AIBU to think going to an RG university means absolutely nothing

[Butchyrestingface]

Never one to shy away from a challenge (even if it's a challenge to someone else).

So I went to a RG uni. I didn't even KNOW I'd been to a RG uni until about 15 years after the fact when I joined MN.

Thereafter I referred to it as having gone to a 'Russell Grant' university (bit confused).

AIBU in thinking RG unis are not the be all and end all?

I went in the mid-90s. No teacher at my school ever mentioned RG. I was not aware of it at any of the open days I attended.

During my 4 years at university, it was never mentioned by any of the uni staff, nor did I hear any of my fellow students talk about it.

Makes sense in a way since Google tells me the RG was only founded in 1994, so still in its infancy when I went to uni.

Only when I arrived on Mumsnet and was confronted by everyone yapping about these mysterious Russell Grant universities, did I realise for the first time I'd been to one.

Then when I discovered St Andrews didn't make the cut, I decided the list must be a load of old shite. (love me some St Andrews).

Nobody in my DDs circle is going to an RG university this autumn.

No idea what a Russell grant uni is

I went to uni in the early 90s (Liverpool) and all I remember was it being referred to as a red brick uni.

I think the course and the uni matter, not just the uni. I live in a town with an ‘ex poly’ it does certain subjects much better than RG unis.

Just because you think it it 'unimportant' does not mean the rest of the recruiting population agrees with you, as this thread shows. You may have a strong view and much as you may scream it from the rooftops, that does not make it a universal truth.

Even if it is just branding, why do you want to shut yourself off from certain (and mostly elite) careers.

I do think it reflects a lack of knowledge or reading as to how RG is regarded for recruiting purposes, which is a different not whether you think it is a valid factor.

I trust you are able to see the difference from a critical thinking perspective.

I agree that a degree isn't enough to stand out by itself now.

I'm not sure I agree that graduate schemes filter by uni which is what you are suggesting.

I tend to judge the course , not the university.

Yes, think I was familiar with that term. But I took 'red brick' to mean, old, probably stuffy, non-polytechnic and not the OU.

I wonder if you know the same person as me who was "amazed" when I got an interview for Surrey Uni, as "you're not the demographic for RG"
Surrey isn't even one of the RG unis

Define elite

I've got no idea which unis are RG and only heard the phrase on MN

Exactly what my senior recruitment friend told me. Particularly banking, engineering and finance sectors.

I’ve employed 8 people last year - don’t have a clue if they went to uni never mind which one. Obviously not something like doctors but well paid professionals. I wanted to see a sample of their work and meet them and that was what I cared about. But then different sectors and businesses are all different.

Doesn’t stop several of them being in defect and in financial shit though does it.

Makes sense in a way since Google tells me the RG was only founded in 1994, so still in its infancy when I went to uni.

So that answers your question. Once you went to uni, clearly the prestige of a uni is no longer on your radar.

That said, with dcs that will eventually go to uni and are now at uni, tertiary education is always on my radar. The term is used in the Times and all good schools guides. I am not sure I could not ever come across it or be curious as to what it is.

Do you have dcs in their teens who will have to make UCAS choices soon?

This.
If you are moving into a job which is specific to your degree, they'll know how good the uni is which will be more relevant than a shiny sticker on its marketing material. As I said earlier, the uni I went to wasn't RG but the dept was world leader and well respected in that sector. That opened doors for me that RG uni wouldn't.

Law, finance, consulting, Big4, graduate programmes of big companies.

I am not in tech so cannot comment on what that sector looks for.

I went to one. It was shit frankly and non RG unis in my subject had a better reputation. I work with people from both RG and non RG and you can’t tell the difference

my son started at RG uni last year. Academically he coped well (straight A student) but hated everything else. He’s dropped out and going to a non RG one this year. Most definitely not the be all and end all

I went to one, but graduated in '83, so it didn't exist as a RG uni. Other unis in the city were just as good, IMO.

Touché!!

Wow so applicants from unis like Bath get ignored and discounted even though they are consistently high in the ratings list and higher than many Russel group unis simply because they’re not on an outdated list most couldn’t give a shit about . Not sure I’d want my kids working in such a short sighted environment to be honest .

Not sure why you think poor finances is an indication of a poor quality education.

Please do educate yourself on the reasons why the higher education sector is in crisis. The answer is everywhere and you could not miss it if you just opened your mind a little to informing yourself.

Anyone who knows RG probably also knows that Bath and Loughborough are de facto RG. Bath is an excellent university.

Wasn’t me focusing on finances.

Lots of people don’t want a ‘big standard’ employer. They’d like an employer that has put care and resources into training and career development.

Guess what? That same employer put care and resources into knowing which University is which.