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 don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to find a place yp feels is a good fit. It’s of course not the only consideration but one of the factors. If they are happy they are likely to make most of opportunities and do well academically. Op doesn’t mention getting drunk constantly.
My dd wanted big city and sociable. She isn’t out constantly but has easily met friends and if they do decide to go out to a club there’s plenty of options. It was also one of top ranked for her course, great year abroad opportunities etc. It’s just as valid a choice as DC’s who want a quiet campus.
A number of universities fit the brief and have been repeatedly suggested on here I’m sure one of them will suit.

Nottingham!

Shame that London is not being considered as UCL would be perfect in terms of the academic expectations and social scene.

Manchester. Fits all the criteria. Fantastic student city

I think Manchester does feel a bit spread out. My dd is similar to yours, very academic but wanted it to be lively but not London. In the end she narrowed it down to Manchester or Sheffield. She chose Sheffield because the first year everyone is guaranteed campus accommodation and everyone is together rather than being spread out across the city. She's out every night and is really enjoying it. I think it's a very social uni. You're also on the edge of the peaks so during the hot weather loads of students go to wild swimming spots. Crookes also has a big park, lake area where students swim and gather in the summer.

Yep! That's what I did.

Oxford? It's much more of a town than Cambridge. DS1 went there and went to some incredible parties and clubs. You do work hard but there are parties too if you want them. And all-nighter balls.

Shame she doesn't want London. UCL, Kings, LSE would all be intellectually strong while the opportunities to party are endless.

Agree with PP that Bristol is a very lively city.

Tell your DD to work hard, get a first and then she can get paid to do a free post-grad in USA. I know three people who went from UK unis to do MAs or PhDs, fully funded with generous stipends at US unis.

I've always thought Sheffield would be an amazing place to go to uni.

Newcastle too. On hot weekends it's a short Metro ride to the beautiful Northumbrian coast, or a short bus ride inland to gorgeous countryside. Not as on the doorstep as Sheffield, but near enough.

Royal Holloway.Always tons to do!Campus pretty compact,can walk everywhere but trains a hop away too,plus super close to Heathrow

Very intelligent and forward thinking

Yes, the PhD stipends are more generous in America. Importantly, the timetable is also longer. This means that someone who wants to return to the UK has a longer time to compile an impressive CV for the first job.

Each to their own. Who are you to judge my intelligence over the internet? Tells me a lot about you.

She "cried" because St Andrews was too quiet?

You sure she's mature enough to go to university?

Manchester obviously, but my personal recommendation would be Glasgow. Edinburgh is quite genteel, Glasgow has much better nightlife and live music and is cheaper.

Also Scottish degree courses are four years but you come out with an MA rather than a BA (or that was the case 20 years ago, I don’t think it’s changed??)

It's only the ancient universities that give you an MA and it's only humanities. If you study science you get a BSc rather than a MSc.

If she gets good grades she can go straight into second year though so it's only a 3 year degree. Needs very good grades for that though.

I do think it’s important to think about the course first. I know a student who left Leeds (politics) because it wasn’t academic enough (either the content or the other students).

Do you not know the sex of your child???
Also, the whole point of higher education is the actual education part. Unless you’re throwing a shit load of money at her/him, your child will have very little spare money or time to be partying all day and night.

I feel this as well but there's lots of MN who are "I don't care about the grades or education they got. The main thing for us was that they had a good time"

There’s no suggestion the student wants to party 24/7.
It makes sense to choose a setting where there are lots of opportunities to do what you enjoy. It’s one factor in the mix. A happy student is likely to thrive academically and make most of all the opportunities on offer.
If it’s choosing between one top 10 ranked and another for their course and what tips it is this one has better social opportunities for the particular yp then it makes sense to pick that one.
Lots of suggestions on here for high ranking unis that tick both the academic and lively social opportunities boxes.

Would that this were true. In these times when the National Student Satisfaction Survey carries so much weight, and the vast majority earn Firsts and 2:1 degrees, student attitudes to their studies vary considerably.

I thought students party irrespective of the uni? It’s the people that makes the party, no?

Their research skills needs to improve hugely if they want a city but went to look at St Andrews! (Or even Durham)

She wouldn’t be able to drink in America…

As a overseas student you would be very foolish at the moment to do anything that might risk your visa - such as breaking US drinking laws.