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Higher education

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

Original poster

Cardiff or York University

34 replies

marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 18:21

Just that. Does anyone have any recent experience of either?

Looking for DS1. We are based in the SE.

OP posts:
aesopstables · 25/09/2022 18:31

Best thing to do is for DS to decide what’s really important to him in choosing a university.

list the top 10 things. Then weight them in order of importance. Do research on each so he’s able to score them out of 10 fairly accurately eg of course content is one of his priorities check out the detail of each.

when DS and I did it we were surprised at what turned out to be most important to him

So I don’t think it’s as simple as Cardiff or York. Lots to consider in terms of what is important to him in choosing a uni.

Littlemissprosecco · 25/09/2022 18:40

I have one in each!!
Theyre quite different, my DCs are quite different too. Obviously doing different courses.
In reality I think it’s down to what course and uni your DC likes, you will get a feel as you go round.
Cardiff is sooo much cheaper to live in than York. Cardiff seems to have much less face to face at the moment, but that might just be the course

Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 18:44

@aesopstables that's a very good point.

I'm put off by York because it is a 4 hour drive for him. You make a fair point that this may not be a factor for him.

Also the difference between a campus and non campus university. May not be an issue for him.

Thanks for your reply

OP posts:
Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 18:47

@Littlemissprosecco we haven't looked round because I'm worried he'll get his heart set on one or the other and then won't get an offer.

Am I making a mistake? He's got the predicted grades for the non contextual offers for both.

OP posts:
Dotorri · 25/09/2022 18:52

DD's BF is in 3rd Year at Cardiff and loves it. He says the city has similar vibes to Edinburgh but I've never been so don't know. He's really happy with the teaching and especially with the sports facilities.

DD also has friends at York who are equally happy though. They are two very different cities I think. If you can afford a visit, it might be time and money well spent.

SkygardenTower · 25/09/2022 18:54

I’ve just dropped my DD off at York, the support for freshers is wonderful. I have a very happy daughter.

Best plan is to go and visit, look at the prospectus and look in detail at the modules on the courses to find which is best for him.

Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 18:55

@Dotorri you are right. I'm just concerned he'll really favour one rather than the other and he is limited with his predicted grades of AAB

OP posts:
Eryr22 · 25/09/2022 18:56

I went to Cardiff. Absolutely loved it. I think a lot of it depends on your course though. My lecturers were incredible. I also think Cardiff is a great place to live. Lots going on, near the sea, near the hills, safe.

Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 18:58

Should add it is ridiculous that AAB are not enough because they are great grades. But the current system is terrifying. I doubt I'd have got in anywhere ! 😨

OP posts:
titchy · 25/09/2022 18:58

Big mistake not to look round imo. However he can go to offer holder days next year if he get offers from both. Why is he just looking at two - what are the other three he will list? And what subject?

Dotorri · 25/09/2022 18:59

It's hard to second guess offers these days. I'd at least look before submitting.

Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 19:03

@titchy Economics. Other 3 are Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Surrey and Sussex are lower grades and have the option of a foundation year if he has a shocker at lower grades again.

He's familiar with both towns and favours Surrey.

Back up choice not a problem. Thanks for your reply

OP posts:
titchy · 25/09/2022 19:05

So why is he deciding on Y or C now? Surely he submits his five, waits for offers, then decides.

Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 19:06

@titchy it's a choice between his first choice

OP posts:
titchy · 25/09/2022 19:08

marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 19:06

@titchy it's a choice between his first choice

So he's got a list of four then, and is working out whether Y or C should be his fifth choice? What's the other first choice then?

Original poster
marmiteadict · 25/09/2022 19:09

@itchy just looking for information about York and Cardiff at this stage.

OP posts:
dazzlingdeborahrose · 25/09/2022 19:13

His first and second choice will depend on the offers. York was actually my son's first choice. Leeds or Glasgow were going to be insurance. The Leeds offer was the same as York so it made no sense to have Leeds as insurance. Glasgow was lower so insurance it was. You really need to visit the universities. They're going to spend 3-4 years of their life there. It's important to see the place. Edinburgh was top choice for my son until the visit day. He hated it. Dropped off the application. No regrets.

dazzlingdeborahrose · 25/09/2022 19:17

Oh and he also didn't want a campus uni. He wanted a city uni. Then he fell for York and a campus uni it was. 😂. As far as York goes he loves it. He's in his 4th year. The support is great. It's a friendly place.

titchy · 25/09/2022 19:19

Well don't think about it now then. Put them on the form, and visit if/when he gets offered. They're very different places and he'll get a much better idea of which one to accept, assuming both offer, when he's seen the city, uni and the Economics dept of both.

JoanThursday · 25/09/2022 19:23

I work at York - can I help with any answers to questions?

We've just had two open days, but we're holding two pre application days soon: both Wednesdays, one in late Oct, one in early Nov. Not sure if they're open for booking yet, but keep an eye on the 'open days' page.

As other have said, open days are such a good way to find out more. If you can go, do. :)

Isthisjustnormal · 25/09/2022 19:24

Both were on ds’s long list as courses with good content for him. He went and looked round and hugely prefered York (dropped him there for start of first year yesterday!) I’d really recommend looking round if you can: in our experience some
places felt ‘right’ and others just didn’t: some departments he liked the attitude and approach, others feel less right. York and Cardiff are Both uni with good reputations and safe environments so getting that on the ground feel is really useful imo.

doodleallday · 25/09/2022 19:27

Hi, I dropped my DD off at Cardiff ( University of ) on Friday ( still sobbing !). She picked it mainly because the Maths degree content was more 'her' and also it is a lovely city for students and we have friends there. I have spent a lot of time in Cardiff, it's a relatively small city and only a 2 1/2 hr drive away. Please feel free to message me in a while for an update as it's early days.

doodleallday · 25/09/2022 19:28

It's me that's sobbing!

Littlemissprosecco · 25/09/2022 19:41

I’ve dropped off to Cardiff and York this week, still sobbing too, ridiculous isn’t it really!!
I think it’s worth looking at some unis, if only to decide if you prefer campus or college type. The reality is you don’t know what you DC will be offered in terms of courses. Both mine ended up on reserve lists for their main choices, one had an offer a day after results but turned it down, the other found a different course that she preferred ( York) !
The DC really need to be flexible to avoid heartache

Littlemissprosecco · 25/09/2022 19:44

Cardiff is 2 1/2 hrs, and York 5 hrs away from us. I’d rather my York child was nearer, but I do t think it really matters, away is away