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Original poster

Bristol or St Andrews? Advice please

79 replies

UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 12:48

My DS is trying to choose between these 2 Universites to study Economics. He has visited St A but unfortunately, is unable to visit Bristol before the deadline.

I would be interested to hear thoughts on both places please so I can help him with this difficult decision.

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 14:27

ConstantlyGardening
He is making the decision. Do you really think he’s asking his Mum to make it for him? He has asked for my thoughts, as I would expect him to, so I have rejoined MN to get opinions fron those who are better informed.

Thanks to all the thoughts and personal experiences from posters so far.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 03/04/2018 14:33

Agree MrsWobble about Bristol. I would say that they are just up themselves. I really do not understand the fawning.

Needmoresleep · 03/04/2018 14:33

"St Andrews is ranked 5 for economics and Bristol 10th" in the CUG which places heavy emphasis on student satisfaction (question: would students happy in Bristol be happy at St Andrews and vv) and entry standards, the latter seemingly giving good weighting to Schottish highers. And it will vary from year to year. If you filter by research quality Bristol comes 6th and St Andrews is nowhere to be seen.

If you look at QS rankings, Bristol is higher placed. Which is sort of my point about econometrics. Bristol is one of only two places in the UK that allow you to specialise at UG level. You may be right that St Andrews is the place to go if you want to be an investment banker. However if you want to do post grad, Bristol probably has the upper hand.

Or put it more simply. He should be looking at course content. Economics courses can vary a lot. One biggie is maths content; it can be miserable if the course has tricky and compulsory maths courses. Others courses will be very employment focussed with lots of business and accoutancy options. Not great if your interests are primarily acqademic. And so on.

ConstantlyGardening · 03/04/2018 14:33

It just sounds as if he's left it right to the last minute when so many young people would give their right arm to have a conditional offer from either of those unis, let alone the luxury of both and unconditional.

I understand he's asking you, but he may have to ask other young people because they have their finger on the pulse more.

As others have said there is so much to consider, like the location itself (cold north or warmer SW), sports he enjoyss, etc.

Does he know what he wants to do after uni? If he's thinking of a masters or even a PhD that is worth thinking about too. One of my DCs decided to stay with their first uni for a masters because they liked the place and didn't want the disruption of finding new accommodation etc.

ConstantlyGardening · 03/04/2018 14:35

Crafty DD didn't find that at all, in fact the one that was 'up itself' was Nottingham who made out they were doing anyone a huge favour by accepting them.

She loved the vibrancy of the city and still goes back to see friends there.

OP a lot depends too on there YOU live; how easy is it for him to come home during the holidays or at weekends, has he considered fares, is that an issue?

ConstantlyGardening · 03/04/2018 14:38

I agree with needmoresleep. One of my DCs did an economics bachelors and a masters. Some economics degrees are BAs, others are BScs. The BSc is to be honest more demanding and sought after if he wants to go into a numeracy-based career.

He also needs to look at the syllabus: module based, final exams, what are the topics etc.

Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 14:40

He hasn’t left it to the last minute.
He only received his final offer from Bath a few weeks ago (he had unconditionals from Bath, Nottingham and Manchester too) so couldn’t do anything before then and now has to make a firm choice by 3rd May deadline.

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 03/04/2018 14:41

Need more sleep, the bragging about econometrics (and why that made them superior) is one of the things that put DD off.

What she liked about the places that she eventually put on her UCAS was the huge number of modules to choose from throughout the 3/4 years. What she likes about her 4 year Edinburgh course is that she can take several outside courses in her first two years.

Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 14:43

He is asking student advice, I’m just coming at it from a different angle.

Bristol is more easily accessible for us but neither are near tbh. Cost of travel not really an issue though and he won’t be one to always be popping home.

Lots of great info coming in thank you.
I will send him the link to this thread so he can read it himself

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 03/04/2018 14:50

We live near Heathrow and the fare to Edinburgh is cheaper than Bristol.

MsHomeSlice · 03/04/2018 14:59

St Andrews is relatively isolated for non drivers...no train station, so could be a PITA if he doesn't drive.

I live near StAs and think it's a lovely place. Lived in Bristol too and hated it and the people...all very hostile. Am no country bumpkin either, lived in Kilburn/WoodGreen/City of London, and never experienced such aggressive weirdos as the years we lived in Bristol!

Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 15:00

We’re have good airport access too Crafty, and trains.

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 03/04/2018 15:00

Gin, maybe. However for someone with an interest in forecasting or some sort of quantitative career, it is crucial. Mathematical economics is, effectively, quite a different degree from, say, PPE. Top four courses for quantitative economics are normally considered to be Cambridge UCL LSE and Warwick with Bristol probably fifth. Which is what Bristol would have been emphasising. Their degree is very different from, say, Bath.

But we dont know if OPs son want to go down that route. Or indeed anything about his academic preferences.

Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 15:00

We’ve

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 03/04/2018 15:02

Gin. Train, plane or coach to Bristol? The latter does not take too long and is cheap.

Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 15:02

He is looking at pure Economics needsmoresleep if that helps? He can read all this himself.

OP posts:
Original poster
UniversityQ · 03/04/2018 15:07

He wouldn’t have a car MsHomeSlice and got a bus to Leuchars? when he visited.

He didn’t like Nottingham or Manchester but didn’t visit Bath. Has narrowed it down to these 2.

OP posts:
ConstantlyGardening · 03/04/2018 15:18

Most of those are 'pure economics' OP.

As I said before he needs to decide if he wants a BA or a BSc.

It depends what he wants to do with it next.

My DC who has a BSc and a masters in economics from a Russell Group uni works with data, so lots of maths and stats as well as business strategy. Other people may want to do a BA which is not so stats/numeracy driven.

He needs to look beyond the course and into his career goals.

If the courses are St A and Bristol are similar, it comes down to location, interests, costs, etc.

BertrandRussell · 03/04/2018 15:23

Bristol.

I went to St Andrews. After two years of a 4 year degree I was climbing the walls. Too small, too insular, too posh. And it was awful bumping into a tutor you owed an essay to buying bread in Willie Low’s.

BertrandRussell · 03/04/2018 15:25

And I was one of the posh people!

gorseclay · 03/04/2018 15:31

I’ll give my two pence on this one, having recently made the decision myself.

I had an offer from Bristol for History and from St Andrews for History and Economics. I visited the Econ dept at St Andrews so can say about that. Visited hist at Bris but of course is a diff dept.

I think for starters (as others have said) it very much depends on what sort of guy your son is.

If I had been born in a city with lots going on, then St Andrews would’ve been super as a place for 4 years to study and chill out. Having come from the countryside, it seemed very dull to me, and not what being 18/19 away from home is about. Most students I chatted to seemed to be from London, and so had the busyness at home.

Bristol on the other hand, is a heck of a lot of fun. It’s not cheap but rent is nothing like St Andrews. Friends at Bristol pay about £100-125 per week in 2n,3rd year etc for a nice big room in lovely georgian houses in Clifton.

St Andrews is gorgeous! The flexibility of degree is amazing, but its size lets it down. It just felt far too remote for me. I was put off by a very rude and obnoxious student ambassador, but the rest were lovely. I did go out one night that I was there so I could get a feel of it with a friend, for us it felt like a school disco. Naturally, others prefer this. The Economics department at St Andrews were very very welcoming and seemed a great course, so no quibbles there.

Bristol University’s offer holder day was less impressive. Be that the course on offer or the buildings we were in. I have many friends at Bristol and spend lots of time there, so can say what an amazing city it is.

If I hadn’t chosen my university then I would’ve opted for Bristol but not for History.

I vaguely know one Ecob grad from Bristol and he was snapped up by Goldman Sachs.

Do I regret not going for St Andrews? In a way, yes. It is that I know after the prettyness of the town had worn off, I’d be pretty bored by 2nd year. Who knows. Just don’t be fooled by league tables, there’s more to it than that.

If you have any questions, then more than willing to answer.

gorseclay · 03/04/2018 15:41

Oh! forgot to add.

Friend made the decision between St Andrews and Bristol, opted for Bristol. He now loves Bristol and says for him, declining St Andrews was absolutely the right thing to do.

BubblesBuddy · 03/04/2018 16:10

DD went to Bristol and enjoyed it. Friends DS just graduated in Economics and Econometrics and is doing his masters at Bristol. They really do get many grads into city jobs, if that’s what he wants. There are many options on the economics courses and it’s well regarded.

There are privately educated students at Bristol and indeed at St Andrews but the night life at Bristol is over stated on here. There are plenty who join in occasionally and the clubbing students now can live in new halls near the clubs - go to Stoke Bishop for quieter flats.

The city is lively, the university area is great and it’s not that expensive. Anyone doing economics there is able to do very well for themselves afterwards and have a very varied university experience if they wish. I don’t see why a university that has high standards for students and high achieving ones should not boast a little!!!

I think St. Andrews suits the dinner party type of student and someone who perhaps wants a very traditional student life of 40 years ago.

ConstantlyGardening · 03/04/2018 16:23

I just want to add that a job in investment banking is not THE reason to study economics. Sure, if you climb that ladder you may end up rich but the hours those new grads put in are unbelievable. Friend's DC works for JP Morgan - didn't study economics but was at a Top 10 uni. Her place was offered mainly on the basis of being outstanding in her sport and showing great endurance. These days a degree from a top uni (even Oxbridge) is no guarantee of an offer in investment banking. The work is hard, the hours are long- friend's DD rarely leaves the office before 10pm. 16 hour days are common.

There are plenty of other career paths with an economics degree other than banking!

Gruach · 03/04/2018 16:36

And it was awful bumping into a tutor you owed an essay to buying bread in Willie Low’s.

Bert I had exactly the same experience at a erm ... collegiate university. On the afternoon of the day I’d phoned said Tutor to say I was too ill to attend.

Can’t really help OP. St Andrews is beautifully positioned but a bit claustrophobic and limited. I don’t love Bristol but Bath is just down the road ...