SOAS experiences and reputation?

[Tiredandconfused24]

DC has applied to Oxbridge and a couple of others so far but is struggling to come up with some slightly safer bets for social sciences. They have one London based uni down already but had discounted SOAS because of concerns about lack of investment/finances and whether its reputation was dwindling (I get the impression it is better thought of internationally than nationally?).

Wonder if we’ve dismissed it too quickly?
Any experience / thoughts on how it is regarded? Thanks

Ps meant to say I’m aware it had a lot of courses in clearing this year which doesn’t really help….

SOAS is brilliant! But yes, broke. However if your DC is really academically curious and wants an international view (I'm guessing they are/do) I would 100% recommend SOAS.

Have they visited?

Thanks Spinet, so you have a DC who went there?

I worked at SOAS for a long time. At best it's chaotic. There has been a massive underinvestment in professional services staff and systems so expect delays to any administration process. There's been a huge turnover of staff (3 restructures in 5 years) so expect general confusion to add to the generalised chaos. It can get quite combative. Senior management, at least in the time I was there, were notorious for shifting the blame for their bad decisions onto more junior members of staff. Bullying was rampant in some areas.

Added to this is quite a toxic atmosphere amongst a large number (though not all) of the teaching staff. This may not affect students but I've known long term members of staff to refuse to speak to their colleagues for years on end and oppose any suggestions put forward by that member of staff on principal. These petty feuds were allowed to rumble on for years. I used to joke that SOAS was the wokest university in London, after Goldsmiths. While this may be debatable, they certainly embrace industrial action with a glee that I haven't seen in any of the other universities I've worked in. Student occupations are not unknown and there has been violence aimed at some staff who go into work during strikes, even if they are not in the striking union. (by students, not staff).

It's reputation internationally is far better than it's home reputation. The reality on the ground is nowhere near as shiny as it likes to pretend. And, finally, even before the current events, SOAS had a massive unacknowledged anti semitism problem.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my over a decade there, but I'm glad I'm out.

Thanks @slug - it seems there are some very differing experiences but your post does generally confirm some fears I already had.

No, I work with students from a few London universities. SOAS is one of my favourites. I can't speak to its antisemitism problem though; best take @slug's word for that, but I will say that having worked in many universities I have never heard staff be especially complimentary about any of them.

Can only comment from a current undergraduate experience. My DN is at SOAS- second year - got a place in clearing after missing their firm and insurance. All gone really well, they lived in an intercollegiate hall in Yr 1 so has friends from a range of London Unis. Loving their options on Asian and African History.

@Tiredandconfused24 At DDs school
it was chosen by the rich girls from the UAE. No one else. They liked being with friends and lived in London anyway. They didn’t need jobs. This was a while ago but it’s pretty well down in league tables. Is there nothing at Kings m, LSE snd UCL?

@TizerorFizz thanks. I think we’ve decided not to look into it any further and financially I think London is only worth it for a uni that DC is really keen on. LSE is on the list but obviously a long shot.

@TizerorFizz Not everyone can have places at top unis and sometimes even those offers don't work out - my DN was caught by a Covid exam board debacle - and got A star A B instead of three As hence missed grades for the 2 'elite' London unis they had offers for - both AAA. They will need a job and are working very hard and while it was tough going through clearing and feeling a 'failure' SOAS has worked out well for them.

They also have two paid jobs in the evenings so aren't part of the UAE crowd - which I'm sure exists as well.

So while not a maybe a first choice for many it can work out well... 😊

Views on SOAS polarised, more so than other universities. Have you looked at St Andrews?

@juja The op is looking for an alternative to Oxbridge! (And London now!) That skews other choices. I’m we aware not everyone is looking for a top uni. My DD2 wasn’t going to. However there’s plenty of options the op could look at in the top 20. If they are not sure about London, there’s fantastic unis and courses elsewhere.

know soas well.

for all its many faults - some appalling - there is no place like it. For me without question a brilliant brilliant education - and I went (as a student) to two of the much better regarded places you list, as well as soas.

it’s been radical forever, and I do echo much of what @slug says about activism and disorganisation

OP we are in the same boat. DD also Oxbridge and a couple other (Bath, Durham) and struggling for another for Sociology/Social Sciences. Rejected Bristol and Exeter after open days. Doesn't like the look (online) of Warwick or Loughborough, might consider Glasgow (over Edinburgh) but put off by distance and that it's four years. We live in London so does not want here (I suggested UCL, which isn't really 'safer' I know). I thought Surrey as good rep for SS but she didn't like third year modules. Have you considered any of those?

Warwick is very different to Bristol. DD really liked Bristol but would have felt trapped at Warwick or Loughborough. Open days have an odd dynamic too. They don’t tell you much about what it’s like to study somewhere. They just give a snapshot. If she likes Bath, why would she dismiss Exeter? Very similar. On that basis, why not other campus unis? Lancaster? Birmingham has its own area of the city as does Bristol. All deliver great courses.

I know @TizerorFizz - I thought Exeter was nice, good 'vibe' and sat in the Sociology talk and thought the professor engaging. A student ambassador from the course also addressed the crowd and my daughter went up and spoke to her afterwards, so she did engage and gave it some thought. I don't know why but she just decided against it. After C I think Durham edges slightly over Bath but she hasn't visited, maybe the collegiate system is what appeals though she would not want to share a room! I prefer Bath with its placement year.
She is not immune to the affirming feeling of saying she goes to a 'name' university, and that is (to her) a short list.
Anyway don't want to derail OPs post, but I am curious as to where else they have considered.

Really interested to read comments from @slug.

My daughter has recently finished her Masters at SOAS and the whole thing was pretty shambolic. Her dissertation has yet been marked (all marking took ages) and thee are some admin issues that she has been trying to resolve for ages without success.

How much Covid and the strikes were responsible for her experience I don't know. But based on my daughter's experience, I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

I've only been there on a summer course (learning Yiddish, ironically), and the student cafe was emblazoned with anti-Semitic posters. Not pleasant for Jewish students, I'm sure.

Have you considered York? Great uni with well respected sociology dept.

Antisemitism at SOAS. This is three years ago but I doubt whether things are different in the current climate.

@PurpleChrayne See my comments about who chooses to go there. Not that anyone DDs knew was antisemitic but it’s not fully multicultural.

Southampton?

@slug I was coming on to say chaotic, especially if you know anyone who works in their professional services.
I think some amazing and brilliant things happen there but it's very patchy in other areas.

I tend to think potential students should not approach uni with a closed mind. How can all y3 modules be unacceptable? Uni is about opening your mind and learning new things. Exploring what you can do and enhancing your subject knowledge. It’s a shame very decent unis are not considered when they obviously have first class modules. My DD was dead against medieval French. Decided to have a go and loved it. Try something new!

Erasmus in Rotterdam or Leiden? Quicker to reach than some of the northern cities.