Bristol vs. Imperial?!

Hi! I'm currently deciding whether to firm Bristol or Imperial, having a contextual offer of ABB for biochemistry at Bristol, and an offer of AAA for medical biosciences at Imperial. I'm not entirely sure about my course choice at Bristol, but have been assured that I can potentially change in the first semester as I meet all of the entry requirements for both chemistry and biomed if I prefer those. I really like the look of the Imperial course as it is very lab-based and I like the teaching style, and although I would NOT be able to switch courses there if I didn't like it, I'm pretty sure (?) I would enjoy the Imperial course. My hang-up with Imperial is that it's in London, and I'm worried I will get a bit lost in a sea of very high-powered, focused STEM people, whereas I come from a VERY rural area and have other interests outside my studies; whereas Bristol is a lovely, green, small city, there are personal tutors, and it's very hilly (which is a pro for me as it makes me feel like I can like... breathe? I find London very suffocating). I'm aware that grades matter more than prestige in terms of graduate outlook, and that I could potentially even do a masters at the uni I don't go to. I've made a complicated spreadsheet (my natural stress reaction) and once I rated different factors and ranked them by importance, THEY WERE IN AN EXACT TIE. I don't have to decide until the 8th of June, and accommodation deadlines are a while away, but amongst general exam stress it's all a bit much. Any advice is much appreciated!

Contact [email protected] but make sure you are completely clear with them on any changes that it will make to your offer.

Hi! I'm currently deciding whether to firm Bristol or Imperial, having a contextual offer of ABB for biochemistry at Bristol, and an offer of AAA for medical biosciences at Imperial. I'm not entirely sure about my course choice at Bristol, but have been assured that I can potentially change in the first semester as I meet all of the entry requirements for both chemistry and biomed if I prefer those. I really like the look of the Imperial course as it is very lab-based and I like the teaching style, and although I would NOT be able to switch courses there if I didn't like it, I'm pretty sure (?) I would enjoy the Imperial course. My hang-up with Imperial is that it's in London, and I'm worried I will get a bit lost in a sea of very high-powered, focused STEM people, whereas I come from a VERY rural area and have other interests outside my studies; whereas Bristol is a lovely, green, small city, there are personal tutors, and it's very hilly (which is a pro for me as it makes me feel like I can like... breathe? I find London very suffocating). I'm aware that grades matter more than prestige in terms of graduate outlook, and that I could potentially even do a masters at the uni I don't go to. I've made a complicated spreadsheet (my natural stress reaction) and once I rated different factors and ranked them by importance, THEY WERE IN AN EXACT TIE. I don't have to decide until the 8th of June, and accommodation deadlines are a while away, but amongst general exam stress it's all a bit much. Any advice is much appreciated!