6 Common University Myths, Debunked

Myths about university abound when you’re at high school. Learn to distinguish the facts from fiction to ensure you make the right decisions.

1. University Is Too Expensive for You

Some students may dismiss university outright because they feel like it’s out of their budget. Whereas it is true that university is expensive, there are ways to lower the cost, including through student loans, scholarships, and grants. You may also like to work a part-time job while you study to pay for your living expenses.

2. You Only Need to Apply for Financial Aid After Being Accepted to University

Even before you’re sure you’ll be attending university, you should start the financial aid process. This will ensure you receive aid in time to start university and will increase your number of options.

3. If You Did Well in High School, You’ll Be Fine at University

University is more challenging than high school because it’s about much more than memorizing information. You need to apply what you learn to new situations and spend a great deal of your own time reading or researching. You should be prepared to put in a lot of effort to keep your GPA up to the level it was at high school. The good news is there are plenty of resources on campus to help you succeed, including tutors, writing centers, and office hours with your professors.

2. Only Academically-Minded Students Go to University

Even though university will be difficult, that shouldn’t put you off going. It’s likely you’ll enjoy university more than high school because you’ll be choosing the classes you want to take. Plus, if you don’t intend to go to grad school, it’s less important to have a great GPA — just having a degree will give your career a boost.

5. You Take Whatever Classes You Want at University

Although you have a great deal of choice when it comes to classes at university, you will need to meet general education requirements and take required classes for your major. This ensures you receive a broad education but also acquire enough specialist knowledge to succeed in a career after you graduate.

6. You Can Wait to Think About What Major to Declare

Although you usually don’t need to declare a major until around the end of your first year (and you can still switch later), it is worth thinking about what you’ll major in as early as possible. This will ensure all the classes you take contribute to your degree, meaning you won’t need to take more classes than necessary. It will also help you plan out your route to graduation, including by taking prerequisites early to avoid pushing back your graduation date.

Another common myth about university is that you must live at least your first year on campus. Many students prefer to have their own apartment — for privacy, freedom, and amenities like a kitchen and ensuite washroom. For uOttawa off-campus housing that offers all this and much more, there’s 1Eleven. Your bachelor apartment or shared suite will be fully furnished and located just steps from campus. Book a tour to check out all the great facilities.