Promote Yourself University Research

Promote yourself research

1.      Universities-

·         London Brunel University

Course: Creative Writing

Entry requirements: Not stated – typically DDM

Fees: £9000 per year

Extra living costs: £830 per month

Funding: Bursary of £3000 for D*D*D*

 

·         University of East Anglia

Course: American Literature with Creative Writing with a year abroad

Entry requirements: DDD

Fees: £9000 per year

Extra living costs: £720

Funding: Maximum of £1500 for DDD

 

·         University of Greenwich

Course: Creative Writing and English Literature
Entry requirements: 280 ucas points

Fees: £9000 per year

Extra living costs: £900

Funding: Bursary of £3000

 

·         University of Kent

Course: English and American Literature with Creative Writing with a year abroad

Entry requirements: DMM

Fees: £9000 per year

Extra living costs: £155 for accommodation, £500 extra

Funding: Mixed bursaries

 

·         Royal Holloway University of London

Course: English with Creative Writing

Entry requirements: 340 ucas points

Fees: £9000 per year

Extra living costs: £800-£900

Funding: n/a

 

Pro’s and Con’s of Universities –

 

·         London Brunel University

Pro’s: Close to home, easy to access, popular and in a good location.

Con’s: Difficult entry requirements, harder to get a bursary for this university.

 

·         University of East Anglia

Pro’s: Close to home and easy to access.

Con’s: Unfavourable location, harder to get a bursary and also difficult entry requirements.

 

·         University of Greenwich

Pro’s: High bursary, nice location, very easy to access and popular location and area.

Con’s: …

 

·         University of Kent

Pro’s: Nice location, ideal entry requirements, good range of bursaries, close to home and nice area and affordable accommodation.

Con’s: Not easy to access via public transport.

 

·         Royal Holloway University of London

Pro’s: Nice location and area, close to home and London.

Con’s: Not easy to access via public transport.

 

My first chosen University and course would be the University of Kent. This is because the course is ideal for what I am interested in, the University has a high student satisfaction rate and also that the location is well situated. I am very impressed with the prospect of completing an academic year abroad to study at another University, as I believe this will increase my experience and also help with my life skills.

 

2.      Careers-

There are a varying amount of careers that I may pursue once I have been awarded my degree. Throughout my studies, I hope to learn to think critically and to work independently. I will be more qualified to go into: journalism, broadcasting and media, publishing, PR, writing and teaching; and more general areas such as banking, marketing analysis and project management.

The average pay for a graduate student going into full time employment in the journalism sector is approximately £20,000-£30,000 per year. Although it is not essential to be qualified specifically in journalism in either an A-Level or a degree; it is desired that the employers see that you are fit for the job and capable of writing for a specific audience. Typically most journalistic jobs will come from businesses based in London. Whilst living a mere 50 minutes train ride from the city of London, it is entirely a matter of whether or not someone would rather commute into the city or uproot and move into London, regardless of the job.

·         Pro’s: The opportunity to meet a variety of different people, carrying out a career in my passion of writing

·         Con’s: Low pay, typically based in a city, required to occasionally cover sensitive news.

The wage for a publisher is quite similar to a journalist, ranging from £20K-£30K per year. Although there are no standard desired qualification requirements, most publishers and editors have a degree and often a background in their field. Being a publisher usually means being based in one workplace, however this may be in a diverse location or in the city. Depending on the specific location, it is optional whether or not it is efficient to be travelling to and from work.

·         Pro’s: Good pay, will have some sort of desired/similar degree

·         Con’s:

The standard writer/author earns a minimum of £28K to a maximum of £48K a year, depending on the amount of work they are having published. The majority of publishers are not interested in your qualifications or certificates, but in the work you are sending them. They are interested in whether or not your product will suit their target audience and their brand. However, you can use the opportunity to put a degree or qualification to good use by advertising yourself for a certain column or company, in comparison to the degree you have. For example, someone with a degree in computing could write a technology article or a computing publication in a certain magazine or newspaper. Due to modern technology, it allows both amateur and professional writers to write from the space of their own home or in other locations via laptop or computer etc. Relocation of any sort is not specifically required for this job role.

·         Pro’s: More media if backed by a traditionally publishing company,

·         Con’s: Rejection and the prospect of no work or income due to none of your work being published.

With several of these degrees I may pursue a career in Public Relations, or PR. People in this field of work earn around £18K+ a year. Although there are no set qualifications for a PR Officer, most other employees will have degrees, however it is vital that you have good communication skills and organisational skills. It is more likely that PR work will be, if not globally, then based in and around London. It is dependent on the person if they desire to commute or re-accommodate, however this should be considered.

·         Pro’s:

·         Con’s:

To be a teacher the average pay is £21K-£40K and requires a QTS qualification to be able to teach at state maintained schools in England and Wales. A recent survey shows that most recently, 9 out of 10 new graduates have found a job within teaching with the first 12 months. This job role is accessible globally, so moving is not really necessary unless a specific workplace is important.

·         Pro’s: Definite work hours and pay, communicative environment, high salary pay, easy to get a new job role, frequent pay throughout holidays.

·         Con’s: Negative feedback from pupils; therefore creating a negative environment.

 

 

3.      Gap Years-

·         STA Travel – Protecting Turtles in Greece
Accommodation: Supplied; Tent, Showers, Toilet and Food
Duration: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks available

Cost: From £995

Pro’s: Availability for a varied amount of weeks to suit you and all necessities are included.
Con’s: Not necessarily affordable as prices can range.

·         Summer Camp Exchange USA

Accommodation: Supplied

Duration: 8 to 10 weeks

Cost: £549 and additional £190 cost
Pro’s: Good time period for a gap year, very affordable
Con’s: Must be specifically qualified or experienced in teaching a certain sport (for 2014)

 

 

·         Work Canada
Accommodation: Not Supplied
Duration: Up to 12 months
Cost: £339
Pro’s: Get instant updates on current job vacancies in the area, support and advice from company.
Con’s: No accommodation or food etc. included, meaning a lot more individual research and preparation.

My chosen course of a gap year would be applying for the gap year supplied by STA Travel. This is because it can be used as a summer camp kind of vocation, or a whole gap year job role, depending on what you would prefer. My first choice would initially be the Summer Camp Exchange in America, however for the start of 2014, all applicants must have experience or are qualified in teaching a specific sport that they provide at the Summer Camp. This would not be ideal for me because I have neither, however with more notice I would be willing to try and develop some sort of experience in the UK before I apply.


4. Working Freelance-

When working freelance there are several factors you must consider before obligating to a job change like freelancing. Whether you are making your profession a full-time or a part-time freelancer, you must be absolutely dedicated and self-discipline and know what you’re getting yourself into. It is more common for people working in the media will work full-time in their profession collecting and improving their contacts and experience in the industry, then start to land freelancing jobs whilst continuing with their job before they become a full-time freelancer.

Being an independent freelancer can have its positives and its negatives and can occasionally become too much, however the key is efficiently managing your stress. The most common cause for business caused anxiety is due to negative thoughts and emotions. Thinking positive and relaxing will create a calmer environment to work in and gets rid of all the harmful and distracting thoughts. Freelancers can commonly become overwhelmed with work; however try saying no more often to prevent stress. To dramatically reduce stress, practice your time management and stick to your deadlines.

Managing your time is vital to keep on top of work and stick to deadlines. To make this easier freelancers should set a deadline and stick to it. Be realistic when setting deadlines to keep on top of tasks. Write a list, regardless of how detailed or basic it may be, to ensure that you don’t forget to complete any work.

A freelancer’s biggest obstacle is their health. If their minds can’t focus and their bodies can’t function, they cannot work. If their mind is foggy and they cannot concentrate, they can’t perform at their best. With other work priorities and distractions, a freelancer may not always concentrate on their health. Research has shown that sitting for most of the day puts us at a higher risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

Work can usually get on top of people and creates stress and a negative feel, which is why it is important for freelancers to plan time off for holidays or even afternoons or weekends away from work. Take time to prepare time off from work so nothing is left unattended to and spend some time relaxing to create a fresh start for when you return to your work.

Insurance and financial factors are very important and cannot be ignored by a freelancer. There are various insurance policies, which are available to protect someone against an accident at work. A Public Liability insurance will protect you against your legal liability when you accidentally cause damage or loss to someone else’s property or if you accidentally cause injury to someone whilst working at a clients premises. The Employers Liability is arranged to protect employers against claims for injury or illness brought by employees. Tax and VAT Investigation Insurance protects you in the event of an investigation by the tax authorities. More and more freelancers are working from home meaning the Home Office or Equipment Insurance is design to cover the loss or damage to equipment, premises and documents in the event of theft or accidental damage. If a freelancer is work through a limited company, they will be paid a monthly salary. The bulk of your income will come in the form of dividends (a sum of money paid by a company to its shareholders out of its profits). Income Tax, Employers and Employees National Insurance will typically be deducted when your accountant processes your payroll. You are in the position to claim back any expenses you may have incurred from the company, such as; stamps, equipment etc. A negotiated contract exists when an employer and a freelancer negotiate on certain parts of the contract, such as the content or the cost of the product or the pay the freelancer will be receiving.

Commissioning is the process of ensuring that care services are provided effectively. It is a process with responsibilities such as assessing local population needs, prioritising outcomes, procuring products and service. The process is usually when the cost of the product or service needs to be specified by the freelancer to the employer.

Briefs are typically the documents that outline the intentions of a freelancer to an employer. It is similar to a pre-production in media and can be found in many formats. The main purpose of a brief is to outline and detail the boundaries of the project and cover the contract and guidelines between the client and the freelancer.

A proposal is put into place with a treatment, including all aspects of the project before the project is launched. A treatment will not include any technical language or specifics, such as camera angles in a film treatment.

A cost estimate should clearly define the purpose of the project, what it will accomplish, what assumptions are made, how long the estimate is valid, and how much the project will cost. It should ideally show everything relevant, without holding back any information. The estimate should be flexible, adaptable and provide a range of the costs involved. An effective and simple way to estimate costs and prepare a project budget is to use project management software to help identify the types, quantities and phasing of different types of labor. When scheduling a time period for a client, if a freelancer has good time management, their project scheduling should be efficient, although it should be proposed to the employer before deciding.

Before starting a project, you should sit down and brainstorm what risks your project faces, ranging from bad weather, to software problems, to reliance on outside factors, such as other projects being completed at the same time. This will help reduce mistakes and manage your risks by considering alternatives.

Sub-contracting consists of employing a freelancer outside of a company to work on a project, as part of team. As a freelancer, copyright law often governs your work. You are entitled to get the financial benefits if you have created work. This includes reproducing the work, creating derivative works and the display of work. According to the Copyright Office, the following types of work can be copyrighted:

·         Literary works

·         Musical works, unclufing any accompanying words

·         Dramatic works, including any accompanying music

·         Pantomimes and choreographic works

·         Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works

·         Motion pictures and other audiovisual works

·         Sound recordings

·         Architectural works

Ideas, however, cannot be copyrighted, nor can anything that contains no original authorship. If you discuss ideas with a client and they go out and hire another freelancer to implement them, you have no recourse when it comes to copyright law.

            Invoicing as a freelancer allows you to create a detailed description of work done and any prices to be paid to you or your company as a form of a lengthened receipt of sorts. Accounts are important for freelancers to arrange their work or business money to save confusing between personal accounts. Overhead expenses refer to ongoing expenses of operating a business. Whether you are a freelancer full-time or part-time you are responsible for paying tax and National Insurance on your employment income in different ways. Given the large amount of administration required in running your company, it is vital that you have an accountant. An accountant is used in place to calculate and organize all incoming business costs.

            To receive a pension at the end of your career, you invest money direct from your bank so that the funds may grow in a tax-free pension fund.

 

5. Evaluation-

            I have always had a lot of interest in Creative Writing and also literature and I have a very strong passion for writing Fiction. After researching all future career and personal routes, I think that I will benefit and enjoy University most. I strongly believe that I will enjoy University very much and that it will broaden my career paths once I have received my degree. Writing is a form of entertainment and is essentially pleasing to others, which is why it is my goal to improve my writing skill.

            My chosen first choice university is Kent University. This is because, after evaluation and comparison, Kent is found to be the most suitable university for me. The degree course is the most diverse, with various fields of study, ranging from traditional English literature to studying poetry and creative writing abroad. I plan to accommodate in halls of residence as it is very affordable and also apply for a bursary from the institution to help pay my fees.

            The location of the university is ideal for what I am looking for, however I will have to plan my travel beforehand, as it is required that I travel through London on public transport.

I originally decided on university, however throughout my research, I have become more open to various paths to take. After conducting my research, I am now more open to considering a gap year of travelling or volunteering, and my most favoured idea would be to apply to Camp America. However, due to poor timing, I would not qualify to take part in the 2014 camp, as I am not eligible. I have also come across a summer activity for university students that allows for them to travel and work abroad during the English summer. I came across this scheme through a friend who took part in Work America in 2013 and was placed in Florida, Orlando.

After studying at university I would ideally like to either go straight into part-time work and freelancing to benefit my financial needs, or go into full-time work in the publishing sector to increase my experience and to also connect with others in the industry. Throughout college and personal experience I have learnt how to cater my writing for specific audiences which has also led me to consider writing in different genres. I hope that from my future experience in the work industry and also my knowledge from my degree that I will have an optimistically successful future ahead of me.

I am very enthusiastic about university and learning how to adapt to living independently as I believe it is a valuable life lesson. I believe that being more knowledgeable and also well qualified in the field will increase my chances of employment further on in life. I am keen to be in an environment where I am constantly learning and contributing time into university work.