1. Don't drop maths. I did well enough in first year to be placed in the "advanced" second year maths, where I suddenly found myself surrounded by math olympiad

1. Don't drop maths. I did well enough in first year to be placed in the "advanced" second year maths, where I suddenly found myself surrounded by math olympiads. Instead of doing the rational thing and transferring into the normal stream, I saved face by dropping second/third year maths because it wasn't required for my degree. 2. If you somehow have an idea where you want to live long term, go to university there. The friends you meet in university will be some of the best you have for life, and being able to keep living close by after graduation seems highly advantageous.