Imperial or Warwick for CS?

[Mapletreelane]

DS has offers from both and is absolutely torn between these two. He is worried about the cost and social life of at Imperial. We've told him not to worry about cost. He is a naturally introverted very quiet lad not into going out and getting lashed. London doesn't daunt him; we spend a lot of time and he loves it and finds it really interesting. Warwick was lovely and I went to a campus uni and had a great time. So don't really know how to help him. Any positive experiences of either (especially in CS), thank you

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5022215-experiences-of-imperial-college?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

DS was gutted to be turned down from Imperial so congratulations to your son. However, I was more than slightly relieved (although I didn’t tell him that). He’s off to a campus uni where he will thrive.

DD’s bf studied CS at a non RG uni and has an extraordinary CV at world leading companies at the age of 27. So it’s more about the individual than the institution.

My relatively introverted DS went to Warwick and loved it. Not CS but STEM. Not nearly so introverted by the end. Went straight into a prestigious grad scheme and now earning extremely well. Still keeps in touch and regularly sees his hall friends and several were at his wedding. No imperial experience. He had an offer for LSE but hated the look of the halls

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply and your insight.

DH and I both had the time of our lives at a Campus uni (although it was by the beach! ). But we were very social then. I actually think his heart says Imperial but the practicalities say Warwick. However one thing @Turmerictolly said resonates, a Campus uni will be safe but London is so exciting. He is an introvert wiuth people yet the world around him interests him so much that he is far more likely to go and explore somewhere in London at the weekend than leave Warwick Campus for Coventry or Leamington.

And just a small matter of those grades, I think another reason he is leaving it so late is to guage how the exams are going!

Good luck to your DS. Is he studying CS? I am convinced it becomes a.lottery for offers at some point in the application process as so many talented applicants from UK amd overseas.

I know this is off topic, but I find this completely batshit that the parents of ADULTS have a facebook group to talk about their adult child’s life choices.

i know parents are important guides for young people, but it feels like university choices are things that can only really be done by the people themselves.

i see so much BS on MN from parents fretting over whether a child choosing a university that is two places behind another is a career ending decision. Employers don’t scrutinise THAT much. Yes, they’ll target top tier universities, but frankly, even graduates from top universities can lack the soft skills to thrive in an adult workplace.

OP- both are excellent universities. I’d focus on what university provides a lifestyle that suits their interests and extracurricular activities. For one, they will be happy, but it also could mean they have a better CV from being president of X club, or gaining leadership skills from voluntary work.

maybe London has more options for work placements during holidays?

OP, my DS1 is just coming to the end of his first year at IC (physics). He has a few good school friends at Warwick.

At Easter he said that his friends there seemed to be having more fun than him.
That it was difficult socialising at IC because everyone is so spread out (the halls range from being right next door to campus to a 40min tube journey away).
And that he has a lot more work to do than most other people he knows.

I think he would be enjoying himself a lot more if he were somewhere like Warwick. He’s not hated his first year - but he’s definitely not loved it either.

But, he still said he would rather be at IC - because he wants that name on his CV. So it really depends on what is more important to your DS: the overall “uni experience” or a slightly more prestigious name on a CV.

(I am aware that it is just my personal view that my DS would be having a better overall experience at somewhere other than IC - of course the same will not apply to everyone).

Warwick university is in the middle of nowhere. London is so much better than Coventry.

We already lived in London. My DS went to LSE and now works in London and is really happy. Working in London can never compare to studying in London, there is just something unique about it.

I’d worry that London is tougher place to make friends as an introvert.

i think Warwick would give more regular contact with same people, so easier to build up friendships through familiarity.

Hi, OP -

If DS’ heart says Imperial I think that is very important. Also, at either place an introvert makes friends by joining in things. If DS likes to get out and about, he can find some clubs or whatever of likeminded students at Imperial.

So, to the grades. It seems to come down to the question of how confident he feels of making the Warwick offer, because there is nothing wrong with aiming for Imperial snd ending up at Warwick as Insurance. There is much to regret with missing out your third choice and ending up either in Clearing or on a gap year.

Does DS have a trusted teacher or someone else who could help him to assess his chances objectively?

Totally agree with this - university status should be ONE factor in deciding on a university but shouldn't override everything else.

You will very likely never get another chance to devote three years of your time to your own intellectual and personal development and you never want to look back at those years thinking "I know I should have spent them at X"

And a happy student will always get more from the experience than an unhappy one, whatever the rankings say.

Thank you for this perspective. He needs A star in maths and 2 other As in Warwick . Subject to exams going to plan this should be achievable. He also did OK on the TMUA and got a reduced offer from Warwick (would have been 2 x A stars, 1 xA). It does feel a very achievable offer (touch wood and all other superstitionny things !and not tempting fate! )

Yes, for CS. Do you think your son would regret turning down Imperial later on in life? Has he gone through each course module in detail to see what he would actually be studying and is this the career path he wants when he has to specialise? Can he do a year out in industry? Has he thought about converting to a Masters as part of his course? Can he easily do this at Imperial? So many questions but it might just swing his decision.

Does he do Physics? Did he have an exam yesterday morning? If so, how did he find it? Apparently it was quite a hard paper!

This sounds promising to me. Warwick lowers the offer with a good TMUA score as an enticement. TMUA assesses Maths ability more than knowledge but this bodes well for DS’ Maths exams, provided he is mastering the content.

If he is taking FM and revising well, that is a source of optimism for two of his exams. But he can’t rest on his laurels!

@Ifgfgs

Warwick uni isn't in the middle of nowhere
Its 15 mins bus into the centre of Coventry.
One of my lodgers worked on campus and walked in every day.
Of course Coventry isn't London but not everyone wants London

Is Coventry all that great though?

I mean the Warwick campus isn't all that nice. One of DS's school classmates said it was a concrete jungle and much preferred campuses like the University of Nottingham.

@Ifgfgs
Coventry has two universities with a student population of over 50,0000. It caters to students very well.
Apart from shops, but then you go to Birmingham which is 20 mins on the train. You can be in London in 58 mins.

People seem to think Coventry is stuck in some desolate 1970s wasteland. It's improved dramatically since I arrived here in 1984.
People do need to get over the fact that Warwick uni doesn't have a castle, because it is actually in Coventry.

Also on the off topic topic, the Warwick parents FB isn't crazy like it sounds. It's people involved in something asking others for tips and advice. For example, recommendations of restaurants or accommodation near the campus. Or the details or parking on campus for drop off or pick up days. Or their child has called them about some sort of crisis and they need advice or information so they can help their child out. It's more of people involved in the same thing sharing information to help each other out than over invested parents hovering over their children's lives if that makes any sense?

We looked at CS at both Warwick and Imperial with DS (also currently doing A Level exams!). I really liked both of them, but DS was put off Imperial because of the accommodation being spread far and wide across London and the cost! I liked that it had a campus bit in its enclosed corner of London. I didn't like it when on the Hall tour we were told most students there shopped in Knightsbridge - to me that means Harrods! I could imagine it is fairly hard to make friends if you are quiet at Imperial.

Warwick feels much safer (not just physically, but nurturing). However, my reservation is that CS probably attracts introverts so my reserved DS could end up in a hall and on a course with people he didn't mix with as they kept themselves to themselves and by being in 'safe' Warwick his boundaries wouldn't be challenged. There are apparently isolated and lonely students at Warwick as well.

They are both lovely, but your DS needs to firm the university he would rather spend 3 years at. That is what it boils down to after all. Good luck to him!

@Mapletreelane my DS had a school friend who was quiet and introverted. Not interested in clubbing at all but they had a jolly good time and made friends elsewhere. Lots of societies to get involved in.

DS had a different more outgoing friend who also went to Imperial. As in someone who liked the occasional drink or two. They also had an amazing time at Imperial.

But my honest advice is that career wise there is little to no difference between Imperial and Warwick (at least for computer science). Had it been Imperial Vs Leeds or Imperial Vs York I'd have a different view.

DH is originally from Coventry and they are all huge Cov City fans, and season ticket holders. So Coventry definitely has a huge pull as a city. (We live about an hour away) Although DS has explicitly said this doesn't factor into his planning, even had they got into the Prem next season! (This is so outing if I have friends on here lol!)

Thank you. He is doing FM and revising really well. Thankfully he is aware that so much hinges on his maths. He was really nervous before his first FM paper on Thursday as he knows he needs at least an A. He said it was really tough as well. Thanks for your words

Ds went to Warwick for CS. It was during covid though. After first year it can be tricky to find accommodation locally and most students live in Leamington spa which is a bus away. However, if cost isn't too important there is a lotbof private student flats being built close to university. Sporting facilities are excellent and it always seems safe. My son is quiet too and a lack of pressure to go clubbing etc was perfect for him. He got a first and got on a graduate scheme straight away.

If all else were equal on the social side, I would generally think Warwick an easier environment for an introvert. The students have been making their own fun for decades so there is lots of structured activity and, although you have to put yourself out there, it is relatively easy to meet people. There is a huge spectrum of activities with something for everyone. Warwick just about has it all, IMO.

But for OP’s DS things may not be equal. OP thinks he will thrive better in London. It is my favourite place in the UK and always makes me happy, so I understand that this could make a significant difference to DS’ quality of life and the face he presents to the world. The ramifications may be profound, socially and academically.

One caution is that I have no ida how many clubs, societies and other people interested in sharing his explorations of London DS may find. Perhaps he should join the online forum The Student Room to ask Imperial students (pronto) about this? Also, some portion of such students may be International, specifically Asian. Sadly in my School we have found that students from certain countries tend to stick together ( sometimes for good reasons) and cross cultural friendships are relatively rare (though possible).

But again. what a nice decision to be facing. The country is full of wonderful budding computer scientists who would be thrilled with either of these options

Thanks for these thoughts, they are really useful. Warwick he has to decide in first year if he wants to do his Masters there, imperial he can decide in the second year so that is key as well.

Yes he did have physics. He said that ot went OK, but think he was reeling from his FM the previous day!

Where is your DS going. Good luck to him!

My DC is having the time of their life as a second year student at Imperial doing CS. They do a lot of sport, drink a lot and occasionally work. They’ve made some great friends and are very happy.
DOCSoc (imperial CS society) is very well funded by big biz and DC gets a grant to help with the additional cost of London.

I’d say it totally depends on your child but that Imperial is no fun is a big myth.