Should DS trade up from Exeter to Southampton for Computer Science?

[StrangerThanTannadice]

DS is in the anomalous position of being able to 'trade-up' via clearing. He has a place at Exeter but Southampton have also made him an offer in principle. If he doesn't accept it, he will go to Exeter.

DS got ABB in his A-Levels and Southampton would usually want AAA or similar for Computer Science, but were clearing at BBB this year due to a big drop in demand.

Southampton has a better reputation and ranking for CS and would be a big opportunity. DS's concerns are mainly about whether he'd cope with workload (he thinks he can, but is a bit nervous) and having visited both places he doesn't love Southampton as a city.

Any thoughts? Anyone been through similar? TIA.

Edit: Southampton would usually ask for A star, A star, A or thereabouts. I tried to post this but my stars got deleted somehow!

Worked in tech for 20 years. I can’t say it actually matters. He should go where he prefers IMO and make sure he is hitting 2:1 at least.

Not been through similar (both my YPs did fairly niche subject combinations offered by not many unis) but judging by the information at this link: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/computer-science, there is not much to choose between Southampton and Exeter and the graduate prospects are in fact rated at 92% for Exeter and 91% for Southampton. Student satisfaction is also slightly higher at Exeter than at Southampton. They're both in the top 20. It's for your son to decide ultimately, but given there doesn't seem much to choose between them, Exeter is nearly as highly regarded as Southampton (at least based on the Complete University Guide rankings) and your YP isn't wild about Southampton, it seems to me that he can feel comfortable sticking with Exeter. And if the thought of "sticking with Exeter" disappoints him and makes him want to plump for Southampton, that also tells him what he needs to know.

What about Southampton makes it specifically a big opportunity? No shade on a good uni but it’s not like choosing between Exeter and Oxford. I would say broadly they are of similar ranking. If there is something super special about CS at Southampton (like a noted prof or amazing placement opps) then yes, he should consider that.

Otherwise I agree he should go where he likes. If he liked Exeter and not So’ton, three years is a long while in a place you don’t like.

They’re part of the same cluster of unis, so nothing really to choose between them and no employer is going to care which one he came from. So you DS should consider:

• the course that he likes the best
• whether the academics have specialisms in his favorite topics - and are they up to date topics that will help him in his future career?
• the feel of the campus
• facilities (state of the art or tired and outdated)
• the town/city
• relevant clubs and societies
• accommodation - quality and cost
• and not essential but does he know anyone going to either of those institutions? A friendly face can help ease the transition.

Which location does he prefer? The demographics are different, Exeter is more campus based. Soton very much a busy city.

Stick with Exeter. Theres nothing between them quality-wise and he doesn’t like Southampton as a place to live.

If your budget is a consideration - accommodation at Exeter is eye watering.

Southampton as a city is a bit grim compared to Exeter. I’d stick with the city he likes - he can always go on to do a masters somewhere else

I'm not sure Southampton has the placement year option for the Bsc at least it didn't when ds looked around a few years ago. Not that placements are guaranteed you have to put a lot of effort in to find one.

Thanks for all your comments so far, all very balanced and constructive. I should perhaps have mentioned that DS is doing an integrated masters so would be at either university for 4 years. He could opt for an additional year in industry at Southampton, but is aware there are no guarantees, as you said, @Treylime Cost of accommodation is v high at Exeter, but we'd already committed to that and I don't want it to be in any way a deciding factor.

Is travelling home (or elsewhere) by train a consideration?

Exeter is posher which might be better for long term contacts but I’d strongly suggest choosing the one most likely to make him happy

Well, if we're putting everything on the table....Exeter is hilly, Southampton's flat 😁

Hi, OP -

The integrated Masters is optional. BTW, is it really an MSc? Usually it is an M(Subject) degree - a nice hybrid but typically with a project or dissertation during the academic year rather than a summertime dissertation d
for further credits.

Almost everywhere, it easy is to swap to BSc until the end of your second year (and if you don’t achieve whatever standard is required for continuation, you will be moved in that direction at the end if Y2 or Y3 anyway).

A good student can usually also swap to the four year programme at the end of Y2 and sometimes later.

I agree; DS should go where his intuition is leading him. If that is Exeter and if the academics then disappoint, he can swap to a BSc and do an MSc elsewhere.

Apologies, OP - I see you simply said ‘integrated Masters’. I am sure you did not need my explanation. But the idea is workable, I think.

@TheAnnoyingSatsuma - we are in the Midlands, so train journeys are about equidistant.

@AImportantMermaid One girl from DS's 6th form is on the same course at Soton, but unfortunately she really doesn't like DS and he is concerned that she may actively try to harm him socially. It's a big student cohort (300-350 on CS at Southampton, I believe), so hopefully not an issue, but...

My son is doing Computer science at Southampton.

Good course and actually a really good university town. Accommodation is good, plentiful and reasonable. Good nightlife and loads going on. Area around the university is nice. Town centre doesn't look pretty so if he values that, don't go to Southampton but it has all the shops you need and it feels safe (my daughter is also there and also feels safe).

My daughter has a friend at Exeter who is also having a nice time but from what her friend has said the night life is a bit more traditional (pub rather than club). So depends what you want from university.

Work ethic amongst students is good at southampton which was important to both of my children. They want to have a fun time but also be amongst other people who take the academic side seriously when needed and that seems to be true in Southampton (could also be true in Exeter but I don't have experience).

But I wouldn't get put off by the "niceness" of the town if all the other boxes are ticked.

No idea about Southampton but Exeter is really really expensive to live

I am a south coast CIO.

For CS there is really very little in it between the two universities so I wouldn’t describe it as an opportunity exactly - not academically. The key differentiator is that due to location Southampton a marginally better employer ecosystem for internships and post grad job offers.

But that’s it. Both have good subject coverage, good employer links. Student experience will differ though, not just in the areas themselves but access to London and other areas along the south coast is much easier from Southampton.

If it were my kid, I’d tell them to choose the uni they felt most at home with.

Update: DS chose Southampton but is feeling very conflicted about what he has done.

@idril - thanks for your reassuring post. He decided based on the course, but it all feels very hard and uncertain right now.

My ds1 went to the CS open days at both a few years ago and while we both loved the Exeter campus, didn't get a good feeling for the course as at Southampton and others. I'm not sure why but Exeter didn't come across as a STEM focused uni and the talks were a bit half hearted.

Ds2 is now starting at Southampton (on a different course). There is a very active parents of freshers Facebook page