How to enter university

Every year thousands of pupils (practically all of them study in the 11th form) don’t sleep by night because they are reading textbooks, writing compositions, solving trigonometrical equations and so on. Are they all excellent pupils who always do their homework for school? Maybe some of them are, but the vast majority are preparing for entering the universities or institutions of higher education. Today we call these people “university entrants”. Most of them understand that nowadays it’s better to have a higher education in order to get a good job. Some of them were persuaded of this fact by their parents.

Although they have different reasons for entering the universities, the problems which they have to solve so as to achieve their aims are similar.

The first and one of the main problems is where to study, what university and what department to choose. Of course we know that there are state and private universities. And it is more difficult to enter a state university than private because the competition is stiffer there. By the way, education in practically all of the private universities is paid so those people who want to study free of charge should try to enter state universities. And then you should decide what field of science or sphere of life you are interested in or what you are good at. It is also difficult to do it as many people have some doubt about what to choose. However, if you try it will be easier for you to choose the faculty. If you are a creative person who wonders what is happening in the world, who watches news, reads newspapers and magazines, who has his (her) own point of view for each situation, who can make good photos, then journalism is for you. If you are keen on Maths, if you like calculating, if you are interested in Economics then, economic faculty is the best variant for you. If you learn different languages and go in for translating, you should choose the faculty of foreign languages. But sometimes parents can be against their child’s choice: they want him (or her) to be a lawyer for example but not an actor as he (she) has decided. If you have such a problem, then speak to your parents about it. Try to explain to them your choice or understand their opinion. Maybe they are right.

The second problem is how to prepare for the entrance examinations. There are three main methods: 1) to prepare by yourselves, but it’s a good means for those who can study systematically, every day; 2) to take courses. It is better to do it in the university you want to enter; 3) to have individual lessons with a coach. The price of these methods is different. The cheapest way to prepare is the first because you only need to buy essential textbooks, CDs, workbooks and so on. The price of courses depends on the university where you want to take them. You can find some information about it on the sites of the universities. And if you want to have a coach, you should also think about the price. It’s usually connected with the place of your coach’s work or university he or she has finished.

The next problem is how to manage to combine school and preparing for the entrance exams because you have a lot to do. You should try to allocate your time in a right way. But the best advice for those who are finishing the 9th form now is to become an external student in the 10th form. That means to finish school and to pass school exams without attending lessons. Then you’ll have a year to prepare only for the university exams.

And the last problem of the university entrants is to pass the exams. It is easier for those students who won some Olympiads or competitions that universities held because the winners have got some privileges taking the exams or they just don’t need to pass all or some of them.

But if we speak about all the university entrants, we can say that many of them think: “And if I fail the examination…” Try not to worry because nervousness can be the main reason of your mistakes. Moreover, the admittance commission must see you as a self-confident boy or girl who knows a lot. Take a talisman with you if you believe that it will help. Try to concentrate on the topic of the composition or on your examination question and do your best. And remember: if you want to achieve something very much, you’ll do it. So, if you really want to enter the university, you’ll do it. You’ll become a student!