need you advice to stop me obsessing

[gaveitago]

Hello this is my first post so a little nervous.
My ds 1 did less well in his A levels than expected (a bright boy with dyslexia and a girlfriend - not a good combination for working hard)
He refused to consider re takes (against his school's advice - who thought he was capable of much more)
So through clearing he got into a "not very good" uni -but doing the course he wanted - chemical engineering.
So what do you think - is a good course from a "bad" uni better than a bad course from a "good" uni?

Hello and welcome :)
I think that the course is as good as the lecturers who teach it, not the uni TBH.
I have just graduated from a Uni that comes quite low on the league tables. the course was great and very challenging and I have a well respected degree, and a good job now too :)

Thanks, that's what I need to hear-I know I'm being silly- probably mixed with ds leaving home worries.

Thanks for the advice QT

very good advise -in my experience chemical engineers are well sort after - and leads to lots of oppertunties wherever they went to - totally agree with QT about work experience and 2:1 if possible

Brilliant course, brilliant prospects.

So your DS got in this year and is paying fees at £3000pa instead of £9000pa next year? Don't blame him!

the other important thing is that he got the course he wanted rather than a good uni with a course he didn't want to do, if he had done a course he didn't want to do then he would get bored easily and most likely fail due to lack of interest.

I really shouldn't say this if we are trying to stop you obsessing, but do you know that students sometimes transfer from one University to another? Is this something you could investigate without implying to your DS that you think that he has make a poor choice that you don't respect.
I don't know how often students up-trade; neighbour's DD down-traded from a Russell Group to an ex-FE-College (because she was missing the boyfriend) but it all ended happily when she graduated with a good result and went straight into employment.

Thanks again, just got in from work and so happy to hear responses- a few kind words (that really I could have said to myself) go a long way.
Just in case I continue to obsess - how would I go about investigating transfer - contact uni direct?
He had such good feed back from his interviews - got 5 glowing Russell group offers- would they still have him on file?

Sorry, giveitago, I have no idea about transfers - I was waiting for an Admissions Tutor to step in and be knowledgeable. Perhaps if you post a new thread with that query in the title you might get some response. The logistics are a bit difficult: DS will spend the first term getting to know new friends. Around Christmas time, those friends will club together and organise a house-share for year 2. I presume DS won't know if he will get his transfer until after the results of his year 1 exams, if they are good enough. He will then need to let down his house-share, move away from existing friends, move to the new University at short notice with no accommodation sorted and try to make new friends when they are already in established groups. It will be stressful.

(Sorry. Had to start a new post because my return button is not working so I can't split it into paragraphs) The only other thing I can think of, and I don't know if this ever happens, is to see if he can transfer now. There are always a few who drop out within weeks of starting for various reasons. I don't know if anyone ever takes up the empty places. I have no idea if this would be a runner this year anyway, with huge over-subscriptions due to the fee increase.

I think its very unlikely that he can transfer now, even if there are drop outs early on most courses close at enrolment (probably last week).

I would only consider a transfer if he is really unhappy with the course, and he will need to get outstanding results if he wants to trade up uni's, so to speak.

If he does want to transfer after year one into year two of same course in another uni they will look at the compatibility of the courses - has he completed the same modules etc. if not he may be able to transfer but they will ask him to go into first year again.

If I was him, for simplicity sake, I would consider finishing his current degree (all going well) and getting good results! Then look into post grad stuff at a better uni. Unless the current employment climate improves dramatically this will probably be the best way of improving his chances in the job market. That and work experience as already mentioned.