Bristol or Exeter

[andwhy]

My daughter needs to firm her uni choice very soon and is changing her mind daily. Does anyone have any knowledge as to why one might be better/nicer/different than the other, please. All opinions considered. Thank you

Exeter over Bristol.anyday. Bristol has a really seedy and grim feel to it at night. Exeter has so much less crime and more of a friendly vibe.

Have done degrees in both and therefore lived in both, and have recent experience of both. As others have said it depends very much on what your dd is like as a person and what she wants. Bristol- city, Exeter- feels a bit provincial. Bristol - a bit spread out but pretty easy to get around, Exeter - campus etc. Overall despite not being a party girl I preferred Bristol as a place to be - beautiful in lots of places, green, lively, loads to do, good connections.

@andwhy I think lots of posters are out of date. Bristol did have a poor reputation for pastoral care as some parents went to the national press. Likewise about behaviour of some students at Warwick. However Bristol has responded well to criticism and frankly, there are student suicides everywhere! Not just at Bristol! Of course most students never need pastoral care. If dc might, look into provision.

Back in the dark ages DD went to Bristol and had friends doing Economics. As a student DD didn’t go into the Centre much and mostly stayed around Clifton. All cities have homeless people. Have you never been to Oxford! Who turns a uni down based on this? I could show you “gritty” in Oxford too! In Bristol, students stay in the city centre halls if they want pubs and clubs. Clifton is slightly different with very expensive real estate so prospective students don’t have to be in the centre and can go somewhere a bit more laid back.

Exeter is campus but obviously students are in the city after that. Less going on but obviously that suits some. CUG puts Exeter above Bristol but in terms of jobs, probably not much difference. Dc have to want the city jobs! And the long hours. Friend’s DC didn’t and stayed on for doctorate and teaches Economics at Bristol. Bristol does have a reputation regarding being on the radar of employers though. The students who were friends with DD all made huge efforts to get very good jobs.

I discouraged all of mine from applying to Exeter as it’s a pain to get to unless you live in the SW!

Bristol definitely used to have a very good reputation, lots of unsuccessful Oxbridge graduates used to go there.

I would say it depends on what your Dd is like. Exeter is very small, Bristol much bigger & grittier.

Both my ds’s had offers from Bristol. I did not feel it would suit Ds1 as he was very young & unworldly. The city centre certainly has an edgy feel. He went for Bath instead. Though he will be working in Bristol after graduation & I know lots of young people who have moved there for work. It seems very popular

Ds2 decided to go for a northern uni instead. He would have been fine at Bristol.

With regards to Homelessness being in most cities I spend quite a lot of time in both Leeds and Manchester and have witnessed it there but Bristol was far worse just based on the brief visit I made there.
I am not saying that is a reason not to go though

I live not far from Exeter and I would definitely choose Bristol.

It is funny how people view things and experience things. My husband is disabled, we live near Exeter and often visit Bristol. I find people in Bristol so much more friendly and helpful. I asked for directions one day, I'm 70 and this woman was probably ten years old than me, she insisted on walking out of her way to show me a shortcut and that's typical of Bristol. I've been at St David's in Exeter and Temple Meads in Bristol when trains were cancelled. In Exeter I got no help, in Bristol staff were lovely and as we sat and waited for the replacement train other travellers were also lovely.

None of that very relevant to picking a university but Exeter friendly? Not in my experience.

DD finished in Bristol last year, she had a good uni experience. None of the predicted housing issues.
There was a thread on here (last September?) about Exeter being quite cliquey, can't find though, and also this one
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5061799-exeter-uni-punished-for-being-gc
Having said that, the Exeter students I know, including my sporty Goddaughter a current student, have an enjoyable time.

DD is at Bristol and loves it
She does not feel unsafe and is often out at night with friends
Really depends on the individual. Dd is very outgoing loves city life. However, a less outgoing student may find it difficult to adjust.
DD went to the Exeter open day but didn’t like it. She went to Bristol and loved it.
As others have said, Bristol did have a bad reputation for pastoral care but there have been many positive changes due to the negative media attention.
Bristol is definitely one of the universities which is often on the radar of top companies.
The main issue is that Bristol is very expensive and as a result I actually wish dd attended a university up Notth

Am a current student at Bristol. I also had an offer from Exeter.

I couldn’t recommend Bristol any more highly, their pastoral care of me has been absolutely outstanding. I’ve had very very difficult circumstances and they’ve been fantastic. Lecturers are great, very responsive and open to feedback. Loved the course, got a first and onto a top grad scheme as a mature student with kids. I don’t live in the city but I like it, Exeter felt a bit private school Surrey horse chic to me. Very staid and not much going on. Bristol felt friendlier as an institution I think.

I’ve lived in both but haven’t studied in either. Bristol is bigger, more happening culturally and Bristolians are friendlier. Exeter is smaller and prettier, but less diverse.

This is now outdated and because of the previous issues Bristol gave really upped their game over student wellbeing.

They check in to lectures and seminars by app and if they don't they are sent a message they have to respond to and if they don't wellbeing checks are done in person.

🤣🤣🤣 The urban grittiness of Bristol - behave.

Dd has firmed Bristol as her first choice (got a place at Exeter too) simply as she knows so many people there having a fantastic time including her db! She is a bit of a party girl and coming from a “naice” town in the north-west wants a proper uni experience- I think she was worried Exeter would be a bit boring and small (ruled out Durham for the same reasons).

She is going to be doing geography and seems to think Bristol is better regarded (they also wanted higher grades). I am slightly concerned about the housing situation but we’ll worry about that later!

The housing situation is much exaggerated. If she wants a larger house say people before Christmas, 4-6 people after Christmas to February/March.

Use contacts she makes with older students in societies or sports to see if she can get first dibs on their houses.

Thank you everyone for your opinions. It's helped me to think a that maybe there isn't a right or wrong and that she will be okay with whichever she decides

It’s also fair to say that not all Bristol students are into going out and drinking. After year 1 it calms down. By final year. DD and friends in her flat were throwing dinner parties. They had the luxury of a very large dining table! They do mature a bit! Skills are honed in surprising ways.

Ds is at Bristol (just finishing second year) and coming from small village life wanted halls in the centre of the city. He is not a drinker or party boy but has really enjoyed both the Uni and the City. He loves it and in fact got a job and spent the whole summer there last year as his halls and second year accommodation overlapped. The city is small and so accessible and he loves the freedom it brings.

I think from all the opinions on this thread you can safely relax whatever choice your dd makes, both Uni's are excellent. Best of luck to her.

Thank you and yes this chat and a chat with a friend last night who's ds was at Bristol 2 years ago, has put my mind at rest a bit. Now just want her to get it done before the A levels begin!!

Would agree with this. Academically, they are both well though of.

Has she visited both on a working day? My DD put a huge amount of store in how it felt and the other people she saw whilst there. How comfortable and at ease she felt. And it’s her decision.

She had an offer from Exeter but ruled it out based on her feelings about it after our visit.

Where many students socialise, there is no urban grittiness!!! Total myth. Clifton isn’t like that. Centre is but easily avoided. It’s a big enough place to not go where you don’t like. Halls in SB are totally not gritty!

Urban grittiness did make me smile. No idea where to find that in Bristol (but mine grew up near Hounslow so it's all relative I suppose) ! Lots of Banksy's work though. Clifton is v pretty and leafy, especially up by the bridge. The Downs are lovely. And the city centre and old docks are full of rather nice shops, bars and clubs.
My v normal comp educated not particularly confident child has had an absolute ball in Bristol. Loves the city, the course, made amazing friends, beach not far away and Uni were incredible during Covid.
They don't do her course at Exeter but I know it's a nice place to live too. Wherever they go will be the 'best place'.

I had a Dc at Bristol and they loved it. The city with its history, huge vibrant cultural offer, the landscape etc. One minute down by the dock area, great street food, atmosphere and quirky clubbing scene, the next up on the downs with the wild goats, and all within walking distance.

Cheap coach to London (home).

The accommodation is more expensive than in some other cities but I suspect Dc would have felt a campus Uni was stultifying.

It’s a very individual choice and if your Dd prefers Bristol then she is making a good choice. Same for Exeter, so I would leave it to her.

Exeter has a reputation for having a ‘posh’ student demography, if that is a factor either way (or even true). And less diverse. There was some publicity about at least two scandals in the last few years.

If you are spending time in Bristol, there is a lovely tour of the Wills Memorial tower that runs on Saturdays that you can do. The building is still used to teach law and earth sciences, so you'll see the mix of students and a couple of the libraries. We really enjoyed it when we visited Bristol.