The Student Room Group
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>

Please help me choose between Imperial and UCL..please

Please don't mind me sounding rather desparate and dire, truth is I am at crossroads right now. I have offers to study Physics with Theoretical Physics at both Imperial and UCL.

The problem is that I don't know which one to choose. I visited both places and frankly liked UCL atmosphere more, on the other hand, the prestige of Imperial is very appealing.

So I ask, which University would be a better choice, I know its a subjective question, but an opinion can be helpful greatly,

The answer to Which university offers better social life and how they differ in prestige, and his much prestige matters would also be so gratefully received.

I am sorry if i come across as pretentious, but I am truly in a confusing situation. TSR has helped me loads in the past in actually helping me to choose the unis I wanted to apply to, I just want to see the views on this matter.

Thank you
Reply 1
Avatar for Malay4ever
Malay4ever
Imperial imho
Reply 2
Avatar for hunter08
hunter08
1)Imperial is better for physics
2)UCL has a better atmosphere (nicer architecture (mostly) larger campus, closer to the west end and a bigger mix of people)
3)UCL still has an excellent reputation for physics
4)UCL is a more highly ranked university overall.
5)UCL has females
6)???
7)Go to UCL
Reply 3
Avatar for Malay4ever
Malay4ever
rubzy - Its his first post.

I reckon he is a lecturer at UCL!!!!

lol
Original post by Malay4ever
rubzy - Its his first post.

I reckon he is a lecturer at UCL!!!!

lol


Lol, maybe he has no other source of information so he chose tsr, to help him make up his mind.
I had a dilemma between Imperial and UCL for chemistry.

Looking back, I can't believe I even had to think about it.
Reply 6
Avatar for ibs007
ibs007
IMPERIAL FOR SCIENCES > EVERYTHING....:biggrin:

Although UCL is bangin too...but Imperial is like Oxbridge Standard.
Reply 7
Avatar for rubzy22
rubzy22
OP
Original post by AnythingButChardonnay
I had a dilemma between Imperial and UCL for chemistry.

Looking back, I can't believe I even had to think about it.


Can I ask what university you ended up choosing?? And why?? :frown:
Reply 8
Avatar for rubzy22
rubzy22
OP
Original post by Malay4ever
rubzy - Its his first post.

I reckon he is a lecturer at UCL!!!!

lol



LOL I wish haha
imperial is better for sciences without a doubt yet UCL is ranked higher overall especially in terms of global ranking. Both being in London kinda gives you the same "job opportunities on your doorstep" element. Just comes down to what Uni course you prefer
Original post by rubzy22
Can I ask what university you ended up choosing?? And why?? :frown:


Imperial for its reputation. Even though UCL was supposedly higher in the league tables that particular year, a reputation is built up over far longer than one year.

The only reason I would have chosen UCL is that it's a more 'normal' university insofar as gender ratio and variety of subjects goes. But I decided that was a **** reason to choose a university.

UCL is also rather political, too much so for my liking. They had that ridiculous 'sit in' over student fees.
Imperial is a world class uni that does science and nothing else (actually a bit of finance as well).

You will be surrounded by scientists but you will be one yourself so what's the problem? If you don't like science, you would not be choosing to study Physics in the first place!

Both Imperial and UCL are in London. Imperial is situated in the most affluent part, with many museums and parks nearby not to mention Harrods and King's Road for shopping!

UCL is in the heart of Central London, more going on but also more crowded.

With regard to the social life, there's nothing to worry about because you'll be in London with either uni and can find things to do anywhere.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to league tables (and it looks like you agree with me).

For example, looking at the Guardian's table,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2011/may/17/university-guide-physics

they reckon Birmingham, Lancaster, Royal Holloway, Manchester and Sussex all rank higher than Imperial (at 8th) and UCL is 13th!
Reply 12
Avatar for rubzy22
rubzy22
OP
Original post by AnythingButChardonnay
Imperial for its reputation. Even though UCL was supposedly higher in the league tables that particular year, a reputation is built up over far longer than one year.

The only reason I would have chosen UCL is that it's a more 'normal' university insofar as gender ratio and variety of subjects goes. But I decided that was a **** reason to choose a university.

UCL is also rather political, too much so for my liking. They had that ridiculous 'sit in' over student fees.


Ahh I see, very valid reasons. Can I ask, how much is the work load and time for recreation? Please don't mind me if I come across as intrusive
Original post by rubzy22
Ahh I see, very valid reasons. Can I ask, how much is the work load and time for recreation? Please don't mind me if I come across as intrusive


Difficult to quantify. If I wasn't such a lazy bastard I'd be able to fit a lot more into my day. Both work-wise and recreationally.

With a ****load of revision over Christmas/Easter I manage to average 2.1. If I was a little bit more organised I'd do a lot better.

(just to reiterate this is for chemistry)
Reply 14
Avatar for rubzy22
rubzy22
OP
Original post by AnythingButChardonnay
Difficult to quantify. If I wasn't such a lazy bastard I'd be able to fit a lot more into my day. Both work-wise and recreationally.

With a ****load of revision over Christmas/Easter I manage to average 2.1. If I was a little bit more organised I'd do a lot better.

(just to reiterate this is for chemistry)


I see. Its great to finally get some insight into what I might get myself in for. Can I ask how was the freshers and as such? Would you call Imperial overly geeky? lol I have nothing against the idea, but surely its not like how people say only your archetype geeks go there?
Original post by rubzy22
I see. Its great to finally get some insight into what I might get myself in for. Can I ask how was the freshers and as such? Would you call Imperial overly geeky? lol I have nothing against the idea, but surely its not like how people say only your archetype geeks go there?


It was alright. They'd not finished building the new Student Bar during my first term there, so Fresher's Week was held under a tent outside. So I can't really give you a fair/representative view of that!

There's certainly your fair share of people who seem to spend all their time in the library/their room. But that's probably true of most good universities I imagine, and they are in the minority. And obviously it's easy to avoid them!

Sport is actually quite a big thing here, as are other societies. Wednesday afternoons are great fun - an afternoon of sport/cultural activities and an evening of heavy drinking. I wouldn't call that particularly geeky, even if most of the drunken conversations are about Quantum Mechanics...
Reply 16
Avatar for rubzy22
rubzy22
OP
Original post by AnythingButChardonnay
It was alright. They'd not finished building the new Student Bar during my first term there, so Fresher's Week was held under a tent outside. So I can't really give you a fair/representative view of that!

There's certainly your fair share of people who seem to spend all their time in the library/their room. But that's probably true of most good universities I imagine, and they are in the minority. And obviously it's easy to avoid them!

Sport is actually quite a big thing here, as are other societies. Wednesday afternoons are great fun - an afternoon of sport/cultural activities and an evening of heavy drinking. I wouldn't call that particularly geeky, even if most of the drunken conversations are about Quantum Mechanics...


Would you say you are happy there?? and thanks so much for your info. means a lot
Original post by rubzy22
Would you say you are happy there?? and thanks so much for your info. means a lot


Yes I would say that. I love it.

I do occasionally wonder if I would have more fun if I'd gone to a 'normal' university. But it's absolutely impossible to know!
Original post by AnythingButChardonnay
Yes I would say that. I love it.

I do occasionally wonder if I would have more fun if I'd gone to a 'normal' university. But it's absolutely impossible to know!


When you say 'normal' are you implying that Imperial is somewhat weird? :s-smilie: Or suffocating?
Original post by thehaberprocess
When you say 'normal' are you implying that Imperial is somewhat weird? :s-smilie: Or suffocating?


I suppose it's weird insofar as it's 'specialist' for science, and therefore not 'normal' in terms of who goes here compared to other universities.

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you