2nd choice Liverpool or Newcastle?

[Supersoakers]

Dd is struggling to name her second choice. She finds it really hard to make a decision. She looked round Newcastle and loved it, but wasn’t able to go to Liverpool. First choice Edinburgh. Accommodation seems pretty similar as does the distance to uni buildings etc. Liverpool offer slightly lower. Anyone got any insight into how the 2 compare? It’s for law. She is academic but quite anxious and overthinks. Not a huge party animal, has never taken drugs, never had a boyfriend or girlfriend but does like going out with friends and music.

Both great options tbh. If she loved Newcastle that sounds a winner. I’d either one easier for her to get to from home? I’m blithely assuming you are in the north!

Ds (and I) both loved Newcastle as a city but in the end he preferred others based on the course. Know a fair few YP loving it there. My Liverpool was good but is v out of date but lots of ppl love the city too (I don’t but this isn’t about me).

Is there any difference in the courses? Is she likely to get into first choice anyway?

My DD is at Newcastle.

Doesn't do drugs as she's disabled so takes lots of prescription meds.

Plenty of non-party animals at Newcastle and there is a good social scene that isn't just clubbing. DD has made lots of friends and is doing well.

Rents are fairly cheap and transport is easy.

sorry I meant to say my Liverpool intel was good but is v out of date!

I think I'd choose Newcastle over Liverpool if I had my go around again (I was at York) but looking at the rankings for Law, I believe Liverpool outranks Newcastle by quite a bit. I don't know if that factors in for your DD?

If she’s into music, 100% Liverpool

Yep! This was one of the deciding factors in my DD choosing Liverpool. She loves it despite not being a party girl. The city is vibrant and really well geared up to student life. She chose to live in private accommodation which is right in the city centre and it's great - purpose built student apartments right in the thick of things.

I would say Liverpool has a better law dept and a very active legal profession, probably more than Newcastle

DD loves Liverpool, she was at Hope rather than uni of, but she lives the city and has stayed on after graduating. Music scene very vibrant, lots of green space for walks, plenty of nice cafes. We love visiting her!

Liverpool for all the reasons stated above. Unusual to have both a Scottish and an English uni as choices for law as the courses prepare you for 2 different legal systems. What’s her long term plan?

It’s actually a combined course she’s looking at law plus a language and she doesn’t have a long term plan! Interesting that Liverpool has a better law reputation when the offer is lower. At the Edinburgh open day they talked about the extra stuff for English law (parents weren’t allowed in).

Liverpool good for Law and was good for languages. Loads of green space too

Liverpool seems to be getting more positive feedback! Yes hopefully she will get her first choice anyway. Yes we’re northern.

Liverpool has a gold rating

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/undergraduate/tef-gold-rating/?

with a lower grade offer it wood provide a better safety net.

is there any chance of a visit to Liverpool soon? Get a feel
of the place.

Can she squeeze in a campus tour to Liverpool? If she's not been at all she may find this helps her decide.

They have to do their choices by 6th June and she has exams mon and Tues next week, but potentially a quick visit on the weds I guess. I just want her to put somewhere! I had been saying Newcastle as she’d been but actually Liverpool sounds more promising from what most have said.

One of DD's friends graduated from Liverpool quite recently and seems to have loved the city (has now left to work in London, though, but I don't think that's a refection on Liverpool).

Just had a quick look at the website; they don't seem to offer in person tours, except on open days, but thete is a map for a self-guided tour, and a virtual tour:

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/undergraduate/on-demand/city-and-campus/

Liverpool is a great city, I went last year after many years and had forgotten what fabulous civic buildings it has - of course it was very wealthy for a long time - and what great heart it seemed to be in as a city. You don’t get many places with as much civic pride and exuberant friendliness as Liverpool I don’t think.

@Supersoakers Why go to Edinburgh and learn Scottish law and then do extra for English law? If I have understood correctly. That’s not the best choice as it’s extra work. Of course if she wants to work in Scotland, that’s different.

For what it’s worth, the big hitter in the North for regional law employment (not London) is Manchester. However if she doesn’t know what she wants to do, she will end up being behind the curve in applying for internships when the time comes. So if she vaguely thinks she might like to practise law, I would look at Manchester. CUG puts Newcastle and Liverpool at 24 and 27 in their Law league table. Nottingham , York and Sheffield are all better.

I think you have been somewhat rude about other students and drugs.

@TizerorFizz No you haven’t understood correctly. She wants to do a combined course with a language and probably not be a lawyer. the combined course is not offered at most places- not any of those you mentioned. She doesn’t have a strict career path and wants to travel.
you also did not understand my comment about drugs, I was just trying to explain what sort of student she is; I know many take drugs and like to party. Sadly a student died on his first night in my ds’s halls after taking ketamine and drugs are rife at uni, nothing rude about it, it’s a fact. I also went to uni in the 90s with everyone taking drugs. she just isn’t like that.

Might depend on where you live.

Yes although they’re equidistant, Liverpool is a lot cheaper by train.

I think most parents would not write on MN that their dc wanted a drug fuelled existence at uni. Most MN dc are studious and never do anything wrong, obviously. It’s stating the obvious on this forum. Although some have a personality change with temptation in front of them and their parents probably have no idea.

What is the attraction of law if you don’t want it as a career? There’s very many Scottish students who cannot access Law degrees at Edinburgh due to widening access students having all the home places. I cannot remember the name of the poster who discussed it but she said the Law course had few non disadvantaged Scots on it. Seems an odd choice of subject for someone who doesn’t want a law career of any type. Others are desperate for this course. If she doesn’t want to work in law, just choose where she likes the look of though.

Thanks for your input on my dd’s choice of degree, I’m sure someone will find it helpful.

Many students do take drugs. My DS is surrounded my it in Manchester, as was I years ago. The problem is they’re stronger now. I think my kids are probably more wary partly due to the shitty affects they’ve had on my family. You’re fortunate to have the privilege of naivety on the issue.

My dd has chosen her course and happy with the course she has chosen. The uni were also clearly happy with her choice and academic credentials which led to her offer.
If you’ve ever ventured up to Newcastle or Liverpool and have something valuable to offer about those specific unis in terms of culture I’d love to hear it.

@Supersoakers does she have any specific questions about Liverpool? I’d be happy to answer.

Doing a language alongside would make me vote double for Liverpool - there’s a great study abroad offering, including a year in China at their campus there if that floats her boat.

I’m from and live in Liverpool, biased but it’s an amazing city. Always something to do - loads of culture, brilliant music scene and fab for students.

Student accommodation is pretty central and there are lots of job opportunities for students here.

The university is very well respected for Law and languages so I don’t think you’d go wrong there.