Doing sports at university was a no-brainer for Kaela Mei Townson.
"I was always interested in sport and have been since a young age, which made this a really easy choice when it came to choosing the course I'd like to pursue," said the Exeter sports and exercise science student.
But choosing the right university was another "big minefield to navigate," as there are so many worldwide to choose from.
One of the things that helped her narrow down and choose the right one for herself was university tables - particularly the Guardian University Guide and the Complete University Guide.
Different guides have different priorities and criteria for their ranking, but Townson prioritized student satisfaction and overall satisfaction, as well as whether the college is part of the Russell Group.
Students can also filter the list by course to see which school is better for their desired program.
Another resource that Townson looked at was YouTube videos of students' life at university.
"I find these really helpful just to get a feel for what my daily routine would be like at these different universities and whether there was one I found a little more exciting than the others," she said.
After narrowing the universities down to about eight options, her next step was to go onto each university's website to look into the elective modules that each one provided.
"There are some differences between universities," she explained. "So making sure that the electives you are interested in are available is really important, and that did help mold my choice a little bit more."
University tours are also a good way to learn more about the university, she said. While it is more difficult to visit overseas universities at the moment, some have virtual tours for prospective students.
"When I came to Exeter for a tour, I just knew it was the place I wanted to go to. These are really important, rather than just judging all on stats and pictures you've seen."
Townson started her university application process in the summer a year before getting into Exeter. "It sounds really far away, but with the deadline, it's only about six months of picking courses, writing out a personal statement, double-checking and redrafting that a few times, then sending it all off."
Her high school tutor was a big help but she said there are many resources online that students can also access to help them write their statements.
"With my personal statement, I structured it with why I wanted to study there," she said. "And then I put in a section of previous reading I had done that tied in, and the reading that I found interesting."
She also included how her studies relate to the program that she was applying for and the positions of responsibility that she held in her high school.
Showing how your previous experience could tie in with the program demonstrates your initiative and responsibility about learning, she advised.
Applying through the UCAS system, students receive conditional or unconditional offers, depending on their predicted grades in around May, so they will know whether they got the offer the moment they find out their final results in the summer.
Students who do not get into the programs or universities they aim for can also go for the clearing process in July. "Universities that still have places on courses put them out usually at a lower grade than they initially ask for," she said.
Choosing the right program and university may be a daunting task, but for Townson, the choice should first lie with one's interests. "It is important that you enjoy what you are studying because, ultimately, you are going to pay more attention and be more engaged, and that's where you can enhance your ability," she said.
crystalhl.wu@singtaonewscorp.com
