Six things I would do differently, a snapshot of Leicester, and uni myths busted.
😊 Welcome
Every so often we all take a look back on our decisions and wonder “What if I had done things differently?”
Generally I’m not a fan of this sort of thinking. Regrets don’t really help anyone, and the reality for me is that all the major decisions I have taken have led me to where I am right now. Since that’s a pretty good place, I’m perfectly at ease with my decisions. Even the bad ones.
But what if I was choosing a university again, knowing everything I know about universities now? Might I make an even better decision?
In this week's main story I look at exactly this, and I’ve distilled my decision-making into just six things that I’d do differently. All six are things that really didn’t cross my mind when I was 17. And hopefully all six might just help you make a great decision about your choice of course and university!
In the second of my University Spotlights we have a look at the University of Leicester. Like Stirling, it's a university where I spent a significant amount of time working, and it’s also another university that arguably deserves a bit more recognition than it gets! I hope I can persuade a few of you that it’s well worth a deeper look!
And we’ll finish with a look at a brand new campaign launched by the University Alliance alongside some well-known partners.
But before that, a quick correction. Last week I stated that student loans come with a 30 year repayment limit. This, I realise, is not true: loans taken out now have a 40 year repayment limit. Apologies for the error.
✍️ Six things I’d do if I were choosing a university course right now
OK, so I applied to universities in the 80s. No league tables, no social media, and in fact no internet at all. Just a very large book in the school careers library with some serious lists in it. And a handful of prospectuses - though even those weren’t quite like the glossy brochures of recent years.
I basically chose on the basis of hearsay, reputation, and following in the footsteps of my siblings. No disrespect to my siblings, but it was a pretty terrible way to choose a university.
Knowing what I now know, after a 30 year career spent in university marketing and admissions, it’s no surprise that if I had another chance, I’d do things a bit differently.
I’d start with the subject
As with most people, getting the right subject, taught in the right way, would be top of my agenda. I’ve never been a fan of academic study for its own sake, so while I recognise the benefit of understanding leading theories, I’d also want to know that I could apply that theory in real-world scenarios.
If I had my time again I’d probably want to study something to do with media. I’d look for a course that included a thorough grounding in communication theory, rhetoric, persuasion etc.; the sort of stuff I could apply whether writing speeches, making podcasts or shooting videos. I’d also want to gain a good understanding of the media industry, the roles within it, and the skills required to progress my career.
But most of all I’d want to be able to write and create, doing enough practical work to demonstrate the skills I’d need in my first job. This could be done as part of course projects, but also as part of real world cases, through placements or internships.
📸 University snapshot: University of Leicester
Became a university in: 1957
Student population: 18,260 (2022/23)
Location: The main campus site, with most academic buildings plus some accommodation, is located just one mile south of Leicester city centre.
Subject areas: The university covers pretty much all of the traditional university disciplines across three academic colleges: Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities; Life Sciences; and Science & Engineering
Admissions: Undergraduate entry grades are middling to high, with most courses asking for between BBB and AAB. Medicine asks for A*AA. Most courses do not require interviews or admissions tests (the exceptions being Medicine and Nursing).
Leicester is one of three universities where I spent a significant chunk of my career, and if there is one university that defines my time in student recruitment, it is this one. Of all the universities I have been associated with, Leicester is the place that I found my crowd most easily.
It is a university with high academic standards; most of its departments have research that compares robustly with any university you care to mention. And yet, it is a university that is fundamentally down to earth; a place where ordinary people go, study and become their best selves.
Perhaps best known for the discovery of DNA fingerprinting and their part in discovering the grave of Richard III in a city car park, Leicester in fact has the full range of disciplines, from Medicine, through the sciences (including its world-renowned astrophysics group), engineering, law, social sciences, arts and humanities.
The campus, a mix of buildings of all ages dating back to the mid-19th century, is small enough to have a real sense of community. The library is world class, whilst the Students Union is active on campus and provides an excellent range of services and entertainment. And this is all within the city of Leicester, an easily accessible, budget- and student-friendly place to live.
It’s tricky to put your finger on what exactly makes Leicester so special. There is no single unique selling point that makes Leicester distinct from its competitors, but The Times Higher Education pretty much nailed it when in 2008 they came up with a phrase about Leicester that we used widely in our marketing at the time:
“Elite, without being Elitest”.
It made perfect sense then, and it still makes perfect sense now!
In summary
Leicester could be for you if…
You are looking to study any of the traditional university subjects, with a traditional academic approach.
You want to study in a large, sociable but affordable city.
You are looking for a close-knit campus, retaining a community feel with loads of student activities.
You like things to be down to earth, free of snobbishness and elitism.
And if you like Leicester, you might also like…
University of Exeter
University of Hull
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
💡 Did You Know?
The University Alliance, alongside UCAS, UniTasterDays, The Careers People and the Sixth Form Colleges Association have launched a new campaign “Uni Myths Busted”.
They are trying to bust three myths in particular:
“University isn’t for people like me”
“I will struggle to find a job if I don’t go to the ‘right’ type of university”
“If I don’t study the ‘right’ subject, I’ll struggle to find a job”
Now, the University Alliance isn’t unbiased on this; they represent a specific part of the university sector, mainly consisting of the more vocational universities.
Never-the-less, these are three myths that I am happy for anyone to bust.
They have a bunch of videos, lesson-plans, posters etc. that schools and colleges can use for free. And they are all based on some pretty robust data that underpins their claims.
So if you are a student and see any of these myth-busting materials I hope they resonate with you!
And if you are a teacher or adviser, and want to have a look at the resources available, check out the website:
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
