Which Uni Shall I Firm?

Thanks for that mate

My initial advice would be imperial, but I can sympathize with the fact you would prefer not to stay in London, I was raised in London, but all my choices where very far from London, and my firm will be Sunderland (in the north east corner, about 300 miles away from London) and my insurance will be Newport, Wales. The reason I've chosen uni's so far away is because I can't imagine staying in London, I feel like I have to get away from the current home environment I am living in and experience something new and exciting to me, and meet people from another part of the country, and I want to live on campus, and really get that experience. You have to look within yourself, and ask yourself, will you be happy studying at Imperial? If so, go ahead, I think you should. But if not, if you feel like to you would feel freer if you got away, like you want to live on campus, and you feel like you would grow more as an individual if you got away, and that it would be more exciting and an enjoyable experience for you, then to be honest, I say, to go for the next best thing. I would say in that case, go for Southampton. There's no point studying somewhere for the next three years of your life, if you won't feel happy or stimulated there. It's your choice at the end of the day, only yours, so I don't want to tell you where to pick. But where would you be happier? Have you visited all three of the campuses/cities? If not I highly reccommend you do before firming. I know how it feels to want to get away and to want to experience something new in life. If that's how you feel, then I'd suggest Southampton, but it's your choice at the end of the day. Just bare in mind, this'll be three years of your life, you'll have to live in this location three years. So if you'll hate living somewhere there's not much point imo.

Hi There,

I am planning on studying Computer Science and have just received my 5th offer and would like some assistance on which university to choose.

I currently hold these offers

Imperial - A*AA
Southampton - AAA/A*AB
Bristol - AAA/A*AB
Nottingham - AAB
Birmingham - AAB

I have already decided that I am going to put Birmingham as my insurance but was wondering whether you could help me to decide whether to put Imperial, Southampton or Bristol as my firm choice. Clearly Imperial is the strongest university of them all but my family live one street away and I feel that Imperial is maybe a step too far for me. I will not have much fun or get social skills that are required in the future. This brings me to Southampton or Bristol, I am fairly certain that I would like to choose Southampton instead of Bristol due to the rankings and the facilities provided at the University but would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Kabeer

According to the Times newspaper, Imperial has the highest graduate employment rate of any university in the UK. It's also in London which, let's be honest, is the place to be in England.

Have to disagree with comments that Bristol is only strong in Humanities.Bristol's Maths department is very well respected, as well as its Engineering Maths course. It also excels in Economics, Physics, Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, and indeed Computer Science! It's a genuine all-rounder, and most certainly not just focused on Humanities.

You do know that, as an institution, Bristol is considered very prestigious.
As rankings seem to matter to you, then internationally Bristol is usually in the top 30 in the world, while Sou'hampton is more around 75th-ish. (QS)

There are many downsides to living in London, especially for students. Two off the top of my head are the living costs (obvious I know) and the fact that in no way does the city rely on student culture - this means that you may find it more difficult to find club nights aimed at students etc. I know they must exist but this is one of the main things that my friends at uni in London have complained about - it's not so student friendly.

Exactly my concern. As I live in London, I am painfully aware of this fact. I go into a pub and a pint costs £4-5. You look around and all the people there are 30+. London is really pitched at students who are from abroad or the countryside and want to go for the capital where it is conceived to be the place to be. When you live here all your life you get used to it, bored and want to do something different.

Just bear in mind that only QS puts Bristol as 30th in the world, ARWU and THE both have it around the 70 mark. Imperial is top 10 on two lists and top 25 on another...

If you want to work abroad for instance then the imperial name will definitely carry you better in the mainstream job market (not necessarily if you go for academic jobs of course) but ultimately they are all great universities.

I know I'll probably get negged for focusing on rankings, but it does count for something, and there has been an interest expressed in the rankings, hence my focus.

Also bear in mind that Imperial has the highest average graduate starting salary in the UK.

Yes, that is what I was thinking and I want to go to Southampton but wanted to see what others think before going and closing the door on such a great opportunity. Thank you

Just bear in mind that only QS puts Bristol as 30th in the world, ARWU and THE both have it around the 70 mark. Imperial is top 10 on two lists and top 25 on another...

If you want to work abroad for instance then the imperial name will definitely carry you better in the mainstream job market (not necessarily if you go for academic jobs of course) but ultimately they are all great universities.

I know I'll probably get negged for focusing on rankings, but it does count for something, and there has been an interest expressed in the rankings, hence my focus.

Also bear in mind that Imperial has the highest average graduate starting salary in the UK.

Completely disagree with the point made about student nights, most big clubs run student nights in the week with competitive drink prices, I normally find there are multiple event invites from promoters for student nights at least 5 nights of the week. Fabric, ministry of sound etc run student nights that cost as little as a fiver, there are **** loads of places.

As when you're at uni in London you go to these student nights you're not surrounded by 30+ year olds...I have never found this to be the case apart from when I went to one non student place in leicester square on a saturday. Of course you get a slightly older crowd at weekends, but most students go out in the week...

Most of the stuff is pitched at uni students so if you haven't been a uni student in London you wont believe how much stuff there is, this is one of the most student friendly cities I have ever been in, especially in the areas around the unis.

All the student unions run great cheap nights too, ULU is 1 pound on a friday, and there are plenty of places to get drinks for much less than described. At most of those student nights a double with mixer will be around 3 quid, union drinks cost as little as a pound.

Not telling you not to move away of course, just seeing a lot of London getting slagged off today. It might seem boring to you, but what is another city going to have that London does not? I can't think of anything...

Only downside is the cost of living, which you get a larger loan for, and with the new repayment scheme that's the safest debt you'll ever have. With the fees higher aswell the extra cost of living here is less of an issue, you might pay 45,000 to do a 3 year degree in London total, or 40,000 somewhere cheaper to live..it's still a chunk of change.

after looking up the reputation of all the uni's, I now would reccomend Bristol. Because it has a very good reputation, yet you would be out of London (actually further away than Southampton) and you would be somewhere exciting and new. The people I know who have been to Bristol. So I would, in my opinion, advise Bristol, as you'd get the best of both worlds, great reputation, and exciting new experience.

What was it about Southampton that made you choose it?

Yes maybe you're right, I have not seen London through the eyes of a student but my biggest problem is that I need to grow up and stand on my own two feet which will not be the case if I am so close to family.