Son can't decide which uni. Help!

[debbner]

My son is in year 13 and has applied for uni and been accepted to 5 with conditional offers. He has narrowed down his choices to the last 3, Lincoln, Kent, or University of East Anglia to do Film Studies or Film and TV Studies. However, he can't seem to decide between those ones, which to put down for his first and insurance choice. We have tried talking to him about it but it ends in tension and it would be helpful if he could at least try to make up his mind. He went to all three Open Days but still seems reluctant to choose. Maybe he's reluctant in case he gets it wrong? Maybe he's reluctant because he's just not ready for University although when we query that he does say he wants to go? Any advice gratefully received.

Why is it tense?

Have his school offered any guidance?

Maybe this is one to leave in his hands, but you could help him by asking what are the pros and cons of each location and each course.

Lincoln is a nice town but don’t know anything about the university. EA has a poor reputation. Don’t know anything about Kent.

What does he want to do with the degree?

When we went through similar, I got out a huge piece of paper. I got DS to write the uni names at the top, then down the side all the different things that he thought would affect his choice. E.g. location (how much he likes the city/town, ease of transport info town (buses etc) quality of accommodation, costs of accommodation, ease of getting home at weekends, as well as various aspects of the course. He then marked each section out of 10. He reached a decision that way, and he’s happy where he is!

He has another 3 months to decide! Do any have offer-holder days? I would have thought UEA and Kent have more established courses.

He could try looking at the student room website, might get more specific information there.

Have they all made the same offer? Is the offer(s) achievable?

"EA has a poor reputation" - really????

What about accommodation, sports facilities, access - is there good public transport, social scene - there is usually points for how good or not the night life is. Size of class, size of uni (no of students) etc

Thanks for suggestions so far. We have tried to go through pros and cons of each but he seems so reluctant to make a decision. We know there is still time before he makes a final choice but I can’t see anything making much of a difference. His Dad and I both have 2 preferences but ultimately it should be his decision shouldn’t it?

UEA or KENT IMHO and IME (or rather DC)

Has he booked Offer holder days? That should give him a better more focussed look at the course and the accommodation/environment of each choice

This table strongly suggests Kent for first choice. It is no. 3 in the country for this subject.

Not a lot of distance between the respective rankings of UEA and Lincoln in the table but I'd say UEA is the more established uni.

EA has a poor reputation.

Racedriver - Are you sure you’re talking about the right university re: UEA? Pls check and reconfirm that, I know some people mix it up with others sometimes.

I would look at the numbers in grad employment at each. With a practical course that’s the number one issue. Also industry contacts and placements are vital. All courses will be ok, but do they lead to a job in his chosen field? If he just wants fun, then anywhere will do.

EA has a poor reputation

@Racecardriver - where and for what, exactly?

@marchingfrogs for not being a proper university. I really don’t know anything about it other than what people have said in passing (used to live in the area).

I really don’t know anything about it

UEA isn’t a proper university?? Is this a wind up? It might be better not to comment, racecar,if you have absolutely no idea about the university you are passing comment on! In fact you didn’t even know it was a university!

Kent!!!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_East_Anglia
Type Public research university
Established 1963

www.uea.ac.uk/about/our-university/history

So, not even a former poly (not that there is anything the matter with those). A proper university, right from the outset. Just like, ooh...Oxford, or...

Kent
But go to a few offer open days to narrow down your choices.

UEA from Wikipedia

The university is ranked 13th in the UK by The Times and Sunday Times, 14th by The Complete University Guide and 18th by The Guardian.

Not sure if that is 2018 or 2019 though, certainly not a university with a poor reputation.
Again though, it depends on personal choice

Really, the course content is the thing, but one thing that distinguishes two of the three universities (Kent, UEA) from the third is that they are 'discrete campus' universities a short distance outside (cathedral) cities (Kent is within walking distance, if you like walking), as opposed to in a (cathedral) city. (The cathedral bit, obviously, may be completely irrelevant to the average student). Hills involved with all three. Some people (DD is one of them) have strong views about whether or not they feel happier with a proper campus, others really aren't bothered.

UEA has a 50m swimming pool (again, may be totally irrelevant).

Racecardriver, are you perhaps thinking of NUA rather than UEA? Still a proper university, though, just a much more specialised one.

I've worked in TV & Film for quite some time now. Most people in the industry would agree that an apprenticeship is the best way to go. You don't learn the practical skills you need to work in this world at uni, so if his heart is really set on this as a career, I would consider steering him towards an apprenticeship route.