Back in 2013 I started my studies as a media
student at Aberdeen College. I left
school near the beginning of my 6th year, and worked near enough
full time until the following August when the new semester started. Over the course of that year, I lost contact
with a lot of people I spent a lot of time with at school. So when I started college, it was pretty
daunting to me to think that I was about to join a group of people I didn’t
know and spend the next two years with them working towards a HND. It was near enough a year gap that I had
between leaving school and starting college, so I was just about getting used
to doing my own thing when the term started.
Granted, college was probably two of the best years that I’ve ever had –
and I met a lot of great people through my course, as well as learning loads to
do with the industry. When I started my
course, I went in with an open mind in regards to what it was I wanted to do at
the end of my studies. Because the
course covered so many different aspects of the industry, it really helped me
to narrow down where I wanted to specialise.
I don’t know why, but there seems to be a sort of
stigma around the whole idea of going to college before university. Almost as though you’re at college because
you’re not clever enough for uni? That’s
the impression I got for the whole two years I was there anyway. Which, I would like to point out now – is not
the case AT ALL. I don’t know how many
times I’d bump into old friends and when they asked how uni was going, and I
corrected them to college, they’d look at me as if to say “oh…right.” I can tell you now that college was probably
five times more stressful and hectic than uni this past year has been. No exaggeration. College was crazy busy. And now, coming to the end of my first year of uni, I confirm that I have learned nothing new in regards to the industry, all of my knowledge that I have now came from my college course.
Having spent the last year at uni studying media at
third year entry, I’ve learned a lot about myself and what it is that I now want to do. I've also realised a few things about how uni and college work too...
Whether you are at college or university, you’re
about to meet your friends for life. You
can’t possibly make your way through those three to four years of studying
alone – so put on your friendly making face and pick ‘em good. Those guys aint going nowhere without you *hi
Kirsty*
If like me you picked the adjacent course to your
pals from college and you’re going into your uni classes alone – it could be a
long semester for you. I’m not the most
social person out there, so I’m not
great at mixing in with people when I know I’m one of the newbies – the
outsider. Uni cliques are strong I tell
you. Thankfully, the PR and Media classes merged into one by semester two, so I
wasn’t a total loner. What I’m trying to
say is, if you are or are capable of making yourself more social, do it at the
beginning.
College was crazy busy, usually with all of the
deadlines coming in at the same time.
There was weeks in the build up to the end of term when we would have a
report, assessment, presentation and then part of our graded units to hand in
too. Madness I tell you. Third year uni? Piece of cake in comparison. My third year studies have consisted of a
total of four classes; one exam, two presentations, three individual reports,
three group reports and a six week placement.
I don’t think I’ve ever had such a chill year of study in my whole
life! Granted the exam was daunting –
but I did it *fist pump*
Uni is not for everyone, I’ve since come to
realise. So don’t feel pressured into
spending the next four years of your life doing something that you’re not crazy
about. Get a job. Volunteer.
Do something you enjoy!
What are your plans for after uni?
Until the next one,
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