Leeds vs Royal holloway ?

[Helenluvsrob]

I know it boils down to course and what dd thinks but any general comments / dc experience of these universities ?

ive a few thoughts but will wait for yours before I add my 2p worth. Thanks.

I suspect a "large international HQ" in Brussels is not money driven.

Neither of mine are particularly interested in working in the private sector. They may change their minds, but they are young and are seeking to do something they find interesting. Money is not part of their thinking. However it is for others. Individual are motivated differently.

Our observation is that public sector recruitment is not particularly interested in which University, Oxbridge, RG or otherwise. Indeed they make real efforts to spread their net wide. The only advantage DS seems to have by taking quite a rigorous degree, when it has come to internship applications, is that he finds the quantitative competency testing easier, but that is only a small element of what can be a lengthy process.

I don't think I said posh, only repeated Borojo's ex-boarder line. I think it is realistic to accept that kids choose Universities for different reasons. There is a very monied party circuit in London, partly fueled by boarders returning for weekends. (My nieces' rather smart school even provided a coach so they could return most weekends.) My DC and their friends were not part of what was known as the "safe set", and indeed did not want to be part. Both would be wary of the same groups at University, and at minimum would want to avoid halls which had a party reputation. Their observation is that cool kids, though with many exceptions, are not always kind, either to each other or to outsiders. To be "included" you have to "exclude".

(There is another current thread about a posters DD suffering from "mean girls". It happens. The one thing you can be fairly sure of is that RH is not considered cool.)

Its individual. DS was interested solely in course content. This is important to DD, but so is sport.

Bojo There is a very large multinational HQ in Brussels that is driven by something other than money, and is not the EU. It is not a company in the private sector. Ds will be working either in the archives or the multi media library, which as he wants to do an MA in Public History, gives him some experience, adds to his experience of living abroad, will hopefully refresh his Flemish and French, and get him a security clearance, which is always useful to have. It's a couple of months in the summer. It's not money driven, given the pay. It's also unusual to get a student job in Belgium as there are very restrictive rules on student jobs here, but they don't apply to this organisation. It will look good on the CV, which is more to the point.

He may not get an internship post MA, but it is worth applying, and his housing costs will be stripped out as we are still here if he does, so he can live at home. I don't think €800 per month is huge for an internship, given the cost of living in Brussels.

I hope he doesn't teach, unless it's A level and above, but that he gets a job with the National Trust, English Heritage, the National Archives, the Mary Rose Trust or a good museum etc, none of which will pay hugely, but will interest him.

I think between us, his Dad and I can show him how to map his skills against the essential and desirable experience and qualifications on an application with examples. His Dad does it for those he mentors, so is used to it.

Needmoresleep You probably know exactly where I mean in Brussels!

The course at RHUL was what ds wanted, having trawled through what other history departments offered. He likes the atmosphere and the campus, and as he is quirky as opposed to cool, it suits him. He was much happier when he left his international school in Brussels to do A levels in the UK, and this has carried on at RHUL.

Scaryteacher, I'm pretty sure I do, and if so, and before children, I used to go to meetings there.

I also assume that if your DS has been through an international school, he will have some knowledge of the cool monied Brit and international types my DC came across in London. They did not necessarily have problems with them, they were just not interested. Its good, as they are quite inoculated as far as drug taking and excessive drinking goes. If RHUL had offered the right course, DS would have been more than happy to consider. Quiet, but not as isolated as a campus.

Is it the place where they walk around saying "the future is bright, the future is orange"

That's the one Needsmore

Ds did come across those types at the international school he attended here, and like your kids, he wasn't interested. Neither does he have any interest in drug taking or drinking to excess.

I'm glad that RHUL is not 'cool'; he has made some good friends there from a wide spectrum both socially and geographically, and seems very happy.