Which uni for v academic party child?

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DC is predicted 3 a stars. They want to study history. They are highly social. They love parties and dancing. They have grown up in a big city and they love big cities but not London as they don’t like that idea.

they so far have visited Cambridge and said it was too small with too many serious academic types, Durham too geeky and no clubs, Bristol too diffuse and spread out, St Andrews they cried while there as so quiet, Leeds they loved but worried it’s aiming below their academic potential, Newcastle ditto.

they really want to go to the USA but I can’t afford that. They want to research trinity Dublin which we will look into.

I wouldn’t discount America purely on cost. Ivy League universities offer a comprehensive means testing system. If he can get in and you’re in a low income, you might be surprised at how much support he receives.

@parachutegirl @ShanghaiDiva Interesting about Warwick but it does have a good reputation for History which seems important to the OP.

Agree with @MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack and @AllJoyAndNoFun that anywherevwith a large number of young people will have some sort of social scene. Party could mean different things, clubs, bars, house parties, SU, alcohol, drugs. Even Birmingham which has been mentioned has a number of alcohol free societies and social events.

A friend's party mad DD went to Cardiff.

Most places will have a big social scene, including Warwick- students tend to live in either Coventry or Leamington Spa.

Birmingham. Manchester as pp suggested. Bristol. UEA.

Edinburgh is a very expensive uni to attend- 2nd behind London.

Perhaps she isn’t really ready to go and is putting up fake barriers? Year out?

Liverpool uni! Fabulous mainly campus uni, and the city and night life are excellent!

Another vote for Glasgow. My party boy (other interests girls, sports and music) loved it there. Plenty of scope on the academics if your DC tires of the social life.

^ this. My dd did history there

Durham and St Andrews were my choices because they were so quiet and everyone didn’t about the nightlife at open days!
places I ruled out: Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool
Edinburgh and Glasgow should also have good night life but it’ll be a 4 year course and cost of living, particularly in Edinburgh will be high. Also quite spread out “campuses” and accommodation.

Dublin has very few nightclubs anymore. Trinity has a very famous "ball" but thats only one night a year. There is 1 main student venue but nothing like London for clubs.

I have one child just graduated from Manchester and another from Durham.

Manchester would fit the bill perfectly- the majority of students live in Fallowfield / Withington and they would want to live in the Fallowfield halls of residence.

on a separate note I wouldn’t describe Durham as geeky - there are clubs but yes they are v different to those in Manchester. Durham is v small though (city and uni).

A thread in which Leeds below academic potential!

Wow.

Manchester or Liverpool. DD (similar social life) is at Manchester and loves it, but describes it (meant positively) as “a less fun Liverpool.”
Liverpool student accommodation is about £60 a week cheaper. Nightlife is cheaper too.
If she goes to Manchester, mill point accommodation is right by the station and walking distance to the uni and the city centre.

Crying because it was too quiet? Are they ready for uni?

I’d say Bristol fits the bill and am a bit baffled by your impression that it’s “spread out”?

She sounds just like my daughter. She went to Manchester and it was absolutely right for her

Avoid oxbridge, Durham and Warwick. All too quiet and cohort won’t suit.
Edinburgh, Manchester best bet for nightlife

Yeah I am also thinking maybe they aren’t ready for uni.

I think if your child is sociable their best option is to ask the other students they hang out with what uni they think would suit them. For a start they known them better than strangers on the internet, plus they are also the same age as them so might have a better idea of what unis people their age find party unis.

Warwick is particularly dull, that’s why the results are so good!!

I was offered a place at Oxford but chose Leeds because I preferred the city. My younger brother got the grades for Oxbridge but didn't even apply and chose Edinburgh as he preferred the city.

As others have said, you can't just assume the courses are not good if they are not Oxbridge. That said, she should check the quality of the specific course as they vary.

If you are being serious that she cried because a uni was too quiet, then I would have thought a gap year first would make a lot of sense. Also, to think that Leeds and Newcastle would be beneath her academically, is both incorrect and adds to my first sentence. A’s don’t mean a child is ready.

DD is doing post grad at Liverpool and has been to Manchester for gigs several times as it is only half an hour on the train.

When we visited Warwick she described the campus as isolated and soulless.

She is sociable but not really a party girl and like mooching around independent shops and craft fairs, meals out, picnics, beach barbecues etc. Both Newcastle (Tynemouth market and beach is a must) and Liverpool (The Wirral for beaches) fitted the bill nicely.

Both cities have lots of clubs, but after trying a few in Newcastle DD decided that clubbing was not for her.

This is exactly what I was thinking when I read the OP. My DD is at York - she is not a party animal, but her house in her first year was full of party animal types. Their house became party central.

He will find his tribe wherever he goes.

If not Cambridge then what about Oxford?

He needs to go with his gut when he visits the places. I got the best feeling when I visited Newcastle, but decided to go to Bristol because it was "better", but I hated it there. And yes, Bristol is very diffuse - it was an hours walk into uni from the halls, buses were almost impossible to get on in a morning due to crowding, and I couldn't afford them anyway. I was very working class, and everyone else was posh/private school educated, and they clearly all thought I was a bit thick because I talked with a strong Yorkshire accent. I dropped out and went to Sheffield instead and had a great time there.

Manchester, Leeds. Crying seems a bit OTT! Seriously though let them pick. My son is shortlisting himself now.

Manchester and Liverpool good options. Throwing Sheffield in there as well.