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

@TeenWhisperer This is so good to hear sounds like he's having a great time. This really positive thank you.

Yes Imperial no longer use STEP for CS, they use TMUA instead, which is taken in either October or Jan of Y13. So the results are known and no STEP to take thank goodness!

@IfgfgsThanks for the compliment. Maybe you don’t realise that many parents really struggle to make up the difference between the loan and what living expenses are needed. Here the mum seems to think everyone else is rich so a nice big bursary from the university levels up the drinking money. I’m happy if it levels up anything actually required but boasting about drinking seems a bit rich when so many other students have a massive shortfall from parents and have to work to get enough money to live on. These are the students living on beans and lentils if they don’t work. I imagine few at Imperial have this issue but many students now cannot afford university in London due to this and bursaries are a very arbitrary way of topping up dc on a full grant anyway. The ones struggling are the ones whose parents won’t pay up. I don’t understand why people think all other students on minimum loans are rich. Essentially bursaries cut out the need for a job.

Why are your knickers in such of a twist?

The imperial bursary automatically applies if your household income is below £70k.

The website says "Use the funds for food, accommodation, or any other expenses". Given that money is fungible, person could have used the money for necessities and then gone out after. Lots of people go drinking at uni? You yourself on previous posts have said it's perfectly normal for students to want to go and have a social life. The PP was just dispelling myths that Imperial isn't social.

Couldn't have put it better myself @Ifgfgs
However, to placate @TizerorFizz I will ensure that DC spends their Imperial bursary only on books, sackcloth and ashes from here on in.

I'm glad your DC is loving Imperial and enjoying what the university and London has to offer. My own DS loved his time at LSE. He liked the university and also loved the student club nights in London.

He is now a successful working professional and actually hopes to perhaps do a master's at Imperial after a few years at work.

To make this post on topic, my DS also did consider choosing Warwick but we encouraged them to go to LSE. London has so much to offer and is a great place to study.

Update...thanks everyone for a your comments and feedback. DS firmed Imperial and insured Warwick. I'm really pleased for him , and what an insurance Warwick is. He did have anxiety the other night as he has to get a A star in maths and the grade boundaries are so high, but to be honest as PP said I'm glad he's not resting on his laurels and aware it's not a walk in the park. And we discussed if he misses the grades there will always be a plan B, C D etc. For those of you who are going through exams good luck to you all and DC.

Good news, OP. Best wishes to DS

Glad he made the right choice in the end

Good luck to him!

Good luck OP. Worth mentioning that the Imperial halls in North Acton are really reasonably priced - they're cheaper than friends' children's halls in Cardiff and Manchester, and the social life there is good. There are loads of societies and clubs and these are a great way to meet likeminded people.

Hello! Had some really helpful and lovely comments on here so just popped back on to say DS got into Imperial for Computing and he is very excited to be going.

@curiousllama bonus, he had asked ages ago to transfer to joint mathematics and computing science (which was the course he'd really wanted but didn't think he'd get an offer) and sent him an email on results morning confirming that he could change. Was very unexpected but very welcome. So one very happy son!

Thanks everyone for your comments, they were really helpful. 😊

Fantastic news, OP! Very pleased for DS

She wasn't rude about other students at all.

Huge congratulations to your son, OP! Exciting times!

Wonderful news, really hope he enjoys his time there.