Geography - Newcastle or Southampton?

[sevilla99]

Hi all
Anyone able to give any insight into Geography at either Newcastle or Southampton? DD is putting Worcester as insurance. These two have identical offers, so she's struggling to choose between them. She's more of a Physical buff, but likes the option of being able to combine with a bit of Human. At Southampton she can do BSc and choose some human modules, Newcastle will be the opposite with BA. Both places have lots of pluses so she can't decide. Did offer holders' day at Southampton, but couldn't get to Newcastle for one (although did get a private tour and chat with a lecturer). Thanks!

Can’t compare but DD is in 3rd year at Southampton doing Geog and has loved it. Course is v well supported and she has been able to do some interesting modules from outside the department.

Two v different cities geographically, socially and culturally - depends where / how she would like to live.

Thanks for your quick response @Ooonafoo . Good to hear your DD loves it. We loved everything about the course and campus on the offer holders' day, DD just a bit less sure about the city itself. NCL is a long way for us, but we have family up there, so that's what's making her feel more comfortable.

Would she consider putting one as her insurance even if the same offer grades as often students get accepted on a grade lower lower than offer on results day?

I would check out the average grades actually achieved by students at each uni - and put the lower one as insurance. You can call each department and ask directly what was the average and what was lowest grades achieved that were accepted last year.

I am surprised that she would consider Worcester if she is in the running for Southampton and Newcastle?

I would guess Newcastle would be slightly less average grade than Southampton and would therefore put that as insurance.

The city is good for students and my DD enjoys the social life although it’s nothing like the NCL club scene - but it suits her and allows her to get to London for events / concerts etc

Good guidance, @Ooonafoo . She loved how small and friendly Worcester was when she first visited, and it's relatively near to us, which is a positive in her eyes. On the Worcs offer holders' day, she still loved it but could see that being small is not necessarily always a good thing. But the offer is lower and I think she needs the reassurance of a safety net. I personally favour Southampton, just trying to get intel on both! Will the unis really disclose what the actual grades they accepted were?

Yes they do. I am sure someone will come along and show where it is already online - but I just phoned the department directly.

Southampton is v safe and friendly uni - I would have liked my DD to go “up north” for a different life experience (we live in SE) but she wanted to be nearer home - it’s 1:5hrs by car - so near enough but importantly far enough away as well for her to be independent. It was a good decision as this allowed her to feel more confident and she has done really well there. She loves The New Forest and the beaches nearby.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/805385/response/1930566/attach/html/4/FOI%2020211110%204%20History%20Quals%20data%20sent.xlsx.html

Someone posted this for Oxford Uni History - so might well be one for Geog at NCL and Southampton

DIscover Uni tells you, sort of. Here is Southampton (click on entry details)

https://discoveruni.gov.uk/course-details/10007158/110/FullTime/

Modal points seem to be 144 - 159 but 20 % had lower than 127 pts

Here is Newcastle which had 35% below 127 pts so your instincts may be correct oonafoo

Ermm

https://discoveruni.gov.uk/course-details/10007799/objid50011022/Full-time/

The best website for checking grades accepted is uni guide. Put the course and location in, click on the one you want and scroll down and it tells you the average A levels achieved by students.

https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/

I wouldn’t send my kid to a course with a 73% student satisfaction rate, personally. Go to Southampton.

I believe in the NSS stats too (not a very MN view!) but I do think Covid has knocked a few unis more than others. Birmingham is faring relatively badly - but anecdotally everyone there seems to love it. Geography is a big course so the NSS stats will be more reliable.

DS started a course in October with really low student satisfaction. We ignored it (small sample size, MN say it's shit blah blah). The stats were right...

That said, he is now doing history with 76% satisfaction and is perfectly satisfied. It's so much better.

I do know Southampton is vvvv highly regarded for geography - but especially human?

And oceanography.

Thank you all for the insight and for the links @Piggywaspushed and @RandomExpletive . I had looked at those stats and was leaning towards Southampton on that basis, so some personal experience insight helps to support the numbers. As for the grade ranges, the info online does help, but I might call the department as well for belt and braces. @Ooonafoo Southampton is 1.5 hours away by car for us too, and NCL is 5 hours, but with the slight bonus of family living up there. I think DD's first impression of Southampton city was negative and that stuck, but we visited the city alone yesterday and that was more positive. Especially when we spotted parakeets in the trees! Decisions, decisions ....

I don’t think the city itself is hugely inspiring - certainly doesn’t have the unique character and energy of Newcastle but the Uni ‘scene’ is social, supportive and dynamic.

If the stats lean that NCL accept slightly lower on results day then it makes sense to put that as insurance - unless she doesn’t want to go to Southampton at all and would be happy with Worcester as insurance. Also (never been so take this with a pinch of salt) if she liked Worcester as a town / city how does this compare with NCL as a city seems v different experiences?

Is she comparing the cities or the uni experiences within the city?

@Ooonafoo very good question about what she's comparing! She is most definitely not a typical NCL party girl, and we did discuss yesterday that if she hadn't grown up visiting the city with family she would find it equally overwhelming! I did get a very good sense at Southampton that they look after the students, which is a draw for me. Today's job is to sit and pull the two apart course wise. I wonder whether, based on the grade stats mentioned, she should do Southampton firm, ncl insurance and gamble that worcs would be available in clearing if need be.

That sounds like a great approach.

You can also research now which Unis/courses typically have places in clearing - make a shortlist and be ready on results day …. and if she just misses Southampton or Newcastle - I would be looking for somewhere just a nudge behind …. but not Worcester if she is on track for great grades …..

It may be entirely irrelevant to your situation but if the courses ect are very similar it might be worth taking cost of living into account. Southampton you get southern prices for accommodation ect, whereas Newcastle being in the north east is reasonably good value financially. It's just another element to consider in the bigger picture.

Yes good point @Lizzt2007 . And the advantage of grandparents plying her with food up there! @Ooonafoo whether the grades are something we can be confident about is a whole different thing!

I would be cautious of thinking Newcastle will accept lower than Southampton on offer day based on those stats accepted. Newcastle has a Partners programme that offers lower offers to local schools and maybe WP applicants. This might make the grades the publish as being accepted lower than Southamptons, but may not be applicable to your daughter.

Here are the What Uni graduate retention figures, says something about the quality of life in the cities. Both Newcastle and Southampton are top 10, with Newcastle being in 8th position retaining 36% of graduates and Southampton in 10th position retaining 32%.
Cost of living will be cheaper in Newcastle, which could be a factor.

https://www.whatuni.com/advice/news/graduate-retention-best-uk-cities/82588/

Very useful info @Zog14. I put my gambling on ncl accepting lower theory to my DD and she discounted it anyway! The retention figures are definitely food for thought.