Anyone with a dc at Exeter?

[bendmeoverbackwards]

How do they find it?

Dd has been redirected from Oxford and is now considering Exeter where she has an offer. The course is Ancient and Modern History but if she accepts she might see if she can transfer to straight History.

Any experiences good or bad would be welcome! Thank you.

thetab.com/uk/exeter/2020/06/29/if-youre-not-white-you-shouldnt-be-in-exeter-the-racism-faced-by-non-white-students-in-exeter-47898

Ours finished last summer. Loved Exeter. Had a brilliant time and certainly plenty to do. Housing was surprisingly expensive. Nice city for parents to visit. A bus to the sea.

I said upthread, that there is racism at all UK universities and posted those links knowing there were references to other universities. The reason Exeter has been singled is:

I have dc who would've liked to apply
Exeter is one of the least diverse of universities ( the whiteness isn't so much the problem, it's the the unwelcoming hostile attitude towards black students.
Exeter consistently pops up when it comes to racist incidents
Exeter has been told to 'do something' about diversity by (can't remember the council sorry)
BAME (Chinese) students were attacked in Exeter last yr for apparently bringing the Corona Virus to town, so it doesn't bode well for black students does it?
We've been discussing it on Black Mumsnetters Exter Uni and it's quite an eye opener.

My DD checked with her black friend. She’s in her third year and has says she has had a wonderful time with no racism.

On Penryn versus Streatham - your CV will just say Exeter University so employers probably won’t know which campus you were at will they?

Dds course is not offered at Penryn - she definitely feels Penryn is the poor relation to Streatham, rightly or wrongly.

Discussions like that just perpetuate myths, if you don't want to apply then don't.

Discussions like the one on the black mumsnetters board. Not reading it as the last post I saw from Black Mumsnetters was about how white people shouldn't post on black matters. Fair enough.

@Frodont I think what they may have been telling you is to read, listen and understand from a black point of view rather than wading in to tell everyone their perception of whatever it was is wrong.

In any case, my post was in response to @g1c2d3's post.

White people shouldn’t post on black matters. That sounds racist to me.

@GaribaldiGirl I think white people can post on black matters if they are asking questions or clarifying something they don't understand. What gets annoying is when a black person describes their experience and a white person comes along to them they are imagining or it's all in their head etc etc.

I don't want to derail the thread, just wanted to post about the darker side to Exeter university since OP asked.

[quote Rege]@Frodont I think what they may have been telling you is to read, listen and understand from a black point of view rather than wading in to tell everyone their perception of whatever it was is wrong.

In any case, my post was in response to @g1c2d3's post.[/quote]
I'm not black, so why would I understand from a black point of view? The SW of England isn't ethnically diverse, no. It's a shame, would be enriched if it was. I'm sure dd would rather Exeter University was more diverse, but I don't think that will mar her time there (she's white).

Employers often ask for A level grades and whether anyone likes it or not, Penryn is seen as less prestigious. It is used by the Exeter Admissions officers as an overspill for the main site and is offered to near miss candidates. What the certificate says is only part of the degree minefield. It’s naive to think employers don’t know about this - an Exeter degree with lower entry grades. Employers do ask questions of potential employees.

Quite simply: people choose a university where they will be comfortable. It takes a bit more self belief to go somewhere where you are in a clear minority. I still don’t believe Exeter has a monopoly of racist students!

Just asked dd and there's a little group who all have offers from Exeter (6 of her friends). 2 are black and yes, the fact that it doesn't have many black students is a concern, but they are still hoping to go there.

I have no doubt that racism exists within the university, and along with many universities, is attempting to confront all the many issues that arise from that racism.

However, reading the many links posted above, I am struck that many of the incidences described happen outside of the university, and are not linked to students. Of course, this doesn't make it any better, and will make BAME students wary of living in the community, but as others upthread have noted, there is not much the university itself can do about the lack of diversity in the community, or any racist incidents that occur outside of its sphere of influence.

I'm not black, so why would I understand from a black point of view?

That's why I said, 'reading, listening and trying to understand'.

I have heard Penryn is seen as a bit second best by some. For my son I think he’d be better there with the AAB (or lower) lot than the AAAs (or higher). He’s not very confident and, in a less high achieving cohort is hopefully less likely to be the one getting a third 🤣.

I did many recruitment interviews for the graduate training scheme at a big multinational many years ago and we were just looking for a 2:1 from a good university, it was the stuff outside the academics that marked which one we’d hire. Can’t imagine it’s changed much.

@Rege

I'm not black, so why would I understand from a black point of view?

That's why I said, 'reading, listening and trying to understand'.

I'm sorry, but it's dd not me who is applying there, it's totally up to her. What I think about racism at Exeter is irrelevant.

With the large numbers of grads getting firsts and 2:1s recruitment has changed. Tests and filtering by GCSEs and A levels as well as degree is not unusual. Plus lots of other soft skills and targeted work experience. There is a reason why RG educated DC earn more overall. Not all universities or indeed courses at the same university are equal. Employers can be very discerning. If you can get to Exeter Streatham - do so.

I went, graduated in 2011.

Was a major culture shock for me as I grew up on an East London council estate and had no white friends at school.

At Exeter it felt like everyone was immensely privileged and certainly nearly everyone was white. I remember being gobsmacked that people's parents were paying their rent and phone bills, that hardly anyone had a term time job and that a shocking number of them couldn't chop an onion or boil a saucepan of pasta.

I had a great time there though. The other state school city kids and I sought one another out and we all became brilliant friends. It's a lovely city, I'd go there again.

This may or may not be an issue for you, either way, but they appear to be very woke. They're on the list of the 100 companies most loved by Stonewall (or whatever the list is called).

@Goingtothebudgies

This may or may not be an issue for you, either way, but they appear to be very woke. They're on the list of the 100 companies most loved by Stonewall (or whatever the list is called).

Oh, dd will love that

@GaribaldiGirl

I have heard Penryn is seen as a bit second best by some. For my son I think he’d be better there with the AAB (or lower) lot than the AAAs (or higher). He’s not very confident and, in a less high achieving cohort is hopefully less likely to be the one getting a third 🤣.

I did many recruitment interviews for the graduate training scheme at a big multinational many years ago and we were just looking for a 2:1 from a good university, it was the stuff outside the academics that marked which one we’d hire. Can’t imagine it’s changed much.

I'd definitely encourage him to apply to Streatham!

@PresentingPercy - but it’s a degree from Exeter University whether it’s Penryn or Streatham. And your A level grades are the same whichever one you go to. I’d say go to the course/campus you prefer. How would an employer know - I doubt it’ll be on your degree certificate will it?

My eldest DD has amazing A level grades but chose to go to a good RG University doing a course where the grade requirements were much lower (as it’s a less popular subject). She loves it. I would suggest she’d still be as appealing to an employer as if she’d done a course requiring AAA.

All this however is academic at present for my DS, who’s sadly never visited any of the Unis he’s been offered!

BTW I used to work in university admissions and no one gives a shit what campus it is

@Catplanter

BTW I used to work in university admissions and no one gives a shit what campus it is

Why would working in university admissions give you that knowledge?