Hugill channelled his interests into A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry but when it came to picking a degree course, the choice was obvious to him.
Plenty of students still believe that picking a degree based on their own passion is preferable, but they've learned to frame their choice in career-focused lingo.
Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, which represents 24 leading universities, said: "All league tables have their limitations and students should look beyond them when picking a degree course.
Dr Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell Group, a collection of top universities (so in a way its own league table), warned last week: "Ranking universities is a process fraught with difficulties so students should not use league tables alone when picking a degree course".
If you want to keep your career options open, pick a broad degree: Short term, most sectors are becoming more competitive.
One of them said "What's your favorite place to eat off campus?" on one side and "What would you have majored in if you had to pick a HASS degree?" on the other.
Pick a first degree or a master's program "that broadens your mind, broadens your knowledge, broadens your skills," suggests Lenton, who is today a professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
So when the time came to pick an undergraduate degree, I didn't think twice about moving all the way to the north-east of England to study biomedical science at the University of Northumbria, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
If you pick a broad ranging degree (possibly followed by a masters in a more specific area), then you are likely to keep your options open.
