Daughter about to start Uni, having a wobble and thinking she should have gone to a higher Ranked Russell Group Uni!

[WhatsTheStoryRory]

My daughter did her A levels in the summer and got all A*s in 4 STEM subjects.
She accepted an offer to study a STEM subject in a non Russell group uni because that's the one she liked the best when we visited.
The Uni she liked is very well rated and is a couple of hours drive from the city we live in.
She's gone through the whole process of applying for Student loan and choosing accomodation.

She's now having a wobble and thinking she should have accepted an offer she had from a Russell Group Uni in the city we live in.
The main reason seems to be, that she thinks future employers will give preference to those who went to higher ranked Uni's.

She's even mentioned taking a year out and re-applying for next year.
We've said we'll support her whatever she decides.

Is it even possible to change Uni's at this late stage?

Russel Group holds a lot more weight that non Russell group. Whilst yes you can be successful in life even without a degree, employers absolutely do pay attention to things like this. Recent medical students from Anglia Ruskin med school are sorry to say generally poorer than those from Kings college for example. Their med school is too new and has an untested curriculum and it shows. RG definitely has gravitas and if your daughter wants to change I wouldn’t stop her.

I can see why Bath might be less appealing in some ways, depending on what city you live in?
But academically it's got quite a good reputation.
However it's a big commitment, and if it won't cost her anything she should possibly take a year out and try again. Feeling apprehensive that strongly at the beginning of the journey doesn't bode well.

Bath is a great uni!

There will be lots with her sorts of grades there.

This is dreadful advice. You would not for example swap Bath (not RG) for Liverpool (RG) or St Andrews for Newcastle or Lancaster for Cardiff

Yeah but Anglia Ruskin is in the bottom 10, Bath is in the top 10 and outranks many RG Unis.

I was going to say change to the Russell Group but I don't think Bath willl cause her any issue for STEM careers. It has a great reputation. I'm talking as someone who filters CVs and interviews science undergraduates/graduates.

I was going to say change until you said Bath. Bath is well regarded. What was the other uni, that she rejected?

Honestly I wouldn't take a year out. I'd encourage her to start at Bath and if unhappy, inquire into a transfer.

My sons is at RG uni doing a stem subject, he chose it because of course and campus. It’s not a topped ranked one but being happy has a lot of value and it was his choice

could do first year and then move to other uni for second?

Bath has a fantastic reputation and last year (or possibly the year before) was top for student satisfaction I believe.

The RG thing is a bit of a marketing swizz IMO. There is nothing second rate about Bath.

Sorry but you don’t know what you’re talking about. I would absolutely rate Newcastle and Liverpool above Bath.

How far away are you from Bath? Is she maybe having a general wobble about moving away?

What was the other uni? Imperial, change, Manchester, stay, for example

The wobble is probably partly to do with living away from home. My DC is home for summer and has been newly appreciating the laundry, cooking and other services her Dad and I provide. It did them good to have to manage all that on their own. That’s the part of the Uni experience that is maturing- not parties.

Why? The university league tables dont Bath is far higher ranking than both of them. Newcastle is something like 30th overall.

I work in the sector and do know what I’m talking about.

Following this topic with interest. My daughter fancies Bath next year but is concerned that it's not a RG.

Is this backwards day?
Newcastle is 26th,
Liverpool is 19th

Bath is 8th in the rankings!

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

Bath is a great uni.

I went to a RG,(as did our kids), it’s made not a jot of difference in my career. In fact, I did a second degree at uni of Westminster for my job.

When I’m recruiting, I look more at the degree and class than the uni.

Cardiff, Newcastle and Liverpool - you can do medicine. I don’t even know whether Bath has a medical school- can’t remember it being on the list when I was in sixth form. St Andrews also you can’t do a complete medical degree there- only the first part- then you have to transfer to somewhere like Cardiff, Liverpool or Newcastle to complete the course. Bath, Lancaster and even St. Andrews are not in the same league. You are misinformed.

Depends on the league table, doesn’t it? There seem to be several competing ones.

IME employers won’t particularly care unless it’s a very specific course. Most emptoyers I’ve come across either recruit blind, or they have a bit of a hierarchy consisting of 1) Oxbridge 2) traditional universities 3) new universities. Bath would comfortably sit in the second category, along with the Russell Group lot.

Sorry but you don’t know what you’re talking about. I would absolutely rate Newcastle and Liverpool above Bath.

You'd be an idiot then. And no, employers absolutely wouldn't rate Bath as less than any RG. As it goes Bath's employability is higher than most RGs due to the high number of placement year courses.

When I read your original post I knew it was Bath.

It is very well renouned for engineering if that is what she wants to study.

? The OP said STEM, not M and how long ago were you in sixth form?

Don't drop.out after a term ... looks very bad in the CV

wtf has having a medical school got to do with anything? It's not a badge of quality.

This is a bizarre post. What does medicine have to do with anything.

lancaster bath and St Andrews are top ranking universities. Cardiff Liverpool Newcastle Nottingham etc are not. They’re part of the marketing consortium but they do not rank as highly in the league tables