The University of Essex? DS wants to pick it over Cambridge...

[DylanandDarcy]

Does anyone know if this uni is any good. DS wants to pick it over Cambridge!!

Very worried about this. Any advice??

[sanam2010]

to add a different perspective. A friend of mine applied to master's in a Science at Cambridge and another much lesser uni (not Essex but something along the lines = don't want to be too specific about the subjects so he is not identifiable but let's say relevant for your DS) that offered a smaller more specialised, applied course. Did not get into Cambridge at the time, went to the lesser uni, did extremely well, published papers etc, then went to Cambridge for his PhD. He was really disappointed by his experience at Cambridge. Said many of his fellow students were far less engaged and interested in the subject than at the lesser uni - many were there somehow because they wanted to be at Cambridge, not so much for the subject matter. Professors were far less involved, students more arrogant and actually quite lazy and complacent. He was far more impressed by the quality of his master's.

That said, of course in terms of his CV, Cambridge helped immensely in job search etc.. But I'd say doing undergrad at a smaller, friendlier uni, finding out what he is really passionate about and maybe reevaluating for a master's degree is a perfectly good path as well. I think my friend's experience of meeting lots of kids at Cambridge who were doing a degree just because their (independent) school had steered them towards it to optimise their Oxbridge admissions ratio rather than bc they loved the subject is quite common. So the suggestion by many on this thread that his peers in Cambridge will be far brighter may be true in terms of their IQ, but they may not necessarily more engaged or passionate about the subject they are studying.

[firsttimemum15]

Good point sanam

[apparentlymynamewastoo]

Hi

I work at Essex, though a different department.

It is a fantastic university for someone who may be a little worried about being way from home - it's a very family-based uni with a cracking community. We also really care about our students and are very hot on their progress. I have worked at other universities and Essex is the best on that.

However Cambridge is something to really consider (stating the obvious!) but if he is going to be miserable and end up dropping out then would be a maybe Essex would be a better bet.

It's certainly not racist... No idea where that came from - diversity of all sorts is championed.

Best of luck in his decision.

[ridinghighinapril]

I really feel for you OP - you want your son to be happy in the short and long term and what you want/need is a crystal ball.
Every PP has responded with the best intentions but, between the two of you, you need to get to the root cause of his concerns and figure a way to make the right choice for him.
For me, what works best is to decide which option I would regret NOT taking the most. This may be over simplifying your situation but people generally regret not doing something rather than regret doing something, IYSWIM.
And never look back!
Good luck!

[WombatChocolate]

I'm not sure the ops son has actually got a Cambridge offer, but is perhaps just loosely considering applying.
The comments by the Op suggest to me that he either hasn't got his a level results yet, or isn't fully aware of the entry requirement differences between the 2 places. This is because v.few people who are serious contenders for Cambridge will have Essex as their back up.
I see the ops question as a sort of speculative 'where shall he apply' question rather than a 'which offer should we accept'. I might be wrong.

[bojorojo]

I think the OPs DS is a bit immature and wants to stay at home with his friends. It is a cosy future and he clearly sees academics as less important place to home and friends and lacks confidence. This situation is fairly common these days as lesser schools develop relationships with lesser universities. The young person sees this as an ideal solution without realising the implications of their choices later on. Of course he could end up working at Essex University, so job done! (In his mind). Perhaps he doesn't want a wider world? Not everyone is ambitious and if he cannot work out train fares, this is worrying! What about Queen Mary University - at least that is East End and RG.

I think he needs to grow up and the school needs a much more influential input. He obviously wants an easy life and has had limited exposure to the wider world.

[QOD]

I have this on a more minor scale, dd has an unconditional offer to City London (top 40) - bloody unconditional!! But is adamant she is going to our closest which is ranked waaaay outside top 100
But I've gone with the it's her life, her debt, her decision and luckily hers is a subject that, like nursing, you just are one when you qualify (trying not to out myself)

[QOD]

Oh and they've not even given her a conditional yet

[ErrolTheDragon]

Wombat She said he'd applied this academic year. So at this point he has an offer from Cambridge (unless he was rejected and he's telling his mum he'd prefer essex rather than admit it.)

Actually, if you look at a map of university locations, if someone lives in chelmsford and doesn't want to go too far away then the options are rather limited. Various London (but imo commuting would be impractical for a STEM course with full lecture/lab load, and clearly if living costs are an issue they're a no-no). Anglia ruskin (but their bioscience seems to be in peterborough, which isn't near when I made my comments upthread I only knew it had a Cambridge site, and the rankings are way low). UEA is a very respectable 22 in the times leage table for biolo. Sci. but its really not that easy to get from chelmsford to norwich. So if location is a major factor for this lad then Cambridge and Essex are about it.

[BlisseyMon]

I'm still confused. It be really impressive if the DS actually had an offer from Cambridge when he is apparently so ambivalent about it.

[MaroonPencil]

Blissey I apologise, I thought you were when you were

[MaroonPencil]

I am basically too old for emoticons

[nightswimming1]

Perhaps one person's perception was that Cambridge grad scientists were less passionate about their subject and just "there for the name". I know dozens of Cambridge scientists who would tell you that is absolutely not the case. You don't get a reputation as one of the world's best universities for science on the cutting edge of research with a bunch of people there who lack passion and commitment.
I'm a bit confused whether OP's boy actually has this offer or not but if he's serious about a science career it would be madness to turn it down.

[ErrolTheDragon]

He may have applied there not thinking he had much chance of an offer - it doesn't sound like he's brimming with confidence. And now he has, the prospect of actually having to leave home is hitting him and he's got cold feet. Or maybe he's come across tales of financial woe which are scaring him. I remember having a moment or two of terror as I packed my trunk for uni, and when tuition fees/loans came in thinking that might have put me off going. But I know that it would have been a huge mistake!

[Crunchyside]

He says he prefers that it's closer and likes the atmosphere more...

This is the reason I went to Sussex Uni instead of Cambridge. Yes, I would have had a higher quality education and better opportunities graduating from Cambridge but that's not the only priority when making these decisions. It's not just about prestige but about happiness and fulfillment.

I've still had a great career after uni. I often reflect back and wonder what life would have been like if I'd gone to Cambridge and to be honest I am not sure if I'd have coped with the pressure, I also might have struggled to fit in with the other students, it could have actually led me down a really negative path and I could have ended up depressed, anxious, overworked etc. Of course it also could have been brilliant and great but I just have this funny feeling it wouldn't have been.

I met my husband at uni and we now have a little family, own a great house and good jobs, have a really good work-life balance and so on. I really can't imagine any circumstances under which I'd be happier having gone to Cambridge!

[BlisseyMon]

MaroonPencil. Thanks,

I didn't phrase my earlier post very well and I can see it could come across more than .

.... In truth I was probably aiming somewhere between the two.

[unfortunateevents]

I think we're all talking around in circles when the OP has been so vague and still hasn't confirmed whether her DS has a place at Cambridge or not. She said he is Year 13, has already submitted his UCAS form and if he applied for Cambridge he will already have an offer (or not). Difficult to bother spending time on this topic when we don't know if we are talking about some hypothetical situation or an actual choice.

[DylanandDarcy]

He has an offer.

[MsJuniper]

I don't understand why the op is being evasive but my two-penn'orth is:

a) is there a romantic interest at play?

b) what is his general self-belief like?

Fwiw I didn't apply to Oxbridge because I had very low self-esteem and always wished someone (my Mum) had said they believed in me and encouraged me more. In fact several yrs later my DM said she had been disappointed I hadn't applied. I did reasonably well at the university I went to but I think I have always needed that push - my own failing, I realise.

[PeachyImpeachment]

I actually don't think we can decide, OP, without knowing your son and his character, ability to cope with pressure etc. Crunchy has a point.

If it just financial, then he could well waste his money going to Essex and going to Cambridge will potentially bless to a far greater financial gain in the medium to long term.

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

I might be wrong but I don't think.the OP is being evasive, it's more that she doesn't understand the system. She said herself that she'd never been to university. It's difficult to follow the system or know about uni league tables etc if you're not experienced with it and don't know people who are.

Sometimes MN is a bit of a middle class clique and accusing posters of being evasive rather than having some empathy is symptomatic of that.

[MsJuniper]

My post crossed with the op clarifying so I apologise for saying that - the previous post from op had said she'd be back to answer questions but hadn't and it seemed (up till her reply) like she didn't want to tell us.

I am far from being part of a mc clique.

[onadifferentplanet]

Presumably if he has an offer he originally wanted to go enough to apply and go through the interview. Has something since changed that makes him want to stay at home?

[ChocolateWombat]

Just out of interest, what are the offers for Cambridge and for Essex? What grades does he need for each?
Well done him for getting the offer for Cambridge.

I would suggest that he speaks to his school or college about his feelings and also that he contacts the Cambridge college (which is it?) to talk it through as well. OP, discourage him from a knee jerk reaction but ask him to wait a bit and talk to people and seek advice.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Ona - the OP has already explained that:

He changed his mind because he is worried about money and moving away. He was trying to take the plunge and still might but is speaking very highly of Essex and it seems to be his favourite. He knows he will get a loan but still worries about this (we don't have much money).

It seems quite simple - he likes Essex and the prospect of going there doesn't scare him.