Reading or Kent University?

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Assuming you have received an identical offer for both, which would you choose as your firm?

To take into account:
Reading has better transport links home.
Kent is higher on league tables, but Reading higher for subject.
Kent took longer to respond (about 2 month) than Reading, less interested and more likely to reject if you're down a grade?

Also don't know the area very well but good pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and shops would be good.

Oh yes, having an interview at Kent on a sunny day absolutely played no part, compared with the grey and cold and snow when I went to another place... it totally did

What I liked about UKC was that you could bump into other students everywhere on campus and in town. Most people were a long way from home so more keen to make friends. I wouldn't say it was a nightclub kind of place but there used to be one in town and now there is one on campus. Most socialising was in the bars and then back to house for house party. Lots of balls and events too. Also loved going to the beach in summer.

All I know about Reading is that it has great shops but it is a lot bigger so it is probably harder to have that student community feel.

Great thread OP! I’m reading becuase DS is putting Kent down as one of his choices, but missed the recent open day. I wonder if they do solo visits.

I don't know Kent at all but I went to Reading (though I left 30 years ago this year) and I liked the campus and the town. That town has changed a lot since then, but probably for the better as far as a student age young person is concerned, as there's a newish big shopping centre and lots of new riverside bars/cafes. The closeness to the rivers (Kennet and Thames) is one of the things that gives Reading its special character IMO. Reading is indeed very convenient for London, for days out, but when I was there I don't remember many people going to London in the evening. There was enough to do in Reading! I actually went to Oxford more often than London as I think that is a beautiful city and well worth a visit now and again.

Great thread OP! I’m reading becuase DS is putting Kent down as one of his choices, but missed the recent open day. I wonder if they do solo visits.

@OnlyonMN you / your DS may have discovered this for yourself by now, but yes, they definitely do - both student-led campus tours and self-guided tours. DD and I went on a tour a couple of weeks ago, with a very enthusiastic and helpful guide. Even totally parched, the campus is very attractive and Canterbury (which is walkable, but there are regular buses) actually even nicer than I remember it from my last visit about 20 years ago. We didn't get to see inside anywhere except the Registry (where the tours start), the 'public' bit of one of the accommodation buildings and the ground floor of the Library, but various departments were pointed out and the Politics one (which would be DD's 'academic home') was one of the more impressive ones.

www.kent.ac.uk/courses/visit/informal/campus-tours.html