Researching and choosing a course and University is a big task and can seem very daunting. Even if you have no experience of this yourself you can support your student through the process.
A good place to start is your childs sixth form or college parents evening. They will usually hold an event designed to give you information about applying to University. Your student's school will probably set a deadline for completing forms, if you know when this date is you can help your child stick to it.
Encourage your student to start looking at Universities early. The summer in between year 12 & 13 should be used to start researching courses and universities and to start making notes for their university application form (UCAS form).
Every University produces a prospectus; this is a guide to their University. In many ways it is like a holiday brochure as it is full of glossy photos of smiling students on sunny campuses. Your student needs to consider this and make sure they read the course information carefully.
Important things for you and your student to consider:
Course content - what will they actually be studying? Students sometimes drop out of University because the course they chose turns out to be different to what they expected. Good research is the key to avoiding this.
Location - Does your child want to move away from home? How far are they willing to travel? If you are going to be driving them there every term, how far are you willing to travel?
Will they be happy at a big city University or would they prefer to study in a large town or a rural campus?
Finance - Big cities can need big budgets. Student accommodation in London is going to be more expensive than in Leeds for example. As a family you will need to discuss these issues and make sure that your student can comfortably afford to live away from home at their chosen University.
It is important that your student makes their own decision about where they want to study. They should not feel under pressure from you, their friends, or teachers to choose a particular university.
