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DDs preferred choice not a Russell Group Uni

150 replies

RedRoses1111 · 25/04/2014 15:54

Hello

Dd is my one and only so this is all new to me. She is 17 and about to sit AS levels next month.

She wants to study English and Film and went to a University Fair today. She has returned laden with prospectuses but her favourite so far is the University of East Anglia which is not a Russell Group Uni. Other choices which do an English and Film course are Southampton, Kings, Exeter and Royal Holloway.

I read so much about the choice of Uni is just as important as the course and that employers won't even look at job applications unless they are from someone who went to a Russell Group Uni.

So, those of you who are more experienced or knowledgable about this, should she be discouraged from looking at non RG unis at this stage?

Many thanks for any insight/knowledge/advice you can offer.

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Pagwatch · 25/04/2014 15:59

You can't assume RG will always be better for specific courses.
DS1 looked at RG unis for English but also at UEA because their English course is well regarded. He went to an RG in the end but would have happily gone to uae.

If she is working back from her career plan iykwim then she will be looking at the individual course rather than the uni.

She can /should apply to several so she could look at RG options too.

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Cereal0ffender · 25/04/2014 16:01

UAE is a great place for creativity, for the course she is doing it would be great

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Bearandcub · 25/04/2014 16:02

As an employer I would say that's bullshit. You look for candidates with the right skills, experience or initiative to hold the job down.

However it would depend on the field she is trying to get into.

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RiverTam · 25/04/2014 16:03

UEA is very highly regarded for courses like this (google 'UEA creative writing course' for an impressive list of alumni). If she is aiming to work in film or publishing or journalism, something like that, then a good degree from there will stand her in very good stead.

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Quinteszilla · 25/04/2014 16:04

Is she trying to get into the film industry?

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DocDaneeka · 25/04/2014 16:06

She should go where she likes the course and the uni. There's no point choosing a theoretically amazing uni if you hate it and drop out.

Thin happened to a friend of mine, was pressured by parents to do a RG uni course, lasted to the third week of second year and is now in a low level admin job, no degree. Because it just wasn't right for him and he lost faith in himself.

I have 2 degrees, one from a RG and one from an non RG tbh the non RG was better taught and done In conjunction with a professional body relevant to the subject. The RG degree sounds more impressive, often gets a wow when I say what it is, but was actually much less use in my career.

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Roshbegosh · 25/04/2014 16:08

Normally the Russell group one is definitely the one to go for if possible but UAE is well known for creative writing. Not sure about the English and film course but it may be as good as the equivalent Russell group ones.

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LineRunner · 25/04/2014 16:11

RG are the top end places for research in any given year.

UAE is a great university for very many undergraduate degrees.

Employers do not only look for RG degrees.

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RedRoses1111 · 25/04/2014 16:59

Hello again

Many thanks for all your replies. Dd is passionate about reading, writing, film and TV. She would love a career in media/publishing/advertising, anything creative that involves writing. She would love to work in production or script dept etc.

She is well aware that these industries are very difficult to get into and she may not end up in her chosen career but I don't want to discourage her from her dreams.

I've been flicking through the prospectus and I must admit UEA does look like it would suit her.

I agree that she should go to the Uni she sets her heart on, doing the course she is most passionate about but worry about the RG thing.

It's still a way off and anything could change yet!

Thanks again for your time to reply

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RustyBear · 25/04/2014 17:02

Exeter wasn't a Russell Group uni when DD went there, but it was by the time she left...

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somedizzywhore1804 · 25/04/2014 17:05

I didn't go to a RG uni, never not gotten an interview for a job I applied for, so not sure it's as relevant as you think it is. Again, uni was well regarded for subject etc so I think that's probably more important in the long run.

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fivepies · 25/04/2014 17:06

UEA is a really good institution. If it's a good fit for your DD, she should go for it. The Russell Group is an artificial grouping. It's only called that because the big guns met in the bar of the Russell hotel. Four universities recently paid to join. So it is far from being a meaningful grouping. I say that as someone who works for one! Plus the standard of teaching is not necessarily better at a Russell group uni.

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EverythingCounts · 25/04/2014 17:13

The RG have done an excellent PR job talking themselves up. Don't just accept that uncritically. UEA is very good and in any case, it's more important for your daughter that she goes somewhere she is happy and that suits her. From what you've said she would possibly be more suited to a film and media or English and media course, though I suspect you believe the negative PR about media studies as many people do.

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HercShipwright · 25/04/2014 17:18

You can't do much better than UEA for English. It's far better regarded than most RG universities for that subject.

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ThreeBecameFour · 25/04/2014 17:20

I went to UEA as an undergraduate. Creative Writing, Film, Media, History of Art etc courses are very highly regarded from UEA. They are in the top courses in the country for those areas. People come from all over the world to specifically study those courses there. I did History of Art 93-96 - the course was in the top 5 in the country. The MA courses are also world renowned. I really wouldn't worry about it being part of the Russell Group.

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Slipshodsibyl · 25/04/2014 17:29

'You can't do much better than UEA for English'

Agree with this - it is a common insurance choice for Oxbridge candidates (and first choice for many who are interested in the same things as your daughter)

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Weegiemum · 25/04/2014 17:38

UEA I'd brilliant in English and also in Development studies. I went to a RG uni (Edinburgh) which was top notch for my subject (only surpassed by Oxford for Geog in 1992 when I graduated. But RG doesn't necessarily mean the best - my dd1 is looking at. Other places, best being the Scottish Conservatoire for production design.

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morethanpotatoprints · 25/04/2014 17:41

UEA is a good uni for this course though and has been for some time. There is something to be said for a consistently good reputation.
I think RG uni's are over rated tbh and as others have said, it depends on what course you are doing.
I'm sure that none of them would touch Salford for midwifery and nursing.

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DocDaneeka · 25/04/2014 17:43

Also the poster above made a good point, RG are the big guns in research. Not necessarily good at teaching.

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KinkyDorito · 25/04/2014 17:45

UAE has launched a lot of extremely talented, prize-winning authors. I'd be happy with that - sounds like an excellent choice.

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KinkyDorito · 25/04/2014 17:45

UEA even!!!!!!!

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noddyholder · 25/04/2014 17:46

My ds does film he is at AUB Bournemouth. Hard to get in but brilliant course.

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KinkyDorito · 25/04/2014 17:47

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEA_Creative_Writing_Course

If I could have my time again...

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motherinferior · 25/04/2014 17:48

I'd never heard of this obsession with RG universities till a couple of years ago on MN. UEA's English has I think always been pretty damn good - my father used to lecture there (not in English).

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ommmward · 25/04/2014 17:49

THere's a new English and Film degree at Bristol Uni, which is a really great city to be in for someone interested in film (home of Aardman, innit?)

She might not have spotted it, because it's a new degree course, so I'm just putting it out there for you :-) here

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