It's that time of year again, the time of year that fills the heart of every Year 13 with dread. Who knew that four little letters could cause so much pain?
UCAS.
If you're currently dealing with personal statements, predicted grades, incessant 'pick me' emails from universities and endless six hour road trips to open days then you truly have my greatest sympathies. Don't worry, it's perfectly acceptable to be drowning your sorrows in Ben and Jerry's or Carling. Or both.
On a daily basis my Twitter feed and Facebook homepage are filled with the complaints, stresses and uncertainties of A Level students; it's quite easy to see why some people are put off the idea of going to university altogether.
I come from a town where going to university isn't necessarily the 'cool' thing to do. The vast majority of older people finished their education at 16 or 18 and walked straight into employment. Certainly not among everybody, but among some people the opinion 'There's no need, you can get a job without it, it's a waste of money' is vocalised fairly loudly. I'm lucky in that my parents have always been 100% supportive but I know that there are plenty of people out there who wouldn't necessarily do the same. Equally, you wouldn't be blamed for thinking that going to university is completely unaffordable; £27,000 plus living expenses is a very daunting number, enough to make grown men run crying to their mummies.
All I say to Sixth Formers is this: please don't say no to university for the wrong reasons.
University isn't for everybody: If you want to work in retail and a management apprenticeship at a major supermarket comes your way then of course, it would be stupid not to take it. If you want to work in theatre and you're offered the opportunity to audition for a West End production then take it. Do what makes you happy. If that presents itself as a job opportunity at 18 years old then grab it with both hands and run with it.
But if you're sat in a Sixth Form or College common room wanting to learn more about your subject, wanting to move to a new city and wanting to meet people who are just as obsessed with volcanoes, or trigonometry, or Shakespeare as you are then apply to university! I can't stress this enough. Don't let money or an unconvinced parent put you off. Even before your 18th birthday you have complete power over your university application and student finance, as awkward as their website is, are more than willing to give money as well as your University Student Services and several charities. There is help available.
I know UCAS is horrible, it is not a pleasant experience. Student Finance isn't exactly a walk in the park either and don't even get me started on A Levels but
in 12 months time you will be convinced, wherever you end up, that your university and city is wonderful, brilliant, fantastic and a hundred times better than anybody else's university ever. End of story. This is exactly what happened to me and I will now proceed to tell you why UEA is wonderful, brilliant, fantastic and a hundred times better than anybody else's university ever:
1) UEA Bunnies: Campus wildlife is kind of a given when you look at how much green space there is on campus. Every night there are hundreds of bunnies running around some of whom will come up and sit right next to the steps to your flat! Apparently if you catch one and take it to the SU Bar you get free drinks for life. (Not too sure on that one myself; I think you're more likely to get wee'd on and not a nice visit from campus security)
2) Last week my lecture on the Black Death was given in Middle English by a puppet rat. Best lesson that I've ever had.
3) Pimp my Barrow: An event held every June. Get a group of people together. Get a wheelbarrow. Dress the wheelbarrow and team members in accordance with your chosen theme. Sit in the wheelbarrow with a bucket. Wheel yourself around Norwich trying to collect as much money for charity as possible in said bucket. Finish by going to the pub.
4) Hot Chip: Best chips I've ever tasted. The chips and gravy are to die for and only £2 a pop.
5) The lake is probably the most overly Instgram-ed place in existence; a crime of which I am guilty. But come on! A lake! On campus! A lake! On an inner city campus! (Insert cliche lake picture here)
6) Last but not least, my love letter to the LCR. Nick Rayns LCR, University of East Anglia, Norwich. It was a cold day in September when you first welcomed me with open arms. With your £1.65 drinks and Rudimental's 'Feel the Love' on repeat I always find it difficult to pull myself away from you.(Although that may be because my feet have been stuck to the floor with spilled Stella and sweat) I love you LCR. I love your fancy dress Tuesdays. I love your comfy sofas outside when your shoes are starting to hurt. I love your cheap drinks. I love your gigs.
I love your student rate gig tickets! LCR, if you were a human, I'd marry you.
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