Sussex really that good? (AAB offer)

Original post by HHS

So here is my problem: I just visited uni of Sussex after receiving my offer AAB for International Relations. They seem to be really proud of their rankings (8th uk, 15th Europe etc) world leading staff ,3rd in teaching , high selection criteria etc and talk about it all the time during my visit.

Well, of course they were: they want you to go there so they get your money instead of some other university.

Speaking as someone who hasn't gone to any of them, there's no real difference - they're all good-but-not-top unis in my mind. If you prefer one or both of Keele and Kent, any 'improvement' from Sussex isn't enough to sacrifice that for.

Reply 3

OP

Original post by TheSownRose

Well, of course they were: they want you to go there so they get your money instead of some other university.

Speaking as someone who hasn't gone to any of them, there's no real difference - they're all good-but-not-top unis in my mind. If you prefer one or both of Keele and Kent, any 'improvement' from Sussex isn't enough to sacrifice that for.

So you wouldnt say Sussex is a lot better? even though rankings etc

Reply 4

Original post by HHS

So you wouldnt say Sussex is a lot better? even though rankings etc

No. The thing with rankings is they are good enough as a gross indicator of general position, but they fluctuate a lot from year to year. They don't really correlate with one another, yet use pretty much the same data, so an element of how the composer weights different criteria is in there. There are also portions of them that are based on subjective student opinions - all well and good ... except they don't generally have something to compare their experience to. I could say my course is good, but I have no idea if it's better than the same course at another uni or if that course is a million times better than mine.

You see can for yourself; these are the rankings from different tables over the last twenty or so years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Sussex#Academic_profile

As you can see, it has changed. Look at 2007 - #37. Then it went up to #24 for 2008, dropped all the way back to #34 for 2009 ... and back to #18 in 2010. Do you really think the quality of a Sussex education changed that much in a three year span? Probably not... What that tells you is Sussex is generally a top 20 to top 40 university, so let's even it out and call it a top thirty. That's pretty much was Kent and Keele (although can't find a 20-year table for Keele) say - not the best, but good and respectable.

Of course, Sussex may be brilliant for IR and the others lag behind, but if you decide on going to one you don't like as much, don't make the decision based on league tables.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 5

lizlaz350

I don't know much about Keele, but I had offers from both Sussex and Kent and they both wanted AAB. I got the feeling that the two of them were more or less the same standards wise. I went for Sussex because I liked the area as I personally love Brighton but I felt that Canterbury was a little dull and didn't really like it that much.

Just go for the one that you like the best, I don't think it matters much as they seem to have similar rankings from what I looked at when applying.

Reply 6

Some people on here may not care about university rankings, but employers do.

Reply 7

Original post by lilahnurave

Some people on here may not care about university rankings, but employers do.

They may care about reputation (but equally they may not) ... but it won't be based on league table rankings. For a start, the ranking is likely to change between when you choose it for being #12 and when you're applying for jobs with it as #28.

Reply 8

OP

Hmm , I have until tomorrow to decide. Liked the course at Sussex better, likked Keele campus/social better omg

Reply 9

Original post by TheSownRose

They may care about reputation (but equally they may not) ... but it won't be based on league table rankings. For a start, the ranking is likely to change between when you choose it for being #12 and when you're applying for jobs with it as #28.

Course it is. Not to the digit, but a top 10 is very different to a top 40

Reply 10

Original post by HHS

Hmm , I have until tomorrow to decide. Liked the course at Sussex better, likked Keele campus/social better omg

My bf is graduating from Sussex this year, and I'm starting in September. One of the things that attracted me was how social it was, and how much fun he's had while he's been there. For me Keele would have been too isolated. Sussex has the countryside setting but is right next to Brighton.

Reply 11

Original post by lilahnurave

Course it is. Not to the digit, but a top 10 is very different to a top 40

How do you define top ten if it's not a digit? A university could be #8, next year #7, then drop to #13, drop again to #25, back up to #17...

Reply 12

OP

Original post by lilahnurave

My bf is graduating from Sussex this year, and I'm starting in September. One of the things that attracted me was how social it was, and how much fun he's had while he's been there. For me Keele would have been too isolated. Sussex has the countryside setting but is right next to Brighton.

You know by any change if its true that Sussex lacks a good SU and societies and you need to get to Brighton ?

Reply 13

Original post by HHS

You know by any change if its true that Sussex lacks a good SU and societies and you need to get to Brighton ?

Societies are excellent, so no truth there. Only negative thing I can say about student union is its a bit cliquey. What do you mean need to get to brighton..? Town or uni?

Reply 14

Original post by TheSownRose

How do you define top ten if it's not a digit? A university could be #8, next year #7, then drop to #13, drop again to #25, back up to #17...

I meant single digit sorry. The fact that university positions change by year shows that the league tables are transient. You won't stay at the top if you're not the best

Reply 15

Zottula

I used to go to Keele university and I didn't like it. Got a bit bored there. Don't know about the others.

Reply 16

OP