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Ordering prospectuses are a vital part of choosing your university. It’ll tell you course details, information on student support, and give you a general idea of what to expect.
But be warned... a prospectus will only show the good stuff. And that's to be expected, after all a prospectus is a uni's chance to really sell itself. Here's what you'll never see in a prospectus...
Rain
Bad weather can make any location look a bit run down and downright rubbish. Even the most amazing and beautiful universities can end up looking like it hasn’t been looked after or had a lick of paint in the last 50 years. This is why prospectuses tend to show sunny days, bright green grassy hills, and not a single brolly in sight.
Word of advice, don’t just pack shorts, vest tops and flip flops into your suitcase when you head off to university. You’ll definitely be cold. And will definitely look like a wally.
Unhappy people
One thing you’ll notice about prospectuses is there's a lot of smiling. Lots and lots of massive grins looking right at you and not a single person looking unhappy or stressed.
Yes there will be plenty of smiling and good times at university, but trust us, come deadline time your face will be the complete opposite. In fact, anyone you come across that is smiling like that you’ll take an instant dislike to because you’ll know they’ve already submitted their essay, probably even a month early...the swots.
Actual lectures
Every lecture in a prospectus is normally full with students, with a lecturer engaging everyone in the room.
What you won’t see are the sleeping students who enjoyed themselves too much the night before, the late students creeping in hoping not to be seen and the students who missed the lecture completely.
Actual library usage
Every prospectus will show very hard working (and normally typing) students, all using the library computers to write essays or heading down to the vast amount of books to get their recommended reading done.
What you won’t see are the procrastination moments where Facebook is logged onto for an hour, or tweets like “I’m so sick of the library, lol” will be sent. You’ll also not see, the “group work team” all chatting and not actually delegating, and students who have left essays to the day before, often surrounded by some kind of caffeinated drink.
And in terms of the library books, you’ll certainly never see 20 students all trying to find the same book, key to their module and only three copies available...
Rundown buildings
Every university will try to keep up with the times, remain modern and generally make sure that every building and lecture hall is spick, span and looks topper than top notch.
But there’s always one building or lecture hall that gets neglected. They may not even be in use anymore, and they’re just hidden amongst huge hedges or behind, “don’t come here” tape. They never reach pages of the prospectuses...poor things.
Messy kitchens
The accommodation pages of a prospectus will show clean kitchens, spotless bedrooms, and not a dirty pot and pan in sight... which leads us to the conclusion that students haven’t moved in there yet. Either that or they’ve been told to clean for prospectus photograph day.
The reality though is completely different. By week two you’re normally surrounded by mess, including fresher’s leaflets you can’t be bothered to throw away, things you’ve bought from the pound shop with your new housemates that you’ll never need, and lots and lots of dirty plates.
Seriously, at some point in your first year you’ll seriously consider buying paper plates so you don’t have to tackle the washing up, which will grow mould until one person has had enough and crumbles into cleaning it.
Freshers' week
We find it generally strange that the prospectuses don’t tend to show freshers' week. I mean who wouldn’t be convinced to go to a uni that has theme nights, cheap entry and a Z-lister DJ, normally from a reality show or the 90s.
Anyone who thinks it’s “alright”
Every prospectus will contain stories from students who enjoyed every minute, no every second, of their courses. Everything was perfect, not a single bad lecture, not a single bad night out and they went on to their dream career within days of graduating.
What you won’t see are quotes saying, “Yeah, it’s alright”, “Yeah it ain’t bad”, “Yeah I kind like it”, or “I’m running late for my lecture and haven’t got time to answer your questions, sorry”.
But then, that’s where our student reviews come in handy...
Of course, prospectuses also tell you vital information you wouldn’t get elsewhere, and did you know you can get them for free right here on Whatuni? Go on, have a browse...
And you can check if anything has been missed out by attending open days.
