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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is anyone prepared to admit their DC does not attend - now or in the future - a Russell Group university

204 replies

TheOliphantintheRoom · 01/10/2019 15:41

Don't be afraid. This is a safe space. MNHQ probably won't ban you. Though you may have to name change.
You can even fess up if your DC didn't go to uni.
Come on - I know you're out there.

OP posts:
Lessstressedhemum · 01/10/2019 23:31

My two eldest sons went to St. Andrews and DD is now at Strathclyde which has the highest rated engineering course of its type in the country. So no RG. It's just a meaningless piece of hype, really. The RG only exists because lots of colleges became unis in the early 1990s and established universities were try to distinguish themselves from the new, upstart ones and make a point.

trilbydoll · 01/10/2019 23:32

I didn't get the grades for Exeter but they offered me the place anyway, I'm not sure I would have done for their league table position. Luckily for them I didn't go Grin but don't go thinking they only take the best, they'll let anyone in!

DDs are only infant school so difficult to know yet but I reckon they might manage unconditional offers Wink

Dljlr · 01/10/2019 23:35

My ds has no intention of going to uni.

He has been fixed on being a police officer since he could walk

Then he'll need to do a policing degree. Google College of Policing. Part of their 'professionalisation', first cohort just started.

Northernsoullover · 01/10/2019 23:42

I live in a city where there is a RG university and an ex poly (actually its not even an ex poly) I promise you that this actually happens in real life when I say I'm in uni I get asked if I'm in only to be met with a kind of 'aw nevermind' look when I say I'm in the ex college... I was actually asked once 'oh couldn't you have gone to the superior RG? No, because they don't do the Chartered body accredited degree there!

MumW · 01/10/2019 23:46

DD1 has just graduated from a old-poly-now-uni and is now working in her subject field

Namechange170518 · 01/10/2019 23:48

I went to a RG uni. I went on the bus to see Ardal O'Hanlons stand up show. I liked it so much I went back to see Harry Hill, and Dave Gorman, and several plays......

SunburstsOrMarbleHalls · 02/10/2019 00:02

DD went to a RG uni.

DS has today filled in his UCAS form he has chosen 3 RG's 2 non RG. His favourite choice by far are the 2 non RG's Lancaster and Royal Holloway.

JaceLancs · 02/10/2019 01:24

I went to RG university 30+ years ago didn’t make at difference - I’ve always been a drifter - these days have a ok career
DD went to non RG dropped out (due to pressure) now happy and successful in another field
DS failed at undergraduate level non RG -re sat- gained degree at pass level whilst doing an internship - now outperforms us both

MadisonAvenue · 02/10/2019 01:31

My oldest son went to a university which wasn’t part of the RG.

My youngest didn’t go to university at all Shock

Mothership4two · 02/10/2019 03:53

My ds doesn't go to a RG uni and neither did I.

recrudescence · 02/10/2019 06:13

Well, your thread title made me laugh OP.

shortsaint · 02/10/2019 08:25

@Namechange170518 Did you go to ... ahem .. Warwick? 🤣

BrigitsBigKnickers · 02/10/2019 09:32

My DD didn't go to an RG uni for the simple reason that none of them had the best course for her subject- if fact one of them we visited was just dire! Scruffy facilities that were more like a 1970s comprehensive school.

The course that she did was the most respected by industry in the country- very high employability.

She got an amazing job after graduating and is now doing a part time masters ( actually that is an RG uni)

Namechange170518 · 02/10/2019 09:42

@shortsaint

Yes! Went as in 'not actually a student, liked to hand around and pretend I was' kinda way Grin

dayslikethese1 · 02/10/2019 09:44

Don't think I did (didn't know what RG was till after graduating). My uni is in the top 10 though last time I looked.

LemonPrism · 02/10/2019 09:51

I didn't go to Russell Group - it's still the 7th best uni across all boards though.

Russell Group doesn't mean everything.

Trebla · 02/10/2019 09:56

I preferred my non RG undergrad to my RG phd. Perhaps though this was age and stage related...

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 02/10/2019 10:11

It’s nothing to be ashamed off, I can’t comment as mine are too young, however my cousins children, 1 went to university and the other didn’t, the one who didn’t is much more successful and happier, they done an apprenticeship, then an athletic scholarship in America.

MulticolourMophead · 02/10/2019 10:13

I'm going to apply as a mature student, having managed to screw up my a levels years ago. Will be applying to a non RG uni. Felt really good there on the open day, an they were very positive about nature students.

Morgan12 · 02/10/2019 10:20

I'd genuinely never heard of this so I googled it and turns out I went to an RG uni for 4 years and never even knew.

So I guess that's how important it is.

FaFoutis · 02/10/2019 10:29

I have worked at RG and non-RG universities. The standard of teaching at nonRG was better. Having said that, I haven't heard anyone use this categorisation in real life anyway.

SusanneLinder · 02/10/2019 10:37

DD1 went to an non RG but good Uni. She dropped out, went back years later and did college and is training to be CA.
DD2 went to a non RG uni to do nursing.
DD3 is at an RG uni, just because it did the course she wanted to do.
No one cares in our house whether you went to Uni or not.

TravellingSpoon · 02/10/2019 11:02

DS is at an ex-poly and very happy.

Trewser · 02/10/2019 11:05

Anyway, the RG unis are like selective schools. They get good results because they take the brightest students. Teaching is often excellent at non RG unis.

Original poster
TheOliphantintheRoom · 02/10/2019 14:23

I haven't heard anyone use this categorisation in real life anyway

Me neither. Must be a pretentious MN thing!

OP posts: