Why do pre-university students work so hard if this forum seems to think that...

...the university you attend doesn't matter, and your grad prospects are equal?

I've been lurking on this forum for months now, without an account, and there are always threads saying is

<insert former poly here> good/presitigious?

and there is always the response that says "Oh it doesn't matter what university you go to!"

If that's the case, why do so many students work their socks off through A-Levels in order to get into a university that has a higher entry tarriff? I mean, I have seen mods on here saying that it doesnt matter etc etc etc?

Does this mean we can all go to universities like Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, London Metropolitan, LSBU, City university, university of suffolk, highlands and islands and still get a great job/have equal chance as say, someone that went to the Golden Triangle universities and other top ancient Scottish one and also top Irish ones?

I'm just interested in your input

Reply 1

Bobjim12

Most likely because they themselves go to that uni and want to feel better about themselves.

It definitely matters but not as much as people may think.

Reply 2

username963570

Original post by Alevelsman

Because some of those responses are quite simply, wrong, and only said to make bad students feel better about themselves.

Where you go for University absolutely does matter - however the extent to which it matters is dependent on a) the industry you want to go into (for example highly-competitive industries have A-level requirements that mean that you do need to be going to a good uni just to meet the minimum requirements) and b) how good your profile is once you get there.

If you go to sub-par university however beef up your profile through sports / society administrative posts / volunteering / work experience / strong uni marks etc then you do have as good a shot at a competitive job as someone from a better University, it's just you might have to put more work in to achieve that standard than someone at a top institution might have to do - opportunities for CV boosting are more readily available at better institutions.

It also depends on the course that you are applying for - London Met (for example - I am not stating this as fact) may be good for a specialist course which is something you may want to do, and that is fine. But again, the student themselves needs to do their own research into this.

Reply 3

Tom191

Bit harsh to put Liverpool in with that group :biggrin:

Deffo matters where u go, but outside the obvious (oxbridge) and up to a point (russell group PLUS other unis on a similar level E.G Bath, St Andrews, UEA etc) they are fairly similar. Some give better prospect (I.E you'll almost certainly be better going UCL than like Newcastle) but the difference, IMO, is marginal (for most jobs).

Reply 4

Drewski

For someone who's been apparently lurking that long you've managed to miss the point very well.

Reply 5

Joinedup

Well a lot of the highly competitive jobs you seem to be interested in have a A level filter

but anyway...
If someone's asking is X prestigious it's probably because they've got the grades to go to X and wouldn't be accepted at Oxbridge... and any advice that doesn't recognise that the asker need to work with what they've got isn't useful advice. Saying 'oh no oxbridge is more prestigious than X' doesn't help.

---
Anyway hard work is morally and psychologically good for you* and will train you to be better prepared for life than coasting

*though of course it is possible to over do it

Reply 6

gjd800

My personal experience (academia) is that application, hard work and tenacity are more important than prestige, though not everybody's experience will be the same. It's funny how yous lot have a tendency to look down on each other here about universities when the people that work in them tend not to have that outlook. My experience with Oxbridge scholars (and basically every other scholar - even Ivy League guys) is that if you are able, it is obvious, and it is through your ability that you are generally respected.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 7

lilmunchkin18

The snobbery on TSR is ridiculous. While it matters to a certain extent, in the greater picture it's not that big of a deal. Hard work, dedication, time and sacrifice will always top prestige in my personal opinion.

Reply 8

Appleorpear

And others are burittos who need to be eaten 😆

Reply 9

username3511674

Generally when people on this forum say reputation doesn't matter, what they mean is it doesn't matter much amongst the Russell Group (outside Oxbridge and 2 London unis, not even including UCL). And they are right to an extent, you're not going to be disadvantaged in any meaningful way because of the location you chose to spend three years at. Most regions in the UK are in proximity of an excellent uni, if you're ambitious and that's the place you fancy living, naturally you aim to go there.

Although some courses and universities do tend to be more popular with certain groups of people than others, the quality of education you receive and the rigour of the course (depending on the subject) is broadly the same at most Russell Group universities (and even some outside this group). For example, Exeter has an enormous private school intake, but even people on TSR wouldn't argue that Exeter is better than the rest of the Russell Group. Durham might have a much higher entry tariff than Queen Mary, but I doubt Durham degrees are more challenging than Queen Mary degrees - if you get a 2:1 from Queen Mary, you're pretty much of the same calibre as someone with a 2:1 from Durham.

Whereas I'd imagine the universities you listed (apart from Liverpool and City - how dare you put those in that group) are probably not even considered universities by TSR. So when people say reputation doesn't matter, they're mainly talking about the majority of the Russell Group (because there's a very small handful of them which get a questionable amount of attention and praise on here compared to other similarly established universities, just because they're 'targets' ), they're not talking about all universities.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 10

Realitysreflexx

everything in life should matter :smile:

Reply 11

ThePricklyOne

Original post by Alevelsman

I've seen a lot of these posts and have noticed:

Those who says it matter are wannabes who wish they were in a top uni but are still in school. They stop shouting when they find they don't get in Oxford/Cambridge or whatever prestigious RG uni (its never a non RG uni).

Those who say it doesn't are either - defo going to uni / in uni / graduated and in a job / employer. The mods are in this category.

Reply 12

Chichaldo

Original post by Alevelsman

At the end of the day teaching and facilities are better at some of the top unis but it is always down to personal work ethic and determination. Good GCSEs and A-Levels are just proof of your commitment and training if you like of the academic challenges to come. If you pay the same for the course anyway, you might as well go to one that is looked at more fondly. Of course A and B are not separated by which uni they went too but it doesn't hurt if nothing else is different between them.

Reply 13

Realitysreflexx

Original post by ThePricklyOne

i go to Nottingham, i thought it was mildly important, i only applied to one russell group, though i did tailor my personal statement to include phrases from the course info. But i really never thought i would get in. But im proudly at it now. :smile:

i remember my foundation centrehead saying Nottingham? you can maybe do your post grad at a place like Nottingham lol. So even the older folks have bought into the hype, thats where the kids hear it first 👂. Just top down uni beauracy advisement lol classic british culture 🇬🇧