AIBU to think going to an RG university means absolutely nothing

I’ve just finished post grad degree at a RG uni and it was expensive and utterly crap. Wish I had gone to the cheaper non RG uni for the same course.
no support, staff constantly off sick or absent, poor online materials … the list goes on. We’re all really unhappy about it.

Ok so in which sector and why on earth are you discounting those not on a self appointed outdated list?If you’re so knowledgable about unis and courses you must be aware that ratings lists change yearly and Russel Group unis aren’t always the best ,there are many non Russel groups unis scoring higher with equally as good and better courses.You’re saying you discount those simply because they’re not on the RG list. 🤔Also you must be aware that simply attending a RG uni doesn’t actually make you a better candidate- qualities and experience count for an awful lot which RG just don’t have the monopoly on.

Apparently I went to one. Been graduated 30 years and only just found out. Although almost every university I could have done my degree at is a RG one. So I don't think it made any difference to my career. It certainly isn't something any employer I have ever worked for has been remotely interested in.
The only place I ever see RG mentioned is on MN as some sort of badge of honour for bragging rights.

I went to one but I graduated 18 years ago. Changed my life completely - I met DH, did a year abroad, who knows where I would be now. But I have never been a high earner. Those from my course who are moved to London after graduation!

It did teach me not to live to work and that I burn out easily.

😂I nearly spat my tea out at Russel Grant University!! I also had no idea about RG uni's when I actually went to Uni. Turns out I had offered from 2 of them but turned them down. I do recall someone snootily saying "Oh, the former poly" when they asked me where I did my degree. Mind you I became a teacher so I'm clearly not as bothered by status as some people seem to be.

This isn’t true. We recruit for a significant number of graduates every year and we have a lot of information about Universities, their courses, how competitive it is and so on.

Really weird people are so keen to insist this isn’t the case.

To be honest, by the time you get to degree level, it's up to YOU to get as much out of it as possible, rather than expecting the uni to do everything for you. Throw yourself into the subject, make industry contacts, arrange placements - spoon feeding won't happen like it did at school.

This!!

Exactly this - and maybe Imperial. But the rest, no and it’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise.

RG unis dont mean fuck all in the real world, only on mn where bored women are obsessed with class

What even those from unis that are higher in league tables than Russel group unis for individual subjects- that’s ridiculous.
.

It makes no difference whatsoever unless it’s Oxford or Cambridge.

But not all recruiters are graduates recruiters and the job market is not all about graduates.And even if they do know it is going to make very little difference. Other qualities and experience counts which RG unis don’t have the monopoly on.

All the graduate recruiters know EXACTLY what a Russell Group University is. It is part of their literal job to know.

I went to an RG uni just below Oxbridge in the league tables and honestly all my uni friends have v high paying jobs in our early 30s.

The max salary of my friends is about 300k and min about 70k. Most on six figures.

I don't know if that appeals to everyone because obviously money isn't everything - but my friends from non RG unis generally earn on average less and are less in professional roles.

So anecdotally I think it does matter for job prospects

I heard when I was working in HE research about a decade ago that there were quite a few that seemed to be 'coasting' on their RG status while the outcomes and quality of delivery was getting worse.
If that's continued now then I'd imagine the value isn't fantastic. If you've got a first from any University you'd hope that would stand you in good stead though?

Recruiters look at your work experience. They don’t ignore experience and previous jobs in order to pick somebody from a self appointed uni
list. That’s deluded.

No it isn’t. Most recruiters don’t know or care what a Russel group uni is or where unis are in current rating lists.

It isn’t, though. If you are recruiting people then it is a helpful guide. like Oxbridge or exam results. Why is this even a question

And there are non Russel group unis that score higher than Russel group unis so it’s clearly meaningless .

I moved from overseas to attend uni in the UK at a RG university. Like you, OP, I had never even heard of "Russell Group" until a few years after I graduated so it was not a factor in selecting where to study.

I think it did make a difference when I was applying for graduate jobs. However, I still don't quite understand the hype.

I deliberately didn't say that standards and quality are higher at RG than non-RG, but that there are variations between universities. That's why there are rankings!

This! And some of them are in serious financial
shit.

Such as?

I'm not sure that you can say nobody cares or knows based just on what your husband says 😂. There will be employers who don't care and there are some who do. There will be fields where it doesn't matter and others where it does.