Over recent years, the proportion of people choosing to attend university has soared. Thanks to increased awareness and accessibility, more people than ever are heading off to get a degree in their chosen field – but for some, the university lifestyle still seems like an unattainable concept.
Of course, university isn’t for everyone. Upon leaving school, some people would rather go to college or take up an apprenticeship, whereas others say goodbye to the classroom entirely and start full-time work.
Conversely, some people prefer to take a break from education and return to get their degree later in life as mature students. Whatever path life takes you down, university can be an excellent way to develop existing skills or learn new ones, setting you up for a brighter future.
So, if you are considering whether university is right for you, here are a few of the benefits of studying and some of the key things that attending university can offer you.
Knowledge
Perhaps the most obvious benefit, the knowledge that you will gain from your course should prove highly beneficial, useful and relevant to your future career. Most standard university courses comprise of a combination of lectures, workshops and study sessions, not to mention independent coursework, exams, and, of course, the dreaded dissertation!
All of these different methods of learning, in conjunction with your individual modules and chosen specialist areas, can go a long way towards boosting your overall knowledge.
Skill Development
In a similar vein, skill development is another essential component of ensuring continued future success. After all, having the knowledge is one thing, but knowing how to correctly apply it in real life industry situations is another thing entirely!
As well as professional skills, you are highly likely to learn a multitude of other useful life skills during your time at university, ranging from budgeting and networking to punctuality and effective time management.
Lifestyle
Ah – the infamous student lifestyle. Although there will always be a group of students who consistently fail exams, miss lectures and spend their time partying, contrary to popular belief, the majority of university students actually do focus and commit to working hard to achieve their degree.
That being said, the student lifestyle is completely different from any other way of living most people experience in their lives, so it’s important to make the most of it during your time at university.
Connections
Ever heard the saying, ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know?’ For those looking to enter particularly competitive industries or make a real impact in the business environment, connections can mean the difference between success and failure.
Whether it is other people on your course, tutors and lecturers or industry experts you are introduced to, surrounding yourself with the right people can prove highly beneficial.
Opportunities
In many cases, the better the university is, the more doors are likely to open up for you. From career opportunities to professional connections, top universities often have their own comprehensive networks full of people who can prove highly beneficial when it comes to securing that top job or founding your own start-up business.
If you are wondering how to get into a prestigious university, good grades are a must, but other factors like personal achievements, future potential and strong evidence of extra-curricular activities can go a long way towards making your application more appealing to top universities.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that what is right for one person, may not be right for another. You should never feel pressured to attend a certain university, get a degree in a particular field or, perhaps, even go to university at all. We are all different, and it is this diversity that is one of our greatest assets in life.
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