University Choice
Discussion
I went to university in my late 20s, I chose the university because it was close to home/work and it had the course I wanted to study. Before choosing the one I wanted to go to I went along to three open days.
My niece is now 17 and planning to do Chemistry at university next year. Her parents have spent a fortune traveling the country on open days. So far Newcastle and Liverpool are on top of the list although the course and teaching facility that she prefers is in Durham. Why has she discounted Durham, because the town is old and not modern like Newcastle!
So question is why did you choose the university you went to, how many open days did you attend, do you regret your choice?
My niece is now 17 and planning to do Chemistry at university next year. Her parents have spent a fortune traveling the country on open days. So far Newcastle and Liverpool are on top of the list although the course and teaching facility that she prefers is in Durham. Why has she discounted Durham, because the town is old and not modern like Newcastle!
So question is why did you choose the university you went to, how many open days did you attend, do you regret your choice?
I had no clue what to do, and chose what a careers teacher said. I picked uni's based on reputation and party potential, but flunked my A Levels and went to sheffied poly. So it's more the flunking that was the mistake, rather than the choice. My daughter did way better. Said she wanted to go to Edinburgh and did it.
I'd say just let her choose. It's her life.
I'd say just let her choose. It's her life.
otherman said:
I'd say just let her choose. It's her life.
I would not dream of interfering, I am sure she would not take any notice if I tried, I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
OP like you I went to a local Uni'. After 1st year I regretted my course choice, as I was supposed to do a Biology degree, and in 2nd year it was all fruit flies and latin names for starfish, and I hated it.
Fortunately, 1st year I was lumped in as "General Science", where biologists, geologists, chemists and physicists were all lumped in together to get us up to the same level of e.g. maths. This meant I could leave with an exit cert.
I then went to an open day at another University for chemistry, got directly into 2nd year, and never looked back.
Fortunately, 1st year I was lumped in as "General Science", where biologists, geologists, chemists and physicists were all lumped in together to get us up to the same level of e.g. maths. This meant I could leave with an exit cert.
I then went to an open day at another University for chemistry, got directly into 2nd year, and never looked back.
Macski said:
I would not dream of interfering, I am sure she would not take any notice if I tried,
I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
It's interesting you say her parents go with her to open days, like it's their choice. Or does she value their opinion? I went to open days on my own, and none of them filled me with any enthusiasm. I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
The yoof of today are even more aware than I was about the plan to party as well as study. Although it does sound like the pendulum has swung too far for their own good, from what you say.
My twin sons started university last month so went through this around a year ago.
Older son wanted to do a degree in sports journalism so had quite a wide field to choose from. The Uni he chose has a good reputation for that particular course, is situated in a decent city and is about 90 minutes - 2 hours back on the train for £15 on a railcard.
Younger son is doing a degree in football business & finance. That's a course that not many Uni's offer but three of them are situated at football stadiums which was a massive draw. Two of them were oop North, the third in London so he chose London as it was the best stadium of the three and again, it's 90 minutes on the train to come back home, quite cheaply, on the railcard. He also works part time as a football analyst so can pick up games in the London area more easily than if he was out in the sticks.
I backed them on both of their decisions. As twins, they have always been encouraged to do their own thing as well as stuff together but they are also only around 75-80 miles apart so like last week, we all ended up at the same football match because it was easy logistically to do it.
I wish you and your niece well wherever she ends up.
Older son wanted to do a degree in sports journalism so had quite a wide field to choose from. The Uni he chose has a good reputation for that particular course, is situated in a decent city and is about 90 minutes - 2 hours back on the train for £15 on a railcard.
Younger son is doing a degree in football business & finance. That's a course that not many Uni's offer but three of them are situated at football stadiums which was a massive draw. Two of them were oop North, the third in London so he chose London as it was the best stadium of the three and again, it's 90 minutes on the train to come back home, quite cheaply, on the railcard. He also works part time as a football analyst so can pick up games in the London area more easily than if he was out in the sticks.
I backed them on both of their decisions. As twins, they have always been encouraged to do their own thing as well as stuff together but they are also only around 75-80 miles apart so like last week, we all ended up at the same football match because it was easy logistically to do it.
I wish you and your niece well wherever she ends up.
My sister started uni in the mid 90s, when I visited her as a 14 year old and talking to people there a good percentage of them were just doing the first year anywhere good to party, the repeating somewhere else the following
Those were the days of grants, accomodation paid for free fees etc
Guess the current regime has wound that down a bit!
Those were the days of grants, accomodation paid for free fees etc
Guess the current regime has wound that down a bit!
Macski said:
I would not dream of interfering, I am sure she would not take any notice if I tried,
I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
My nephew went to Durham and loved it. Plus a degree from Durham is well regarded. I went to Liverpool and loved it as did my older brother. Great city, nightlife and people.I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
First one (I flunked as it was completely the wrong course for me...) was chosen as the best Uni, second was the best course with the added bonus of being a long way from London where I was trying to dump a mental GF. Ironically I then met someone in London who wasn't mental. 
Durham used to be one of the better unis, and it really isn't far from Newcastle, but it depends on the course IMO.
Durham used to be one of the better unis, and it really isn't far from Newcastle, but it depends on the course IMO.
I went to Durham - Chemistry is a good course there and of the three is the better uni.
Also worth thinking about the social life. The collegiate system is great - college bars and bops are where it’s at - very few go out on the town while at uni.
That said, you are only 20 minutes on the train from Newcastle which was our regular clubbing jaunt. The perfect mix of uni and nightlife imho
Also worth thinking about the social life. The collegiate system is great - college bars and bops are where it’s at - very few go out on the town while at uni.
That said, you are only 20 minutes on the train from Newcastle which was our regular clubbing jaunt. The perfect mix of uni and nightlife imho
I didn't go to uni but we did the whole traipsing around the UK looking at uni's for my youngest last year (eldest didn't go); may have actually been late in the year before, can't quite remember.
She wanted to study Vet Nursing, she chose 3 to visit based on reputation, the first was Nottingham-Trent, she liked it (the wife took her) and it was a contender, the second was Hartpury in Gloucester, both of us didn't like it, they harped on too much about how great they were but the feeling there was just too clinical and it's speciality was Equine, they weren't only Equine but all they went on about was how great they were with horses, she hates horses and of course it was full of horsey girls, you could even take your horse there, plus it was in the middle of nowhere, she just felt it was just too white middle class.
The last was Middlesex in Hendon, North London, she loved it straightaway, it was in London, it had a great scene, pupil make up was typically varied, with a huge variation in cultures and make up, plus the course was 1 year shorter (3 instead of 4); alot more involved but shorter. Facilities there weren't as good as the others but she liked that 2 thirds of the year is on a placement, the other third is theory, whereas the other 2 uni's was pretty much all on campus with a much shorter placement.
Also she's a home bird so Middlesex for her worked too as we are Surrey, plus at the time she had a boyfriend so she wanted him still close (no longer with him), she did say soon after they split up she wondered whether Nottingham would have been better!
Anyway she loves it she's made a good group of friends, her placements love her and she's kept in contact with ones that she is no longer working for, she has just entered her second year and passed her first with flying colours and she knows that Vet Nursing is most definately for her.
She wanted to study Vet Nursing, she chose 3 to visit based on reputation, the first was Nottingham-Trent, she liked it (the wife took her) and it was a contender, the second was Hartpury in Gloucester, both of us didn't like it, they harped on too much about how great they were but the feeling there was just too clinical and it's speciality was Equine, they weren't only Equine but all they went on about was how great they were with horses, she hates horses and of course it was full of horsey girls, you could even take your horse there, plus it was in the middle of nowhere, she just felt it was just too white middle class.
The last was Middlesex in Hendon, North London, she loved it straightaway, it was in London, it had a great scene, pupil make up was typically varied, with a huge variation in cultures and make up, plus the course was 1 year shorter (3 instead of 4); alot more involved but shorter. Facilities there weren't as good as the others but she liked that 2 thirds of the year is on a placement, the other third is theory, whereas the other 2 uni's was pretty much all on campus with a much shorter placement.
Also she's a home bird so Middlesex for her worked too as we are Surrey, plus at the time she had a boyfriend so she wanted him still close (no longer with him), she did say soon after they split up she wondered whether Nottingham would have been better!
Anyway she loves it she's made a good group of friends, her placements love her and she's kept in contact with ones that she is no longer working for, she has just entered her second year and passed her first with flying colours and she knows that Vet Nursing is most definately for her.
otherman said:
Macski said:
I would not dream of interfering, I am sure she would not take any notice if I tried,
I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
It's interesting you say her parents go with her to open days, like it's their choice. Or does she value their opinion? I went to open days on my own, and none of them filled me with any enthusiasm. I just find the criteria she is using to choose a university as odd and interested to find out how others chose the university they went to.
The yoof of today are even more aware than I was about the plan to party as well as study. Although it does sound like the pendulum has swung too far for their own good, from what you say.
My daughter chose the uni and the course and made the booking herself. I was more or less the designated driver (2 hours 20 min in the car compared to 4 hours by train).
Putting aside the suitability of the course, it is now a big financial commitment for kids and parents. They are essentially making a £30 000 purchase and I would expect her to say 'What do you think Dad?'. It also shows that as a parent you care about their decisions and future.
She's under no pressure from me to go to any particular Uni or to go to Uni at all. It's her call but I am around to support her if she wants it.
That's the problem these days.
Most kids want to go to uni, as it puts off reality and growing up for another few years.
Friend of mine, his kids decided against further education, got jobs starting at the bottom and worked their way up to senior level positions quite quickly.
It is all there for the taking, but it needs effort and hard work, which seems lacking nowadays.
Most kids want to go to uni, as it puts off reality and growing up for another few years.
Friend of mine, his kids decided against further education, got jobs starting at the bottom and worked their way up to senior level positions quite quickly.
It is all there for the taking, but it needs effort and hard work, which seems lacking nowadays.
Initforthemoney said:
That's the problem these days.
Most kids want to go to uni, as it puts off reality and growing up for another few years.
Friend of mine, his kids decided against further education, got jobs starting at the bottom and worked their way up to senior level positions quite quickly.
It is all there for the taking, but it needs effort and hard work, which seems lacking nowadays.
My daughter who's studying vet nursing has in no way got an easy life, she works 2 thirds of the academic year full time at a placement for no pay, she then works for an evening a week and Sunday all day at Sainsburys. Most kids want to go to uni, as it puts off reality and growing up for another few years.
Friend of mine, his kids decided against further education, got jobs starting at the bottom and worked their way up to senior level positions quite quickly.
It is all there for the taking, but it needs effort and hard work, which seems lacking nowadays.
She could have worked and trained to become a vet nurse on the job whilst being paid but it wouldn't have been at degree level, a degree will give her more opportunities in the future in the field that she has chosen.
I went to three open days. I attended Southampton for a three year degree. The massive oceanography centre swung it for me.
I hated it and couldn’t wait to finish. Packed my bags and left in the evening after my last exam. I should have probably gone elsewhere and studied something else.
I hated it and couldn’t wait to finish. Packed my bags and left in the evening after my last exam. I should have probably gone elsewhere and studied something else.
HTP99 said:
Initforthemoney said:
That's the problem these days.
Most kids want to go to uni, as it puts off reality and growing up for another few years.
Friend of mine, his kids decided against further education, got jobs starting at the bottom and worked their way up to senior level positions quite quickly.
It is all there for the taking, but it needs effort and hard work, which seems lacking nowadays.
My daughter who's studying vet nursing has in no way got an easy life, she works 2 thirds of the academic year full time at a placement for no pay, she then works for an evening a week and Sunday all day at Sainsburys. Most kids want to go to uni, as it puts off reality and growing up for another few years.
Friend of mine, his kids decided against further education, got jobs starting at the bottom and worked their way up to senior level positions quite quickly.
It is all there for the taking, but it needs effort and hard work, which seems lacking nowadays.
She could have worked and trained to become a vet nurse on the job whilst being paid but it wouldn't have been at degree level, a degree will give her more opportunities in the future in the field that she has chosen.
I went to Southampton University and i struggle to remember the reasons. I think it was a case of looking at the highest quality university my grades were likely to get me into. Do I regret it? No, in as much as a subsequent 15 year career has been built on the back of it. However, you'll see universities complaining about the quality of incoming students who can barely write or businesses complaining that school leavers aren't ready for the workplace. I would like to go back to my university lecturers and point out that what we were taught was very academic (perhaps not too surprisingly), but fundamentally left massive gaps in people's knowledge when they started a career in the field. Most likely because the lecturers had seemingly little to no professional experience outside university. Consequently, within maybe 2 years of work having left university i could have gone back to uni and done a better job of telling people how what they were being taught actually worked in practice and the issues and challenges they would face, rather than the text book version.
Southampton as a place was great when i was a student, but i lived there for 6 months after finishing uni and suddenly found myself going to same pubs and clubs with the towns rather than gowns. Bit of an eye opener and i moved away shortly after.
Southampton as a place was great when i was a student, but i lived there for 6 months after finishing uni and suddenly found myself going to same pubs and clubs with the towns rather than gowns. Bit of an eye opener and i moved away shortly after.
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