Bristol vs Sheffield

[GnomeDePlume]

Sorry this is a bit of an epic. DD has asked for MN wisdom (I have taught her well!)

DD is holding contextual offers from both to study Chemical Physics. The offers are the same and achievable. She now needs to decide which is going to be her firm choice (UEA will be insurance)

She has been to open days and offer holder days. The universities are different from each other and each have their pluses and minuses.

Bristol
Plus points

• larger course with dedicated leaders for the specialism
  
• higher ranking
  
• industrial placement is part of the course
  
• really liked the city
  Minus points
  
• expensive both to travel to and to live there
  
• didnt have a good 'fit' with other applicants
  
• Typical student entry A levels significantly higher than DD's contextual offer (teaching style demonstrated didnt seem supportive)
  
  Sheffield
  Plus points
  
• flexible course - accommodation of individual student interests
  
• supportive staff
  
• less pressure on entry grades (offer holders told not to panic if they drop a grade on results day)
  
• very friendly & welcoming university
  
• cheaper city to travel to and live in
  Minus points
  
• didnt love the city but thought it okay
  
• not highly ranked for a RG university
  
• very small course (specialism within a larger course)
  
• placement not integrated into the course but available as a wider university scheme (DEE)
  
  Does anyone have any views on either university please? How are degrees from each valued? Does the ranking matter post graduation?

[GnomeDePlume]

Just thought I would come back to report that DD has now firmed Sheffield with UEA as her insurance.

Thank you for all the thoughts shared.

Now all she needs to do is get the grades!

[BitOutOfPractice]

Oh I'm pleased she came to a decision. I hope she'll be very happy there. My dd also aiming for Sheffield!

[GnomeDePlume]

Best wishes to your DD BitOutOfPractice.

[BubblesBuddy]

Friends’ DS is in his first year at Sheffield. 6 contact hours and breakfast at 5 in a cafe after drinking all night! Sounds like a fun city!!!?

[Needmoresleep]

Bubbles give it a rest. Universities are not football teams.

Well done OP's DD. I hope she enjoys it.

[BubblesBuddy]

Are you stalking me, needmore??? Every time I make a tongue in cheek comment, you pop up with a snide remark! Do you take every single thing at face value? Does humour not enter your life?

Could you give it a rest and stop tracking me please? It’s rather sad of you!

[abilockhart]

It's such a relief when it is finally sorted.

I hope you enjoy a glass of to celebrate, GnomeDePlume.

[sendsummer]

Really pleased that time has given her clarity for the decision especially hard when both universities had different strengths for her and her chosen course. Good luck for the last period of revision and exams.

[GnomeDePlume]

Thank you all.



Now she has finally made her mind up she has had a merry time reserving accommodation and finding out useful things like the average price of a Jagerbomb. I think Sheffield is going to be her art of place!

To be fair she is also working hard. This is the last big push before the exams.

[Brokenbiscuit]

Glad she has made a decision, OP.

FWIW, I do a lot of recruitment and I certainly wouldn't rank a Bristol graduate above a Sheffield graduate. Neither of them are in the very top tier of universities (e.g. Oxbridge, Imperial etc) but they're both very respectable institutions. Tbh, I don't even care all that much where they studied - it's about what else they bring. Would definitely recommend that your dd goes for the placement year if she can - experience is worth a great deal.

[Undercoverbanana]

There are two unis in Sheffield. One is University of and the other is called Hallam.

My dd is at Uni of and loves it.

She loves her course, the accommodation, her new friends, the city - everything. Can’t see this one ever coming back to Homesville!

[MrsTylerJoseph]

She will love it here in Sheffield, great city.

[GnomeDePlume]

Thank you Brokenbiscuit DD will be studying Chemical Physics. She is keen to get a placement. This was very much part of why she applied to the universities she did.

Undercoverbanana DD has firmed 'uni of' as well. Glad to hear your DD is enjoying it.

MrsTylerJoseph I only saw it in the rain but DD really liked it on the offer holder day.

[whiteroseredrose]

Just found this and think she's made an excellent choice. A friend who recruits into industry (pharma) is adamant that the important thing is what you do when you're there not the institution itself.

[BrizzleDrizzle]

My dd has had excellent pastoral care at Bristol as well - when they thought she'd broken her arm a member of staff took her to A&E and back home and cooked her dinner for her so she could rest!

I'd choose based on where she thinks she'd be happiest living. If the course seems better then that is a bonus but if you are unhappy where you live then the rest is going to be so much harder.

[BerylThePeril44]

She will love Sheffield! Bit biased though as my son is currently President of the SU there. It has just been voted best for tenth year running. He has had a tremendous 4 years, thoroughly enjoyed himself, made great friends and been extremely successful - all from a low achieving comprehensive.

[GnomeDePlume]

That is reassuring BerylThePeril44, DD's school is definitely at the bottom end of the scale in terms of achievement.

I think ultimately one of the things DD was nervous about with Bristol was how many of the other students on open days were from high achieving schools with excellent facilities and support. DD's school has struggled to support students aiming for anything other than the local university (also not high achieving).

[TabbyTigger]

Glad she made a decision Gnome. Three of DS’s brightest friends are at Sheffield (doing computer science, structural engineering, and English) and are all loving it. Meanwhile he’s had a friend drop out of Bristol because she hated her course and found there was very little support/ very few options.