there are courses in some unis that help students get into internship programmes. Applying to internship through a uni is generally much easier and ensures an internship programme of a higher quality and compatibility to what a student is learning.

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