ACTIVITIES

Term 3 - April

Week 25: Researching Your

University Course

The purpose of this session is to ensure that you are prepared to gather relevant information at the Higher Education Convention. At the end of the session you should have a comprehensive checklist to use when you attend the Convention and be informed of the arrangements for the day.

Think about the type of course you are looking for and the type of institution you would like to study at?
How well will this course give you a pathway into the career you are considering?

Why Go to University?

Things to think about when considering which university/ course:

General/Specific course requirements
Foundation year, combination of subjects
Nature of course - traditional, modular, Joint /Single Honours
Nature of assessments, examination system
Opportunities for counselling, change of course
Tutorial/seminar systems
Opportunity for fieldwork/practical/visits abroad
Success rate
Employment prospects post course
Availability of accommodation e.g. in halls, self-catering facilities, transport
Availability of extracurricular activities, sporting, recreational, cultural
Emphasis on grades, student statement, references
Are all applicants interviewed?
Open Days – When are they?

N.B. This is the best opportunity you will have to get expert advice before you embark on sorting out applications for either Higher Education or employment. Please make the most of it.

Also make sure you look at the NUS to find out what students think of their course and university

With increasing fees, many students from the UK are looking at courses in Europe and beyond. An increasing number of courses in European universities are held in English. Read here about this student's experience of studying Chemistry at a university in Belgium.

The education system is different in most countries to that in Britain and differs from country to country. Most countries do not have the same state financial support for going to university and tuition fees could be higher or lower than in the UK, and in some countries there are no tuition fees at all. You will probably have to fund your own living costs, unless you gain a scholarship or your trip is part of an Erasmus funded programme.

In countries outside the European Union you will be expected to totally fund your studies unless you can get a scholarship. In America there are lots of Sports Scholarships available and several of our College students have gone on to study in America with the benefit of a sports scholarship.

How you make an application depends on the country you are applying to. Applications may have to be made directly to the university of your choice, or through a central application system.

American Universities

For American universities you need to apply a year ahead and will have to sit the American SAT Tests. You should look on the Fullbright Commission website www.fulbright.co.uk for information on how to apply.

Further information on working and studying abroad can be obtained from Student Services

Useful references:

‘Work Your Way Around the World’ published by Vacation Work and
‘Directory of Jobs and Careers Abroad’ published by Vacation Work.
The InfoShop, 2 North Arcade, Chester Street, Wrexham tel: 01978 358900
The Careers Europe website, www.careerseurope.co.uk

Study Abroad Website

Working Abroad

You can be employed by a British company that has bases abroad and they may send you to work abroad for that company; you can be employed by a foreign company in Britain and then be asked to work abroad; or you can apply directly for jobs abroad. The government website: https://www.gov.uk/working-abroad has lots of information on applying for jobs abroad.

UK citizens have the right to live and work in any European Economic Area (EEA) country. To find out more visit the website at the address above. For information on living and working conditions in the EEA, select the country you are interested in from the list given on the website. This will take you to the EURES website, where you can register your CV and find out more about job opportunities in Europe.

Week 26: Active Revision Techniques

Firstly, you need to find which way of revising works for you; here are some strategies which keep you active and, importantly, work:

Be ACTIVE!
Take notes – use highlighter pens, colour coding, diagrams, whatever works for you to help memorise your notes
Get someone to test you
Key Word posters on your bedroom ceiling
Make mp3 recordings of key ideas/quotations
Mnemonics – Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain
Five minute essay plans
Writing out notes again and again and again…
Condense your notes on cards in well organised files
Mind mapping
Endless lists, written out and learnt
Look Cover Say Write Check

Find out which method of revision works best for you, but remember – active revision is best!

Once you know which way to revise works for you, here are my general tips for revising effectively:

Know exactly what you need to revise for each paper;
Organise your notes into clearly defined sections;
Identify the most important sections for each subject;
Complete a revision timetable, and stick to it!
Create a place at home to study that is familiar, well-equipped and quiet;
Consult your teachers at all times, no matter how trivial the issue;
Focus your revision – keep in mind past questions;
Work in 25/30 minute sessions – any longer can be counter-productive;
Sleep sensibly and eat well;
Make time to relax and get away from it all – rewards are very important!
Enjoy it – learning at this level can and should be fun;
And REMEMBER – if, at any time, you feel you are struggling and things are getting too much, don’t suffer in silence; tell your tutor – they can help!

Revision techniques

A couple of special revision techniques are worth explaining in more detail.

There is no learning without memory. You need to practise how to memorise information and one of my favourite techniques is the familiar journey method.

First, you choose a very familiar journey and then pick landmarks on that journey as a way of helping you remember what you need to recall. Here’s my favourite example – memorising the Electro-magnetic Spectrum in the correct order. The journey I use is from my bed to my car in the morning. I’m woken by the radio (radio waves); I put my porridge in the microwave oven (microwaves); I sit down at the kitchen table and read the paper which is a red top (infra-red waves); the sun comes up and it’s light (light waves); I leave and smell the violets growing in the back yard (ultra-violet waves); I get into my X-registration car (X rays) and go to the supermarket for some gammon steak(gamma rays).

ACTIVITIES

Term 3 - April

Look Cover Say Write Check

And REMEMBER – if, at any time, you feel you are struggling and things are getting too much, don’t suffer in silence; tell your tutor – they can help!

Revision techniques