Which uni to have as insurance choice?

[doglover]

Our DD is getting overly anxious about pressing the UCAS button to select her two potential universities (for English lit)....... Here is her dilemma:

Oxford (AAA) will be her Firm choice.
Firm will be either Bristol (AAB contextual offer) or Royal Holloway (AAB + A in EPQ)

She should be OK to achieve Oxford's offer but is really getting her knickers in a twist between the other 2 unis!

She has visited RH twice and loved it. It wouldn't be everyone's choice but she could see herself studying there. She's not seen Bristol yet - applicant day on 22nd Feb - but is very unsure about the poor student satisfaction rates for her subject and possible accommodation issues if it is her insurance choice. However, because it is such a well-regarded uni, she feels that it would be a better 2nd choice than RH ........

Gulp. Neither my DH or I went to university so we're not quite sure how to advise her. Does the rating of a uni carry so much weight? My heart says go with RH .....

Bristol is a great place to live!

This is absolutely opinion and not fact.

I think that RHUL and Bristol would have a different feel. DH (many years ago - so not current ) really liked Bristol. I think it is somewhat similar to Oxford in that it is a city with lots to do but on a relatively human scale if that makes sense.

DS is doing history. So it is not a vocational degree. I would say that (and a pp clearly has better knowledge than me) if you are doing a fairly firm academic subject then as long as you choose a well regarded university you can't go far wrong. If it is very important to get the best English degree as regarded by English academics - that is different. I have not looked at the tables but I get a general impression from MN that Bristol has somewhat slipped down the rankings (but but - that is an impression - I do not know) .

I would say that if Oxford generally appeals then Bristol will give a more similar experience.

I will bow out here but I am not convinced about satisfaction surveys. In my working life I had to do enough of them to say they are not necessarily indicative of real life experience - i.e. it depends on the questions etc. Just visit and she will know which one more appeals. I wish her well.

Sorry to hijack op. Ds has a choice of a star, AA for one RG and Aab at Bristol or BBC elsewhere - non RG low ranked uni. He's wanting to turn down the a star offer and go for Bristol as firm and BBC as insurance but he's predicted a star, AA so who knows.

If he really doesn't like the AAA uni and he won't regret not going there. Then I think he's doing the right thing turning it down. But if it's because he feels he can't achieve the grades, having confidence wobbles, but still loves the uni. I would still put it as his firm. He shouldn't right himself off yet. Depending on the uni and subject, they may still take him with a drop grade. Wouldn't bother with the BBC uni if he's predicted AAA as hes clearly very able. He could get into a better uni than the BBC one through clearing should he not get into his firm.

Thanks...he's decided to go with the non-RG one as his insurance as he's been to have a look and loved the campus, accommodation and the lecturers. I think that's the right choice as he thinks he'll be happier there than at the other possible choice.

There is a recent report that confirms the high employability of Bristol graduates see link www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2017/january/high-fliers.html so PP have not made this up.

I may be wrong but I think the reason that Bristol graduates are so highly sought after by employers is because Bristol has large engineering and science departments with strong industrial links and employers are chasing these highly-skilled graduates who have built up considerable work experience during the course of their degrees.

I strongly doubt that this demand also translates into demand for graduates in English from the University of Bristol. I would certainly not read from the report above that graduates in English from the University of Bristol are more sought after that those from Oxford. In fact, I have always been under the impression that Bristol is not well-rated at all for English.

If she wants a decent graduate job on decent pay she will pick Bristol. If she is not interested in that then RH will do but it is nothing like as highly regarded.

By the way re science Bristol my daughter didn't read science there and London law firms were very keen on her.

Even if she wants to teach English the better private schools would prefer a Bristol (or Oxford) degree to RH. I am not saying never go to to RH if you cannot get in anywhere else and it's better than the ex polys but it is not up there with Bristol and anyone thinking otherwise is conning themselves.

Thanks everyone. DD and I are off to Bristol on Wednesday; really looking forward to it after all the healthy debate on here!

Will report back on her thoughts ..............

Hello again :) I'm back to report on our Bristol visit yesterday and subsequent thoughts .......

DD really enjoyed the offer holders day - tours, talks and talking to current students whilst I attended the informative parents' meeting. We also managed to squeeze in a quick city centre tour - despite the appalling weather - and DD was smitten! She felt that she would love the city and its cultural opportunities and definitely liked the course content.

I'm really pleased that she's been able to make an informed decision and can now concentrate on 'just' getting the necessary grades! So, firm choice is Oxford and insurance is Bristol. And breathe!

Excellent. Ds is there today and has texted to say it's his firm choice.

Great news, AM! :)

Sounds good. I wasn't even told by my son parents could go to the offer day. He is going with friends and if I ask i suspect I'd be banned but I'm sure I can cope with the rejection.

I think it's better for them to go alone to be honest and that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it

Hi doglover is it Oxford or Bristol?!

I hope she's happy with her choice, Dog.

All great unis.