university - how to chose? Russell group really necessary?

I would think about course content and city vs campus and employability. English Lit doesn’t lead directly into a career, so she will ultimately have to compete with arts graduates from other universities. Even Cambridge English grads do not walk into jobs. I would look at two or three RG as they are possibly better regarded for this. Bath tends to be more business oriented and less arts oriented. There will be a variety of grades required within RG.

It’s a bit limiting to just look at universities where there are people like you (you think?). It’s a preconceived notion that is somewhat immature. If she wants a city with lots going on, there are plenty to choose from. Ditto a campus where everything happens on site.

I think choosing a niche course is a bit limiting and the best courses at the best universities don’t do thus. Also the lecturers offering the niche texts can leave or not be teaching that year. It’s probably best to stay general and aim high.

As for UCAS applications, I am a firm believer in choosing two places with standard offers matching predicted grades, one which will be a stretch, and two which are on the low end of predicted grades.

Definitely do not put down five Russell groups, which are going to give A*AA to AAB offers. You need a range.

As English Literature is offered just about everywhere, it is necessary to narrow down choices, e.g. by region, city/campus, large/small.

whatuni.com is an excellent site for screening unis.

You should always take the highest possible opportunity available to you. That is how I make my choices and have always found it to be a solid policy.

People hum and haw about personality and like minded stuff but really, as long as there is self confidence, we are all capable or learning and making friends in any situation, regardless of how foreign it is to us. So you might as well go with the choice that gives you the greatest opportunity to achieve what you want in life.

Russell Group universities are large, research-intensive places. There are plenty of excellent, smaller universities that do not entitle them to RG membership because of their size, e.g. St Andrews.

Not essential, dd did a MA Philosophy and Film degree at non RG uni in Scotland ( but in top 25 UK/ top 50 worldwide young university with a very good student satisfaction score
Course was very varied and allowed quite a lot of scope for choice of modules
She loved the campus and union, and got involved in OPsoc and student TV...eventually becoming TV channel manager which won best student TV in UK....so take into account what else is offered at the university is well
Graduated with a 2:1 and then went to RG uni for postgraduate
She now completed an MSc in Teaching English to speakers of other languages no has landed a very well paid graduate job in China
So my advice is to look at the bigger picture and ask if she knows what is involved in course and what else the university offers for students

I studied English at Nottingham in the eighties .Chose it for the night life not the two years of Anglo Saxon English but this was before tuition loans .Going where you know you are likely to have fun and make friends is important too ,but perhaps it’s wise to pair this with the most academically highly rated course you can realistically study at.

ds1 did English Lit and the courses varied hugely between institutions. Your dd really needs to look at the modules available and look for somewhere with a good reputation and which focuses on her areas of interest. ds wanted poetry, shakespeare, lost generation and the beats. (I think chaucer is probably compulsory everywhere) If he had to read a ton of books he wasn't interested in, he would have found it very difficult and his marks would have undoubtedly suffered.

I think when we are deciding to accept a job in a new town we think, 'Is this a place I'd like to live? Could I be happy here?'

It's not unreasonable for prospective students to think the same thing.

However, it's also a time when people change.

My daughter who is used to biggish provincial cities felt initially she'd be happier in London than in a university in a rather smaller town. But she's ended up very much liking aspects of living in a place with a smaller population - and cheesier, more old-fashioned night clubs.

Going to university is about getting an education, not making friends, she should go to whichever university is best in her field of study (often but not always a Russell group). I would also be a bit as to why the teacher thinks that she won't meet likeminded (what does that even mean at that age) people-does the teacher just think that your DD is too stupid to make friends at a Russell group?

I suppose you could argue that for someone who essentially wants a good social life/student experience it makes sense to go to somewhere where there's a good nightlife/accommodation etc.

On the other hand if someone's a bit more academically inclined ie. is actually motivated towards studying and wants to be around other people who are enthusiastic about their chosen course, then a different set of parameters comes into play.

Without knowing much about your daughter it's hard to give any meaningful advice. Other than reiterating that pretty well every university offers the opportunity to study English Literature but that the courses and institutions will vary very widely.

English degree courses vary significantly in content. I chose Lancaster as I liked that the course wasn't chronological in content - most unis I looked at at the time started with Chaucer then proceeded chronologically until you reached postmodern literature. I wanted to study modern, postcolonial and postmodern literature principally so I chose a course that focussed on these aspects more. If I'd gone elsewhere I'd have been wading through centuries of novels for years before I'd be allowed to study my main passion.

All of this info is available on the university websites - your DD need to look through what courses are offered at each university and work out which one would suit her interests/future career path best.

We looked at the Times uni lists they do every year, where you can view the list by subject. ED had a list of where she wanted to go, and then went from there. We visited as many open days as she could, which really does help give you a feel of what they are like. You should also take into account the student satisfaction ratings of the unis as that says a lot.
From what we have seen of the Russell group unis, they are very good but they are very focused on getting top results. Which is good, but not when it outweighs the health and well being of the students.

Where possible it is worth going to open days for courses which interest your DD. Go to a range and find out which course and institution your DD feels gives the best fit. Not all courses and universities are the same.

Lots of info online re courses - compulsory elements and options. I am in English graduate from the 1980s and chose Southampton because of old English and Middle English options.

Online prospectuses will outline options. Also get her on the student room website and she will find other students to talk to.

I reckon it's time your daughter did some serious thinking and started looking some stuff up herself. (Yes, there is plenty of info available on university websites.)

No in each subject courses vary a lot. My brother dropped out a maths degree as he decided it focused on the wrong sort of maths.

I'd have thought a better starting point would be the kind of literature course that particularly interested her

Is she interested in American and colonial/post-colonial literature. Feminist/LGBT writing? Or is she more interested in the history and evolution of literature written in English - the opportunity to read Chaucer for example?

Bath has an excellent reputation, DD was going to consider Bath over an RG university but in the end she felt she'd be more suited to a different one. I know a professor at Bath, as does DD (they teach her subject so that was part of the reason she rejected it).

I think its really important to find a course where you're happy with the structure /options available. Also look at the national student satisfaction survey results.

Unless you can get in at a Russell Group or doing a degree which is essential for your chosen career, I wouldn't bother.