Many local schools have just made the trip to a UCAS, (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) Convention in Olympia London, hoping that it will give them an insight into the wide world of higher education. Most teenagers around the ages of 16 and 17, feel that making major decisions about their future, such as choosing a university and a particular course, comes at the wrong time in their life as they are not 100% certain on their career path or future life choices they want to make.


The UCAS convention at London Olympia consisted of 192 stalls representing numerous different universities from around the UK and some global institutions, all with the intention of selling their university and courses to thousands of bewildered teenagers trying to determine what path they want to go down. As questions were asked and answered combined with the flicking through of many prospectus’ and making sure they knew the answer that important question about what the nightlife is like, many teenagers left feeling just as perplexed with the world seemingly at their feet.


University is highly regarded and seem to be the norm when you leave school in the competitive world of work that we now live in and many teenagers feel increased pressure to pass their exams to ensure a place on a higher education degree course. This added pressure is often undesirable as combined with the important decision of deciding what course they want to do, as well as the location of their place of study and dealing with the problems of student finance, it is all thrust upon teenagers at a difficult transition period in their lives.


Conventions such as the UCAS one held in Olympia are undoubtedly very useful in helping puzzled students determine their passions and goals in life, giving them a valuable insight as to what life qualities university can give someone as well as opening up job opportunities, specialised knowledge and creating lifelong friendships. My only question is do 16 and 17 year olds really know what they realistically want to do in 20 years time or should they fate take the reins in their decision making to avoid disappointment and wasted years.