How to ensure students choose the right university and course before the Ucas deadline

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s no surprise, then, that almost 30 per cent of freshers have - or are considering - dropping out of their chosen course when so many of us choose subjects based on other people’s opinions. Choosing a university, a course, or a career - or, indeed, all of these - at the age of 18 is not easy as you’re not always set on where you want to be in three years’ time, let alone in ten. Like most teenagers, I wanted a secure and reliable income once I had left university, and I was almost ‘brainwashed’ into thinking accountancy would fulfil that. It’s surprisingly easy to make friends at university, but it’s a lot harder to change course, or university.