University of Bristol vs University of the West of England

[Janus]

Daughter has got herself into a bit of a state trying to decide! She hasn’t had an offer yet from university of Bristol but she should get it via a contextual offer. She’s also got predicted grades for their full requirements anyway. Waiting to hear.
She’s now worried she won’t ‘fit in’ if she does get an offer from UOB. She goes to the local comp, we are a bit left wing and she’s worried that most of the other students will be from private schools and she won’t fit in or have much in common. She wants to do Sociology so I’ve said the people on her course would probably be the people she’d get on with. She’s worried about who would be in her accommodation.
It’s all a bit daft to me, tried saying I’m sure everyone will be nice and she will be fine, she’s got friends that are all over the place socially and politically and she gets on with it.
I think it’s all come from how awful it is at the moment, we’ve not even seen any of the unis she’s applied for and although Bristol is top of her list she hasn’t even been to Bristol! I’m not surprised she’s having a wobble.
Does anyone have children at either uni that can tell me how theirs is getting on and what they may like about it or dislike about it please??

My DD is at Bristol doing vet med. She's an ex comp student. Her school friend is there too as are lots from the years above. No one has ever felt out of place. DD has lots of friends and mostly has no clue where they went to school. There are public school kids everywhere - they are just kids who want to have fun and make friends too.

Thank you so much. I’ve told her this too, I don’t know where it’s come from as she’s a very easy going girl, I honestly think she’s having a wobble about actually moving away as she’s been stuck in this bloody house for nearly a year! I shall try and encourage her. Can I ask what accommodation your daughter is in (if you don’t mind)? Daughter has no idea where to start looking. Thank you.

Honestly I would tell your daughter not to worry.
I think stereotypes of what people are like at different universities really mostly don't exist any more.*
I went to uni 30 years ago and was just musing this week (as my dd is going on offer holder zoom meetings etc) that I was really good we didn't have those options in my day. I came from a very sheltered village - some of the first people I met at uni became some of my best friends whilst I was there - an incredibly OTT very camp guy, two people from public school, someone from an inner city comprehensive.... Honestly I think I would have found all of those people quite intimidating in theory (bear in mind this was the late 80s and my upbringing was VERY sheltered) but in practice they were all great and we all got on really well. Some are still my friends, all were my friends through university.
My dd is likely to be going to Cambridge and I've had my wobbles - she's from a state school, we live in a 3 bed semi, she's not going to have extra money for loads of things - but at the end of the day, I remember my experiences and trust that she too will meet people who might have different backgrounds from her but who will enrich her experience rather than dampen it.
Mine is likely to be putting Bristol as her insurance and many of her friends are choosing it as their firm option. All are left wing, feminist, state school, go on marches... Some are relatively rich, some are not... I hope that I am right in saying that background matters even less now than it would have done 30 years ago.
Tell her to choose her favourite option and not let fears of what might be get in the way.

(Oh and fwiw the only person we know who is going to the UWE is a very delightful person - but sheltered, private school, not very political but more right than left wing...)

• I think Mumsnet makes the stereotypes seem more likely to be honest. I don't think it reflects reality. There are a couple of posts I've seen that have made me really think that I'm glad my child won't be at uni with theirs etc - but in many cases I'm sure the child isn't like the parent anyway.

@Janus mine is in Orchard Heights and her friend is in Courtrooms. She wanted self catered and in the city, and she loves it. Even with pesky covid. When pubs were open she could stagger to them and now she enjoys running by the docks and up to the bridge. She has stayed in Churchill on a summer school and decided it was a no as shared bathroom. Some like Stoke Bishop though. She has a lovely room with en-suite and a massive communal kitchen.
Bristol is not cheap. She has signed up for a shared house next year with friends and it's lovely but pricey (compared to Notts where my other one is). But she loves the city. Let's hope things are more normal by Sept.

I graduated from Bristol (neuroscience) in 2016. I was also from a comp school. It definitely felt like it had more privately educated or grammar educated than other places. I'm studying medicine now at a different Uni and it feels more diverse from a previous education point of view. Saying all that, I have the best time at Bristol! Great parties, great conversations, and it's always good to mix with people who may be different in upbringing to you! Just to stereotype, although it is partly true, Bristol does tend to attract more left wing folk even if they have buckets of money.

At 17/18 does anyone choose a Uni due to politics ? My DD wouldn't have a clue what left or right wing is ! She can now cut the balls off a sheep though - different priorities I suppose 😊.

My son went to Goldney Hall at Bristol and loved it. Everyone was very left wing, she would struggle more if she had strong right wing beliefs! Mix of comprehensive and private school kids. The kids are all really hardworking, a lot are vegan and very concerned with the environment. Bristol is a very lively City (normally) so lots of live music, every possible sort of food she might want to eat, masses of things to do and see. The halls seem to be very inclusive, no one is left out when they do things. Not heard of any snobbery issues.

Oooh DDs flatmate is a vegan. Which has been interesting as DD is on the farm each week at the moment dealing with animals who are bred to be eaten. DD has discovered chickpeas and falafel though.
Think most students are predominantly left wing in views.

Bristol has an excellent reputation as a university. Unless you are studying a technology type subject such then there is no comparison between there and UWE.

My DS is at UWE, and from a private school. He is in his first year and shares a flat with 5 other lads he had never met before. I think they are all from the state system, although I'm not sure this has been discussed - at least 2 of them are not straight from school. HE seems to be getting on with all of them - they are moving into a house together next year. He is loving UWE.

I think wherever you go there will be a mix of state/private, left/right, older/younger, etc. Hopefully things will be more normal next year and freshers will have the opportunity to find their tribe through face to face lectures etc and being able to join societies etc in activities they are interested in. This year has been very difficult for that to happen.

The majority of kids at UoBristol are state educated. And indeed at all other unis in the UK.

Bristol looks to be over 70% state school.

We live in the south west and Bristol had a reputation for actively recruiting against private and grammar schools, I’m not sure how true it is now but I think at most university’s once you get there where you came from is irrelevant. 15 years or so ago the independent sector were boycotting them accusing them of social engineering which the uni denied.

Universities are culturally very left wing if you can believe anything you read in the press. The majority at any university is state educated even if the proportions are skewed towards independent schools.

When she gets there they will all just be people in the same situation.

Honestly I am so relieved reading these posts!
My daughter is a bit political, hence doing Sociology really, so has been on BLM marches, is quite a feminist and just enjoys politics. But she also loves Harry Styles, playing drinking games on Zoom and has a really wide friendship group of about 15 who she zooms with pretty regularly and I know they come from a wide circle of beliefs, I am going to be reminding her of this when she surfaces!!!
She loves going out (when she could), was always out with friends at the weekend, travelling, eating out (doesn’t eat meat!), going to concerts etc etc. She will be fine, I will make sure she knows she will be fine!
I think she will love Bristol, it has so much going for it and she needs to live in a city, it will really suit her.
Thank you for all your comments ❤️

@Comefromaway

Bristol has an excellent reputation as a university. Unless you are studying a technology type subject such then there is no comparison between there and UWE.

UWE is extremely well regarded too. In the days when we had polys Bristol Poly was one of the best.

My DD is at Bristol and I would echo what pp have said. She loves it and has found lots of friends from all backgrounds. She says there is someone for everyone there.

That said, I would advise to chose the hall quite carefully. Stoke Bishop does have a reputation of being v private school and quite full on. DD says it feels quite feral up there at the moment because of covid and kids roaming around looking for fun. Of course, there will not all be that kind of vibe.

DD is in halls in Clifton and loves the lowkey vibe and being in a very pretty neighbourhood where she can easily access the 'outside world' - i.e real life, not just students. (Goldney is a fab hall!)

She also has friends at UWE and the two unis do seem to gel well - if that helps with info.

Oh thank you, Clifton is gorgeous! I shall point out Goldney to her.
I would see how it could draw you back jb, thanks for your positive vibes.

DDs evening walk from halls the other night. She often sends us Banksy paintings she's come across too.

Wow, that really is an impressive view. Daughter must love it there and must be a great place to visit to see her (whenever next allowed!).

I graduated from UoB in 2012 and came from a grammar school (non private) background and honestly loved it and never felt out of place! Bristol uni does have probably more than it's fair share of privately educated students but I had friends from a big mix of backgrounds and it was great. Your DD will love it. I lived in Clifton one year and close to Gloucester Road the rest of the time (which was the complete opposite of Clifton village but awesome in itself!)

@Janus can't wait to visit her. She went back start of Jan and we FaceTime most days. But as it's half term I should be there with her for lunch and a gossip. It is so so tough. I snuck in a visit between her isolating due to positive case in her flat and lockdown and we had a lovely wander and dinner at the waterfront.

(Conversely, DD had a private education, we live somewhere that has the features of a 'wealthy' lifestyle but she is veggie, political, fiercely feminist , rather too many piercings .

In fact, when they were looking at accommodation for next year I did offer to pay for a nicer house (fussy, interfering!) and she said 'mum, my friends already think I'm posh enough. Don't make me stand out.'

So....swings and roundabouts. The private school kids also have hang-ups about fitting in.)

@kindlyensure exactly - they are all just kids wanting to make friends and enjoy their new lives. DD has signed up for a v nice house next year which is v expensive. But as this year it's so hard to even make friends we just agreed to it (& imagine other parents have done the same). 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a dishwasher. My eldest has a dishwasher too !!! We didn't even have heating in my 2nd year 😂

@mumsneedwine My DS also has a dishwasher in his house for next year. I am of the generation where my student house didn't have heating either. We did have snail trails up the (indoor) stairs though