By Simon Wright – Follow
me on Twitter @Siwri88
As the second
anniversary passes which signalled the end of my education life and the finale
to my journalism degree at the University of Northampton, I have decided to
share my own personal experiences from my three years at UoN. This includes a
look into how good is the University in general, a critical assessment of the
video products I produced and what happened after graduation.
The final article looks
at the University’s reputation in general. I ask whether I made the right
decision in going to UoN, and summarise everything about the experience as a
whole.
Two years
have now fully passed and it is amazing to think of the time that just flies.
Even in my role today, I sometimes get sudden jolts of memories from the UoN
experience. It was a magnificent time and I certainly don’t regret going.
I was a late
bloomer. I had the chance to go to University in 2007, two years before I
actually did. I dropped out of the UCAS application process quite early on in
sixth form because after some iffy AS level results, I knew I wasn’t ready for
the challenge. I needed more time to prepare myself, both mentally and even
psychologically.
It was the
right decision at the time and still is now. If I had gone in 07, I think I
might have struggled really badly and not lasted much more than six
weeks. By not going until 2009, I think I became a better person. I wasn’t as
selfish and greedy as I was in early forms of education.
Is UoN the best out there?
No is the
simple answer to the above question, but it shouldn’t be either. There are over
200 universities across the United Kingdom and Northampton has plenty of
competition in the Midlands region, let alone the rest of the country.
Alternatives include Leicester, Nottingham, UCMK in Milton Keynes, Bedford,
East Anglia and Coventry. There is always plenty of choice for the prospective
student.
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| The home of British motorsport is Silverstone, based in Northampton |
However, what
UoN does is provide a good choice for anyone to study. There is good nightlife, you can’t fault the transport links with many other UK towns and
cities, the town is home to the British Formula One Grand Prix (motorsport action from a media day pictured above) and excellent
rugby union side Northampton Saints, as well as Northampton Town and Coventry
City in the Football League and there is a reminder of both the new, regenerated
areas and the more classical, traditional locations.
Sure it
might lack some of the character of other places up and down the land but it
isn’t as rubbish as some think it is. It is a nice place to settle down into a
routine. The University’s Park Campus is an excellent, modern campus to be
based at and to study on. Whilst Avenue Campus (where I was mainly based) looks a bit outdated, that still offers decent facilities and students in the School
of the Arts have flourished here with excellent work in journalism, creative
arts, fashion, literature and computing modules amongst many.
In
conclusion, I had other options when I applied to UCAS for the second time.
Among them were Middlesbrough (Teeside), Staffordshire and Bedfordshire. I
chose Northampton because I felt it could offer me all I wanted in terms of a
job outside of Uni, comfortable accommodation and a nice place to study and
socialise. I know I made the right decision.
You can’t
fault Northampton’s employability record too. It is among the top five in the
UK. Over 90 per cent of graduates get a graduate job within the first year of
getting that all-important certificate. That is excellent going.
Do I regret going when I did?
If I didn’t
go to University when I did, I know I won’t have. I went at the right time for
me. It meant I was more mature and probably less wild than what I was in 2007
but that was a good thing.
Two years at Milton Keynes College was the best choice after sixth form. Not only did I get a BTEC National Diploma and learned plenty
about the media industry, it put me in good stead for the future. I became more
independent, wiser and more confident without showing a pure arrogance.
If I have a
regret about my education, it was not going to MK College earlier than I did,
but if I hadn’t, I won’t have got my A Levels in English Literature and General
Studies.
Also, if I
had made the step to University earlier than I did, I would have never met the
people I did on my course such as Ellie, Tamika, Chris, Shane, Josie, Farida
and everyone else. I was lucky to meet so many fantastic people and there was
no guarantee that would have happened in 2007.
So for me,
there are no regrets about going when I did to Uni and no regrets about the Uni
I went to. I will always thank the University of Northampton for helping me,
giving me a second home and will hold them grateful for the experience.
In summary,
not everyone wants to go to University. For some, it doesn’t suit them but if
you have a chance, then take the opportunity. It a fantastic experience and
that is from someone who knows.
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