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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Anyone with a dc at Exeter?

147 replies

bendmeoverbackwards · 14/01/2021 17:37

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.

OP posts:
JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 13:36

Not suggesting racism is any way acceptable, but I don’t think trying to find a Uni where lots of people are ‘like you’ is necessarily a good strategy. The white DC might be the same colour but they are not homogenous - they are very diverse in other less visible ways

You’re missing the point. It’s not about whether there are others ‘like you’ - it’s about whether those that are ‘like you’ are more likely to be discriminated against.

PresentingPercy · 20/01/2021 14:48

The research shows some students are far more likely to stay near home regardless of what excellent university they could have gone to. So no, it’s not a universal issue in terms of numbers and background of the students. Less well off, certain religions and some ethnic minority students are far less likely to access the best universities. Yes. Some turn down universities due to too many ethnic minority students so it’s clear some students like their comfort zone but that’s not the same as finding racism at the university.

GaribaldiGirl · 20/01/2021 14:50

I’m not missing the point - I get that. My point is that a university that is predominantly white is not necessarily a racist and therefore a bad choice for a BAME student.

In my experience (and I have a big family) most educated young people are pretty colour blind.

FWIW - my daughter was at a grammar school with very few white pupils. She was surprised to see that there was racist behaviour between the different different ethnic groups there - all very well dealt with but quite an eye opener to her. So my point really is that a black student avoiding a university because everyone is white is not necessarily sensible. Racists come in many colours. It’s how the University handles them that counts.

JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 15:19

Fair enough, @GaribaldiGirl

I totally agree with this:

a university that is predominantly white is not necessarily a racist and therefore a bad choice for a BAME student

And this:

It’s how the University handles them that counts.

PresentingPercy · 20/01/2021 15:35

Yes.@GaribaldiGirl. In a couple of towns equidistant from me nearly all the trouble in an around schools was caused by marauding gangs of young men who had just left school and then decided to intimidate younger pupils as they left school or recruit followers in the schools via extended family links. All were local and picked on DC of their own religion. If young people are nasty they just are. Quite possibly didn’t have great parents either. University students could be just as awful but, as in all walks of life, most are great. A few students who have unacceptable views are not representative of a whole university. Any university.

JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 15:44

A few students who have unacceptable views are not representative of a whole university. Any university.

No but how (if at all) a university address that is representative of a whole university. That’s what relevant here.

Frodont · 20/01/2021 17:00

@JunoTurner

A few students who have unacceptable views are not representative of a whole university. Any university.

No but how (if at all) a university address that is representative of a whole university. That’s what relevant here.

And Exeter seem to be addressing it well and thoroughly, it would seem?
JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 17:20

They are now yes. Took them longer than it should have.

Rege · 20/01/2021 18:21

Whether Exeter is addressing it thoroughly remains to be seen but time will tell. Universities like York seem to be doing much better.

Frodont · 20/01/2021 18:27

That's good. York is much further down the league tables for dds subject, she didn't apply. People I know/knew that go there seem to like it though.

Rege · 20/01/2021 19:00

The thing with the league tables is that they move up and down every year (a few exceptions). By the time this lot enter, the ranking for their preferred uni would have changed again, which I think is quite funny considering the angst over which one is top at the point ofpurchase choosing.

Frodont · 20/01/2021 19:20

Well Oxbridge is top. Exeter 5th atm with York 19th. Also the course is far more modern and the modules appeal more. Obviously depends on the subject!

GaribaldiGirl · 20/01/2021 19:41

I think Exeter and York are quite similar in that they are both small cities - therefore good choices for those who are not ready for or suited to a big throbbing city. They’re my DS’s top choices at the moment (guided by me). He’s not very worldly.

I went to York. Like my son I was from a little town. Loved it. The university has colleges so you’re in a community from the start. Beautiful city. Very very cold though 🥶!!!

JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 20:05

therefore good choices for those who are not ready for or suited to a big throbbing city

Or for those who want a complete change from their big throbbing city home-town!

Rege · 20/01/2021 20:07

If the modules are better then there’s no contest there, the course has to be right.

I’m really liking York’s description from Garibaldi . DD favours a cosy community, although her top choice will be Warwick.

Rege · 20/01/2021 20:08

@JunoTurner

therefore good choices for those who are not ready for or suited to a big throbbing city

Or for those who want a complete change from their big throbbing city home-town!

I was actually going to say that as well, this is reason DD wants something more cosy.
Frodont · 20/01/2021 20:09

York is a beautiful city! Nicer than Exeter imo.

JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 20:14

I don’t know Exeter but I lived in York and loved it. Great place to be a student. And only 2hrs from London on direct train (if relevant which it was to me).

Rege · 20/01/2021 20:14

I’ve never been toYork but I’ve read on some threads people saying York isn’t pretty or maybe they meant the campus? Hoping we get to see it. York is also 4hrs away from home so that’s a bit 😬.

Frodont · 20/01/2021 20:16

I think the campus isn't the prettiest but the city is lovely and the surrounding countryside

Rege · 20/01/2021 20:19

Hopefully once this blasted lockdown is over, we might be able to make a weekend of it.

Jux · 20/01/2021 20:39

I've only just seen this thread. My dd is at Exeter in her 2nd year. She is doing combined honours in a Humanities degree.

I have been pretty appalled at how badly they have dealt with the COVID problem. This year - 60% of her final degree marks - she has been given 2 hours a week of online f2f. 2 hours.

Last year, while I was sorry she was misssing the Uni life that we all know and loved, they handled it pretty well. All lectures online, open book exams at home with 24 hours in which to do them, a basic grade of marks already earned in the first term awarded for said exams. No library access so marks to be reflective of that (she'd doing a subject where her main texts are so old that they are not digitised so can't access them online).

This year, no such thing. No minimum grades because of course there'd not been any work handed in under 'normal service' to use.
2 hours a week teaching online.
Library access if you flouted the rules and didn't move back there.
No library access if you're shielding under any circumstances - no actual SD rules governing Library access, just if you touch a book it must be put here for cleaning (and with many students wandering about without masks, piling onto trains to go to the seaside etc - as has been happening at Exeter - who would trust the other bloody students to bother doing that? Not dd, she's not that stupid.) oh and if you want to study in the Library then here's a desk where you can do it away from others, that's the basic basic basic thing so at least they've managed that.

She has been given a paper to write on a subject where no texts are available to her and this is an important paper which will carry a large quota of her mark for this year. There has been no lecture on this particular aspect of the module.
She cannot get hold of her personal tutor.

She is sick of it being so bloody hard just to get access to the texts she needs. She is talking of deferring despite it putting her in even more debt. I don't blame her. What she's had so far -- including last year - isn't worth 9K a year. Half the reason she wanted to go to Uni in the first place was to be able to read those sorts of texts!

Other, less rarefied Unis, are considering partial refunds of fees, at least. Exeter, no.

So I'm feeling jaded about RG unis at the moment.

Jux · 20/01/2021 20:40

That was a rant, sorry.

JunoTurner · 20/01/2021 20:52

A useful rant to read though Jux. I’m sorry your DD is having that experience, it’s terrible.

GaribaldiGirl · 20/01/2021 21:10

@jux that’s so frustrating. I’d make a similar complaint about Bristol where my DD1 has had very little teaching or direction since Covid. I’m really hoping at some point their fees will be reviewed.

Re York - the Campus is a 1960’s construction but built around a lake. Not very attractive but quite functional. The city is small and pretty, with lots of nice places for students to live when they move out. I studied history and it was a fantastic setting for that.
The only caveat I have is that it has expanded massively since I was there and I wonder if it still feels as cosy and friendly as it did.