Ask a room of sixth formers where they want to study, and you will hear a familiar list of famous names. Ask them why, and the answers get vaguer. Somewhere between the open days, the league tables and the well-meaning advice from relatives, the decision can start to feel like a race to the most recognisable brand. It rarely needs to be.
Here are a few of the most common myths about choosing a university, and what tends to matter more once the dust settles.
Myth: the highest-ranked university is always the right one
Rankings are useful, but they measure the institution as a whole, not the specific course your teenager will actually sit through for three or four years. A university near the top of a general table might have an average department in the subject that matters most. A university lower down might run one of the strongest courses in the country for that exact field.
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Encourage teenagers to look past the headline number and read the course content module by module. Which topics are compulsory? How much choice comes later? Is there a placement year, a study-abroad option, or a research project? These details shape the experience far more than a position on a list.
Myth: you should pick the subject that leads to the “best” job
Plenty of teenagers feel pressure to choose a degree that sounds employable, even if the subject itself leaves them cold. Three years is a long time to study something you find dull, and motivation fades fast when the interest was never there.
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Employers value graduates who have done well, and doing well is far easier in a subject a student genuinely enjoys. Many careers also accept a broad range of degrees, so the direct line from course to job is often less rigid than it appears. The better questions are simple ones: what does your teenager like reading about, and what would they happily spend an afternoon working on?
Myth: location is just about the nightlife
City versus campus, north versus south, near home versus far away. These choices affect daily life far more than the social calendar suggests. Cost of living varies enormously. A campus university keeps everything within walking distance, while a city university spreads students across a wider area. Some teenagers thrive miles from home, others do better with family within reach.
There is no correct answer, only the right fit for a particular young person. Schools that support students well through this stage tend to talk openly about these practical trade-offs rather than leaving them until results day. The team at a school with a strong track record of guiding students towards the right university choices often points out that comfort and confidence in the environment matter as much as the academic offer.
Myth: the decision has to be made alone
Teenagers can feel they should have it all worked out by themselves. In reality, the best decisions come from good conversations. Teachers, tutors, careers advisers and current undergraduates all offer perspectives worth hearing. Open days help too, but so does an ordinary weekday visit, when a place looks and feels its real self.
Parents can help most by asking questions rather than offering conclusions. What does your teenager want from the next few years? What would make them feel settled? What are they curious to try? The aim is to help them own the choice, not inherit one.
The reality worth remembering
Choosing a university is a big decision, but it is not an irreversible one. Students transfer, change direction and find their footing in all sorts of ways. What matters most is a thoughtful process built on genuine interest, honest conversations and a clear look at the details behind the reputation.
Get those right, and the recognisable name becomes far less important than the good fit.
For more on how schools guide students through this stage, visit https://surbitonhigh.com.
*This article was contributed by the sixth form team at Surbiton High School, an independent day school in Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, supporting students through their university applications and beyond. Surbiton High School works with pupils across the senior years to help them make informed, confident choices about higher education and future careers.*