Do student satisfaction scores matter? (Manchester medicine)

[Lucywho]

Hi, dd has to finish her UCAS form off by tomorrow (school deadline) and is still unsure on her final med option. She was originally going for Manchester but has been put off by their low student satisfaction scores- how greatly should she weigh these in making her decision?

My husband works in a university and with student data like this. He says not to put too much weight on this. He wouldn’t base his decision on student satisfaction ratings.

She doesn't have to use up all 5 options now; far better to submit with applications only to those that she is sure about and add a fifth, f she still wants to, once she has done a bit more research. All applications received up to the deadline of 6pm on 15th January have to be given equal consideration.

One of DS1's friends has stayed on to do a PhD at Manchester, having done a BSc there and another friend is specifically looking to go there for postgraduate, so they are obviously not put off, but not a large sample admittedly.

No. Not many answer them and usually the ones with a gripe do. And courses change so the ones for medicine probably did a totally different type of course 5 years ago.
One Uni said their student satisfaction was really low one year as they replaced the chairs in the lecture theatres and they weren't v comfy.

marchingfrogs as medicine is early entry the official deadline is 15th October so not much time to choose regardless

I work in student data and would not go off those survey scores at all!

As someone who has been through medical school I wouldn't give it too much weight. The most important thing is that the school is a good fit for her, and that the application process plays to her strengths (in terms of UCAT score, weight given to the interview, etc). Plus, medical school is ultimately just a means to an end. Although when you're 18 it sounds like an eternity, five/six years goes by in a flash and once you're qualified it doesn't matter where you studied so although it probably feels like a Really Big Deal now, it won't be in the long run. Also anecdotally I know several Manchester medics who've graduated in the last couple of years and they all really enjoyed their time there!

This all sounds good thank you! She was very happy to put Manchester down before seeing the scores so this will hopefully make this evening easier

That's not meant to sound patronising by the way, I just know that when I applied (admittedly a few years ago!) I spent so much time stressing over city vs campus, PBL vs lecture based etc etc, and I needn't have. If she's motivated and hard working she'll do well wherever she ends up going!

spuriouserAndSpuriouser wasn’t patronising at all! Very helpful thank you as I have no experience with this at all. Will show dd this thread and hope (probably in vain ) that it stops the stressing

@Lucywho you'll never stop the stressing. Comes with the application 😊. Good luck

Any opinions on Manchester vs Newcastle? Those are the 2 she’s toying between

Her fifth choice won't be an early entry course, though - unless it's Oxbridge?

Oops, yes sorry, missed the 'med' bit between 'final' and ,'option'...