experiences at Kings College or Warwick please

[justthatreallyagain]

My son is deciding between applying for either Kings College or Warwick for business. I was wondering please if anyone has experience of either of these two uni's - particularly interested in the social life as I am concerned he will feel isolated living in London especially as he's football mad. thank you

Is he filling in his ucas form now, pre a levels?

Warwick is a campus uni so very different to anything in London.

He’s been predicted A*AA but is borderline so going to choose either Warwick or Kings College rather than both and not get grades. Currently applied for Bath which he is keen on. Has had offers from Exeter and Loughborough which he likes too. Is thinking of having Surrey as his insurance but hasn’t visited yet.

Sorry to be clear he’s applied to Bath, Exeter and Loughborough already and has two choices left.

Has he visited any of the places? Bath is also a campus on the edge of a town. Exeter similar but more integrated with the town IMO.

Kings best suits people who want to live in London. It has a high proportion of overseas students. If London life excites him, it would be a good choice. Warwick is a campus and much more of a trad uni experience. I know people who graduated recently from both places and enjoyed their time there but the KCL lot definitely focused on London life more than student life.

Warwick is large campus uni. Not that integrated with Coventry. Depends what living environment he wants?

My dd did very well at Warwick. Lovely campus.

Bath is a fabulous university all second years onwards live in the city beautiful place to live my daughter loved her time there

thank you - yes he has gone to open days for each one except kings - although he did an online tour and a self in person tour of kings

My DS went to kings London.

No problem with social life - many many societies and things to join. He was very busy. He was in halls first year and shared a flat second and third (but was rarely in it)

Thank you - having worked in London near kings college I assumed this but was unsure. He’s a kid who likes kicking a football with his mates often / watching sport - I am concerned he might not enjoy London life.

DS left Warwick after a year as he didn't enjoy the campus and felt it too detached from life in that he only really met students. Transferred to a big city uni and was much happier. Depends what experience they want I guess.

Thank you - I think this is his top choice but waiting for an offer. Unfort he does not do A level Maths which the admin team said will weaken his application (for business) although he did get an 8 for gcse maths and 99 for combined science.

My daughter left King’s after a year of study. PM if you would like any further information.

Ds very happy at Warwick. It's very much a campus uni and the students don't go into Coventry- but do go to Leamington Spa for socials as lots of second years live there. He has joined clubs and found them welcoming and friendly.

Academically the lecturers and course organisation has been very good (he isn't studying business so I can't say about that but Warwick is generally considered a target uni for this).

It is completely the opposite in being a campus uni to being in London I feel. You must visit to find out.

Just saw the football reply. His sports aren't football, but the sports clubs and gym has been great. There’s lots of opportunities for you to join in even if you’re not particularly great at sport- so social football sessions and a Matchday club where you can go to watch matches with others.
But as per every Uni, it’s all about joining and trying things and whether you feel comfortable there and make friends.

Will cost of accommodation be a factor in choice?

My niece is a 3rd year at Warwick and is thriving. She lived on campus during the first year and moved to a house in Leamington Spa with friends for the second year. She regularly gets the bus to campus to study and socialise. She is so busy with social events and clubs as well as studying. She has been accepted for a post grad there next year and has chosen to stay on despite having offers from other universities.

Dd is enjoying Warwick. In her 3rd year now. We live in London so she does have access to a city, but quite liked the idea of going somewhere a bit quieter. Its a green campus and she saw a badger on her first day and walked through a nature reserve on her way to lectures in the first year. I liked how they organised the accommodation in first year so they were with like minded people (I'm sure all unis do that.) She likes having smaller towns than she is used to. But still makes use of London when at home. There's a sports centre and arts centre. She lives in Earlsdon in Coventry now. Accommodation is reasonable and plenty of it.
Dd2 wants a city and hoping for Sheffield. 🤞

I think Warwick is a very "safe" student experience. There is loads going on on campus(sports, activities, drama, cafes, bars etc)and as others have said most students then live in Leamington Spa which is a nice, not too daunting town to go out in.
I remember students who had come from London, who were already used to clubbing in Shoreditch etc, were distinctly underwhelmed by the Student Union's 80s nights etc! However, despite not being edgy/cool/urban, for most it was really fun. The campus is really like a big holiday camp!
I visited friends at London uni a lot, and it was a totally different experience. They seemed to make close friends in halls but then went out like ordinary people in London. The halls were also WAY more expensive, so that is something to consider.
These experiences are from a long time ago now, but I can't see how the basic dynamics will have changed.

I went to Kings over 20 years ago but I found it was hard to find people like me (working/middle class) on my course. The one I did meet, I married. The others were being funded to live in Kensington etc whereas I ended up moving to Walthamstow for 2nd/3rd year. It was fine but I think I'd advise a child of mine to go to a campus uni instead.

Dd not a clubber, but apparently there's a £10 minibus to and from Birmingham clubs for those that want it. Party bus. Probably not the best choice for clubbing though.

Two on my family loved Warwick a few years ago. Neither did Business, however.

They were both very involved in student societies, sports, etc. One got a good job and the other an excellent PhD placement as outcomes.

I always think Warwick has a good vibe, but again I don’t visit the Business School.

You and DS might want to research what percentage of successful applicants have Maths A level. If it is very high, they may be looking for this even if it is not an explicit requirement, making his application a bit risky. The reason would be that you can teach a different curriculum to a group having the Maths.

thank you no cost not a factor

Warwick has one of the top business schools in the country (and the world), so if that’s the kind of career he’s aiming at, then it’d be a perfect choice.