York, Durham, Exeter

[GodessOfThunder]

These universities seem feature in a disproportionate amount of discussion on Mumsnet as institutions commenters see as desirable for their DC to attend. Obviously they are well regarded universities, but why do they attract more discussion here than other Russell group universities, especially those in northern and midlands post-industrial cities such as Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham?

A few possible reasons were suggested by DH:

• They enjoy an undue level of perceived prestige due to being in smaller old cities/towns like Oxbridge
• The Mumsnet user base is skewed towards the SE and biased against post-industrial cities. Mumsnetters are less likely to be familiar with them and hold “grim up north” perceptions.
• There is a “showing off” factor in starting threads and commenting that DC has applied for, or attends, these institutions - the same goes for the “Oxbridge support” threads, the like of which you never see for red bricks.

Does anyone agree, or are there other explanatory factors?

Can you imagine the level of utter bellendery at that dinner party?

Same, more than some less that others and not quite enough in the pension pot, being relatively late starters with that. We do know a respected engineer who does something niche, we have accumulated friends who cover almost every sector from teaching, medicine to the Law including a lawyers and Barristers - that was an eyeopener. Its have been interesting to see how their DC have chosen their subjects and universities - everything from a 1st to drop outs, Oxbridge - Northumbria, amongst them. Private, State and Grammar.

Neither DH or I came from money nor will be inherit any. We have prioritised financial stability and have always tried to instil this in our DC's - some more successful than others. DS is a chip off the old block, If he misses his target or insurance place he may not go to university - its about the cost of the degree vs the amount of time he would need to pay it back. The thought of taking a loan the basis he may never pay it back does not sit well with him.

@GodessOfThunder it was intended as all very tongue in cheek 😀I thought 4 relatively arbitrary groupings was a good number, hence the need for the bubbling under category. No really clever rationale thereafter. Although not allocating the three in your thread title to a category was deliberate. Of course there are another 100 or so UK unis I did not include. Naughty step for me.

@boys3 You have dc at Aberystwyth, UEA and Cambridge. Do you only talk about one of your dc at dinner parties so as not to curdle the milk?

I fear @LaDeeDa123 you may have spectacularly missed the point on the dinner party observation. Perhaps when you’ve been on this board for over a decade you may get it.

I’ve been on this board for well over a decade @boys3 Had a few name changes over the years. Remember the Moldies, UCM’s faux pas and I even go back as far as the AIBU about going on a waterskiing holiday with a newborn baby in ICU.
Nice try at trying to pull rank but another epic fail.

One of mine is definitely at a KFC University.

😂

There’s the difference between us though @LaDeeDa123 . I’ve never felt the need to name change.

or stalk The latter is not a great look.

and certainly nothing to do with pulling rank, touching though that doubtless unintended deference is.

as one who has been on these boards for a longtime surely you recognise the dinner party type I’ll admit I did not expect the wholly literal interpretation.

Of course I’ll await your apology with eager anticipation.

although if epic fail is the best you can conjure up I’m likely in for a disappointment.

However if you really do need me to explain the dinner party reference, which your stalking should have shown I’ve used before albeit in relation to D, E, and Y being late to the RG party I will endeavour to do so.

I will though apologise to @GodessOfThunder for this tedious thread derail. And indeed to @Socrateswasrightaboutvoting for not recognising her very valid point about Warwick.

You’ll be waiting a long time for an apology from me @boys3

.

No need to apologise to me. The last 18 months have been eye opening in respect of the universities. My least favourite universities were the Russell Group and the Golden Triangle, ironically where DS has an offer and insurance. His debt, his choice.

Anything that gives teenagers provable information is good. I remember about 40 years ago when the FT brought out a school league table (A level results etc) when they hardly existed how useful that was for people who didn't know which schools were good. It was not needed for those who knew about schools. The information today about which universities are good depending on what are your goals (to meet rich international friends who might invite you on to family yachts or who are as fundamentalist Islam as you are (or both))or whatever your university aims ) is helpful to people.

There as no Russell G when I went to university (it did not exist) so it always passed me by as an aim. The boys tongue in cheek list is not too bad. 3 of my children chose Bristol over Durham and could have gone to either but were happy at Bristol and it is a bit closer to London so all worked out fine.

I am not sure Warwick shoudl be described as non diverse by someone above. My sons went to a minority white school and there were some very clever boys deliberately choosing Warwick despite its dire position in terms of living near Coventry etc) over, say, Bristol because they wanted more students who weren't white. I would say Warwick as a good diversity option if you are in the top tier with high grades. Not that colour should matter and thankfully the Supreme Court in the US yesterday made it clear discrimination on grounds of race particularly against Asians is illegal in terms of university entrance.

Warwick is pretty high in terms of ethnic diversity if you look at the stats.

Its a reputable Uni but not a MN favourite as it’s ugly next to an ugly city and it’s not a Uni known for it’s social scene.

Warwick really is a NM favourite. Not sure what you have been reading but it’s always mentioned for maths, economics, PPE, engineering and humanities to name a few. Very popular with students who want a campus and not a city. It’s seen as a safe option in terms of living on site. Plus it’s high in many league tables.

Yes, I see Warwick mentioned on here a lot. DD didn't like any of the MN favourites

4% approx of the UK population is 'Black' Warwick = 2.3% staff - How are those staff employed? What percentage of those are actually teaching staff? Afro Caribbean/African/an other black ethnic group?
8% Black students - How many of those are of African descent? Afro Caribbean? or A n other Black ethnic group? How many are international students? How many are contextual offers? Black people (more likely Afro Caribbean) are dispropotationaly affected by poverty v Private.

That's a 'marketing' Dashboard on Warwick's site. It's very pretty but not that informative if you are an ethnic minority.

Warwick is in Coventry.

But there's a Cov Uni so they called in Warwick because it's closer to Warwick.

It definitely is not in Warwick. Don't expect the lovely olde worlde Warwick thing, it's in a field on the edge of Cov 😁

Great university, the business school is one of the best rated out there. But Durham/Oxford/Bath it ain't in terms of aesthetics!!!

Lots of local kids from Cov and Brum go to Warwick as it's a good university, and it's nearby. Both cities are diverse, and the student population of Warwick is diversem

Actually the campus is very similar to Bath. And it seems most students move out to Leamington after 1st year, very mumsnetty friendly!

Hahaha true but I live locally to that and it's a bit rubbish for student life really

Clubs in Leam are SO tame compared to my student life far too many a few years ago 🤣

DS did his degree and Masters at Warwick - no difficulties in having good student social life both on and off campus.

There’s student life and clubbing life. Not the same! Also Warwick was a uni before Coventry. Warwick was established in 1965. Coventry uni was post 92. In the 1979s it was Lanchester Polytechnic.

1970s