Making a sound decision to study at Solent
A-level results aren’t out until the middle of August but Southampton Solent University’s clearing hotline has already been busy helping BTEC students consider what to do next, after receiving their results earlier this month.
More than 100,000 BTEC students will be receiving their results throughout July. With many students still wondering what their next step will be, Solent University’s trained student advisors -many of whom entered university via the BTEC route – are on hand to offer advice and support.
“Our industry-focused degree courses are a perfect match for BTEC students, whoever they want to be. It’s important for BTEC students who haven’t made their minds up yet, or who have done better than expected, to be able to find out more about the university option as soon as they receive their results,” says Dr Stephen Lake, Head of Student Recruitment at Southampton Solent University.
Solent University student Zackery Reynolds, who got his BTEC at Chichester College, decided to go to university after working in the industry. “I tried studio work for a couple of years but it wasn’t for me; I like the pressure of only having one chance to get it right at live events,” he says.
Zack loves the variety of subject areas covered on his BSc (Hons) Live and Studio Sound degree. “It’s really opened my eyes to wide range of careers that are now available to me,” says the 21-year-old Bognor Regis student.
As well as the excellent teaching support and state-of-the art equipment at Solent, Zack is really benefitting from the real-world experience that he gets at Solent.
“As well as working with the BBC on their TV studio experience tent at the New Forest Show, I’ve helped build and run a stage at Truck Festival!”
Through the University’s great industry contacts, Zack also got the opportunity to work at the Isle of Wight Festival for acoustics company, Vanguardia Consulting. Impressed with what he did, Zack has is now being paid by the company to work at NASS festival, Mutiny in the Park and Boomtown, with more work opportunities in the pipeline.
“A huge benefit of getting all this experience is that you meet the right people and get your name out there before you’ve even graduated,” says Zack. “It’s teaching me that if you are willing to learn and work long, hard days the rewards are massive,” he added.
After graduating, Zack hopes to go on and do a Masters in acoustics at Solent University before working as an acoustic consultant, specialising in sounds system and room design, maybe even architectural acoustics – careers he wasn’t even aware of before starting his degree.
The future you want is still within reach. If you are still considering your career choices our trained staff are ready to talk to you. The clearing hotline is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday throughout the summer. You can call us on 023 8001 1722; email us on ask@solent.ac.uk or contact us on Facebook or Twitter at “AskSolent”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9079 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The University was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students. Solent Business School has been awarded the Small Business Charter Award, which is supported by the Association of Business Schools and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and ‘gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
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