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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Sheffield University

35 replies

DreamerStars · 10/07/2011 20:09

DD has an offer to study at Sheffield University this sept although after accepting her offer she now has some concerns and wants to apply again for next year. I just have a few questions. Is Sheffield a top uni? Will going to Sheffield prevent her from getting a good job in the future? What is the likelihood of her getting into a better university with predicted A*AA at A-level - applying for a very competitive subject. Any wise-words i could pass on would be great.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 20:12

Sheffield University is one of the Russell group universities. It is very good with a very good reputation. It will most definitely not hinder her at all. Why do you feel it is not good enough?

What subkect does she want to do?

Ponders · 10/07/2011 20:12

Sheffield is pretty top, actually, though actual topness depends on subject. It's Russell Group for a start!

DS2 is going there - his offer is AAB. A friend of his with excellent predicted grades didn't even get an offer.

katz · 10/07/2011 20:18

I went to Sheffield Uni and have gone on to do a PhD and now have a good job - so nope not stopped me, same for DH and most of our friends! i also think you can see what % of graduates from a specific course are now employed.

Sheffield always used to have the highest number of graduates who don't leave after graduation. As somewhere to live it is possible to do both extremes, the luxury student life or the cheap house share.

Sheffield is top of the students polls on student experience.

What course is she planning on doing?

ajandjjmum · 10/07/2011 20:19

My DS is at Sheffield and is very happy there.

Having said that, he is conscious that it isn't considered one of the very top unis. Durham was his firm and wanted AAA, he got A*AB and they didn't accept him. He has said that he will do his degree at Sheffield, and then do a Masters/PHD at a more prestigious uni.

He turned down an offer to UCL for AAB, and when I asked him recently if he ever regretted not using that as his insurance, he said that he did.

It is a very friendly uni, and everyone you speak to who went to Sheffield seems to have very fond memories of their time there.

Ponders · 10/07/2011 20:22

It is top 10 for many subjects - have a look at

\link{http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings\Complete University Guide}
\link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2011/may/17/university-league-table-2012\Guardian guide}

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 20:22

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities/

One of the Russell Group univeristies - so one of the top 20 in the country.

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 20:25

It is also in the top 100 top universities int he world, along with only 11 other English universities. As reported by The Times in 2011.

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 20:26

Should say British, not English, sorry

cat64 · 10/07/2011 20:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Ponders · 10/07/2011 20:30

You are right, cat - a very important point!

Ponders · 10/07/2011 20:32

however, if the perceived calibre of the university she goes to is more important than the cost of tuition, then applying next year with achieved A*AA would probably improve her chances (esp as numbers applying are very likely to be quite a bit lower next year because of the finances)

Original poster

DreamerStars · 10/07/2011 21:01

Thanks for everyones advice. The increase in fees is the main reason why i am trying to disuade her from withdrawing her place. Personally I loved Sheffield when i visited for the open day but i know she could do better (though she doesn't know this). Her subject is History. I think the best idea is for her to wait for her results to see whether her actual grades are close to her predicted. Helping our DC apply for universities is very stressful, even more so when your child is so unsure.

OP posts:

kingprawntikka · 10/07/2011 21:16

If look at the UCAS site there is a way you can reject your place when the results come out if you have done particularly well and try for a place at a better uni. I aren't quite sure what its called , but its a bit like clearing but in reverse.

Ponders · 10/07/2011 21:16

where were her other offers from, & what were they?

ggirl · 10/07/2011 21:18

Hope it's a good uni
Dd is starting there this september.

kingprawntikka · 10/07/2011 21:20

Link
www.ucas.com/students/nextsteps/adjustment/

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 21:22

Friend read History at Sheffield and has done very well from it.

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 21:23

OP - where would you prefer she went btw?

Hulababy · 10/07/2011 21:28

It is ranked as 14th university for history:

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=History

Ranked Number 1 for student experience and 3rd for teaching standards.

Soozisoo59 · 10/07/2011 21:33

My son's just finished his degree at Sheffield Uni and has walked straight into a job in London on a graduate programme. He loved the place and the people.

ajandjjmum · 10/07/2011 21:43

ggirl
The kids I know who are at Sheffield - including DS - are very happy. I'm sure your DD will love it!

ggirl · 10/07/2011 21:44

thanks,yes I'm sure she will
she's really looking forward to it

Original poster

DreamerStars · 10/07/2011 21:57

Thanks for the link about adjustment, it seems like a path she could go down. She had offers from York, Leeds, Bristol and got rejected from Oxford. It seems as if Sheffield is a perfectly decent university to attend and the prospects after graduation look good. I would have liked her to attend Bristol but it is her choice to make.

OP posts:

Ponders · 10/07/2011 22:06

mine was rejected by Oxford too, DreamerStars, & also by LSE (he's in for Politics/Philosophy)

He had offers from York & Exeter as well as Sheffield; Exeter was too far (we're in the NW) & Sheffield just sounded like the best town for him, with the campus & accommodation being close to the centre, & lots going on. I believe it's pretty cheap to live there too which is always a bonus

katz · 10/07/2011 22:06

DH, who did history at Sheffield, says Ian Kershaw who is the world leading historian on Nazi German has recently retired from teaching at sheffield university.

Sheffield has a really good reputation. We know several Sheffield history graduates and all of them are doing the jobs they wanted to do.

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