Sports Science degree - Exeter or Bath?

[Prenelope]

Morning. Dd did exceptionally well in her A levels - she was predicted ABB and in fact got 2 x A stars, A and an A in the EPQ. She has a place at Exeter to study Sports Science. She's happy about this, but there's a small part of her who thinks she should apply to Bath next year as its supposed to be so prestigious for Sports Science. They aren't far off each other in the league tables. She didn't apply originally as they state their entry requirements are A star AB or AAA.

Would it be worth thinking about reapplying (she's taking a gap year)? She likes the social scene at Exeter (my ds went there).

Anyone know anything about sports science??

Has she considered Loughborough? It's the best uni in the world for sports subjects and has an international reputation too. Your DC would be above their entry requirements with those grades. I'm assuming there's a reason as you've not mentioned there but would be interesting to know.

Yes - she just didn't like it during the open day. She also has friends that have been there and hated it.

I'm being neutral on Loughborough because I know it is excellent.

Her plan so far is Exeter then a Msc at Loughborough or Bath.

If she doesn’t want to go to highly rated lboro bc she didn’t like it (fair enough) does she like Bath? Just bc it’s also highly rated isn’t enough of a reason, surely? Did she visit it?

Well done to her on her great results btw.

Thanks! She liked Bath, but she LOVED exeter. But when she was looking she had the idea in her mind that she wouldn't get into Bath so she didn't apply.

Oh I would suggest she goes where she loves tbh. I am no expert on sports science specifically, but I find it hard to believe that in years to come, any employer will look at her degree from Exeter and think, hmmm, shame it wasn't Bath.

Unless the facilities and specific practical work looked a much better offer in Bath? Otherwise where you love is a great place to be.

Thanks Clary. I feel that emotionally and agree, but none of my dcs have ever done this well academically and I'm panicking a bit in case she wastes it. Of course there are family members who already think she's wasting her talents by doing sports science in the first place!

Sports science is a tricky one. There are lots of universities offering it, but jobs where you need a degree in sports science aren't as plentiful as the number of graduates doing it. Many people end up becoming personal trainers etc which you don't need a 3 year university degree for, or they specialise with a post graduate degree.
Obviously there are exceptions and people who don't go to Bath or Loughborough get into excellent jobs in a variety of fields, but if she has the marks then Loughborough/Bath and maybe Birmingham are the 3 I would consider.

She should go where she loves, not where she thinks is most prestigious.

What sport does she play? She should look at the BUCS tables for that sport and see where Exeter and Bath are. Also the facilities for that particular sport. Maybe that could be a factor?

(Ds did Sports Science at Loughborough and love love loved it. It was also excellent for his sport and he played lots of high level matches. Plus good for Olympian spotting - every time a GB athlete popped up winning something, DS would say, oh I train next to them in the gym. But for sure, you have to love the environment you are in, no matter how stellar the company).

She got a very low offer from Birmingham. Funnily enough I know a few who did sports science and the personal trainers went to very low ranked unis. Ones who went to Bath - one is a quite famous coach, one is a lawyer! And one works in finance. Random.

(Add -re careers, I can't think of many of DS's cohort who are personal trainers tbh. It's a very science and research focused degree - or Loughborough is anyway. DS now in medicine for eg -edited to add but he did do his postgrad at Exeter - which he also loved!).

What sport does she play? She should look at the BUCS tables for that sport and see where Exeter and Bath are. Also the facilities for that particular sport. Maybe that could be a factor?

This is a factor. I think she thinks it will be easier to get on BUCS teams at Exeter and she's probably right.

(She was a very high level athlete but had a catastrophic injury a couple of years ago so is just beginning to get back into it)

Good post @commonground and lol at the Olympian spotting. DS2 is at Lboro as I have mentioned on other threads and he says the same.

That is a good point about BUCS actually. I am involved in athletics and for sure the Lboro track and field athletes competing for the uni have to be at a very high level. But that's not necessarily true for all sports (not DS2's for example).

Exeter sends a decent team to BUCS athletics but Bath does better for sure. Birmingham is very very strong. FWIW (not useful really if your DD plays hockey @Prenelope )

Edited to add: so sorry to hear about her injury - I hear you on that RN.

If she thinks she has more chance at Exeter for BUCS that should certainly be a factor because then your level of training/input/opportunities are so much better once you are on a BUCS team. Plus, make sure she is aware of pre-season training/camps - she could contact the team/sport she would like to join before she goes and make herself known with times etc.

I think Exeter is well regarded and if she loves the city then that bodes really well for sticking with the course.
bath is beautiful as well though, and the campus is lovely.
i can totally understand why she doesn’t want to go to Loughborough when she could be in Bath or Exeter. She’s going to live in that place for at least three years so I think it’s really important to Love the city too.

It’s tricky. Bath is very highly regarded just below Loughborough both for sports science & academically as a university. However Exeter is also very highly ranked.

dd is going to LJMU for Sports Science. She’s a mature student (grades in hand) with A* A plus a dance diploma but she doesn’t play any sports. She chose LUMU for the industry links as she has a specific kind of career in mind. She also loved the atmosphere & clicked with the lecturers on the open day. Your Dd is most likely to do well at somewhere she loves.

Has she looked at the different modules offered and are both courses Bases accredited?

Can she apply to Bath through clearing? I thought these days there was that option for candidates who did better than expected?

However… if she loved Exeter, what’s the problem?

Bath has no clearing spaces now and I am not sure Sports Science went into clearing this year as it is very competitive. DD is at Bath and the sports facilities are fab, lovely to walk round and see all of the Team Bath youngsters doing their thing.

My DS was an under 21 GB athlete. He went to Reading but spent a lot of time at Loughborough. He didn't study sport and works in the CS. For family reasons he wanted to be close to home. Two of his friends went to Bath for sports science, one is now a marine the other a lawyer after a GDL.

This would be risky as she might not get an offer from Bath. I have come across people with all A*s and As predicted who didn't get an offer from Bath. It is possibly one of the most competitive courses in the country to apply for. Despite her excellent grades in hand (well done to her!) a place is not nailed on at all. Stick to Exeter, I'd say.

That version of clearing doesn't exist any more. (forgotten what they called it!).

I'm sure she would get an offer. There's no interview, she has a background in elite level sport and she's well above the entry requirements with grades in hand. But yes, there is a tiny risk I agree.

Adjustment.

In your circs with those excellent grades in hand reapplying next year sounds like a great idea. She'd almost certainly get another offer from Exeter and it sounds like she probably would from Bath.