Universities to do English Lit for quiet/shy DD

Depends how much you rate the league tables really.

Some lower ranking unis can actually offer a good experience and outcomes.

Have you a suggestion?

I’m always bemused as to why posters don’t read that DD is likely to get ABB. Then go on to suggest St Andrews, York and Exeter. However both York and exter have English in clearing. This is no longer the competitive subject it was. I doubt they would offer on ABB initially though.

Equally why suggest unis that are 61st, 64th and 79th in the CUG for English! Surely somewhere in 10-40 range would be better and forget the quiet student bit. There are all sorts of students everywhere. As for no parties at St Andrews! Really!!!

My dds were both quiet, non party types.

One went to Swansea for Eng lit and ended up changing course to include a year abroad. Was encouraged to stretch herself gently and she loved it.

One went to Bath, STEM based course...loved the place, hated the course... very good pastoral support got her through it.

Neither were "forced" to go out, both chose their housemates wisely.

Yes, I was going to say something similar. Quite a few of the suggestions on here would be unlikely to offer to a student predicted ABB.

If your DD doing an EPQ, OP? Quite a few universities will drop an offer grade if there is an A or A star in EPQ. (Birmingham offer is ABB with a high grade EPQ, for instance).

I would also suggest not focussing on the "party" aspect of the university so much. Most universities will have a mix of lively and quieter people. I will also tell you that I would very much have described my DD as "not a party person" at the end of Year 12, but once A Levels were over she suddenly made a whole lot of different friends and was out practically every night. It is an age where they can change a lot!

@Kimmerer Some universities do run campus tours during the summer (Kent certainly used to), but has your DD actually been to any open days at all so far, or at least looked at universities online / chatted with schoolfriends who have been to open days, to form some opinions of her own about potential places to apply? It seems a little odd if she hasn't, if you are the one who wants ger to plan for a gap year. Open days will start up again in September, but there will be more than one on a given weekend and many schools have a cap on the number of school days which can be taken off for university visits.

The UCAS site has a search facility for courses and can be filtered by region / grades / year of entry etc.

However, moving on, I would also suggest she looks at UEA (although there are cuts happening there, too, of course, but she needs to be mindful of the possibility of modules being cut for this reason anywhere, plus lead academics do move on or go on sabbatical etc). DS2 has just graduated from there, though not in English. There is a reasonable amount going on on campus, and lots of spaces to just chill (the LCR is a venue played by major bands, but she can avoid that), plus lots of quirky arty places and events in the city centre, which is an easy bus ride away (or walking distance, if you're DS2).

We have female students at Lancaster and York who love it. My cousin went to Nottingham very successfully. Get her to look at the societies list as well when she’s exploring courses

She should aim for the best university she can get into, and one of the elements she takes into account when deciding what makes a good university should be support in finding graduate level employment when she graduates.

All universities are not created equal. All universities have a wide range of personality types among the student body.

One of the goals of a student contemplating third level education should be stretching herself or challenging herself, perhaps exploring beyond her self perception or the image of herself she has established in school thus far. Finding a university where she would be comfortable doing that might be a good idea?

York was at the top of the league for English Lit in recent years (they may still be) so ABB might not cut it as they have so many AAA and above applications, but York is great in terms of pastoral care. They really go the extra mile to build resilience without mollycoddling their students BUT as any other university, they can only do this if the student is willing and able to access the opportunities on offer.

In terms of a going to a quiet university. There is no such a thing, every university has every kind of student from those who spend the time studying and eating alone in their rooms to those who are out with their friends partying all the time and are hardly ever at the classroom.

She needs to find her niche so, if she is very shy, having a year off working to allow her to become more confident before going to uni, is an excellent idea.

English , obviously!!!

Those are both in the top 10 for English. Most students at Warwick and York have A stars and As , which is why I asked about general ability. York especially is hard to get into for English.

They are both selecting unis.

Sorry if that sounds harsh. I'm an Englosh teacher though so have a bit of knowledge. I do have 4 ex students at Warwick with lower grades, mind.

DS has a friend at Warwick who is a lovely quiet, very intelligent boy. He's found the social scene a bit excluding and can confirm to take care over accommodation choices.

Agree about Lancaster and UEA as good for English and not overwhelmingly urban, huge and with a party reputation. Also perhaps Warwick or York? Both amazing for English Lit and quieter campuses.

Royal Holloway is up the road from the not so lovely Egham and is a ghost town most days and always at weekends. The poor girl will stay a shy girl her whole 3 years there because they’ll be no one around to be friends with!

Chichester is small, and in a 'nice' area.

I'm so pleased that you had such a good experience too @kaylangrish 😊

I am from Worcester too! Great city!

I went to Exeter - fab uni. Plenty for people who aren’t party lovers (I wasn’t at all).

St Andrews is very quiet

Winchester is a lovely smallish Uni which is quite quiet imo.

Haha my inside info is currently about ten years out of date! From the other grads I worked with I understood it to be kind of... posh? Horsey?

I think basically any university is going to be party central though! They are teenagers after all. God knows Bristol and Bath were.

It’s like a 2hr direct train from London. Obviously depends where the OP lives but I wouldn’t say it’s a real pain to get to.

Yes I think they’re slashing lots of module options in English, certainly something to ask about.

Surely friendly students can go to clubs too? Or have a drink?

I have just finished at UoR as well (although not English), I was incredibly shy when I started and not a party girl / drinker, but the environment was one that encouraged growth and community and I found friends who also didn't drink / like nightclubs. I know I can't speak for everyone's experiences but on the whole Reading always felt like a friendly university 😀.

@LightFull You forgot Newcastle! And Sheffield! And Nottingham! Plus most others. That’s the point, it’s easy to find party people and quiet people. No uni will be universally quiet. Bigger unis have quiet halls. Ask for one. Also at 17, DC don’t always know who they are. Uni gives alternative experiences and quiet dc become less quiet. That’s positive and they grow in confidence.

Another suggestion for UEA ( based just outside Norwich). Lovely campus. Uni has a very friendly feel, and it has good support services. Standard offer of AAB, but they are generally flexible come results day if they are your first choice.