[lrH5]

(Original post by Broadsword)
No because they are using a different indicator than research power. From what people say we will be ranked about 18th for research this year, which is a slight improvement from 2001 but not much. Also they are putting hue weighting on the NSS in this years ranking, and as we do terribly in that, expect are ranking to drop even more, maybe out of the top 20

oh and OP, didn't manchester suffer a similar fate to nottingham in terms of going down in the rankings, just out of curiosity?

[Creole]

Not at all. Supposing that your assertion is true (which is neither here nor there, how are you measuring reputation?), I'm still getting a very good education and I didn't apply to the university on the basis someone would be impressed by the name of the institution on my CV.

[Broadsword]

(Original post by lrH5)
To be fair although OP is being fairly childish, the fact that Nottingham is going down in the league tables is true. Also nottingham trent isn't as bad as everyone makes out, (I think it has the highest rate of getting it's graduates into employment).
At the moment nottingham will be a well respected uni. Whilst nottingham is going down the rankings, it will still be respected by employers at the same status it was for a good number of years. It's still going be considered prestigous and I doubt employers will make andy differentiation between Bristol, Warwick or nottingham (someone mentioned UCL, but I think historically UCL is known to have a better reputation and I suppose might be better recieved from employers in london, but again it depends on the subject...). It will take a good number of years before someone from nottingham will considered worse (something ridiculous like 50 years), and by then it won't really matter.
As for RAE rankings, I don't think they hold much of an impact on rankings. I hear Queen Mary's does fairly well in them, yet their ranking is still not that great (although a lot of people I speak to say it's underrated...).
I wouldn't worry about the rankings too much OP. Nottingham is still classed as a prestigous uni despite it's ranking at it will be for a long time.
Having said that, Nottingham really should take steps to fix/up their ranking too.

I agree, I was being a bit hyperbolic to say the least, I just hope that the university realises how damaging bad rankings can be for a universities reputation. I think we would all like it if Nottingham started ranking in the top 10 again. With the resources it has it could easily do it. Its just the university themselves have admitted that they now focus on global expansion and their business model rather than rankings. Thus the body that used to meet once a year to analyse league tables has stopped meeting a couple of years ago. Hence it dropped in ranking.

Nottingham might be prestigious now, but who knows if employers will feel the same if the calibre of student keeps decreasing. Thats the real concern, less able students coming in

[La Trampa]

Same crap, different day. I think there have been enough of these threads lately..seeing as it's all repetition of the same thing and the threads end up being closed.

We get it.
Nottingham doesn't seem to be as good. In your opinion or in the all mighty opinion of league tables (which I'm sure needs a whole new thread regarding validity and reliability).
Stop ranting about.
If it bothers you that much, go somewhere else. Or don't say you're from Nottingham. Or if you're so worried about league stats, don't apply to the university, reject it and firm somewhere else.

We don't need yet another thread about it.

[DominF]

I still think the uni is plenty respectable. Even if it wasn't and I cared a great deal about reputation I would've accepted my St. Andrews offer.

[130ss]

i rejected nottingham.
i really did not know that.

[Broadsword]

(Original post by La Trampa)
Same crap, different day. I think there have been enough of these threads lately..seeing as it's all repetition of the same thing and the threads end up being closed.

We get it.
Nottingham doesn't seem to be as good. In your opinion or in the all mighty opinion of league tables (which I'm sure needs a whole new thread regarding validity and reliability).
Stop ranting about.
If it bothers you that much, go somewhere else. Or don't say you're from Nottingham. Or if you're so worried about league stats, don't apply to the university, reject it and firm somewhere else.

We don't need yet another thread about it.

Just dont read it then, Duh!

Who made you god of the student room all of a sudden. The fact that one of the top criticism's in the NSS (according to the official Nottingham report on it) was a decline in ranking and student calibre, i think a lot of people care.

['Dan']

(Original post by Broadsword)
From my observations it seems quite clear that, unfortunately, Nottinghams reputation seems to be on the decline. Firstly, its ranking has dropped from being consistently top ten for a good decade to mid-late teens (if not worse), but more worryingly its standard of student has dropped massively as well, going from having a tariff score of 430+ which was always top 8, to like 405-410 which is now 15ish with grade inflation. We are the only university in the top 20 whose tariff has dropped not gone up. Its application numbers have also plummeted, so that its application: place ration has dropped from 10:1 to only 6:1. Hell Law has gone from 20:1 a few years back to only 7:1. JUst look at how many course are in UCAS Extra this year as well, loads of main ones you'd expect to be filled. Also, for a university that says how good their research is, coming 24th in the RAE is pretty crap.

Nottingham seems to be the only university I can think of that has actually made a huge step backwards in reputation. How the hell can the heads have allowed that to happen. When it applied it was seen on the Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Warwick level but you get kids on here saying it is no better than standard red bricks that require ABB. I have friends who say that they are glad they chose not to go here cos its not as good anymore. I must admit I feel a bit miffed having rejected Warwick and Bristol to come here thinking that it was the one university "on the up". Who knows, give a few years at Nottingham Trent might even beat us in rankings! I dont want to look at the next Times ranking due soon cos with the new criteria it will probably be in the 20's.

Does anyone else feel a bit miffed or is it just me. Apparently one of the main complaints from students in the last NSS was a about its declining reputation so I cant be the only one

Rant over

A few points

I gained my place at Notts via UCAS extra yet I have AAA at A-level and GCSEs at A*/A . Sometimes Unis do into UCAS extra to get a better calibre of applicant, there are some very reputatble course in UCAS extra. I would like to think that I have improved Notts reputation with my UCAS tariff!

I also spent a few years at Bristol but dropped out to choosing the wrong degree course. The arts students there are on courses in the bottom 2% for student satisfaction. The Proffessors are so self-engrossed in producing the research that gets Bristol up there in the league tables that the undergraduate learning experience is appalingly bad. I wouldn't romantice being on a lot of degree courses at places like Bristol/Edinburgh/LSE where undergraduates play second fiddle to research.

It is true that Notts is dropping in the league tables. I'm no expert on the methodologies on these tables but I would point a finger at NSS. There is a lot of negative publicity surronding Nottingham - the alleged crime problem, uni keen to outsource accommodation/food to dodgy private companies, taking money of tobacco companies, the breaking up on that Palestine protest. The uni could do lots to improve its image to the wider world.

[Christian_j]

(Original post by Broadsword)
Just dont read it then, Duh!

Who made you god of the student room all of a sudden. The fact that one of the top criticism's in the NSS (according to the official Nottingham report on it) was a decline in ranking and student calibre, i think a lot of people care.

I think you'll find that if you ask pretty much any student here, none of us care.

[La Trampa]

(Original post by Broadsword)
Just dont read it then, Duh!

Who made you god of the student room all of a sudden. The fact that one of the top criticism's in the NSS (according to the official Nottingham report on it) was a decline in ranking and student calibre, i think a lot of people care.

Nobody did. I'm here as another student who's frustrated with seeing the same things over and over.

But seriously, do we need yet another thread telling us that our reputation has gone down, asking if we're bothered and then going into argument, the same argument repeatedly, quoting the same stats, the same sources, the same things?!

If we needed to know yet again how apparently bad we are, we'd search and read up the old threads, not have yet another thread about it.

[AfghanistanBananistan]

I actually agree with the OP. I am a former stuent who applied to Notts during tis hey day and it was really tough to get in - i think my year had over 10 apps per place and averaged the 7th highest a-levels.

I do hate the way people now see Notts as just another solid uni and worse than Bristol, Warwick, Durham, e.t.c - because just a few years ago it was just as good if not better.

I do agree that it is the uni's fault. It used to take 5000-5200 students a year when it had 50,000 apps. However, with 'shottingham' the apps dropped to 38,000 in 2 years, but they kept on increasing the number of places to about 6300 now. That is just ridiculous, and the uni should have known that they were diluting quality, which is an important factor of prestige. Heads should roll, but noone as the uni seems to care.

[Broadsword]

(Original post by Christian_j)
I think you'll find that if you ask pretty much any student here, none of us care.

Mmm, who do I trust, a survey that actually asked all final years about what they think of nottingham, or some random kids perception of what he thinks people on TSR might think. Give me a break mate

Dear me people are getting a bit tetchy today arent they. This thread was a chance to get some useful discussion going about how to improve Nottingham undoubtedly falling image. Dont be such a goddam party pooper. Worse thinks happen at sea you know than a TSR thread

Why on earth would people like La Trampa get so affronted by a thread on an internet forum? Either you are sensitive to Nottinghams reputation or have too much time on your hands

[josht111]

(Original post by Broadsword)

Why on earth would people like La Trampa get so affronted by a thread on an internet forum?

She's scary.

[La Trampa]

(Original post by Broadsword)
Why on earth would people like La Trampa get so affronted by a thread on an internet forum? Either you are sensitive to Nottinghams reputation or have too much time on your hands

Neither. I'm taking a break from revision, and like I've mentioned several times (maybe you're selectively blind or can't read), I don't think there's much point repeating a thread about how bad nottingham's reputation is, because a) i think most of us are smart enough to search and read up on the old threads on exactly the same topic if we wanted a reminder of how apparently bad we are. b) there's no point whinning about it, because yes, we get it, the uni is bad. c) no amount of whinning you do anyways will change things. Like you pointed out, like Christian, you're just 1 user on an internet forum. The powers of the uni, even if they did read this forum, wouldn't care what you or anyone else had to say. I'm also pretty sure it'd be the case for other unis as well So please, don't mistake my posts for anger or sensitivity to the topic, because really, what's annoying is the whinning.

[milesofsea]

To be fair threads get repeated EVERYDAY. All the time. Theres nothing wrong with opening a new discussion, because its highly unlikely nothing new will surface. Different people comment and add their own opinions.
The people getting offended are just taking it personally because they go to nottingham uni.
When I declined my offer from Notts, I found things like this very helpful, (as well as visiting it), after all, theres not much else you can base your uni decisions on.

[kingtoke]

(Original post by Broadsword)
Mmm, who do I trust, a survey that actually asked all final years about what they think of nottingham, or some random kids perception of what he thinks people on TSR might think. Give me a break mate

Dear me people are getting a bit tetchy today arent they. This thread was a chance to get some useful discussion going about how to improve Nottingham undoubtedly falling image. Dont be such a goddam party pooper. Worse thinks happen at sea you know than a TSR thread

Why on earth would people like La Trampa get so affronted by a thread on an internet forum? Either you are sensitive to Nottinghams reputation or have too much time on your hands

You are assuming it has a failing reputation. Personally I think the league tables are **** but if you can back up all of the information you posted in your original thread then I think people would happily discuss it, rather than arguing with you other "facts". The fact is that if my degree qualifies me to do a job, then unless someone else has got a higher standard of degree (i.e first instead of 2:1 etc.) then that employer can not legally be biased against you. It's understandable for people to worry about being disadvantaged in the future because of their descisions now. But do you really think that if you take full advantage of your time at nottingham, come out with a first (that's 3 or 4 years of working hard) and had volunteer work and positions of responsibility on your cv; that you would really be disadvantaged? Come on man, University is about you growing as a person not you as a cv

[Broadsword]

(Original post by kingtoke)
You are assuming it has a failing reputation. Personally I think the league tables are **** but if you can back up all of the information you posted in your original thread then I think people would happily discuss it, rather than arguing with you other "facts". The fact is that if my degree qualifies me to do a job, then unless someone else has got a higher standard of degree (i.e first instead of 2:1 etc.) then that employer can not legally be biased against you. It's understandable for people to worry about being disadvantaged in the future because of their descisions now. But do you really think that if you take full advantage of your time at nottingham, come out with a first (that's 3 or 4 years of working hard) and had volunteer work and positions of responsibility on your cv; that you would really be disadvantaged? Come on man, University is about you growing as a person not you as a cv

You are way over analysing it. 99.99% of people, when push comes to shove, would like to go to a reputable university. You may sprout some PC clap trap about they dont care, but they do a little bit. From my experince talking to friends and students, Nottinghams reputation is slipping (its quite well known), and the applications data suggests this is so as well. You cant tell me that a drop in applicants of 12,000, and far lower entry standards isn't a cause for concern, especially as every other top university has risen

All I was stating is does anybody else find it annoying, the clue was in the title. People debate how bad their footie team is doing all the time, why not do the same with a university. Personally I think it would be nice if Nottingham became really prestigious. I think it has/had the potential, and through sheer incompetence have ballsed everything up.

[kingtoke]

(Original post by La Trampa)
Neither. I'm taking a break from revision, and like I've mentioned several times (maybe you're selectively blind or can't read), I don't think there's much point repeating a thread about how bad nottingham's reputation is, because a) i think most of us are smart enough to search and read up on the old threads on exactly the same topic if we wanted a reminder of how apparently bad we are. b) there's no point whinning about it, because yes, we get it, the uni is bad. c) no amount of whinning you do anyways will change things. Like you pointed out, like Christian, you're just 1 user on an internet forum. The powers of the uni, even if they did read this forum, wouldn't care what you or anyone else had to say. I'm also pretty sure it'd be the case for other unis as well So please, don't mistake my posts for anger or sensitivity to the topic, because really, what's annoying is the whinning.

I agree with you but you've got dragged into his argument here. If you don't think it's a bad uni then give facts as to why, that is if you care about convincing him, otherwise you're doing exactly the same as he is and just using opinion to back up your point.

And also, facts do change over time so I don't see the harm in there being a new thread. This forum would be pretty dead if everyone was as well read on the archives as you

[Christian_j]

(Original post by Broadsword)
You cant tell me that a drop in applicants of 12,000, and far lower entry standards isn't a cause for concern, especially as every other top university has risen

I suppose you have the facts to back this up?

[kingtoke]

(Original post by Broadsword)
You are way over analysing it. 99.99% of people, when push comes to shove, would like to go to a reputable university. You may sprout some PC clap trap about they dont care, but they do a little bit. From my experince talking to friends and students, Nottinghams reputation is slipping (its quite well known), and the applications data suggests this is so as well. You cant tell me that a drop in applicants of 12,000, and far lower entry standards isn't a cause for concern, especially as every other top university has risen

All I was stating is does anybody else find it annoying, the clue was in the title. People debate how bad their footie team is doing all the time, why not do the same with a university. Personally I think it would be nice if Nottingham became really prestigious. I think it has/had the potential, and through sheer incompetence have ballsed everything up.

Did you just read my post and think of a way to argue it? Rather than actually reading it. If i told you liverpool were the best football team in the world because they'd beaten every team in the premiership this season would you take my word for it? Did your friends and people you've talked to quote you those figures and tell you where they got those facts? No? Then I don't believe. Show me some proof and I might. I don't have an opinion either way, but if you want to put forward an opinion the make it a logical one