5 Questions That University Applicants Must AnswerMay 18, 2018

If you haven't completed your university application, then you're still figuring out the short list of universities that you want to apply for a place this coming term. You want to earn your undergraduate degree a few years from now, but you're tempted to postpone your first year of studies. Your mates have decided to go on a road, traveling around exotic places that you could only see on Instagram. You don't have the resources. You doubt that your parents are willing to support you. (How you wish that you're as lucky as Richard in "The Beach".) And then there are pressing questions that you must answer right away.

This set of questions should determine if you're truly ready for university. There's no such thing as your heart not into it, but your folks are forcing you otherwise. You can talk about it, but this should be another matter.

No Doesn't Mean You're Not Ready

How badly you want to earn your undergraduate degree? This question will determine how you're willing to go far in the coursework. There will be nights when you must endure a few hours of sleep, if not no sleep at all. There will be days, if not weeks, when you have give up most of the convenient things in your young life in able to meet all the requirements. There will be many instances when you want to whine about the hardship (or so you think), but the sight of your diligent flat mate (and coursemates) will prompt you to shut up and study harder. You may not give a straight answer until the middle of the term, which is fine. No one really knows what to expect, even if your tutor won't give you a rosy picture. Support is not hard to find when you need it. Don't look for it during those ungodly hours, though.

Are you a good essay writer? Your application essay should give you a good estimate of your writing capabilities, and you must not falter on this one. After all, there's no time pressure on your part. There's a good chance that your admissions tutor will grant your request that you choose an essay topic, where you're knowledgeable about. And you have all the time for proofreading. Assuming that you're not procrastinating on your application, which is a good sign, then you must think that you'll get an unconditional offer. Your essay will be judged by how you analyse your ideas, which also means disagreeing with what the author would argue in the book. Make sure that there won't be any room for typographical errors, as it's rare to find a teenage who is a Grammar Nazi in disguise.

How many books can you read in a day? This applies to those who aspire to be students of the English Department. It also includes those who are courageous to apply for a double degree. (Let's assume that these applicants are fully aware of the number of essays that they must do during the term.) It may be possible to read all the titles in the reading list during the first month, even the suggested titles in the secondary list of reading. It might be a different scenario during the following month, if not the succeeding months. If you have read many books, then you should know which chapters to find the themes of the novel. If you're analysing a poem, then you should have read it many times, aloud, in half an hour or less. It's a different thing with a book by James Joyce. You might ask your tutor for guidance.

How can you live along with other students? Not all students make new friends in their first week. Some might take longer while others have to go through some bumps before they learn to get along with their coursemates. A good gauge of maturity is when two people don't agree on one thing (or a number of things), but they learn to respect each other. It might be too much for teenage students, but the next item should clear things up. You don't need everyone to like you, even be friendly with you. It will be a different matter if you're dealing with a foreign student. Try to lay out the red carpet if possible, as that student might repay you back (by making you a special guest during your visit to his/her country of origin).

Do you have mental issues? You must not be evasive while you think of carefully-chosen words. The coursework can be taxing, which makes you yearn for rest during those pressing moments. Let's not discount the possibility of struggling with depression, as it can happen to the friendliest people. It's OK if you can't answer it, but don't be scared to talk to your tutor. There are other people in your flat, who have your good welfare in mind. You must know them during your first few weeks.

Coursework Is Not a Joke

If you already got an offer, then you have the option to defer your entry. Do it when you're uncertain of your responses to the above questions. You don't have to give in to wanderlust, as you can look for a part-time job or two. The experience should teach you certain traits that will help you cope with the pressure of the coursework.

It's fine if you can't give a confident response to the questions. You're not the only one who will take the plunge. You'll get more help then you need. Make sure that your folks can promise you to go on a holiday next summer. After all, you would earn it.

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