Are People Too Hung Up On Uni "Prestige"?

On TSR, anyway. Obviously doing, something like media studies instead of maths is a bad idea.

However, subject wise, I think it's still often better to do something you enjoy but that's considered less "prestigious" (e.g. something like Sociology or Management? not arguing about how prestigious these are considered btw) rather than just one of the "top 10 subjects" like Law/Econ/Medicine largely because of "prestige." I know a lot of people who did "prestigious" subjects and transferred out or are getting bad grades because they didn't really want to do it.

Also re: uni prestige - obviously this counts both generally and for your course. And "brand name" matters a lot in careers like IB and Law. However, if choosing between something like another Russell Group and Oxbridge (esp. one like Imperial or Warwick), or two Russell Groups, IMO one should factor in other things like location/social life at the uni rather than just going for the more "prestigious" uni straight off. (the old "a 2:1 from here is better than a 2:2 from there").

What do you think? Are people too obsessed with "prestige"?

This is a very interesting thread because i'm currently in the process of trying to choose between a very prestigious university : Warwick and one that is not even in the top 20's lol but actually a great university which produces results and high employability.

When i asked the question before, i was told "Dont be silly, Warwick ofc" and "Is it even a question? Warwick" But having looked at which is more suitable for ME, i feel it is the other University but im so torn because of warwicks PRESTIGE.

I honestly do not know which is more important in terms of our futures.

As for the subjects, I am doing law because i feel it's something i enjoy, something ive read up on, something that excites me. I believe more people will put themselves through a tough degree like Law, for this reason as opposed to because it's a "good degree". No point coming out with a 3 in a Law degree if you can get a 1st class in another degree which is still relatively good.

On TSR, anyway. Obviously doing something like media studies instead of maths is a bad idea.

However, subject wise, I think it's still often better to do something you enjoy but that's considered less "prestigious" (e.g. something like Sociology or Management? not arguing about how prestigious these are considered btw) rather than just one of the "top 10 subjects" like Law/Econ/Medicine largely because of "prestige." I know a lot of people who did "prestigious" subjects and transferred out or are getting bad grades because they didn't really want to do it.

Also re: uni prestige - obviously this counts both generally and for your course. And "brand name" matters a lot in careers like IB and Law. However, if choosing between something like another Russell Group and Oxbridge (esp. one like Imperial or Warwick), or two Russell Groups, IMO one should factor in other things like location/social life at the uni rather than just going for the more "prestigious" uni straight off. (the old "a 2:1 from here is better than a 2:2 from there").

What do you think? Are people too obsessed with "prestige"?

I get that it is a factor for some career paths, but beyond that, I get the impression that a lot of people on TSR attach their self-esteem to their perceived prestige of a university. It tends to be A level students/those just starting university that seem to care the most. Once you become an adult, you realise that no one gives a flying monkey about the prestige of the university you attended.

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?o=Entry+Standards&v=wide

I think that TSR has a weird view on this. That other topic had the above link, which leads to the table ranked by entry standards. You have places like Strathclyde and Glasgow easily in the top 20 for entry standards but outside it for the actual ranking. You also get people on TSR who say that getting PhDs from Oxbridge are less impressive than Bscs from Oxbridge because it's harder to get in as undergrads.

Also people on TSR say they want prestige...but then they don't go on to do anything related to their degrees for the rest of their lives.

Some people want to attend the best universities. What's wrong with that?

I've noticed a definite obsession with creating threads where people must rank unis or rank courses based on their prestige. There seems to be a massive obsession with investment banking as well. It does make me laugh though, when these kids grow up they will be thrown into the real world

As long as the university is Russell Group material, it doesn't matter for most graduates as to which university you attended. Employers won't care.

On TSR, anyway. Obviously doing something like media studies instead of maths is a bad idea.

And "brand name" matters a lot in careers like IB and Law.

What do you think? Are people too obsessed with "prestige"?

Lies. I mean I'm sure most jobs don't care but if you want the best jobs, don't you think employers will favour candidates who went to top uni's? So for example, if Google was hiring graduates and they had one candidate from Camb/Imp/Ox and another from Uni of Bedfordshire, which one do you think they would interview? (If they could only interview one).

I'm sure after working for years and having real experience no one will care too much where you went.

Lies. I mean I'm sure most jobs don't care but if you want the best jobs, don't you think employers will favour candidates who went to top uni's? So for example, if Google was hiring graduates and they had one candidate from Camb/Imp/Ox and another from Uni of Bedfordshire, which one do you think they would interview? (If they could only interview one).

I'm sure after working for years and having real experience no one will care too much where you went.