How to Pick the Best University Course for You

University courses are available in a vast and extensive range of subjects, meaning students face one of the biggest choices available. Picking a university course can, therefore, be a daunting prospect for anyone – so how can you make sure you pick the best course for you?

A number of different factors will need to be considered when making decisions concerning your university education and the biggest one of these is over what course. Here are five of the main areas you should give consideration to when choosing between University courses.
Does the course interest you?
This is perhaps the most important thing that you need to consider and should always be answered in the positive. Studying a course which you are not interested in will not benefit you in any way and could see you struggle to achieve your degree qualification. Always consider which subjects you like the most and determine where your strengths lie. Then pick a course which is relevant to these areas.
What are the job prospects for this course?
All university degrees are undertaken with the intention of securing a better career at the end of study. Considering what job prospects are linked to a specific course is therefore vital. Some courses, such as Pharmacy, will lead to specific careers and jobs and are only suitable for individuals with a desire to work within this role. Other courses, such as English Literature, will offer a wider selection of job prospects and are, therefore, better suited to those who do not have a distinct career path in mind.
What is the assessment of the course?
How a course is assessed can influence how well you perform in it. Some students prefer exam based assessments, whilst others prefer to be assessed more on practical skills and presentations. It is, therefore, important that you consider how you are graded for a course before selecting it. Whilst this is not the most important consideration to make, it is still important and students should always select the course which will be best for them.
What options are available with the course?
Another consideration should be over what options are available with the chosen course – such as how many compulsory and how many voluntary modules there are.
Students should also consider whether they will have the chance to undertake a split degree. This can be done either as an equal division, where the degree will be written as ‘Subject A and Subject B’ (English and History), or as an unequal division, where the student will ‘major’ in one subject and ‘minor’ in the other. This degree will be written as ‘Subject A with Subject B’, with the major subject always being written first (i.e.; English with History).
Other options regarding degrees will also include whether there is an option to undertake work placements and whether a ‘year out’ is part of the format. This will affect the length of the degree, but can give students the chance to gain a working knowledge and practical skills alongside their theoretical, academic learning.

Revision Tips for Kibuli Students

Everyone feels nervous about taking exams. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your revision time and keep those nerves under control.

It’s important to remember that an examination is a test of learning, not memory. Examiners want to see evidence that you have drawn on your knowledge to develop a reasoned argument, rather than replicate course notes and textbook facts. Revision should be a process of consolidating understanding rather than cramming as much information as possible before the morning of the exam.


1. Study skills
Where to study
Creating good conditions to study in can help you make the most of the time you spend revising. Here are some suggestions:

• Find a quiet place to study and make sure you are sitting comfortably
• Make sure your desk is well lit
• Keep background noise to a minimum
• Avoid studying in an area where there will be distractions (like television!)
• Have everything you need to do your revision to hand before you start

How to study
There is no ‘right way’ to revise, as long as the method you choose enables you to gain a solid grasp of key facts and consolidate your knowledge. Some students are happy to read their classroom notes from start to finish, others prefer to simplify the information as much as possible, turning everything into skeleton notes, diagrams or mnemonics. In practice, most students find that mixing techniques suits the varied nature of the subjects being revised, and provides essential variety when studying.

• Turn your notes into revision tools;
  • write ideas and facts on to cards to use as ‘prompts’
  • create memory aids such as diagrams or mnemonics (e.g. initial letters to make a word you need to remember or SMART objectives: Specific; Measurable; Achievable; Realistic; Targets). These will help you remember key facts
  • write key facts/notes out and display these around the house where you will see them
  • record yourself reading notes to listen to
• Study with a friend and test each other’s knowledge, but remember you are meeting to revise rather than to chat!
• Work through past question papers – and use a watch to time them so that you can practise timing your answers.
• Choose study and revision guides sensibly. It’s not hard to find help with revision – as well as established published revision guides, there are hundreds of websites offering help and advice. The problem is not how to find such help, but how to judge which is the best source for your needs. Save valuable time and get recommendations from your teachers
• Remember course notes are also a valuable source of extra help
• Keep yourself more alert by changing revision methods during a session. For instance, try switching from note taking to memorising; from reading to asking someone to test you
• Attend any revision classes that your teachers may be running at school and get their advice on revision methods
• Look after yourself – Sometimes revision can become a competition – who stayed up latest, who worked longest, who’s worrying the most. But the more tired you are the less efficiently you’ll work. You need to rest as well as study, eat well, drink lots of water and make sure you pace yourself. Don’t rush, and equally don’t over-revise by doing too much too soon

2. Revision plan
The top tip for successful revision is to make a plan; otherwise it is easy to waste your precious revision time. We recommend that you start your revision at least six weeks before your exams begin. It is helpful to look at your exam dates and work backwards to the first date you intend to start revising.

• List all your exam subjects and the amount of time you think you will need for each one. It is unlikely that the amounts will be equal. Many people find it advisable to allocate more time to the subject or topics they find the most difficult
• Draw up a revision plan for each week
• Fill in any regular commitments you have first and the dates of your examinations
• Use Revision Checklists or Syllabuses for each subject as a starting point. Look at what you need to know and try to identify any gaps in your knowledge. (A good way of doing this is to look at the results of past papers or tests you have worked through)
• Divide your time for each subject into topics based on the units in the revision checklist or syllabus, and make sure you allow enough time for each one
• Plan your time carefully, assigning more time to subjects and topics you find difficult
• Revise often; try and do a little every day
• Plan in time off, including time for activities which can be done out in the fresh air. Take a 5 or 10 minute break every hour and do some stretching exercises, go for a short walk or make a drink
• You may find it helpful to change from one subject to another at ‘break’ time, for example doing one or two sessions of maths and then changing to Geography, or alternating a favourite subject with a more difficult one. It helps to build in some variety
• Write up your plan and display it somewhere visible
• Adjust your timetable if necessary and try to focus on your weakest topics and subjects
• Don’t panic; think about what you can achieve, not what you can’t. Positive thinking is important!

3. Last-minute revision tips
Although time may be short, you can still make a difference to your grade. Try and prioritise; do what you can.

• Use your revision tools (prompts, diagrams etc) to check final facts
• Keep calm and consolidate your existing knowledge rather than trying to learn new topics
• Don’t stay up all night revising; being overtired will not help you to do your best

4. Dealing with exam nerves
It is natural to feel nervous before an examination. The more prepared you feel, the easier it will be to conquer your fears.

• Create a revision plan to help you feel in control of the process
• Plan your work carefully around the topics you need to focus on. Being aware of gaps in your knowledge can create nerves, but having a plan of how you will fill these will make you feel better.
• Find out what is involved in the exam:
  • where and when it will take place
  • how much time is allowed
  • how many questions you need to answer
• Think positive
• Keep the exam in context – even if you do badly, there will be other options open to you
• Allow yourself some fun-time each day to relax
• Eat sensibly – your brain cells need energy to function well. Make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. Dehydration makes you tired and reduces concentration

5. Exam tips – sitting the exam
Be prepared; find out what is involved in each of the examinations that you are going to sit. Organise yourself the night before and get plenty of sleep.

• Check you have the correct equipment with you before you leave the house (pens pencils, ruler, scientific calculator, etc)
• Do take a watch or clock so that you can time your answers
• Leave for the exam in plenty of time
• Look through the paper first and mark difficult questions/initial thoughts
• Select the questions that will best enable you to demonstrate your knowledge to the examiner
• Look at the marks available and read the questions carefully, following instructions given in the paper (e.g. to show all workings, word limits etc)
• Use the information provided on the paper (the answer’s often nearly all there)
• Pace yourself and allow enough time to answer all the required questions
• Write as neatly as possible to help the examiner to mark your work. Marking untidy writing is difficult
• For longer answers, take a few minutes before you begin to produce a structured plan of what you are going to include in each section
• Allow yourself ten minutes at the end to read through your answers and correct any mistakes
• Cross out anything you do not want the examiner to read (e.g. an earlier answer to a question)

6. Exam tips – after the exam
It is easy to fall in to the trap of wondering how well you performed and to discuss this with your fellow students. Your time would be better spent looking ahead to your next examination.

• Don’t panic – you won’t be the only student who is anxious about their answers
• Don’t compare your answers with those of other students – this can create negative feelings
• Have some fresh air and food and take time to relax before you start revising
• Don’t rush to your textbooks to check your answers – there is no point at this stage
• Focus on the next exam and how you might improve your exam technique
• Have a quick look at your revision plan. Do you need to adjust it?
• Think positive!

END OF STUDENTS’ COUNCIL REGIME 2012-2013

KIBULI SECONDARY SCHOOL POBOX 4216 KAMPALA (U) 25TH JULY 2013

THE PATRON, STUDENTS COUNCIL

KIBULI SECONDARY SCHOOL

Dear Sir,

RE: END OF STUDENTS’ COUNCIL REGIME 2012-2013

                                                                                                                      

We hereby as the Students’ Council (2012-2013) do write this report to come up with some of clarity on how everything has transpired in our regime  and hopefully will be achieved by the forth coming reigns. As it is so known that the Students’ Council do initiate policies in school, discuss and find solutions to the problems in the school pertaining to the students’ welfare, academic matters, advising the executive committee, oversee the implementation of developmental projects in school, below it is so suggested that all these were accomplished in the following ways, according to various offices. The report handles office by office for the easy understanding of every little detail.

the patron

As the senior member of the Administration and the Council as well, it has been so seen that the Patron of the Council, Al Hajj Ibrahim Ssemakadde, has definitely played a very pivotal role in the uplifting the Students Council. In this bracket, we get to see that he has without doubt advised the school Council in all aspects and has truly guided and supported us in the realization of our programmes as so clearly seen.

chairperson and chairlady

As the heads of the executive, we have so seen that the two heads, Lubowa Hood and Namuyanja Aliyah have not really failed us in any way. Talking about their duties, we’ve seen that for they have made decisions on behalf of not only the executive, but also the general student community which decisions have led to positive energy in our noble society. With the way duties have been assigned and carried on too, with the way several documents have been made and the way meetings have been conducted, we can say that we are certainly grateful.

speaker and deputy speaker

The offices of the speaker and the deputy speaker in the students also, so affirmed to be one of the most pivotal and with this they have helped in the following ways. We thank the speakers for having managed to preside over all the Council gatherings/meetings, with this in place, it has been noted that the council has managed to reach somewhere. Hamsa Mustapha and Abigaba Hamid are appreciated for they have helped in the interpretation all matters pertaining the Constitution. Also the emergency meetings that they have managed to call on have pushed us to somewhere better and as the Council, we are really grateful.

general secretaries

In the Students’ Council Fraternity, it has been so seen that Kirabo Kaanyi Mariam and Nakimbugwe Aisha Jadida, head and assistant respectively have also driven the Council with positive energy. Here, we have so seen that they have been the brains behind publishing the agenda of the Council meetings, and certainly jotting down minutes. Their obedient attitudes have been that high that they have managed to keep all the council records and proceedings of all the meetings.

finance secretary

It is very well known that the Secretary for Finance is responsible for collecting annual subscription fees from the students. In this we thank Mulindwa Hamza so much, for he has done it perfectly well and with trust throughout the regime. He helped in the preparation and presentation of the finance status and also has presented all the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the subsequent years. We very much thank him for being faithful. To get more information on this, you could access the FINANCE BOOK OF THE COUNCIL which is currently in the hands of the new Secretary of Finance.

secretary for school affairs

Through the beautiful coordination that Sendege Jaferry Kibuuka has set up, we have managed to see that students have further gotten involved in the school activities and this is really great. For the secretary has also managed to perfectly well forward ideas to the school authorities which has also brought about optimistic effect. For this as the council, we without doubt grateful.

secretary for publicity and information

For the secretary has really come up with several official publications of the Council, in this we have also seen that the secretary has collected and disseminated information on and for the benefit of the Council, and the school at large. So with this, we are really grateful.

achievements

The Students’ Council has registered several achievements and among others are the under listed;

1.        NOTICE BOARD: The Students’ Council(2012-2013) has managed to setup a notice board

2.        NEW PUBLIC ADRESS SYSTEM: The Council also did request for the new P.A system when we had just got into power.

3.        COUNCIL FILE; we also introduced a file to keep the council documents safely.

4.        FINANCE BOOK OF THE COUNCIL; we introduced a finance book which provides statistics of Council Finance.

5.        WEB LOG/ WEBSITE:  the council has also successfully opened up a web site that is up and running on. www.kibulistudentscouncil.blogspot.com  

On this blog, you will find information about the Kibuli Students Council, updates, PHOTOS, comments and lots of scholastic information.

special thanks

With that, special thanks go to:

The Headmaster (Al Hajj. Matovu Ibrahim), the deputy HM and Patron Council (Al Hajj Ibrahim Semakadde), the Patron Student leaders (Mr. Kisekka Shaban) and Mr. Hassan Isingoma Tembo.

For we thank them so very much for all their invaluable support, love and care that they have extended towards the Students’ Council all this time throughout.

We also thank the following who we believe should know why;

Chairman (Lubowa Hood), Chairlady ( Namuyanja Aliyah) Speaker (Hamsa Musatapha Abdirahman) Deputy Speaker (Abigaba Hamid) General Secretary (Kirabo K Mariam ) Ass. General Secretary (Nakimbugwe J Aisha) Finance Secretary (Mulindwa Hamza) Women Affairs Secretary ( Luwedde H Gift) Interschool affairs secretary (Mungoma L Charity) Secretary for Publicity (Nantege Shamim) Secretary for Information (Lutaaya H Shafiq)  Secretary for Interschool affairs ( Ssendege K Jaferry )

Lastly, in a special way, we thank the cluster of courageous young men and women, who have very much worked hand in hand with us below,

Lutaaya Shafiq, the one who has done all the technical work, Namakula Asiat, Nansereko Saidat,Nkolo Amir, Justus C Samson and of course Matsiko Bob plus many others and the entire student community.

With that therefore, we take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped out in the prosperity of the Students’ Council throughout our two-year course, all the mentioned and the unmentioned. THUMBS UP

Thank you very much for your support and corporation

The Council Masterminds

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lubowa hood chairman		namuyanja aliyah n chairlady		kirabo k mariam Title
…………………………………………… Signature		…………………………………………… Signature		…………………………………………… Signature

 

KIBULI STUDENTS’ COUNCIL (2012/2013)

POBOX 4216

KAMPALA (U)

WWW.KIBULISTUDENTSCOUNCIL.BLOGSPOT.COM    [Website]