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Higher education

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

Original poster

York Uni vs Bath for Pol/Econ

57 replies

vexedillologist · 20/04/2023 20:12

Hi all,
My ds has received offers from Bath and York unis for politics and econ and just wanted to hear from you if you have any advice/info. Ds as yet unsure which one will go down as his firm choice. Went to offer holder days for both. Ds doesn't seem to be leaning one way or the other for now, though dh and I were impressed with both. Just looking to hear from anyone with any thoughts on this. Would help massively.
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
LongWhiteCar · 22/04/2023 15:14

York Uni has a college system which was a plus point for my DS.
It felt less daunting as a Fresher as events were organised through whichever college the student is in.
He felt less anonymous from the start.
Similarly sporting and social events are organised in this way.
My DS loved football but wasn’t good enough to be on the main university teams but could play for his college team which was great for him.

We were also impressed by the pastoral care at York.
Following a particularly tragic bereavement for my DS, his department arranged for pastoral care for him which he found very supportive and as parents we were grateful that someone was keeping an eye on him while he was away from home.

York isn’t the coolest place to go to Uni but it’s a lovely city and the close proximity of Leeds means there’s plenty of nightlife not too far away.

TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 15:17

@vexedillologist
Economics opens up more jobs than politics because it tends to attract numerate young people. Most research shows economics grads earn more than politics grads. Politics does of course give skills but similar to just about every generalist humanities degree. Maths A level is never wasted and it’s good he’s sticking at it! However the Econ/Pol course requires higher grades with maths as a requirement.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:18

Thanks @LongWhiteCar College system not something ds had really considered too much. not really heard much about pastoral from either so thats good to know. Ds said he actually quited liked York. not a typical uni city, but he did like the historic town centre bit, and the students said students can get free admission to alot of the museums/historic areas which appealed to ds. There is always Leeds, but ds is probably not one for nightlife, so not too big a problem thats its not in the city.

OP posts:
Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:21

Thanks so much @TizerorFizz that helps a lot. Ds would make the grades for econ with pol too, as I believe with his EPQ he could get the reduced typical offer of AAA, so just depends if that something bath would allow. That's interesting to hear about econ grads vs pol grads. Ds hasn't done econ before, so I think he was a bit wary about applying for a degree that's mostly econ. Will make sure he finds out if it would be possible to witch during the first few weeks if he finds its something he likes.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2023 15:23

I went to York. Did not go to Leeds once. Plenty of pubs in York!

Both Bath and York have good pastoral reputations. It is quite hard to separate them really.

Bath's at the top of a very big hill!?

TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 15:24

@vexedillologist
He can ask about later swaps. Eg y2.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:26

@TizerorFizz Will make sure Ds get the full info about it. Didn't know that y2 swaps were possible, so may be another option. Depends what Bath says on Monday.
@Piggywaspushed Yes it is! Ds like Bath campus too. Still a way out of the city, but not too far, unlike some other unis.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 15:27

@vexedillologist
It might not be possible but no harm in getting all info!!

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:30

@TizerorFizz Yes definitely. Thanks for all your help

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 22/04/2023 15:38

OP, my DS was doing economics at uni (in a similar combo actually but with added social policy) with Economics A Level at A* - please don't worry/tell him not to. DS loved economics A level but found the degree content really not to be anything like his A Level. I think all economics undergrads would agree that , these days, being good at maths is far more important.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:42

Thanks @Piggywaspushed I'll definitely pass this on to ds. Might be good for ds to consider the course with more econ, especially with that @TizerorFizz said. Ds definitely interested in econ, but worried about a degree not having done the A level, so that good to hear

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 22/04/2023 15:55

@vexedillologist
Many economics courses do not require economics at A level. They mostly require maths.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 22/04/2023 15:57

@TizerorFizz Yes. just finding that out now, as ds was looking mostly at politics / joint hons with econ.

OP posts:
Original poster
vexedillologist · 04/05/2023 22:45

Hi all, just some updates, though still doesn't make anything clearer for ds!

After a bit if thought ds has decided that the more econ course isn't for him, as politics is the subject he is really interested in, and wouldn't want to do a degree that was mainly econ. This really leaves ds back in the same place. Ds says he is prob leaning slightly to the course at York, though is also aware that Bath probably has a better reputation overall, and as @Piggywaspushed said has the become The uni for social science, and so wouldn't feel like massive compromise overall as its still a course he likes the look of, but at a uni with maybe a stronger rep overall. Ds is just as confused as before, and so any more help would be appreciated, particularly as ds knows 8 June deadline to make choices will be coming up soon.
Thanks

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 05/05/2023 06:41

Hard isn't it? My ds doing politics. He had offer from York and loved York itself - but something put him off keeping York as an option. Chose Bath as firm (politics and IR) and Surrey University as insurance (really impressed with Politics department).

KnackeredBack · 05/05/2023 06:51

Can't comment on the courses, but currently have 1 DC at Bath and the they have 0 complaints. Uni teaching brilliant, pastoral support really good and my DC has had referrals to counselling and other help. Loves the place (small but perfectly formed). Another of my DC is trying to consider their offers now and Bath is on that list for them too.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 06/05/2023 21:06

Thanks @KnackeredBack thats good to hear about Bath.
Thanks @DinkyDaisy Can I ask what made your ds not choose York as an option. If ds does choose Bath as his firm, them York would be insurance so would be good to know about both.

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 06/05/2023 21:30

I am not really sure @vexedillologist . I will ask him in the morning.
I know 24 hour exam they spoke about concerned him as he thought he would find that more stressful than an actual exam. He goes off on tangents and over writes if given too much leeway. Something for him to work on...
He loved York itself but not so much the campus. It was the first University he visited and accommodation very mixed. He visited old Vanbrugh accommodation first... Not a good start. I tripped over a tree root on a path. Campus wasn't well maintained in parts. People had bigged it up to him and perhaps it had to disappoint really.
Having said that, I know someone there doing history and happy and a young teacher I know loved it there (psychology graduate).

DinkyDaisy · 06/05/2023 21:35

Ds politics and international relations rather than economics.
Bath BSc (as is Surrey) and York BA. Not sure that makes much difference though.

Original poster
vexedillologist · 06/05/2023 22:22

Thanks @DinkyDaisy that would help a lot. Had a look at your thread too which had some good info so that helps. Think our ds might have gone to the same offer holder day too! Ds didn't really know what to expect of York, but he did like the city and what we saw of the campus, though we didn't get a full tour as it was raining when we went. Thanks for all your help though. Will help ds massively.

OP posts:
So1invictus · 07/05/2023 06:59

Mine is also doing P/IR at Bath and, like Dinky, has no complaints whatsoever.

The pastoral and general academic "care" seems particularly good. As an example, she was (along with lots of other students) left without cooking facilities for 10 days in January, in the week leading up to, and including exams) They were given free meals, had free pizza etc delivered, and personal tutors/heads of departments, the SU all got involved to resolve the situation, encouraged to ask for extenuating circumstances in the exam assessment etc.

More recently for an assessed group project, 3 out of the 5 students never did any of the work, went to none of the meetings and the night before the assessment emailed DD and the other student with reasons why they wouldn't be attending. DD and the other student were assessed individually not as a group of 5 which had been the original protocol. (Reading on Wiwikau, this happens a lot, but it's not always a given that the academic staff will be interested, or intervene in such a way)

They've just chosen their modules for next year, and DD said she felt spoilt for choice as she was interested in lots of them. This year she went for the social policy one which she enjoyed immensely.

She's just sad the first year has gone so quickly really 🤣

(Her offers were Bath, Exeter and Lancaster, after visiting Bath and Exeter she firmed Bath and held Lancaster, sight unseen, as insurance. Exeter vibe was just all wrong for her)

DinkyDaisy · 07/05/2023 07:41

My ds just got to get the grades for Bath now. AAB. (Surrey BBB). After exams will do access to Bath course invited on. He has deferred a year to get a job and earn some money.

So1invictus · 07/05/2023 07:48

Oh apols, dinky, I thought he was already there!

W0tnow · 07/05/2023 07:57

Op do you mind sharing the subjects and predicted grades? My daughter is interested in the same and is very keen on Bath in a couple of years.

DinkyDaisy · 07/05/2023 08:25

Politics, maths and history. For ucas his predicted grades A star, A, B.
The predictions went up after latest mocks but who knows what will happen in actual exams...