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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Choosing a uni

45 replies

minesawine · 17/10/2018 17:16

I am really struggling to choose a uni with my DS. We wont be able to visit many, so I want to be selective and pick correctly but they all say the same thing and all, on paper, seem equally good. He is not getting any great feeling or desire for any of them except for Loughborough and I am not sure he will get the grades.

I am starting to panic as I keep jumping from website to website, feeling more and more overwhelmed.

Any advice please.

OP posts:
Cherries101 · 20/10/2018 22:24

Economics is considered a mathematical / numerate course while accountancy isn’t. Economics is also more future proof because done at a good uni (Oxford, LSE, Kings, UCL, Leeds, SOAS) it can be a huge stepping stone into finance (and finance systems). I personally would choose LSE if he can get it as that could set him up for life (presuming he achieves at least a 2:1).

OneStepMoreFun · 20/10/2018 22:25

Start by thinking what sort of life he wants while he studies. Big city with loads of clubbing opportunities; small English town, campus? Modern or traditional? Are there extra curricular things that matter to him (being near river or sea for rowing/sailing/surfing)?
In the subject he's keen on, does he follow any authors, researchers etc who teach at one of the unis?
If he can narrow it down by any of these, then he can look online at about 5-8 unis that fit what he's after. See whether he likes the sound of the course they offer, whether he likes and can afford halls there, check how many taught hours they have each week, whether it's a modular degree or not, whether it has options for a year abroad or in industry etc. What sort of salaries and jobs do graduates get? Go and visit the ones he thinks he'll apply to.

Hillarious · 21/10/2018 22:06

We've visited one university and DS has now put his application in. The one we visited was a campus university and it didn't appeal. It felt like Centerparcs with homework!

We'll do open day visits once he gets any offers. DS decided it was a no to London, a no to a campus university and a no to any university too far from home, unless the course was particularly enticing. He also wants to do Economics, so there are lots of universities to choose from.

ShanghaiDiva · 22/10/2018 01:34

Hilarious
My ds is at Warwick and it really is like centre parcs - lots of ducks, swans, geese, ponds etc. ds likes it there, but your comment made me laugh!

TheSandwichFairy · 22/10/2018 01:48

Robert Gordon University

OneStepMoreFun · 22/10/2018 09:09

@ShanghaiDiva Does he like it there? Warwick's on DS2's shortlist.

ShanghaiDiva · 22/10/2018 09:16

One step
Yes, he really likes it there.
What does your ds want to study?

LoniceraJaponica · 22/10/2018 09:22

"If they do a gap year don't they lose all the support of the college for applying in a year's time? "

DD's school have said they will help DD even though she is doing a gap year. She will be sending in her personal statement this week. She said that last year there were several gap year students in school filling in their UCAS applications.

Ophelialovescats · 22/10/2018 09:30

I agree with Madratlady, you really have to take a step back from this and let him do the research (school should support and they are the professionals ) and deciding.
If you become over involved you run the risk of him not coping and coming home part way through the year.

BubblesBuddy · 22/10/2018 10:52

MrsEricBana: Since when did anyone think Exeter was a lower grades university? Look at the grades they ask for and then look at an ex poly such as Oxford Brooks. You will notice quite a difference.

Many Economics courses are harder to get into than Management and Accounting. It all depends on the university though. However earning potential is severely compromised by attending a lower tariff university, even for Economics. It’s not really about the course - it should be about future employment with Economics. A recent report looked at salaries for Economics grads after graduation and LSE grads made nearly 2.5 times as much as those from Wolverhampton. So do the homework about best outcomes, not just course content.

TeenagersDoMyHeadIn · 22/10/2018 11:02

Unless money is no object, keep in mind the costs of accommodation, both the costs of first year university flat/hall and for renting in Y2 onwards, which vary hugely. A generalisation but big midlands and northern cities - Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds are much cheaper than London and Bristol. Travel costs are also a factor depending on how often they come home for the weekend and so on.

Rogueone · 22/10/2018 11:21

We looked at the courses he was interested in, predicted grades and got him to read through the uni info and select a few to visit.. My view was if your going to get into debt it needs to be worth it. Your DS needs to visit, he can see where he will likely be living and get a feel for the place. You can’t base choices on flipping through a magazine. I told my DS to consider an apprenticeship as I wasn’t convinced uni was for him however he was keen.His friends were applying to Leeds, Manchester, Warwick, Exeter, Bristol, Edinburgh and that did influence him a little.... he chose Leeds as his 1st choice and Manchester 2nd We thought he should choose Kings College London but he wasn’t interested as he didn’t want to stay at home. He has loved Leeds, moved out of halls after first year but he is looking forward to finishing up and coming home.... he is desperate to work now Your DS needs to take responsibility for what he chooses, this is a major decision which can affect his future

ifonly4 · 22/10/2018 11:27

OP, we haven't been able to visit all unis DD is applying for.

When trying to chose, get your son to look closely at the modules. Do they interest him? What can the uni offer him outside studies, ie does he enjoy sport, music, has a certain interest now which he could continue in a society there, would he want a bar etc? Some really like a good nightclub, what is there locally to travel to? Sites like whatuni, will show courses relevant to his predicted grades.

DD has had to pick two choices she hasn't visited. There was something in particular she wanted to know before making her final decision on these choices so she phoned the unis herself. Two were helpful, told her what she wanted to know. The other, she spoke to two people who didn't seem too sure about the course and couldn't answer her main query. This helped her greatly as she found she had no confidence in the last uni.

MrsEricBana · 22/10/2018 11:29

Sorry Bubblesbuddy I didn't mean Exeter was a "lower grades university" overall I just meant that ds liked it more than other unis offering his course that do require higher grades for his subject and might be perceived as "better".

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 22/10/2018 11:32

For course:
how much is exam v course work
how much tutor time
how many lectures
how course is taught

Other than course I would look at:
pupil satisfaction
accommodation
local amenities /nightlife
extra curricular/sport (if required)

BubblesBuddy · 22/10/2018 13:18

Rogueone: it is not helpful to tell young people that they have a debt. Very few grads pay back their university loans. Therefore it is not the same as a mortgage or bank loan. I do agree that quality of the course is important but being risk averse because you think DCs will have to pay back every penny of the loan is misinformed. Most people on above average salaries pay very little back. If you earn £100,000 pa, that’s different but your degree will have been well worth it!

The amount of teaching on courses varies and often high quality courses have less teaching because they expect substantial research and self study from students. They are not 6th form extensions. The students are higher calibre and expectations are high. Others do more hand holding and have to teach more because students are lower achieving when they start. This doesn’t always give the best employment outcomes though.

Some of our world class universities don’t have brilliant student satisfaction scores. Imperial and LSE for example. Again if you need a bit more handholding, go for where this is available.

CraftyGin · 22/10/2018 13:47

Remember, the student has five choices. They should choose 2 that are in line with predicted grades, 1stretch, at 2 comfortable.

There is no point in choosing 5 places that are all AAA-AAB.

OneStepMoreFun · 22/10/2018 22:07

@ShanghaiDiva Politics and International Relations. Glad to hear he likes it. We're going to visit it when they next have an open day.

Plessis · 08/11/2018 13:14

If they’ not engaged in choosing the uni how engaged are they likely to be in the actual degree without a parent stood over them?

That's a bit of a stretch! I have helped dd every step of the way looking at and choosing unis.

OP, it took open days to crystallise dds mind. We went to three and it made her realise what she liked and didn't like.

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