Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?
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Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?Before I explain myself, I would just like to say I hope this isn't offensive to anyone as I certainly do not intend it to be!
I've firmed De Montfort on my UCAS, and will hopefully be studying Photography and Video BA come September.
Recently I've just been getting stressed out at the thought of going to DMU, as it seems to have a bad rep, especially in the whole Leicester vs De Montfort argument. I loved the uni when I went to visit, and the facilities for my course seemed adequate, and the course structure is ideal, so these things should be enough! However, I know reputation certainly isn't everything, but it is concerning me, as where I live in the South there's certainly a lot of stigma attached to, say, going to Southampton Solent rather than Southampton University. If someone says they go to Solent people make an instant judgement and 9 times out of 10 assume they are 'thick' and certainly not academically gifted. (I'm sure this probably says a lot more about the kind of judgemental people around here, rather than the university!)
I originally applied for Cinema & Photography at Leeds, which was my first choice and I seriously had my heart set on it, I was devastated when they rejected me. As I (foolishly) was so sure I would be going to a uni as good as Leeds, it just seems like a massive step down to be going to De Montfort. Please don't think I'm a snob as I really, really am not, just that going to university is a massive deal to me, and by no means a decision I'm taking lightly, unlike a lot of people who just see it as the logical next step, so I would really like to come out the other side with a degree that's worth something!
Of course I know every university has different strengths and weaknesses, so if anyone has any advice at all regarding studying Photography at DMU I would be incredibly grateful! Or anyone studying any degree here, I would love to hear your opinions/advice on the institution.
Apologies if this isn't the most coherent of posts, it's 1.24am and I am absolutely shattered and stressed out about this whole thing, so I imagine my grammar/punctuation is looking pretty bad
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Re: Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?Hiya,(Original post by tresjolie)
Before I explain myself, I would just like to say I hope this isn't offensive to anyone as I certainly do not intend it to be!
I've firmed De Montfort on my UCAS, and will hopefully be studying Photography and Video BA come September.
Recently I've just been getting stressed out at the thought of going to DMU, as it seems to have a bad rep, especially in the whole Leicester vs De Montfort argument. I loved the uni when I went to visit, and the facilities for my course seemed adequate, and the course structure is ideal, so these things should be enough! However, I know reputation certainly isn't everything, but it is concerning me, as where I live in the South there's certainly a lot of stigma attached to, say, going to Southampton Solent rather than Southampton University. If someone says they go to Solent people make an instant judgement and 9 times out of 10 assume they are 'thick' and certainly not academically gifted. (I'm sure this probably says a lot more about the kind of judgemental people around here, rather than the university!)
I originally applied for Cinema & Photography at Leeds, which was my first choice and I seriously had my heart set on it, I was devastated when they rejected me. As I (foolishly) was so sure I would be going to a uni as good as Leeds, it just seems like a massive step down to be going to De Montfort. Please don't think I'm a snob as I really, really am not, just that going to university is a massive deal to me, and by no means a decision I'm taking lightly, unlike a lot of people who just see it as the logical next step, so I would really like to come out the other side with a degree that's worth something!
Of course I know every university has different strengths and weaknesses, so if anyone has any advice at all regarding studying Photography at DMU I would be incredibly grateful! Or anyone studying any degree here, I would love to hear your opinions/advice on the institution.
Apologies if this isn't the most coherent of posts, it's 1.24am and I am absolutely shattered and stressed out about this whole thing, so I imagine my grammar/punctuation is looking pretty bad
Well, your post was 8 hours agao and nobody has replied, I can see why many wouldn't reply as I get sick of hearing all this University of Leicester v De Montfort University rubbish. Just the same as in Sheffield, and Leeds and as you say Southampton. At the end of the day it is what you do with the degree and what you actually achieve at universtity which is important.
I study Media Production at DMU and I am coming to the end of my 2nd year, I have loved it here and the course has been amazing, all what I expected and more.
When you are applying for jobs later, within our field most of the time they want someone who can do the job. if they have a degree all good yes, but having a degree does not mean you can automatically do the job! As I said, it is all about how much you learn and how you can apply that learning to future job opportunities.
Where you have gained the degree will not be an issue at all especially within the fields we are both in.
Anyway...hope you will be happy here, and anything else you want to know or ask feel free. Either here or in a PM :-) xx -
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Re: Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?Outside of Varsity matches or the 'Battle of the Unis' bar crawl you won't hear much of the '2 Es and an NVQ' sort of stuff, and it is just a laugh. Most DMU students happily chant back about us all being posh rahs/general d***heads. No one whose opinion is actually worth anything genuinely believes they are better because they are at Leicester rather than DMU, Nottingham not Trent, Birmingham not BCU, Leeds not Met etc.(Original post by tresjolie)
Before I explain myself, I would just like to say I hope this isn't offensive to anyone as I certainly do not intend it to be!
I've firmed De Montfort on my UCAS, and will hopefully be studying Photography and Video BA come September.
Recently I've just been getting stressed out at the thought of going to DMU, as it seems to have a bad rep, especially in the whole Leicester vs De Montfort argument. I loved the uni when I went to visit, and the facilities for my course seemed adequate, and the course structure is ideal, so these things should be enough! However, I know reputation certainly isn't everything, but it is concerning me, as where I live in the South there's certainly a lot of stigma attached to, say, going to Southampton Solent rather than Southampton University. If someone says they go to Solent people make an instant judgement and 9 times out of 10 assume they are 'thick' and certainly not academically gifted. (I'm sure this probably says a lot more about the kind of judgemental people around here, rather than the university!)
I originally applied for Cinema & Photography at Leeds, which was my first choice and I seriously had my heart set on it, I was devastated when they rejected me. As I (foolishly) was so sure I would be going to a uni as good as Leeds, it just seems like a massive step down to be going to De Montfort. Please don't think I'm a snob as I really, really am not, just that going to university is a massive deal to me, and by no means a decision I'm taking lightly, unlike a lot of people who just see it as the logical next step, so I would really like to come out the other side with a degree that's worth something!
Of course I know every university has different strengths and weaknesses, so if anyone has any advice at all regarding studying Photography at DMU I would be incredibly grateful! Or anyone studying any degree here, I would love to hear your opinions/advice on the institution.
Apologies if this isn't the most coherent of posts, it's 1.24am and I am absolutely shattered and stressed out about this whole thing, so I imagine my grammar/punctuation is looking pretty bad
We don't offer your degree so DMU is infinitely better than Leicester for that! As pointed out above it sounds like the sort of field where experience will be far more valuable than the institution, unlike say law or accounting in which there may well be an element of sifting based on the Oxbridge>top RG/1994>other RG/1994>post 1992 sort of thing.
Enjoy DMU
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Re: Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?Photography is something, I would imagine, that is judged largely on your ability to build a good portfolio and gain experience. In that sense, a less 'academic' and more vocational institution is surely more appropriate for what you wish to achieve?
It's certainly not as strong 'academically', but that's not what you're seeking to achieve, if, as I would presume, you wish to become a photographer? -
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Re: Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?Do not knock the academic side here at DMU! We could always arrange a 'University Challenge' competition...and how would that then look if the University of Leicester came second....oh my, lol.(Original post by halbeth)
Photography is something, I would imagine, that is judged largely on your ability to build a good portfolio and gain experience. In that sense, a less 'academic' and more vocational institution is surely more appropriate for what you wish to achieve?
It's certainly not as strong 'academically', but that's not what you're seeking to achieve, if, as I would presume, you wish to become a photographer?
I admire both universities, both have subjects which they can offer more than the other in. But to just put down DMU academically, nope, I will not accept that. As this then is just not playing fair. -
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Re: Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?Depends on definition of 'academically'. If he meant at undergrad level then it's not fair, because though Leicester may have a significantly higher average entry tariff (398 to 256) there are too many variables in why people do well at A Level and how people bulk out UCAS points to say Leicester is more 'academic'. In certain subject comparisons, say Law at DMU to Media at Leicester, DMU may have a higher entry tariff.(Original post by JessicaUk)
Do not knock the academic side here at DMU! We could always arrange a 'University Challenge' competition...and how would that then look if the University of Leicester came second....oh my, lol.
I admire both universities, both have subjects which they can offer more than the other in. But to just put down DMU academically, nope, I will not accept that. As this then is just not playing fair.
If he means the standard of research across the university, that's all assessed by the same people, it's more justifiable as Leicester's (2.45 average) is higher than DMU's (2.32).
But, the staff at both unis will know more than enough to teach undergrads well (one of my best tutorial leaders was a PhD candidate at DMU, teaching at Leicester as well for the better pay) and in certain areas will outperform or underperform both their university's general ranking and each other. OP is highly likely to get an excellent education at DMU with the same mix of some brilliant, most good and some awful lecturers that you can get anywhere from Oxford to a local college given degree awarding powers.Last edited by roh; 16-05-2012 at 18:18. -
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Re: Should I be worried about the quality of my degree if going to DMU?This chap's nailed it on the head. I'm not knocking DMU, I'm simply stating that Leicester has a better academic reputation (regardless of my own opinion. A member of our English department got her PhD at DMU, anyone can flourish anywhere if they've got the ability). In any case, my real point was that she shouldn't worry, as photography is, to my admittedly(Original post by roh)
Depends on definition of 'academically'. If he meant at undergrad level then it's not fair, because though Leicester may have a significantly higher average entry tariff (398 to 256) there are too many variables in why people do well at A Level and how people bulk out UCAS points to say Leicester is more 'academic'. In certain subject comparisons, say Law at DMU to Media at Leicester, DMU may have a higher entry tariff.
If he means the standard of research across the university, that's all assessed by the same people, it's more justifiable as Leicester's (2.45 average) is higher than DMU's (2.32).
But, the staff at both unis will know more than enough to teach undergrads well (one of my best tutorial leaders was a PhD candidate at DMU, teaching at Leicester as well for the better pay) and in certain areas will outperform or underperform both their university's general ranking and each other. OP is highly likely to get an excellent education at DMU with the same mix of some brilliant, most good and some awful lecturers that you can get anywhere from Oxford to a local college given degree awarding powers.
limited knowledge, a whole other kettle of fish.
