Edinburgh or Glasgow uni?

[BeHangryGoldPoet]

Eldest daughter has had offers from Edinburgh and Glasgow universities. Shes torn as to which one to put as her first choice, does anyone have any experiences they can share?
She has some reservations about Edinburgh because she’s been told it can be little cliquey and snobby, but it’s always been her long term dream to go there since she was a little girl. She’s also drawn to Glasgow and can’t decide, but the deadline is coming up. Any insight into the universities and how the student life compares would be brilliant.

Shes moving from North East England and will be studying sociology.

Another way to look at it is to consider the practicalities of it. Which has the more suitable accommodation options for her. And how will she be getting home for holidays?

One other thing to bear in mind is that as an English person it may be easier to 'pass' in Edinburgh. Only half joking, my family is mixed Scots-English and we lived in both countries as children, and got relentlessly bullied in both. Hopefully, things are a bit less divided now, and it won't be much of an issue at University level.

But if Edinburgh is/was the dream, she should go there unless she has a really valid reason not too. She will regret not going more than going and it not being everything she hoped. Plus, Edinburgh is lovely!

I was in the same position, and chose Glasgow because I felt I would not fit in at Edinburgh, working class background and all. Glasgow was a great University and I do not regret it, but my rational was ridiculous.
Later in life I also lived in Edinburgh, and it is a very nice place to live. If I had gone to Edinburgh, I don't think I would have left.

Best of luck making the decision.

You might possibly be better off posting this in Higher Education, @BeHangryGoldPoet . There was a thread a week or so there warning about finances at Edinburgh, though it apparently is one of the richest universities in the UK, and presumably Glasgow is subject to the same pressures.

My DC is trying to make a similar decision at the moment though in a different subject area.

It may be a long way for you but has your daughter been to both for open days? I think both cities have quite a different feel, but are both nice in different ways. I know kids who are having a great time at both. Edinburgh has a reputation for being less friendly but this is obviously anecdote rather than fact. I believe there is a group of very monied 'top private school' type kids at Edinburgh which you might not see at Glasgow, and apparently they are unfriendly even to the minor private school kids 🤔so presumably stick to their own sort. But loads of very nice grounded local kids go to both and they are both huge universities so must have a mix overall!

My DS is at Glasgow, his best friend's at Edinburgh. We're London based - both boys went to the local comp. They're in their third year now. Both are happy academically. My DS loved Glasgow from the start. He's made a whole host of great friends - a real mix of Scots, English and international students. The University's vibrant - lovely area and lots going on. DS has a part time job in a non-student pub, but he doesn't get any hassle about being English. I was a bit concerned about that, but he says it's really not a thing. All in all, the University's great, Glasgow's a very friendly city and he's having a wonderful time. In contrast, his mate at Edinburgh's enjoying it more now, but he's took far longer to settle. Sadly snootiness was a real issue. Not from the Scottish students, but there's a large proportion of English, lots are privately educated and he said he just couldn't seem to fit in. He does like it more now, so has some friends but he's never had as much fun or felt as settled as my son. Obviously this is all highly anecdotal, but given my son's experience I'd say go for Glasgow!

Much less pressure on accommodation in Glasgow according to DD.

I’ve sent her the link to this thread to read over, thanks so much for all of the responses

Accommodation is more expensive in Edinburgh than Glasgow, if renting privately.

It's a while since DD was a student but she was set on going to Edinburgh until she visited it and didn't like the feel of the place, She chose Glasgow and loved it. It's a great place to be a student. There are three universities in the city so lots of students. As a place its much more down to earth than Edinburgh and has the major advantage of less tourists. Anecdotally, other parents I know with with children who went to Edinburgh have commented on the high cost of accommodation there.

I'm went to uni in Edinburgh and live here now so I'm biased! There are posh students but they were a running joke amongst the majority - 'yahs in pashminas'. I'm English & never had any hassle.

Glasgow is a much bigger city, has a higher crime rate & sectarianism is very real. You will see Orange Order marches which are unpleasant. It's a cheaper place to live for a reason. In terms of the city it depends on whether your a 'big city' type person or not. People always say Glaswegians are friendlier but in my experience (including living there) that wasn't true unless you counted being shouted at in the street. I find England south & north to by noticeable friendlier than Scotland generally and I've lived all over.

I know a lot of people who came to uni in Edinburgh (mostly English, some international ) who've never left, and lots of Glasgow people who are Glasgow born and bred, went there for uni and never left. There will probably be more students living at home and commuting in the West. Like I say, I'm biased! Definitely a lot more cultural events and galleries in Edin. Gla used to have a great reputation for live music but I think a lot of venues shut for financial and police reasons.

Can't comment on the strength of uni courses- I'd be astonished if Glasgow wasn't having similar financial problems to Edin - 'free' tuition for Scottish students basically creates a black hole in finances as the gov don't pay enough per student and therefore overseas and English students have been used to prop up finances. Number of overseas students has gone down across the board due to visa changes and competition elsewhere in the world.