hey, I was just wondering whether anyone could answer a few of my questions/queries -
So I'm thinking of applying for Architecture [obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be posting here] and I'm just a bit stuck on Uni choices. I've been to Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Leeds Met, Huddersfield, Manchester, UCLAN and the AA. And, basically I LOVED Leeds Met and Huddersfield, whereas the others - Liverpool - I live here and I really want to move away, Uclan - the campus is appalling! AA - lovely, but expensive and living costs in London are just crazy, and Manchester - although I loved it on paper, the campus and year sizes are mindblowing - I can't cope with 179 other architecture students as well as design crammed into several large rooms for a few years so that's off the list :/
Anyway, I was originally thinking of applying to Leeds Met and Huddersfield, and a couple of others which I'm still umming over, but because Uni of Leeds doesn't do architecture, I have had feedback from uni friends, employers and some architects say that it's definitely best to go to one that's sort of, well known? As in, I'm Chinese - so I'll probably end up working in an architect's firm in China/Hong Kong one day - and no one over there will have heard of Huddersfield, for example - I mean, I didn't know that it existed before looking at League tables and stuff.
Now, one thing to mention about league tables is that although I'm not looking at numbers - top 10, 20 etc. [and I probably shouldn't - which you'll know in a bit] - I would like to go to a good uni..
On the 15th I realised that I hadn't done as well as I expected, so put it this way - with the subjects I'm doing now for A2 - Fine Art, Product Design and Physics - alongside an A grade at AS, the highest possible predicted/target grades my school and tutors will put on my application form is AAC, which isn't desirable for most unis - and this also ties in with something I'm confused/worried about.
Sadly I missed out on an A at AS art, got a B in AS prod. design, and a D in physics - messed up Unit 2 and the EMPA so badly.
Anyway, so this kinda messes things up as thinking about it now, I think I was originally thinking of applying to Huddersfield [~AAB - they do it in points]; Leeds Met [BBB], Kent [AAB], Edinburgh [BBB] and probably Robert Gordon [BBB] or something...
But the confusion I have now is that on the edinburgh website it says for the entry requirements it's BBB, and you MUST be expected to achieve at least that... does that mean even though I have a chance of upping the requirements on 2 subjects, but probably 1 grade down on physics - would they filter out my application and reject me straight on? I'm fully aware that being 1 above the entry requirements isn't *that* good, but maybe it balances out in a way... ?Also, I don't think I'll be able to go to the open day on the 28th, so I really would like some info from some of you guys - in terms of, based on what I think about Huddersfield and Leeds Met.
* oh wait, I didn't really say anything about them. But basically I'd like a small-ish Uni/year size, so around 60-80 people, and just, I don't know.. not too big like Manchester?
As for Kent, I'm liking the look of the Uni on paper, and from the impression of the prospectus, it seems like a sort of. classic... maybe, traditional style Uni? If you get what I mean that is. - I go to a Grammar School, so I can only really think of comparing Kent to it - again, I'm not sure whether I'm talking nonsense here.
But, I have doubts about Kent as not many have heard of architecture at Kent, and a few architects who are friends of my parents say that Kent is a bit iffy, so a bit like the alternatives to "main" city Unis - Sheffield Hallam, LIverpool John Moores.. Leeds Met etc.
I guess in terms of admissions I really need to email each individual admissions tutor, but I'd love to see what you guys think - thank you!