Choose university for life-long friendships

Roger Prout says: The main benefit of a university education is that it will broaden your horizons for the rest of your life. It is a chance to invest in your future by gaining the academic skills and qualifications that we know your potential employers are going to look for.

It's a great opportunity to improve your life skills and people skills, too, because if you go to university you'll end up mixing and learning with other students not just from around Britain but, increasingly, from all over the world.

Here at Worcester we pride ourselves on being a welcoming university, offering a quality educational experience and plenty of support for students both on an academic and personal level.

If you are thinking about continuing your studies at the University of Worcester, you're always more than welcome to arrange a tour of our campus and chat with lecturers, students and staff.

The university experience is regarded by many as the best three years of their life, opening up doors to a rewarding career and, more than anything, giving you a chance to make life-long friendships.

Decide what motivates you

Rachel Coton says: The right advice is different for each person. Some people are just not suited to university, others are. Look at the courses on offer, think about what interests you because that's what will keep you motivated. Think what might suit you best. If you come from rural Worcestershire, going to a city like London might not suit.

A university degree opens more doors and is the first step to independence. You will only be responsible for yourself. But others may have different, perhaps more technical skills, and other career paths should be considered.

Increasingly, students are taking gap years: travelling, spending a year in industry or even just getting a job to pay for university are all worthwhile. That's fine, but my advice would be to get your university place sorted out first and defer it so you don't have it hanging over you all year.

Broaden your horizons

Chris Hitchcock says: Definitely go to university. It's not just about the learning and the qualifications, it's the whole student experience - meeting new people, joining clubs, moving away, broadening horizons, growing up, being self-sufficient.

I came to Worcester from Exeter and didn't know how to cook and clean but I learnt these life skills. It's always difficult financially but it's well worth it.

When you're still at college, look at the prospectuses and then definitely visit the universities.

I visited Worcester, it was a nice sunny day in a friendly city, and now I've finished my course I want to stay.

Think about working, too

Martin Woodhouse says: I worked my way up through the ranks and when I joined 12 years ago they didn't take many job changers and I struggled. Nowadays companies like ours prefer graduates.

They are young, enthusiastic and haven't been tainted by other businesses.

But students fresh out of university often come from a culture of drinking and getting up late and so have to be trained in the high expectations of the customer.

So we look favourably on students who have had part-time or Saturday jobs while they've been studying. Thirty per cent of our graduates have come from a gap year, so they've got things out of their system, so it's worth looking at courses which offer that.

Apprenticeships are an alternative

Sharon Gray says: I urge young people to consider an apprenticeship as an alternative to university. This is the option that lets you `earn while you learn'.

Getting paid while you learn might sound too good to be true but as an apprentice you really do get the best of both worlds.

While you're studying for your qualifications, you'll be getting hands-on work experience and a real taste of working life. Employers like apprenticeships too. In a recent survey by the LSC, more than one in four of the 500 businesses contacted rated an apprenticeship as the most valuable qualification a potential candidate could possess.

There are apprenticeships in many different occupations and choosing the right one for you will depend on your interests, your experience and opportunities in your area.

Some of the most popular at the moment are engineering, business administration, construction and hospitality but the list is far wider.

For example, you could do an apprenticeship in trades ranging from retailing to early years childcare, from environmental conservation to the equine industry.