I've decided to start a new little series on my blog where I write about the different universities that I'm going to see over the next two months. I'm really excited about it, as I've mentioned before because its always been something that I've wanted to do. And because I'm going to be writing straight after I visit each uni, when it comes to actually applying, I can always go back and read the post on how I felt at that time. I also feel like this may be helpful for people wondering how Open Days work, whether they are thinking of going to University themselves or are having trouble picking one. This is the first installment so I hope you enjoy it; it is only my opinion of the day so don't be put off if you get a different vibe from a place or have your heart set on somewhere that I'm maybe not too keen on. Everyone has different experiences of where they want to go so its completely subjective.
The first Open Day was to The University of Salford in Manchester. Now it started at 10am so me and my mom left the house at about 8 o'clock. I ended up going into the university on my own and I thought I was going to be nervous but I really wasn't. It was a bit difficult trying to navigate around the campus; I tried going into the main building because I had no idea where the Department of Psychology was. Fortunately there were student ambassadors all around and they directed me to the correct building. It was kind of crazy trying to register because I didn't know you had to print off the tickets and I couldn't connect to the WiFi on my phone to show the automatic email. Luckily for me, the woman at the stand had my name on a list and so just let me in anyway.
I spent about an hour speaking to 2 stalls there. The first one was called Counselling and Psychotherapy and I had looked at that course a few months ago at school. I did enjoy speaking to them about it but I do think that it's not really what I want to do in the future. Anyway, the second stall I went to was the Sociology and Criminology one and I really liked it. I hadn't thought about doing Sociology before and I don't think I actually will but I liked hearing about it. I also went to the talk at 11am on it because I liked it. There weren't a lot of people there but it was fascinating because you can do Sociology or Criminology as a single course, or you can do a joint course on both. I think that if I wasn't as focused in Psychology as I am, I definitely think that I would have done Criminology.
This talk ended at about 12 and I did have plans to take an accommodation tour but they were 30 minutes long and I needed to eat as well as go to the Psychology stall. So I went to lunch at the cafeteria by myself, there wasn't a lot of food there so I just had a plate of curly chips. They were really REALLY good.
After I'd finished, I went to the Psychology talk and spoke to the man there about the course and things. He recommended things that I could do in order to gain more experience or good books to read about things they teach there. He was really nice and helpful and I really liked it there. The talk was in a seminar room filled with people which just shows how popular the course is. Loads of people asked questions that I hadn't really thought about and the woman speaking was able to answer them straight away. She knew what she was talking about and that made me trust in the course as a whole. I also found out that you can do Psychology, Psychology and Counselling or Psychology and Criminology which I know that if I did decide to go there, I would struggle picking which I would definitely go to.
Now there was a chance at the end to take a tour of the Psychology Department but it was already 10 past 2 and I was already late for when my mom said she'd pick me up. And that was my entire day at The University of Salford; overall, I really really enjoyed it. I think that I probably should have planned everything better because like I said, I didn't see everything I would have liked to. I think that's something I will definitely do when I visit my next one, which is The University of Lincoln on the 4th of October. I will write about that day as well so make sure you are following my blog for more updates.
Check out my last post: Growing Up - where I write about how I need to be my "own" person
I wanted to write this blog post because it's a concept that I'm struggling with, or at least my mom is. The thing is I'm really looking forward to moving away from home for university; it's always been something I've wanted to do just because I absolutely hate where I live. I really really do. I don't want to be one of those people who don't have a job and end up staying on the same estate with 4 kids before I'm 25. I want a better life than that and the only way that I see that happening, is to go to a good university and get an education.
The universities that I'm looking at however are quite a few hours away and while I'm prepared, and more than ready to leave, I don't think my mom is. I know that she still sees me as her baby but she needs to understand that I'm going off to university in a year. And I want to be able to make an informed, unbiased decision of where I go on my OWN. That's all it is. I don't need her comments on how she "doesn't get a good feeling" about the place, or its "too expensive". It has to be my decision and mine alone.
 |
 |
Now I want you to know that it's not that I don't appreciate her because I do. She's my mother and I love her more than anyone in the world, but I need to do this by myself. I wanted to go to my Open Days on my own but because of my lack of money, ie. I'm poor, she has to drive me there. I'm excited about seeing them for the first time and imagining myself studying there but I'm not looking forward to her opinions on everything. I know that she doesn't mean to do it but she just can't help herself and it drives me insane. I don't need her influencing my opinions on where I want to spend the next 3 years of my life. I just need some freedom. Freedom, to make my own decisions, or mistakes, and if that's what they are, I have to make them myself.
As you know I promised to write about my first week back at Sixth Form and even though I was going to blog on Tuesday, I was just so tired I basically fell asleep as soon as I got in. I completely forgot how exhausting it is to concentrate on work for hours at a time, even though I've been doing less work than I did in the first week of Year 12. I mean, I have a really good timetable this year so any free lessons I have for period 1 or 2, I have a lie-in which is AMAZING. Waking up at half 6 every single day last year and then walking an hour to school is really enough.
Now on Tuesday we had to register for our Year 13 courses and I had sort of psyched myself up to continuing with the 4 subjects I did last year. However when I was sat there listening to the Head of Sixth Form talking about how difficult it would be, I just couldn't do it. I decided to drop Maths because it was one of my lowest grades apart from Psychology and since I want to do that as a career, Maths had to go. I felt really upset all day which is pretty ridiculous really but I absolutely LOVED Maths and I know that's strange. I've always found it quite easy I guess and I think one of the reasons why I really like it is because its logical and rational. I like being able to have clear cut instructions on how to solve equations and its so satisfying to come to the correct answer. It just makes you feel pretty darm GOOD.
I also found out that me and one of my best friends ever have the exact same timetable meaning that we get to spend all of our frees together which is so great. I used to get so lonely when I would have to sit there on my own just doing work because I never knew anyone who had the same timetable and if I did, they always sat in the Common Rooms rather than in the Study Centre. But this year, we can just sit and chat and listen to Disney songs (all of which we did today); I doubt how much work we're going to get done but that's a different matter.
It was so crazy going back to my tutor and meeting the new Year 12's because I remember being in their position and it doesn't feel like a whole year has been since then. Its so weird thinking that I'm literally in my thirteenth year of school. My last year. I can't believe either that I'll be going to university next year; I really want to blog everything that happens with open days, UCAS applications and eventually offers. I think it would be helpful for people who are thinking about going to university and are not really sure how to do it. I know that I'm definitely going to be needing help for it.
Anyway I really think that this year is going to be a good one. I really just need to use my frees as effectively as possible because I need to make sure that I keep up with my workload and hand things in early. Trust me, thats the best piece of advice I will EVER give.
