Warwick v Kings College London Computer Science

[mamalovesbaby777]

Looking for any experience or any insight as we seek to decide between these two offers.
I’m conscious these are two potentially very different university experiences and we are split down the middle. Thanks so much

Bump

CS is one of the strongest STEM UG programmes at KCL. It looks really good. Of course Warwick is excellent also - no surprise there. In general Warwick is a more prestigious university for STEM and this may be a factor when it comes to internships and employment or pg studies. But not a huge one in such a robust field, I think.

The most important thing in this situation is that students be happy with their choice. Because both Schools are so good, an important question is that of a somewhat isolated campus uni vs a London uni. Many students will feel strongly that one setting or the other is right for them, and I would honour that. I have not spent time at Kings. I like the vibe at Warwick and think the students seem happy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I so appreciate it.

Warwick has a specific strength in maths which lifts up its overall reputation in STEM, but KCL is higher up the rankings in many other subjects and is higher up rankings in terms of international reputation and research. So I don't think it's necessarily true that Warwick is more prestigious for STEM in general. For CS they both look for Astar Astar A, including maths.
I agree isolated campus uni vs urban London uni is a more significant difference, and one worth thinking about.

Honestly we ourselves are unclear on which setting suits him best, as is he. He’s a studious kid with not too much “life”experience thus far so we worry about London I guess… We just want him to be happy, make some great friends, be safe and have fun.

At my end of STEM one thinks of Warwick over KCL and this is also true of Econ. So maybe some bias crept in, albeit current CS league tables seem to be with me by a hair’s breadth. But not enough to matter, IMO. I do think W had a rep in STEM, fairly or not, that gives it a slight edge. (I am a former STEM admissions tutor associated with neither uni)

Had = has

My DS is finishing second year at KCL doing biochemistry. He also had offer from
Warwick. Whilst he loves living in London the pastoral care at KCL has not been good, still a lot of content online and exams have been very stressful (again virtually all online). It’s felt like a very impersonal experience. He is my third to go to uni and neither of my other two had the same experience (non London based but large RG unis).

People talk about Warwick Uni being isolated and in some respects, it is because it's not a city-centre location however it's literally 10 mins by very very frequent bus into Coventry city centre, really close to Birmingham on the train, a couple of mins away by bus to Kenilworth or Leamington. There's a lot going on in the local area and the surrounding towns have a good student population and accompanying social life. It's not like it's in the sticks!

Thank you for replying. My concern is that he could find it more of a lonely isolated experience rather than a true uni experience. We sort of think it will either be amazing or the opposite. I’m sorry to hear about the pastoral care. Is your son happy there/ made good friends? I’m sensing getting a good accommodation is key

Sorry to be clear, I’m talking about London being potentially the lonely isolating experience.

My dd is just finishing her second year at Warwick (Mbio).

She loved the first year on campus despite all the lockdowns etc. It is very much a huge community -shes not overconfident but shared a townhouse with 11 others and made some lovely friends. Shes living 15 min walk from uni sharing with 4 others and they go out to Coventry,Leamington and Bham...she also burns the midnight oil in the library and the uni feels very inclusive. She will live in Leamington next year.

She loves tutor system -small groups of 6 that meet up weekly.

Warwick were not great at the start of year 2 with a lot of online learning for the Stem subjects, but they switched quickly in term 2 and my daughter feels its a nice balance now....with some lectures online and some in person.

Thanks so much that’s so interesting 🙏🏻

Do you have any accommodation choice advice @Daisysway

@FVFrog is it a lonely experience?

You might need to consider the extra expense of living in London. Also students don't always manage to get second and third year accommodation as close to the university as they would like. Many students have quite commute.

@mamalovesbaby777 yes, especially in the first year as he was in a really bad hall and mainly covid tbh. He was with mostly international students who went home at Christmas and couldn’t come back due to second lock down. That along with nothing in person for the first year and minimal in person this second year means he’s hardly met anyone on his course even (he is not the most socially confident boy).

I feel being on a campus like Warwick would be more friendly somehow as you can’t help bumping into people.

If you do go for KCL be aware the that if you have not applied for accommodation TWO WEEKS before the guaranteed cut off date they give you it’s too late and you end up with the kind of one my son ended up in. V expensive and miles away! It is a very fragmented experience for them and yes potentially very isolating.

You know your DC and it has to be there decision but so point out all the possible issues for London (although appreciate can be equally isolating at other unis I do think London particularly bad).

*their decision!

Just read this, I would steer him towards Warwick..my friends Uber clever DD is there and (lots of Oxbridge applicants there).She has found the course very very challenging. Loves it, but very hard work!

Thanks. Yes to be honest my son was also a Cambridge applicant. So appreciate everyone’s comments

Regarding Warwick accommodation, the students can choose 6 options; 3 ensuites; 3 with shared bathrooms but the accommodation is then allocated by an internal ballot taking into account the questionnaire completed by the students about lifestyle. It's designed so that most students will be offered one of their choices.

My dd and several other students she knows all were given their first choice. The accommodation she was in was Cryfield Townhouses which is relatively new, all the bedrooms were ensuite, albeit the bedrooms were small and it was very central. She was on a 43-week contract so stayed in the accommodation from start to finish of the first year. She was sharing with 11 others and I think the more you share with the better chance you have of finding students with similar interests. Although like I said in a previous post; dd found that Warwick had a lovely inclusive community during her first year.

I think a lot of the competitive courses at Warwick are challenging, but Warwick is highly regarded within Industry.

Mine has firmed Warwick. I thought it looked dreadful, very austere and like a massive business park. However the general vibe of the students was reassuring when we walked round. Quietly confident? My local Uni is nothing like it.

huge generalisation coming!
My son is on Discord with the second years he met as they have similar interests. Their experiences seemed to confirm the impression that the Uni tends to be more inclusive than cliquey. Whilst there are very definitely rich “rahs” ( Bluebell Halls) it’s not a cool Uni in the way of say Bath, Exeter or Durham. You go for it’s academic reputation not for it’s parties. Which is not to say they don’t have fun but clearly it’s more a bubble.
DS has two of his old primary friends going. One turned down Cambridge to go and the other is loaded and seriously clever - could have had their pick. If it’s good enough for them…..

I have 3 DC with 2 in London. First one had London as first choice but would have been ok elsewhere. Second one absolutely loves loves being in London, would have hated Warwick so much. Third one doesn't like London and would be much more likely to prefer Warwick so really it's what kind of uni your DC likes .

Whilst there are very definitely rich “rahs”

Be careful. There is a poster on the higher education boards who gets very shirty when that expression is used

Really ! I think “rahs” sums the group up well. ( remembers the heady days back in 80’s Hampshire where everyone aspired to being rah).