What Next???
If you think you would like to go to college or university when you leave school, but are not sure of the steps to take to go about it, read on...
It’s all about you!
One of the best things about going to college and university is that you get to choose what you study. Picking a course because it’s what friends have chosen is not a great idea, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s what you want too. It makes sense if you think about it... we all work harder and do better at the things we enjoy most.
Of course you can also choose where to study. Many people decide to stay at home and go to a local institution (not only is it cheaper, but you might occasionally get your laundry done!). Others prefer to make the break from home and choose to study somewhere completely different. There are pros and cons of both scenarios – think hard about which one is right for you.
Do some digging
Have a look online at what courses the colleges and universities have to offer. Here are the links to our partner institutions.
| Institution Name | Web Address |
|---|---|
| University of Abertay, Dundee | www.abertay.ac.uk |
| University of Dundee | www.dundee.ac.uk |
| University of Edinburgh | www.ed.ac.uk |
| Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh | www.hw.ac.uk |
| Napier University, Edinburgh | www.napier.ac.uk |
| Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh | www.qmuc.ac.uk |
| Adam Smith College | www.adamsmithcollege.ac.uk |
| Angus College | www.angus.ac.uk |
| Dundee College | www.dundeecoll.ac.uk |
| Elmwood College | www.elmwood.ac.uk |
| Lauder College | www.lauder.ac.uk |
| Perth College | www.perth.ac.uk |
Your school library will have prospectuses from many different institutions too, and you can ‘phone the colleges and universities directly to ask them to send you one in the post.
There are loads of great websites that have all the info you need. Here’s a selection of them
| Organisation Name | Web Address |
|---|---|
| The Students Award Agency for Scotland | www.saas.gov.uk |
| UCAS | www.ucas.ac.uk |
| Careers Scotland | www.careers-scotland.org.uk |
| Student Loan Company | www.slc.co.uk |
| Aim Higher | www.aimhigherscotland.ac.uk |
Speak to people (go on – we dare you!)
Don’t forget that there are lots of people out there who are well qualified to give you good advice – why else are guidance teachers called guidance teachers? Why not make an appointment with your careers advisor for a chat, too? That’s what they’re there for!
We’re always happy to hear from you at LIFT OFF too. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll know someone who does! Good luck!