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Higher education

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

Original poster

Any thoughts on Reading?

47 replies

ReddyBrekk · 10/02/2023 16:32

Didn't get chance to visit for Open Day but DC has been offered BBC if they firm with them.

Other offers are AAB or ABB.

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 10/02/2023 16:33

My dc went there and loved it. Town is ok , seemed to have quite an active social life. Graduated a couple years ago.

NotDonna · 10/02/2023 17:13

I looked at it with my eldest as they do the Flying Start degree there, which she was considering at the time. The business school was pretty impressive. All the halls we saw were good. It had a lovely friendly vibe. We both liked the town too. A variety of shops, cinema, restaurants etc and nicer than I’d expected. Fast train into London.
Our friends’ son is there reading economics and he’s enjoying the course and the town.

Original poster
ReddyBrekk · 10/02/2023 20:53

Thanks.

Hopefully they'll have an Offers Holder's day.

OP posts:
SeatroutSupper · 10/02/2023 20:58

My DS is currently studying economics there and my God daughter is studying business, they are both happy with the university.

Whattheladybird · 10/02/2023 20:59

Its a beautiful campus, but straightforward to walk into town. Reading is also a place it’s easy to go away from on train connections, if that’s helpful. Lots of halls on campus, from what I remember (I worked there 20 years ago). But certainly when I was there there were quite a lot of students who used to go home at weekends. But my information is v v dated!

Jaffacake007 · 10/02/2023 21:01

I studied there and absolutely loved it Smile

Original poster
ReddyBrekk · 10/02/2023 21:03

Does it have a good reputation academically? Just puzzled by the lowish offer.

OP posts:
NotDonna · 11/02/2023 10:37

@ReddyBrekk where are the others from at AAB/ABB? Is the course identical? Does your DC prefer Reading or the others? What are his predicted grades? Is he likely to meet the AAB/ABB offers. Often but certainly not always, universities with a higher grade requirement are seen as more prestigious. It’s likely Reading really want your DC so have offered low so that it’s pretty much unconditional. Thats great if it's his preferred anyway.
My friends son was offered Reading’s standard offer at ABB but ended up getting BBC and was still accepted into their economics course. He’s really enjoying it and doing well.
It also depends what your DC wants to for post grad. For a lot of 'grad schemes' companies have their own assessment processes. It is very much about passing their various assessmdnts/intetviews/situational analyses etc than even noticing which uni.

Oldowl · 11/02/2023 18:07

My DS is at Reading and loves it.

He was offered BBC by Reading and was given ACC in 2020 (Centre Assessed Grades) by his school. Reading rejected him, even after pleading his case (he had Reading as his 1st choice ABB-Integrated masters and 2nd choice BBC - Bachelors, he was dead set on Reading). They required a B in maths and would not budge and rejected him from both courses even though both courses were in clearing. His course is very maths-heavy.

DS only wanted to go to Reading, so took his A levels in the Autumn series and got AAB (2 marks off an A star in maths, just 6 weeks after being given a C grade).

He is now at Reading, after a gap year, and thriving. The campus is beautiful, the staff super-friendly and there are lots of on-campus jobs. The university gives bursaries for sporting excellence. DS has received one each year to support him competing. He also has a freelancing job which came via his university department and is great for his CV. Reading is a centre of excellence in the UK for his course.

TizerorFizz · 11/02/2023 22:28

@ReddyBrekk
Its middle of the road. It varies between 30-40 in the Complete University Guide over the years. It is currently ranked 56th for entry standards. I think that’s what you have discovered. Essentially it’s not as popular as it might be so gives lower offers.

Where else has Dc applied? The Reading offer is quite a bit lower. What subject?

frugalkitty · 11/02/2023 22:37

We took DD to an open day and we all loved it, it had a really nice feel to it. Like Birmingham Uni but smaller. It's DDs choice if she doesn't get into Birmingham (still waiting for and offer) and she's more than happy to go there. We're back for an offer holders day soon.

Tinytigertail · 11/02/2023 22:54

Gorgeous campus, good town, great transport links..it's not a RG uni but is an old, established uni and is generally well regarded

Original poster
ReddyBrekk · 12/02/2023 08:04

Didn't realise I'd got more replies - thank you.

DD wants to do History and French. Predicted A* A B and had offers from Southampton & Newcastle AAB, Liverpool ABB, awaiting Nottingham.

She is getting unbelievably stressed about school exams after half term and I'm thinking firming Reading might make her chill a bit not that she'd actually listen to me

OP posts:
Original poster
ReddyBrekk · 12/02/2023 08:07

@frugalkitty - do you have a date for the offers holders day yet?

OP posts:
user1494050295 · 12/02/2023 08:16

Avoid unconditional offers. Reading need bums on seats. She should aim for the toughest course and have a good back up

TheBlessedCheesemaker · 12/02/2023 08:19

The other 4 are all Russell Group universities, and Reading is not. This creates a clear line of divide between them. Russell group are seen as academically elite, and many graduate employers will only consider applications from russell group - this is considered far more important generally than the degree subject taught.
That is not to say that it is the best choice for your DD - the best choice depends on your child and what makes them thrive - do they need smart people surround them to make them work harder? Is it better for them to be top of class and less pressurised? Will the stress of needing high a level grades be too much? Etc, etc. And - far more importantly that anything - where will they be happiest?

Unfortunatelyitseemsnot · 12/02/2023 08:32

OP I'm not sure why you are puzzled by the offer - offers do after all (broadly) reflect the status of the institution. Your DD has great predicted grades and ABB is already 2 grades down, that would be considered a good insurance. History and French would be the sort of degree where going to as good as institution as you can is definitely worth it. However, having said all that, no good going to somewhere you dislike!

Xenia · 12/02/2023 09:11

She should not firm Reading and hope instead for a nottingham offer etc which is much better (and I write that as a parent of a Nottingham one and a Reading one). Our Reading one went there via clearing when he did not get his grades for Exeter. There is nothing wrong with Reading but it is not as good as the ones mentioned

DinkyDaisy · 12/02/2023 09:28

I would really like a break down of 'much better' beyond the reputational advantage of being in the Russell Group.
Teaching quality? Experience? Academics? Course quality... and so on...

MarchingFrogs · 12/02/2023 09:35

many graduate employers will only consider applications from russell group

But that will be clearly stated in their person spec, won't it? So she can just avoid applying there.

DinkyDaisy · 12/02/2023 10:00

Russell group in person spec... Mmm!!!

sofakingcool · 12/02/2023 10:19

DS is a first year there and enjoying it, studying business economics

The start was tough, we think they took on far too many at clearing (they ended up having to close it after 24 hours) so weren't able to honour their "campus acc for all first years pledge. DS was still without a room 3 days before he was meant to move in!! I know quite a lot ended up in none campus accommodation (private halls).

Overall though he's very happy, likes the area, plenty to do in Reading and easy to get to London etc. He's made a nice group of friends, they're all going to be living together from year 2 onwards

bguthb90 · 12/02/2023 10:19

MarchingFrogs · 12/02/2023 09:35

many graduate employers will only consider applications from russell group

But that will be clearly stated in their person spec, won't it? So she can just avoid applying there.

No employer would explicitly state they only consider applicants from RG universities.

Not only is it a court case waiting to happen, on grounds of discrimination, but they'd also be excluding candidates from venerable universities such as St. Andrews, Bath, Loughborough etc.

Now internally, that's a different matter....

Original poster
ReddyBrekk · 12/02/2023 10:38

I thought employers were moving towards - don't know the actual term - university blind applications.

OP posts:
Oldowl · 12/02/2023 10:49

Reading is clearly not just 'bums on seats' as they would not accept my son with ACC for a BBC course. They want to know that students would cope with the demands of the course.

DS is enjoying his course a lot more than DD who is at the LSE. At the end of the day, we want our children to be happy and thrive wherever they choose to study rather than obsessing over rankings and prestige.

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