Have I made a mistake going to an ex-poly? With really good A level grades?

You're doing politics and history, I doubt it matters


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But Sussex's history is a bit rickety. They do no British history earlier than early modern and no foreign history before the French Revolution.

There is the grudge match for best historical research in the city of Oxford. Brookes won in 2002, Oxford in 2008 and it is all to play for, this year.

Yeah this is true, unless I am being petty about it of course, but as a guy with Thactherite/libertarian leanings, I just wonder whether or not, especially with the lecturers, I will be able to study things that interest me and my views.

I have nothing against the left wing culture, don't get me wrong, it's just a question of comfort.

Is it bad that despite being someone who is good academically, I want to go to a university where it's practice for working life, rather than pure prestige?

"it doesn't matter where you go, it's what you do there that matters to employers"


This. Oh and experience too

Yeah this is true, unless I am being petty about it of course, but as a guy with Thactherite/libertarian leanings, I just wonder whether or not, especially with the lecturers, I will be able to study things that interest me and my views.

I have nothing against the left wing culture, don't get me wrong, it's just a question of comfort.

Load of rubbish.

Don't see how experience would be a load of rubbish.

Personal experience doesn't tend to count for anything. One person having one experience, can't really apply that to others.

Don't see how experience would be a load of rubbish.

Personal experience? I don't know what you're talking about, I meant work experience for the OP would probably put her in an advantage over some one who had no experience at all.

Yes you have.

I had the choice of Kent or Brookes to do Politics and History and I chose Oxford Brookes in the end, mainly because of it's location, the fact that it wasn't in the middle of nowhere, had a good emphasis on transferable skills to the workplace, for instance the history course gives me a chance to go on a placement at a school/museum etc, while Sussex and Kent don't. and it was near all the major cities in the country.

For me having experience is crucial more than good academic qualifications. Which is funny considering I got A*AB at A level.

But a part of me feels like I should go to somewhere really prestigious, so that my good grades worked for something, but I had a very specific choice of university in mind, i.e had to be near London, not to have too much emphasis on exams, and good work experience opportunities.

So in that respect, it only left Brookes, Kent and Sussex to compete

Sussex currently has vacancies for Politics and History am I am tempted, the course looks better too, but the university seems to have a strong left wing political culture, which might make me feel uncomfortable given my views. Plus it doesn't have the work-based emphasis like Brookes and isn't near all the major cities, just London.

I just feel like because I'm going to an ex-poly I am selling myself short, but another part of me just tells me to grow up, and it doesn't matter where you go, it's what you do there that matters to employers. My best mate got A*A*A for A level and he is going to Swansea, again like my course asking for BBC.

Is it bad that despite being someone who is good academically, I want to go to a university where it's practice for working life, rather than pure prestige?

Thank you for that fine contribution.

haha thanks. Let me elaborate. Most Universities have a good social aspect. In the grand scheme of things you will end up feeling at home (for the most part) whether you go to an ex-poly or russell group.

The part that matters is the reputation, often far more than people on TSR give it credit. You're grades are really good, good enough to get into a top university so it is beyond me why you would choose an ex-poly.

Unless there is an overwhelming aspect of said ex-poly that you like such as the course or the societies.

haha thanks. Let me elaborate. Most Universities have a good social aspect. In the grand scheme of things you will end up feeling at home (for the most part) whether you go to an ex-poly or russell group.

The part that matters is the reputation, often far more than people on TSR give it credit. You're grades are really good, good enough to get into a top university so it is beyond me why you would choose an ex-poly.

Unless there is an overwhelming aspect of said ex-poly that you like such as the course or the societies.

I had the choice of Kent or Brookes to do Politics and History and I chose Oxford Brookes in the end, mainly because of it's location, the fact that it wasn't in the middle of nowhere, had a good emphasis on transferable skills to the workplace, for instance the history course gives me a chance to go on a placement at a school/museum etc, while Sussex and Kent don't. and it was near all the major cities in the country.

For me having experience is crucial more than good academic qualifications. Which is funny considering I got A*AB at A level.

But a part of me feels like I should go to somewhere really prestigious, so that my good grades worked for something, but I had a very specific choice of university in mind, i.e had to be near London, not to have too much emphasis on exams, and good work experience opportunities.

So in that respect, it only left Brookes, Kent and Sussex to compete

Sussex currently has vacancies for Politics and History am I am tempted, the course looks better too, but the university seems to have a strong left wing political culture, which might make me feel uncomfortable given my views. Plus it doesn't have the work-based emphasis like Brookes and isn't near all the major cities, just London.

I just feel like because I'm going to an ex-poly I am selling myself short, but another part of me just tells me to grow up, and it doesn't matter where you go, it's what you do there that matters to employers. My best mate got A*A*A for A level and he is going to Swansea, again like my course asking for BBC.

Is it bad that despite being someone who is good academically, I want to go to a university where it's practice for working life, rather than pure prestige?