James Lush, 01 July 2009
It’s not that easy for me to write about my university experience without putting a spectacularly positive spin on it, as I regularly work as a Student Ambassador at Glasgow University. But at the end of the day, I actually couldn’t be happier: I made the choice that was right for me.

Some people choose where to study based on league tables. Now, everybody who actually goes to university knows that these cannot possibly be an accurate representation of the value of your student experience. The important thing is that you go where feels right. And then you make the most of it.

I think for me what initially struck me and what I now love about my university is the feeling of community. Take sports for example. I regularly played tennis with a guy back home before we went our separate ways. We were roughly the same standard, but he stopped playing because there was a needlessly elitist attitude to sport at his choice. I was welcomed in and improved to such a degree that I wound up as team captain. Spot the difference? Sport has given me the chance to be on a committee, gain leadership experience and travel Scotland, the country I now consider home. That’s when you know you’ve made the right choice.

You could have a great experience at any University, if it’s right for you. A lot of my friends love universities I could never have seen myself attending. Some of my friends dropped out here. A particular source of division amongst students here is the Student Union. As a fresher, I found the antics of the men’s rugby amazing, if frankly wrecking the main bar pretty funny (they’ve since been banned!). Love them or hate them, they gave the place an atmosphere. The Union brings together thousands of our students every week and its board elections are hotly contested affairs. The same applies to the sports governing council. This is not a place where people come for 3 years to study and then just leave.

Now a ‘banter’ atmosphere isn’t for everyone. If you want to go to a smaller city, go to one. If you’re smart, don’t automatically go for Oxbridge. Think about what you really want! Think about the things that really matter. Visit the universities, get the vibe and then decide.

I’m going to be applying for masters courses soon, and you can be sure that I’m going to choose somewhere based on two things: whether I can do what I want to do and the student experience. I want to move on to a new place and I’m going to enjoy it! And I’ll know that the friends I made with students and staff are still going to be up for a laugh years down the line.