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"University, rah rah rah"

So I'll be starting university next september and almost certainly moving away from home to go elsewhere and venture out into the big wide world, though this isn't going to be one of those coming of age speeches that you'll find in most American teen movies.

I'm still unsure about university courses in general, whether it's my sixth form that havent told us enough or just a big country-wide mystery I do not yet know, but I'm hoping some of you nice people can answer my questions.

First of all, if I major in one subject but take another one (say Journalism with criminology), what would my lessons be like? Would I do more journalism lessons than criminology lessons, or would they be 50/50 and just my mark that is split 75/25 ?

This leads me onto my next point, is it easier to take just one single subject, ie just plain Journalism. Would this mean I had less lessons overall, or would the fact I'm not taking more lessons mean I had to take more classes?

When looking at courses there seem to be the same courses ar different universities, only some courses require different ucas points to get in. Are the higher point courses more lucrative, or will they be much the same?

Moving away from university lectures now, I want to know about student accomodation. Is it better to get on-campus accomodation for the first year and move in with friends after this? Also, it's not been mentioned whether we pay our own electricity bills etc if we stay on campus, or if its covered in the rent or whatever it is we pay.

Is the first year as easy as most people make out it is? In the case that it is easy, would you advise me to get a job during the first year to make up some money towards my debt and take advantage of my free time?

I'm still quite confused about exactly what I want to do in life, but I think journalism could be fun. If I never end up using my degree I still feel I should go to uni just for the experience.

So help me out and post reassuring comments, or add your own angst-filled panick statements - whatever's good for you.

1st is like and advanced a* bloody difficult to obtain

2:1 is like an a not that hard to acheiveso long as you do the basics and are fairly intelligent

2:2 you should get that with no thouble b/c

3rd i reckon i could get a third in nearly any arts subject so long as i was given a copy of the notes the night before, its pisss easy to get and not really worth your time.


Unless you genuinely can't afford it, or have the social skills of a rock you should go in halls. What you do in your first year echo's in eternity - gladiator 2000. seriously you'll meet so many more people and have a much better social base for the entirity of uni. You also get a fair idea of what its like living with certain people and it makes living in a house with your hall mates better if you've known them and chosen to live with them over a year over the first year of uni. Living in a house is cool but its an experience i'd save till the 2nd and 3rd year, as halls banter is cool.

questions about your workload are best directed to you institution but single honour generally have far less class time. English subjects often only have 4 or 5 lectures a week and maybe an essay every 10-14 days and a bit of reading. its not very hard really.

you won't have to pay electricity or water or the likes in halls iut will be included in the fees.

Getting a job is a good idea, if you truly want to utilise your free time. I suspect you'll find that you won't have a job to pay of your debt, whether or not your intentions are good now, but rather to increase your disposable income for buying stuff or going out.

I'd say get a job but make it part time working a couple of nights a week in a pub or a few afternoons in a shop. Bar work can be cool at uni if you work in a severely studenty bar, which is popular with your mates, banter in the extreme.

Applying to work at the student union when the start recruiting is an option.

Join clubs if your into sport and just generally meet as many people as possible in the early weeks.

Hope that helped and i answered your key issues!

I wont get hired as a journalist without having to spend three years whittling away with a pencil - thats the only reason I'm bothering.

Oh yeah, 'tis 'tis.
Only because I have shiz loads of ideas that'd make good games - fact. Blessed with imagination, so I am.
And am always seeing how game could be much better.

I would have done something writey, but there wasn't much point. Because I can write perfectly well without a university degree, and on my own time, to whatever criteria I like - which is always better.

I don't really understand how you can spend 3 years writing unless you're really, really quite crap.

B-But I dont know your name, Mr. Fanatic

I really thought you'd have done something more writey, didnt know game design etc was your thang.

There's a course called Games Computing at Lincoln which looks just about perfect for me. Covering all angles of the industry, so I'm bound to get in somewhere.

Remember the name - books and games anytime soon.

do you know what you'll be doing at uni fff?

Oh, and it looks like I'll be going next year as well.
Bloody top-up fees stopping me having a gap year.

*Shakes fist*

arsi

First is the best, the 2-1, then 2-2.
Methinks

Thanks Bell,

can you explain what a 2.1 and 2.2 etc is?

Is it like equivalent of grades, A, B, C etc?

And whats a "first" ?

The first year is completely easy so you should have plenty of time. Second year isn't too bad...third year is as hard as you make it - if you want the best results you've got to put the time in and really work like hell if you want to avoid being stuck with a 2.2 - you want to be looking at getting a 2.1.

Not long now until I find out how I've gone on *crosses fingers*