Exeter uni reassurance please!

[seymour]

Hi there, my daughter just got into Exeter uni through clearing but while she liked it when she visited ahead of the application process, she didn’t plump for it as her first choice as she felt it was quite “posh” and wasn’t sure if she would fit in. We are from a big city and she went to a comprehensive. Not trying to cause offence to anyone from a privileged background btw, we very much take every person as we find them, as does my daughter but just wondered if anyone could share their kids’ experiences? Thanks so much.

Marxism? It’s just social democracy as practiced across most of Europe where private schooling is more niche than in Britain. Even Winston Churchill considered implementing one school system in Britain. Hardly a Marxist, was he?

“Marxism” lets you just put your head in the sand though and dismiss the case for doing away with private schools as simply some sort of “looney left” project.

The particular post you responded too was grounded more in post-modernist “linguistic turn” theory, which itself rejected the “totalising meta-narrative” of Marxism.

Agreed, Exeter is pretty grotty in places, but it DOES have a John Lewis, a Waitrose, a massive Fat Face, and a Hollister, so well sorted for that demographic 😁

Fair point @pintery

though to be fair to Exeter in terms of absolute undergrad numbers there are only 3 unis (outside of Wales) -,Liverpool John Moores, Bristol, and Chester - that have a bigger Welsh contingent than Exeter. Exeter is not far off being as good as it gets on that measure 😀

Plus UWE of course. Which has more Welsh students than some unis in Wales! Which is how I managed to miss it. Still puts Exeter in the top 5.

Perhaps also worth an honourable mention for those English unis where Welsh students bumping into each other is more likely than at Exeter - Bath, Bath Spa, Gloucestershire, Harper Adams and Liverpool (just), from what I can see.

Gosh, what a weird turn this thread has taken!

Don't know if you're still here, OP, but your daughter will be absolutely fine if she decides to go to Exeter. Across our family's and DC's friends we know lots of kids from all sorts of backgrounds (very few 'posh') who have gone to Exeter and been very happy, found like-minded individuals and done really well there.

People would do well not to believe all the rubbish they read online and listen to people who have actual experience of the uni. DS has loved it so far and has a very grounded, socially diverse mix of friends.

Perhaps we are looking at different data sets @pintery . I’m using HESA student domicile data, table 59, for all full time undergrads. This shows the following numbers for Welsh domicile.

UWE. 2005

Liverpool John Moores 1490

Bristol 1270

Chester 1210

Exeter 955

Liverpool 900

Manchester 740

Bath 700

Birmingham 675

Manchester Met 630

Bath Spa 510

and that’s it for over 500.

the list is of course a bit different if one looked at percentage of undergrad body. The 390 at University of Gloucestershire would then for example make an appearance.

Yes - I am talking about the likelihood of a random student you meet also being from Wales, so % of all undergrads. Obvs different from total numbers of Welsh students, hence honorary mention.

What a toxic thread. No mention in the hijack discussion of (non Oxbridge) unis with similar "posh" demographics - Edinburgh, St Andrews, Durham, Bristol and London unis. They all also happen to be some of the very best unis in the country. So if you screen out for "poshness" you cut off your nose to spite your face and reduce your options.

OP your DC will have a great time at Exeter (or indeed anywhere else), if she goes with an open mind, gives everyone a second chance and throws herself into what the Uni has got to offer. FWIW, two of my DC at "posh" unis have made friends across the social spectrum and having met many of them, they were all delightful young people. I didn't have a clipboard to note down which ones had gone to state schools or private schools because they were all polite, chatty and fun and I didn't care.

Feel bad for the OP that her thread was hijacked when it's so easy to set up a separate thread on here for the (tedious, in my opinion) state v private discussion.

Yes, the shameless defence of private schools is toxic.

Presumably you “don’t care” because you aren’t personally effected. How caring!

I wonder if this is one of those threads that has been taken over by AI...

@GodessOfThunder - I am affected. I have DC at "posh" unis. But I choose to be led by my DC's experience which as I explained is not governed by whether a child went to state or private school but rather whether they become friends with people through normal Uni activities such as societies, their course and interests.

OP - if your DC is going to Exeter I'm sure they will have a great time. The DC who go there who my DC are in touch with, have all really enjoyed it socially and academically. Regardless of their type of schooling.

Thanks @Jng1 yes, she’s going and I think she’ll be fine. Really pleased your son is enjoying it.

ThNks @Bigfatsquirrel (didn’t have a clipboard! 😀)

Just wanted to update everyone who kindly contributed to my thread (and kickstarted a debate about public schools which was also very interesting!) My dd has settled well at Exeter, her accommodation has a great mix of people and she’s made some nice friends already. I think the lesson is that in a university with thousands of students, you can find your tribe although I absolutely acknowledge that that may be harder at some places than others. Thanks again for all your comments.

Thanks for updating Seymour and great news that your Dd has settled well and made friends. It’s a relief when they do, I know.

@seymour PLeased to hear that your DD has settled in well. My DD is a fresher at Exeter too. Few wobbles, but I think she is getting there!

@seymour Im sure she will be fine. As you say, lots of students are at Exeter and most really do want to get on with others.

@blametheparents aw, hope she’s ok. It’s a big thing!

Thanks @TizerorFizz

Thanks @maltravers I don’t think she’s missing us at all! 😀

My DS has settled well at Exeter too. And despite coming from a private school, has been accepted as a friend by lots of people from state schools. No one seems concerned what school people went to from what I hear.

Glad he’s settled in well, too!

My DS also an Exeter fresher and really, really enjoying it.

Said he met one girl in the first couple of nights who was asking what school people went to, but that's it.

Has made initial friends primarily through rugby and says although most come from south of England, there's been no mention of schools or what parents do etc.

Comments on every single phone call about how many hills he walks up and down each day lol (we live next to sea so very flat)

@lastdayatschool so glad he’s enjoying it too. Yes, I’ve heard about the hills as well!