How to decide between Bristol, Durham and York

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DD is very lucky to hold offers for the Unis above. The courses are different, but she pretty much likes them equally. She hasn't been to visit any of the Unis or the cities, though obviously has viewed their virtual open days. She's also posted on TSR for opinions.

I was hoping that parents on here could offer me their views on either what they think of these cities as places to live, and/or pass on the views of their DC who have recently attended.

DD is state school, bit quiet, sporty, not into party stuff that much but really wanting to spread her wings. Her bf will also be going to Uni this year but (I think luckily) hasn't got similar Unis on his list so that isn't a factor. We are in Kent, so all of them seem a long way away!

What insights can you pass my way?

DD a comp girl who is loving Bristol. Has friends at Durham and York who are also having a good time (even this year). No one cares where you go to school it seems - DD not a clue what type of school most of her new friends went to. Choose the course first and then decide if want city or campus. DD loves Bristol but I'm sure she'd have loved anywhere 😂

For psychology I'd 100% pick York.
Fantastic course in a great dept.
But the other two are also good. She's chosen a good list!

I for one was questioning her choices because the only reason you gave for your DD not wanting Oxford or Cambridge is there being private school students. Not liking the course content is a different kettle of fish and of course very valid.

Going by statistics your DD would be wrong that she’s be in the majority there being a state pupil, but since that’s how she feels she should investigate Durham carefully, and to a lesser extent Bristol too.

From what you’ve said, she has no strong feelings for the collegiate system either way. It’s such a distinguishing factor of Durham that I’d suggest her lack of opinion on it may be a sign she’d be happier elsewhere. It could be she happens to end up at a college with a coincidentally high % of private school kids and feels it’s all too cliquey.

DD2 went to Bristol from a Kent grammar school. She joined the women’s rugby squad and made friends from a wide variety of backgrounds. There were a few people who never strayed from their comfort zone and never mixed with students from more ordinary backgrounds but they were easy to spot and avoid. She loved Bristol and would love to move back there to work.

3 of my children chose Bristol over Durham (we live in London although I am from the NE where there grandparents were and my father and uncle went to Durham). The reason was distance I think - quicker to get from London to Bristol but it was a close call in all cases. I agree with those above ranking Durham then Bristol then York in that order as to which is best regarded (Durham used to be the next one down if you didn't get into Oxbridge).

All 3 are very good, My children's cousin (state school, 16 GCSEs (!!!!), went to Durham and loved it and did not feel any problem with other students there. Same at Bristol - my children have friends from all kinds of schools. Mine went to day private schools.

Since yo di ask the stats will tell you York has (quite considerably) the highest state school contingent.

It also has a very good reputation for psychology.

They are all fabulous universities.

I wasn't talking street in the first few words! Typos!

Also collegiate so different from York and Bristol.

York is actually officially a collegiate university, I think?, in that you belong to your college whether living in or out. The colleges each have a team of staff, student mentors etc. One of DD's friends is at York, but I cannot for the life of me remember which college, except that it's on the West campus. I think. She seems to be happy there, anyway.

Yes , York has colleges. Important part of its identity but not quite like Durham.

York is really rather crap at sport. Quite endearingly so.

@Piggywaspushed

I wasn't talking street in the first few words! Typos!

Re colleges/collegiate - a way to put it perhaps is that some unis, incl York, have colleges but only Cambridge, Oxford & Durham have a collegiate system. In the latter, the colleges function as there own separate entities.

We are in London. DS went to Warwick (Engineering) and DD to York (Languages). Very different Uni’s but both enjoyed themselves.

69% of students at Oxford are state educated now. York is a relatively low percentage but Bristol and Durham are a bit more than Oxford. So if your DD had bothered to look up the stats instead of a gut reaction, she might have found she was in the majority. A big majority. I do feel she needs to get over the idea of meeting people who are different to her only by the school they went to. Some of the ultra snobs I’ve met are parents at the local grammar schools. When she’s at work would she discriminate against colleagues or clients because they were privately educated? There is a need for people to live and work together at university and accepting differences is a start.

69% of students at Oxford are state educated now. York is a relatively low percentage but Bristol and Durham are a bit more than Oxford

@PresentingPercy this reads that York has a relatively low percentage of state educated students - as that can’t be correct, I’m presuming that isn’t what you meant?

@Piggywaspushed

Yes , York has colleges. Important part of its identity but not quite like Durham.

I was looking at the hockey at York for DD. The good thing is that if she wants to play on Saturdays, York uni have linked with City of York hockey club which have 7 ladies teams. The 1sts are in the same Saturday league as Durham Uni 2s and is a good level. With 7 teams she will find the right level for her. They train & play at the Uni which makes it even easier. So even if York are rubbish in the BUCS league (midweek) which is usually VERY social, she could still get some decent hockey at the weekend. DD is interested in Durham, Bath & Bristol - although only Yr12 so a way to go before she gets any offers. Good luck to your DD.

Ah that didn't link to the correct quote from Piggy! I was referring to her comment re York being crap at sport :-)

My son is at York. There are only a few universities he can study his subject at and York was one. He loves it. He was a very quiet academic child. He's come out of his shell, developed great friendships and widened his scope of interests. Edinburgh and Leeds were his first choices originally. Visited Edinburgh and hated it. Really liked Leeds but York and him somehow gelled. It's the importance of the visits do i do feel for young people trying to make this decision without being able to physically visit.

I really don’t think anyone should choose a university based on hockey! However, Bristol Hockey runs 7 ladies teams. It’s one of their largest sports clubs. They rank among the top 10 university hockey clubs but with 7 teams they presumably have players at several levels of competence within that.

No that was wrong about York. My English was rotten! It a university with fewer private school pupils. More state pupils. Durham and Bristol have around 1/3 privately educated students.

I will stand by my comment that no one should choose a university based on perceptions and not statistics. At Durham and Bristol you are in a substantial majority as a state school pupil and at Oxbridge too.

Depends on how good you are percy. DH went to Leeds because it was good at sport as he was a talented footballer and captained the UAU football team while he was there. He would have been unlikely to get that opportunity at some unis.

So my brother went to York and he had a great time there and really loved York itself. It's a historic city with lots of nice things happening (usually!) and is on a main rail line so easy to travel to and from.

He did history and said the course was brilliant then went to Lincoln to Bishop Grot to do his PGCE and now works in Lincoln but prior to covid often used to go back to York to meet up with his friends.

There are certain subjects where York definitely trumps most unis (or at least equals them). History, English , social sciences and psychology spring to mind.

History? No. Durham and others are perceived as better by many. History at Bristol is always wildly over subscribed. York is good but not as good as Oxbridge or Durham. Depends on what the “best” means too. High flyers in many careers have often done History but York doesn’t open doors.

Of those, OP, York is the least 'independent school'-y.

Bristol and Durham are stuffed with ex-independent school pupils. However, the concentration is diluted at Bristol as it's a) much bigger; b) not collegiate; and c) closer to town.

Of those three, I would choose Bristol.

Durham is deadly boring, but don't tell anyone I said that

Bristol is really friendly and doesn't have a student/townie dynamic going on. Its a great place to live anf visit - loads going on, lots of other good towns/cities in easy reach.

I think Kent to Durham will be a killer - also where she goes to uni may affect where she ends up.living if she meets a partner there and so she needs to think about that (I moved from N England to the South for uni, met exH who was Southern and never moved back. Hate the 5 hour trip to see my parents, and its unlikely I'll ever move back due to children etc. Wish I'd thought about that when I picked a uni).