Arrrrgh! How to support DC in uni choice

[SinuousTendrils]

So DD has finally decided on PPE for her course having pivoted between literature and maths all year.
At last year's open days she loved Warwick's philosophy and maths courses but was not keen on the campus or the idea of living near Coventry.
She loved Durham, loved the PPE course but is concerned about the number of public school types (after ruling out oxbridge for this reason) It is also far away from home.
She felt right at home in Sheffield but isn't sure if the course is as good....
She has no idea what to do but wishes she could take the Warwick course in Sheffield.
Dors anyone have knowledge about the PPE course at Sheff? Warwick was a particular draw as they teach continental.
Thank you.

Loads of the Warwick students settle in Leamington Spa in years 2-3.

My teen really liked Sheffield and their presentation of the politics courses. I would pick the place they felt at home. What is the 'teach continental' bit?

Yes, dd had a visceral dislike of the place when we visited!

Sheff seems to be v. popular and is such a great city. Glad your YP liked it.
Continental philosophy as opposed to analytic.

Sorry, I must have misunderstood. I thought your DD didn’t like Coventry, which is like chalk and cheese to Leamington Spa.

She didn't like either unfotunately. Or the campus.

Sheffield sounds good if she felt at home there. Great uni, lovely city. What are the issues with the course?

(I had to google continental philosophy and I did phi at uni!)

Bit daft to have ruled out Oxbridge on outdated views of public school types. If she’s super bright she’s ruled out two amazing unis based on prejudice. How sad.

Lots of other valid reasons to think it’s not for you (the intensity / work load, collegiate system etc) but that shows poor critical thinking imo. Too late now though.

I think the main issue is how good the course at Warwick is. Fully integrated rather than three separate subjects and the phil dept is second to none in the continental circles 😊
So not sure Sheff would be as good course wise.
I did combined studies and it was just hard work to be part of lots of different departments.

I did encourage her to throw her hat in the ring but she's only jyst decided on course so was also concerned she'd be ruled out for not being passionate enough about the course.
Bit harsh to accuse lack of critical thinking. One needs to feel comfortable in their choice and there are many factors at play.

What are her PGs? Has she looked at York?

It sounds as if she loved Durham and is only taking it out of the running because of "public school types"??

I'm hardly posh myself but that's some kind of reverse snobbery right there. People are people, some are nice and some aren't, irrespective of what school they go to or what kind of start they had in life. So please tell her to not write a school off due to prejudices against the other pupils.

3 A stars.
York on the list. We're going to pop up over Christmas to look at the campus.

This. It’s rather unpleasant toward private school students, Warwick students, and the “visceral dislike” of both Coventry and Leamington. Shame her favourite courses are blighted by such unsavoury people.

My son disliked Warwick for the same reasons. It went from top of his list to bottom after the open day. Campus and community not for him. He opted for Durham in the end and is now in his final year. He has had a great time and would recommend it. He was a bit concerned about the public school types but has managed to swerve them for the most part, they tend to stick to their own type. Durham is a beautiful city and he has met some great people there, big thumbs up.

Yes, that's true of course but it can be challenging to 'find your tribe' if 40% of your peers have already bought into theirs.
I guess it's a matter of how you navigate it; I am happy for DD to have landed on this as an element of her criteria.

Gut feeling is rarely wrong.
Sheffield is great

Thank you, this is wonderfully reassuring. The chat boards are awash with horror stories so good to get another perspective.

DS1 is now in Year 4 of MMaths at Durham. He chose it because he thought it would be better socially than Warwick, despite having offers from both and the course at Warwick looking better. He's had a good time at Durham overall.

He said there are some ex public school students at Durham, but there is a good mix overall and he has made good friends despite a higher than average number of ex public school students. He says there are some who can be quite full of themselves, but others are fine.

He also jokes there are high numbers of Oxbridge rejects, himself included!

Interestingly, despite having rejected Warwick for his degree, he visited their Maths department recently as he is interested in applying there to do a PhD there.

Coventry is a historic city, like all cities there are good and bad parts. Parts of Sheffield really aren't great. Very black and white thinking.

Yes, my dd is a massive b*tch for disliking a town and a grubby city and having misgivings about not fitting in with people who have had vastly different life experiences to her when she is considering moving 4 hours away from home. Bloody teenagers eh?

We didn't see every part of either.
But surely one has to be influenced by the impression one gets? No one can know for sure until they get there and it's a hefty decision, hence asking for advice here.

My daughter chose her university because the course was the best fit for her. However, she never felt at home in that city. If she had her time again she would definitely choose her course based on the campus/city where she felt most comfortable

I agree, it is amazing for bright kids. DS2 is having an fantastic time at Cambridge. In fact he was home educated to GCSEs and went to a state 6th form, which was the same for DS1. I think he would have been underchallenged anywhere else.

I had a similar exp at my uni. It was anecdotally 70% public school then (but that can't be right) and I still managed to find my people (and got invited to someone's castle!)
Good luck to your son and his Phd, that's brilliant. A mindblowing level of maths!