3 Bs: Where should he do Chemistry/Physics?

[Movablefeast]

Friend's son did better than expected and has Bs in math, physics and chemistry. His firm offer was at Keele to read Math & Physics. Due to doing well in Chemistry he is thinking of changing his course to chemistry possibly with physics. He called Keele to ask if he could change subjects and they told him to call on Friday.

He liked how friendly and welcoming Keele was when he visited but is wondering if he should trade up for a stronger uni. He could do an MChem at Southampton for example and Manchester will accept his grades in clearing.

Any thoughts?

Putting reputations aside Keele and Manchester are vastly different university experiences. Manchester being a huge city with all that involves and Keele being v much campus based and fairly isolated. A lot of people apply to Keele precisely because they want that type of experience which they would find hard to achieve in a buy city.

*busy

Wherever he goes, make sure he checks whether modules are capped. My son dropped out of his final year of a science degree becsuse he couldnt get a single module he wanted to do. Neither could he do the dissertation he wanted because the supervisor didnt have enough time.
This was at a very high profile RG university and ds was a straight A student.

Iam yes, clearly very different but what about reputations? Do you have any thoughts?

endoftheline good to know.

He is open to locations in England but doesn't want UEA.

University of York has a good Chemistry department. It's on a campus, but only a short cycle / walk to the city

A quick google came up with this
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=chemistry

On reputation alone for Chemistry I’d go to Manchester. I work with a lot of Manchester graduates (who want on to study graduate entry med) who are outstanding.

That said it is very, very important to factor in why he liked Keele so much. It is very, very, very different to Manchester.

Lots of very in that post. Please take into account my 26 hours without sleep.

Yes I saw the Good University guide but was interested in opinions. When I looked at York today they still wanted As in clearing.

At the time Manchester was not on his radar due to predicted grades.

While it’s not a campus uni, Southampton buildings are all along one road, outside of the main city centre, and the halls are together in 2 clumps (one set are literally a 5 min walk from the uni) so it feels like a campus, with the added bonus that so much private accommodation is also available within a few minutes walk. My DS was there for 4 years and was never more than 10 min walk from lectures. Though I have no idea of the uni’s reputation in Chemistry.

Thanks error.
I am on a different time zone so will be sleeping for a while!

Hi moveable, i work at one of his options and have PMed you, hope it works out well for your son.

Assuming he likes the course, I would go for Manchester. Peer group will be stronger and employers rate a Manchester degree highly.
Worth checking if he will get accommodation in first year though. though

I would go for Manchester. Peer group will be stronger and employers rate a Manchester degree highly.

Manchester and Southampton are comparable. The peer groups won't be particularly different and neither will the value placed on the degree by employers. Both outrank Keele for sciences by some way.

The weather will be better in Southampton