The top ten do’s:

[bul]Choose a course in a subject that you are good at

[bul]Choose a subject that you like

[bul]Research the quality and content of the course

[bul]Be realistic about your capabilities and apply to universities that match them

[bul]Consider the reputation of the universities you apply to

[bul]Visit both the university itself and the town it is located in or near, to get a feeling for the place

[bul]Find out who teaches the course and what research they have done

[bul]Find out whether, in reality, it is part-timers and postgraduates who are doing the teaching, if the core staff are busy conducting research

[bul]Find out what accommodation is available; the nicest halls get booked quickest

[bul]Consider statistics such as dropout rates and employability.

and don’ts...

[bul]Don’t flunk your A-levels, clearing can be a lottery

[bul]Don’t be attracted to a university just because it offers a freebie or financial incentive

[bul]Don’t go to a university just because you like the location

[bul]Don’t choose a vocational course unless you are 110 percent sure the career path it offers is definitely what you want

[bul]Don’t undersell yourself and choose a university with lower entry grades if you can get in somewhere better

[bul]Don’t think of university merely as a rite of passage

[bul]Don’t underestimate how much influence your choice of course and university will have on the rest of your life

[bul]Don’t choose a sexy-sounding new subject without considering whether it will have the kudos of an established one

[bul]Don’t rule out university because of funding concerns

[bul]Don’t put researching universities on the back burner because you are busy with coursework and exams