Unhappy with firm choice uni

[andthebandmarchedon]

Hi all,
Very unhappy DS here.
He did well with A levels - A star, A, B and was accepted by his firm - an excellent university. However he was planning to reapply in the coming year to Durham as he didn’t get an offer from them last year with predictions of A star, A star, A. He’s having a gap year anyway. However, now that he’s got his grades, it seems unlikely that they would offer him a place.
He ended up with very few options as he was not keen on most places, liked his firm but not sure about the course there. Now, he is having serious doubts about the course as there is so little choice with the options. He‘s really worried he’s not going to enjoy it, and doesn’t know what to do. We’ve suggested lots of other options but he only really wants to go to Durham. He didn’t really like Manchester, York, Leeds or any other excellent universities. He wants somewhere smallish.
I’m at a loss as to what to advise. If it was just a bit of feeling disappointed and wobbly, I’d say to get on with it, but he has genuine concerns about the course which I do understand.

Funnily enough my DD turned down a Durham
offer to go Bath for Politics and IR, absolutely loved it, she has just graduated with a really really good internship in Westminster. If he is set in Durham he will need to resit his lower grade.

Bath is an outstanding university, my eldest has absolutely thrived there and will probably return for his master's (not IR). I would caution any YP against turning down the opportunity to go.
His brother has just been accepted into Durham and the resulting Bath vs Durham banter is light-hearted and silly because the difference between them is negligible in the greater scheme of things.
Honestly I live in Durham and have worked at the university and I would advise a definite Bath place over a punt at Durham any day of the week.

I am really so grateful and appreciate of the many helpful and thoughtful replies to my post. It’s late now (for me!) so I need to digest all your comments and suggestions and will reply properly tomorrow. But genuinely, thanks all so much for your responses. They will really help us to think this through as a family and help our son figure out his next steps.