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Edinburgh or St Andrews?

I have offers from both universities, but I don't know which one to choose. I love the look of both universities and medical courses so I'm finding it very hard to pick one. Can anyone help me at all?

Reply 1

graemematt

They have quite different courses though...St Andrews is divided into pre-clinical before going elsewhere for clinicals.

One suggestion I'd make is going to St Andrews then doing your clinicals in Edinburgh? Thats a viable option. I did my undergraduate at St Andrews and those 4 years were the best of my life. It's just an awesome place to study and socialise!

Remember though, the two unis are fierce rivals and when you join one, be prepared to hate the other :smile:

Reply 2

student1303

graemematt

I was thinking of doing that, but my parents would definitely make me move back to Glasgow for the last three years. and I know they have different course and I think I prefer the St Andrews course but I'm not sure about the fact it is so small? the night life, etc in Edinburgh seem a lot better, did you find there was enough to do in St Andrews?
Thanks for your help :smile:

Reply 3

sophie_c

As graemematt says you could do the first 3 years in St As, and then go onto Edin for the last 3 years... this would give you the best of both worlds!

I can also vouch for St Andrews being an absolutely fantastic place to study and live! I love it here! :biggrin:

Reply 4

sophie_c

student1303

YES! There's so much to do, all the time! Serisously, I've been here almost 2 years now, and there's never been a dull moment! Ok, there's no clubs, but there's the union, the bop, MANY pubs, loads of house parties, parties on beaches, etc etc... and it's easy enough to go through to Dundee or Edinburgh once in a while if you are wanting to go clubbing! There are actually buses that go direct to Dundee and Edin at about 10ish and back at about 3am with the specific plan being for taking students clubbing for the night.

Reply 5

student1303

sophie_c

My parents would make me move back to Glasgow though, otherwise that would be perfect! and the only thing I'm worried about St Andrews is about how small it is? Do you feel there is enough to do and a good night life?

Reply 6

JW92

Edinburgh, just because it's a vibrant and beautiful city whilst St Andrews is some little village.

Reply 7

M_E_X

student1303

I'd recommend you visit both places. If you've already been go again - you'll be spending 3+ years here so it's important to make the right decision. The towns are quite different (big city vs small town) and have all the relevant advantages and disadvantages that come with that.

I'd recommend you read the thread CookingonGas posted, and take in to account both sides of it. Bear in mind that the poster of that thread moans that there are "no nightclubs" and "no large shopping centres" in St Andrews (there aren't) and she found this surprising - because she didn't visit the place she planned to spend 4+ years at. Her fault, not St Andrews.

I'm at St Andrews and absolutely love it, I genuinely wouldn't go to any other uni in the UK if I had the choice.
However, if you feel clubbing is a necessity for a good university experience then I wouldn't recommend it here, as there are no nightclubs in the town.

In summary visit both places and see which one you'd feel happier in. They're quite different.

Reply 8

graemematt

sophie_c

Hehe, albany park? Ouch :p:

I was a posh kid staying in New Hall for 3 years! But while it was still relatively cheap...£90/week catered, not too bad!

Reply 9

Blu3j4yw4y

M_E_X

However, if you feel clubbing is a necessity for a good university experience then I wouldn't recommend it here, as there are no nightclubs in the town.

Yeah, from what I've heard most people's opinions are pretty much this.

I know a lot of people who love St Andrews, but none of them were really after the hardcore partying nightlife. If that's something you really want then you'd probably be better off at Edinburgh.

Reply 10

sophie_c

graemematt

Hehe, albany park? Ouch :p:

I was a posh kid staying in New Hall for 3 years! But while it was still relatively cheap...£90/week catered, not too bad!

Hehe! I like Albany Park! :smile:

I was in Uni Hall in 1st year, and loved it, but wanted to live in a flat-type environment with friends this year, and well ALbany is cheaper than private acc, and by the beach :biggrin:

DRAs too fancy (and overpriced) for me.... :P

Reply 11

graemematt

sophie_c

Hehe! I like Albany Park! :smile:

I was in Uni Hall in 1st year, and loved it, but wanted to live in a flat-type environment with friends this year, and well ALbany is cheaper than private acc, and by the beach :biggrin:

DRAs too fancy (and overpriced) for me.... :P

Hey now woah, nobody mentioned DRA :p:

That place is very, verrrrrrry posh. I'm sure I've stayed in Hilton hotels that were less well furnished than those blocks!

Plus not to mention how ridiculously far out they were! Yeah, in terms of location albany park is beautiful :smile:

I miss parties on the East Sands! Getting the guitars out, lighting a fire and having a few beers...ahh good times!

Reply 12

_Spoon

student1303

Hiiiii actually we're in the same situation here :beer:

However, after a long and painful consideration I have decided to choose Edinburgh as my firm and St Andrews as my insurance. St Andrews is a lovely town and I really loved it when I went there for my interview. But according to Times Rankings League Table, Edinburgh has always been the 3rd in the UK for Medicine for many years. Also, nearly all the consultants I had discussed with encouraged me to choose Edinburgh.

I understand it's a hard decision to make, but I think that choosing Edinburgh will leave me with less regrets.

Reply 13

Sambo2

_Spoon

Hiiiii actually we're in the same situation here :beer:

note that the league tables for medicine mean almost nothing - for example there is no/not a lot of clinical medical research here (it's all molecular jazz) but the schools teaching is superb so we don't rack up high points for reasearch or spend per student, but on purely educational terms (which is after all what your interested in..) it's one of the best, but the league tables don't really reflect this
there are other factors to consider to - ie do you want to do dissection (st andrews deos it, edinburgh deosn't - do you want a BSc, do you want to live in a large city etc etc - you probably know this though - pm me if you wnat to know anything specific about our course

Reply 14

_Spoon

Sambo2

St Andrews is absolutely awesome - not only for its course structure but also for its location. And I'm a big fan of dissection......I would firm St Andrews if I didn't get an offer from Edinburgh.