It seems silly and cliché to say that you shouldn’t compare yourself to others, right? Self-admiration and being proud of yourself seem like things motivational pictures say and only the few of us achieve. Right now, though however with mocks over and UCAS submitted, it’s really important.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
A big struggle I found in the UCAS process was watching my friends get offers from universities within hours of submitting their applications.
My offers however took a little longer to come in. Naturally of course this brings on some sort of panic about whether you’ll ever go to university because none of them want you!
Breathe.
It doesn’t matter if your best friend has all 5 offers and maybe you’ve only got one. Not only are you probably doing a different course at a different university, but things take time.
The Universities you’ve applied to want you, and all the people around you want you to succeed. As I soon found out, and probably should have known before, your offers do come through, and you will be okay no matter when you get them.
It doesn’t matter what other people think.
Picking the university you want to go to can be challenging. League tables and rankings seem to define which university you choose to go to and define what people think of your choices.
It’s also important here to remember that whilst the league tables are probably quite helpful, your own choice and feelings for the university are what counts.
Make sure that you attend the open days and the applicant days and explore where you could be living for the next 3 or 4 years.
If you feel like the university is the right place for you then go there, regardless of people telling you about ‘better’ universities. There is no better than the one you feel at home in, not even if rankings tell you otherwise. You will get the best degree, in a place you feel comfortable.
You might also find that family members try to influence where you go, telling you where your second cousin went and how brilliant that was. Again, it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience of university is unique. You won’t be letting anyone down by not going to a suggested university, university is your time and shouldn’t be defined by the suggestions of anyone else.
Always do what’s best for you.
At the end of the day, your happiness is the most important thing. You don’t need to compare where you’re going or what course you are doing with anyone else. Your own mind-set will be much more positive knowing that you’ve made the decision that’s right for you and knowing that you’ll be happy in the place you’ve picked.
Finally, of course, be proud! Submitting your UCAS application is a big step in the change into university. The endless personal statement planning is over and the ball has started rolling. No one’s happiness right now is more important than yours.
It’s time to be a little selfish and be proud in what you’ve done and wait for those offers to come your way! Enjoy your last few months in secondary school and take all of the opportunities that come your way!
Worcester Student Life 