High expectations can sometimes leave you deflated...
Ever been invited to a friends house you have never been to before and expect it to look like something else, bigger? smaller? or how generally things are laid out? This also may occur if this friend has friend you haven't met and you imagine how they look like. Usually you are completly wrong, but with houses and people isn't much of a bother to me, I just accept it there and then, almost subconsciously.
However, if you are looking for a place where you are going to study for the next to three years it has got to be a good one. A clean and bright environment, small enough to feel at home and reach halls of residence and the university all in a few minutes. I am a dreamer and an idealist, as I probably have mentioned before and being realistic only hits me when its what I have been given.
Over the last few weeks I have been to my four open days that I have applied for. The University of West London was my first visit - dotted campuses over the city, with the Arts and Photography building right next to the highstreet and 10 minutes away from the main station line so I can pop back and forth to home when I need to with in 45 minutes. The accomedation as well...cute, small and livable, with 6 rooms and a kitchenette area. Perfect!
I am not a city girl, brought up in the British countryside in a village so small it is basically a drive through with everything so close and easy to access. I couldn't imagine moving half way across the country on my own, but I want some independence but on the right scale. I want to meet people alike and live and learn what it is like to look after ones self. The newly re-built campus is of perfect size and I totally fell in love with the course as well. All the skills of Photography I need: contemporary/hisotric, digital/film, business studies/work experience...
I decided there and then that this is the University I want to go to...
...but, it doesn't work like that. I had three other choices, so then on, with high expectations, I was looking for modern clean cut universities that held the potential of London. A few towns out of London was Farnbourgh, the next university on my list that offered the Foundation Photography degree.
Disappointment 1
- Farnbourgh is known as Farnbourgh Technical College ( it isn't even a university at all, it is a college, that looks very much like my secondary school, that does higher education courses)
I want a university feel, stepping forward in education not going back to school. I didn't realise until my forth uni visit today (that I will mention later ) is in fact I am very fussy and picky. I thought it was just taste for food but apparently not..
An odd set up of a college; one long corridor with a glass greenhouse roof on the ground floor, some staircases with some short white-washed corridors and some large rooms that held many photographic studios and vibrant computer suites...
Now I am reflecting over Farnbourgh it actually sounds quite pleasant but there is no accommodation, only expensive train commutes and a lecturer who slags off wedding photography. Yeah that put me off a bit. Yes, fine, the lectures want their students to be at the top of industry but I am not saying that I don't want to be. I just want to leave uni with a degree and get some jobs that will help me create my own photography business so I can be free with my work.
At the time, Farnbourgh was at the bottom of the pile, regarding I hadn't yet seen Westminster "University" (college) or Bournemouth University (University College of Arts - Bournemouth).
I am just going to be frank - my main disappointment was Westminster. The total lack of organization for the open day, the behavior and attitudes of the current students did not make you feel welcome and the building itself was one of the most disgusting places I have ever been to. Despite the fact that there will be a new modern building the college is moving to - no one got a chance to look at it. There was one virtual tour that lasted 2 minutes. No talking, no discussion. The only good I got out of the Photography tour was the information about the course. Finally , no accommodation or character.
How many of you have reached this paragraph? I apologize for the great length but choosing a university and the right course to begin a life profession is one of the most life changing decisions that will be made. So bare with me, readers.
Lastly, today was the Bournemouth University open day. An hour and a half drive, waking up at 6.30 on a Saturday was a lot of effort to make. Arriving at the university, gave me an all right impression. The main building looked a bit old and grubby but well in tact. Inside however was so clean and bright, with space and community. Before registering in the open day, I had a look around the main floor, where there was resources shop, a bit like a WH Smiths that had university hoodies. I instantly felt I wanted a hoddie of my own and this place would definitely be on the wavelength of University of West London. After a checking in, I found my name hadn't been registered which I found quite odd but discarded the thought as soon as a student ambassador asked me if I needed any help finding where I was going. I asked where the Photography block was and pointed me in the direction of the sports hall where I could talk to the course leader...
Disappointment 3
WRONG UNIVERSITY OF BOURNEMOUTH!!!!!!!
So where was the one I was supposed to be at, the one I had been registered at? Well it was a five minute walk across the road to the University College of Arts Bournemouth, where I have never had such a deflation of disappointment. It wasn't the modern looking building I thought it was...not Bournemouth University. Green plastic floored corridors, red piping and lack of lighting...I was not impressed.
Yes ok, I am drifting off Photography ALOT but I chose those places to look at because I want to do Photography. What I didn't realise is that where I study and the environment I am in, is almost as important as the degree course itself. The course that they offered there was a Commercial Photography Degree which sounded interesting with a lot of placement work and digital and film units but not much that specialized in Photography other than fashion and being commissioned for magazines. I am looking for more portraiture, landscapes and weddings, bit I am finding this uni search all so hard and overwhelming.
At the end of the day I felt the uni was too small (which is strange for me) but I am considering if university is the best thing for me. I have my heart set on London and getting a place on the fDa Photography course there is competitive. If I don't get it then I am going to have to open some doors and let some new options flow in. Maybe an apprenticeship...practical first hand experience. The other universities however I will have to see if I get an offer and decide then if any of them are right for me.
So I will end this blog post with a metaphor on my thoughts of university.
"I feel like I am a wearing a big knitted jumper that is too big for me. I feel so lost inside with so many holes of opportunities I don't know how I can fulfill."
