What Happens When You End Up at Your Insurance Choice?

Hello. My name is Miracle, and I am a second-year BSc Psychology student at the University of Chester. Having been in the position of having to look into university choices, I know how exciting and daunting it can be. Hopefully, my story will give you a different take compared to the ‘perfect university’ trajectory always talked about.

The Before

I still remember – as if it were yesterday – when I was going through UCAS, creating a list of all the possible universities I could go to. At that time, my college had encouraged me to explore and apply to a wide range of universities to fill up UCAS choices, and the University of Chester was one of them.

Due to being extremely ambitious, I was looking at ‘more established’ universities with bigger facilities and larger research staff when it came to the selections. So, Chester was put as my Insurance choice. However, unlike the other universities, Chester was not overwhelming and too rigid. When I had my initial visits, I fell in love with the range of accommodation, nice facilities, and how walkable everything was to each other.

Because I wanted to strike a balance, I put a more research-intensive university down as my Firm choice, and Chester as my Insurance choice; at that point, I did not know this would be all the things I call my university life now.

On results day, I did not get into my Firm choice university, and so I was accepted at Chester. I felt like not getting into my Firm choice was the end of the world, but it wasn’t. One rejection ended up being the redirection I needed. The world still spins, and after two years at Chester, I realise just how well everything has worked out, and how happy I am at Chester.

Insurance Choice Observation

Having plans I had made for months fall through made me feel like everything was too late for my Insurance choice when it really wasn’t.

During my time here at Chester, I still managed to make friends, enjoy my course and learn so much. Quite a lot of people go to their Insurance choice and still make a good life for themselves, so feel assured that Chester has supported many like this, including myself.

One thing the University sets in place is that you can put an interest down for accommodation regardless of whether Chester is your Firm or Insurance choice; I used this, and it came in very handy. So why not check the range of Chester has to offer whilst you are at it?

Be a Big Fish in a Smaller Pond

One of the advantages I have experienced at a smaller university is the opportunity to stand out and make a meaningful impact.

Throughout my time here, I have found it easier to build genuine relationships with lecturers, something that can be more challenging in larger institutions where academic staff often have greater demands on their time.

Studying at university has taught me that a university's reputation or size is only one part of the experience. While rankings and prestige can be important considerations, the relationships you build, opportunities you take, and the experiences you gain often have an even greater impact on your personal and professional development.

When you go to university, ideally, you want to leave with more than just a degree; you want valuable connections, friends and rich experiences! And I realised it’s you as a person who makes this happen, not the size or popularity of the institute. So, my advice on that is to choose quality over quantity. Pick where you’ll thrive, rather than choosing solely because it is larger or more well-known.

Why Chester? What’s in Chester? What’s Beyond Chester?

Chester is a city full of character and history. One of the first things that really stood out to me was how much of its Roman heritage is still visible today. The whole city spans around ‘the Walls’, which makes for calm walks – and scenic routes to lectures, from personal experience.

Chester also has plenty of unique features, from the Rows and the Cathedral to lots of independent shops, cafés and restaurants. The thing I love most about Chester is the variety it offers. It feels big enough that there is always something to do, but small enough that everything is within walking distance.

The River Dee runs through the city, providing some great riverside walks and relaxing views from places like Queens Park Bridge – a highly recommended spot to visit.

At the same time, beautiful countryside is never far away, making it easy to escape the city for a few hours when you need a break.

Another thing I really appreciated is Chester's location. With Chester bordering Wales, there are plenty of opportunities for day trips, whether that's hiking, sightseeing or exploring somewhere new.

Many popular destinations can be reached easily by train, which is ideal for exploring the surrounding area in one's free time. Chester is also well within distance of both Manchester and Liverpool, giving you easy access to two major cities whenever you need a change of pace. Whether it's shopping, concerts or simply exploring somewhere different, both cities are close enough for a day trip. For me, that's one of Chester's biggest strengths: you get the friendly and relaxed feel of a smaller city while still being close to everything a larger city has to offer.

Reflection

In my two years at Chester, I realised how coming here was a blessing in disguise. It is a good balance between a campus university and a city university, with a variety of accommodation locations both on campus and off campus.

I have enjoyed being able to walk from classes to home or to see friends as we all live within walking distance. So, despite it being a small city, it has the perks of feeling like a real home away from home.

In Summary

During my time at Chester, I realised that choosing this University was the right decision for me. When I was applying, I was originally looking at big city universities, but my experience here has completely changed my perspective.

Looking back, I would not change my choice. There is a calm, welcoming atmosphere here at Chester, which makes settling in and making the most out of university life easier. Because of this, I have felt more confident putting myself forward for opportunities, getting involved in activities and meeting new people.

My parting advice would be to be overprepared and curious. By that, I mean, if you have the choice, explore all facilities and options available to you. Come and visit Chester during our Open Days, or perhaps talk to a current student about any burning questions you may have. It is never too late to get more information or get started on planning.