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Higher education

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

Original poster

Is Kent a good enough uni?

91 replies

RabbitH0LE · 08/10/2023 16:27

I feel so overwhelmed and out of my depth with this. DD wants to study computer science. Predicted AAA so not enough to go to the top 30 or so unis in the Guardian League table.

Is it worth going to see the likes of Kent at Canterbury, Chichester, Sussex , Portsmouth?

Or better to try and get an apprenticeship? My mum says there's no point getting a degree from these unis. I never went to uni and neither did my husband and DD is also a bit clueless. She's not bothered about a top uni but don't want to waste money on loans etc if it's not worth it.

Please help

OP posts:
stubiff · 09/10/2023 12:34

@RabbitH0LE
Would she prefer Software Engineering if she's been coding for ages?

Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 12:39

choirmumoftwo · 09/10/2023 12:18

Could you say approximately where you live?

Near Brighton. Other option is to commute to Sussex uni and live at home of course

OP posts:
Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 12:41

poetryandwine · 09/10/2023 12:33

I’m glad the distance constraint is DD’s choice, OP. Still, she will be a year older and she’s closing off some good options.

In your place I wouldn’t want to put pressure on her but I would have one serious conversation asking her to explore this with me. Gently remind her that CS is a time-intensive degree and she will have few chances and hopefully fewer wishes to come home during term time.

It is very cool that DD has been coding for so long.

Yes, the open days are hard to get to as well! But I will have this conversation with her. Initially it helped to have some restrictions like distance as there were so many to choose from

OP posts:
Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 12:42

stubiff · 09/10/2023 12:34

@RabbitH0LE
Would she prefer Software Engineering if she's been coding for ages?

I did suggest this but she thinks CS will give more options

OP posts:
boys3 · 09/10/2023 12:58

RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 12:12

Yes she is doing computer science. Been doing coding since age about age 7 in a coding club.

Ruled out UEA purely because I don't think we can afford accommodation in year 2! People are saying their kids had to move miles away from Bristol to get anything affordable.

There are so many things to consider. I find it overwhelming. I really appreciate this info and wish I'd asked earlier

The distance thing was because of her feeling like 5 hours on a train is too far.

I will look at the other suggestions.

@RabbitH0LE UEA is Norwich, accommodation for 2nd year and beyond has been quite reasonable and relatively plentiful. Plus not too bad travel wise from where you are.

SabrinaThwaite · 09/10/2023 13:03

I wouldn’t totally rule out Cardiff as it is doable by train.

Maybe also have a look at Leicester?

UEA is in Norwich and offers a maths module in Yr 1 for those that haven’t done maths at A level.

Lancaster would be a good option but it’s a long way from the south coast, so logistics might rule it out.

Piony · 09/10/2023 13:11

If Bristol would be OK distance-wise then I would look at Cardiff too. They are really not far from each other at all, and Cardiff is a good bit cheaper. People commute between them. At the moment it's about getting to a suitable list of 5 rather than necessarily finding "the one".

poetryandwine · 09/10/2023 13:12

OP, @Piony has a great point

crumpet · 09/10/2023 13:25

Kent is great. I went there and many of my friends are/were in very good jobs afterwards (partners in city law firms, very well remunerated banking, etc etc). More recently a young cousin of mine graduated a few years ago and had a great time - is now with MOD. A couple of people from my very small village also graduated within the last 4 years and both loved it, and DD is currently studying there, and again having a ball working hard and playing hard.

the same can be said of many other places I am sure, but it does have a charm.

clary · 09/10/2023 14:02

OP I am sure you don’t talk about “top 30 universities” in front of your DD but I would advise you not to think like that at all. Top 30 for what? Even if you mean top 30 for Comp Sci – some of the ones your DD could get into are certainly in the top 30.

If you mean the top 30 overall in that table – well firstly, so what? That doesn’t mean a uni outside that 30 is no good. I note that both Nottingham and Cardiff, two respected RG unis, are below the 30 mark. I also note that Loughborough, at number 10, offers comp sci degree with a standard offer of AAA anyway. Maths is needed so it’s off your list, but still it’s there, so yes, AAA can get you into a “top 30” uni for comp sci.

AAA PG or even better actual grades are great, and will for sure open lots of doors. Yes, @TotalOverhaul for some subjects AAA will get you in more or less anywhere (excl Oxford and Cambridge) – MFL or maybe Eng lit for example. But comp sci, like economics and medicine, is very popular and unis can ask for higher grades. It’s just how it is. Doesn’t downgrade your DD’s efforts (or those of anyone gaining AAA).

FWIW my DS2 is at Lboro (number 10! And ranked in top 30 for his subject) with AAB. It’s not as simple as AAA = entry everywhere, and never will be. Equally it’s not the case at all that AAA closes the door to the top unis. It really doesn’t.

Anyway .... all of that is not truly relevant to your DD's situation. There are some great options suggested on here. I'm flying the flag for the underrated Leicester - which btw is less than an hour from London on a non-stop train.

If she is interested in Nottingham and you can’t get to the open day, you can go along and look round the campus and the city at any time. In 2020 DS2 was applying and this was pretty much our only option. Not ideal but it gave him a steer.

Natsku · 09/10/2023 15:34

Kent is great, I loved it there. I wouldn't worry about whether or not its in the top 30, or what your mum thinks of it, just what your DD thinks of the place

Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 18:52

PandaPacer · 09/10/2023 15:20

My DS has been tempted to apply for UEA for CS due to this:
https://www.uea.ac.uk/news/-/article/uea-to-introduce-new-ai-programme-based-on-google-s-open-source-hardware-accelerated-javascript-library

To me the accommodation does not look as expensive in 2nd year compared to other places, plus it is easy to find.

Thank you. I remember why we decided this was a no though. I think they want maths

OP posts:
Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 18:54

Piony · 09/10/2023 13:11

If Bristol would be OK distance-wise then I would look at Cardiff too. They are really not far from each other at all, and Cardiff is a good bit cheaper. People commute between them. At the moment it's about getting to a suitable list of 5 rather than necessarily finding "the one".

But we have to apply soon! So many say they only guarantee accommodation if you put them as first choice so I'm worried about that too

OP posts:
LIZS · 09/10/2023 18:57

That means if you make them Firm choice, until then there is no order of preference.

clary · 09/10/2023 19:10

Yeh @RabbitH0LE the firm choice wrt accommodation will happen after all offers are in - sometime before the A level exams start IIRC but certainly well into spring next year if need be. DD's offer holder days were in February - she hadn't decided the course for certain till then, never mind the uni!

clary · 09/10/2023 19:10

No order of preference on the UCAS form at this stage, don;t worry.

SabrinaThwaite · 09/10/2023 19:30

RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 18:52

Thank you. I remember why we decided this was a no though. I think they want maths

Show quote history

No, you don’t need maths for UEA.

MarchingFrogs · 09/10/2023 20:17

Ruled out UEA purely because I don't think we can afford accommodation in year 2! People are saying their kids had to move miles away from Bristol to get anything affordable.

@RabbitH0LE I think you must be thinking of UWE (The University of the West of England)? The commute from Bristol to Norwich would be a killer, let alone the cost of accommodation! (Sorry).

Student rentals in Norwich are actually very reasonable compared with a lot of other cities; DD currently pays less than £400 per month, I think, although as most of them in the house are no longer students, there is council tax on top of that, as well as utilities. It's certainly less than her last year's houseshare in Birmingham, although that wasn't bad, either.

Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 20:32

No, you don’t need maths for UEA.

I just checked again and it says you do

Please let me know if you know something different because this one looked really good

Is Kent a good enough uni?
OP posts:
Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 20:33

MarchingFrogs · 09/10/2023 20:17

Ruled out UEA purely because I don't think we can afford accommodation in year 2! People are saying their kids had to move miles away from Bristol to get anything affordable.

@RabbitH0LE I think you must be thinking of UWE (The University of the West of England)? The commute from Bristol to Norwich would be a killer, let alone the cost of accommodation! (Sorry).

Student rentals in Norwich are actually very reasonable compared with a lot of other cities; DD currently pays less than £400 per month, I think, although as most of them in the house are no longer students, there is council tax on top of that, as well as utilities. It's certainly less than her last year's houseshare in Birmingham, although that wasn't bad, either.

Yes sorry!

OP posts:
clary · 09/10/2023 20:37

RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 20:32

No, you don’t need maths for UEA.

I just checked again and it says you do

Please let me know if you know something different because this one looked really good

OP I take that to mean any three of those A levels tbh. Or maybe even any one! You could hardly have all of them! What else is DD doing? I must say it's not very clearly written. Unis usually say including at least one from: xxx yyy. Does UEA mean all three A levels must be on the list? That's a bit surprising (and specific; most courses don't specify three A levels. even medicine or engineering usually only state two). Worth a phone call I think.

Original poster
RabbitH0LE · 09/10/2023 20:43

Oh @clary Thanks sooo much! I think I just saw maths and didn't actually read it all!

We will definitely go to the open day then. I'm so grateful for all the help, thanks

OP posts:
clary · 09/10/2023 20:46

😁that's great, UEA is a very good place to study - I bet she loves it

DeadbeatYoda · 09/10/2023 20:53

Your mum is talking nonsense. Ignore it. Your dd has done well. Three A's is a great result. Forget what you've heard and enjoy the journey with your dd, its a really special time. I have just launched my oldest son into his Uni career having not been to Uni myself ( and he did end up 5.5 hour journey away) I couldn't be happier for him. All the best.