my friend says my uni is for dumb people

My friend got into UCL and I chose Birkbeck University of London (simply because it's evening classes and I have to work full time so that I can live in London). He started making fun of me that Birkbeck is for dumb people who can't get anywhere else. I could get anywhere I wanted, I know that, I just know that it would be hard to live in London, work part time and still have enough money to visit family or do anything for fun. I really think Birkbeck is a good uni, after all it's part of University of London? Now I don't know if it was a good choice if I shouldn't have gone somewhere else and just try to balance work/study somehow, I mean others do it why couldn't I?

First of all, ignore him. Who cares what he thinks? and no Birkbeck is not the worst and its not the best either. Its ranked 116 in the complete university guide. The worst is suffulk university at 128th.

I thought rankings don't matter

Haha! Yes yes, my statement about UCL

wasn't entirely wrong. UCL isn't the best

and even if it was it shouldn't call an entire

student body of another uni dumb due to the fact it

may have an unconventional type of system which attracts

a certain demographic.

Ok

They really don't at the end of the day, if you both come out with a 1st or a 2.1. I don't think anyone will pay attentionto your unis ranking. I've always thought that the rankings reflect the students experience of the uni. Like the more opportunities they've had to get ahead in life, the higher the unis rankings

They really don't at the end of the day, if you both come out with a 1st or a 2.1. I don't think anyone will pay attentionto your unis ranking. I've always thought that the rankings reflect the students experience of the uni. Like the more opportunities they've had to get ahead in life, the higher the unis rankings

Oh but employers certainly do, especially when faced with so many graduates. Just not to the point where its Oxbridge or go home. The rankings tend to focus more on research work but they're improving to reflect more aspects of the undergrad experience.

Oh but employers certainly do

my course is mentioned there haha, thanks for the link definitely made me feel better

Most employers certainly don't.

And if they did which ranking would they use? There's at least 4 domestic rankings, and they are all different and more importantly differ by subject too. And which year do they use (they change every year)... the year the manager went to university? The year the candidate graduated? The current year? Nope...

Employers are looking for good people to employ, not "good" universities.

I really think Birkbeck is a good uni, after all it's part of University of London?

Oh but employers certainly do, especially when faced with so many graduates. Just not to the point where its Oxbridge or go home. The rankings tend to focus more on research work but they're improving to reflect more aspects of the undergrad experience.

True, most don't, but then for most a degree isn't a relevant consideration, at least not in the absence of everyone and their dog having one.

Considering how these firms have entire HR departments capable of filtering candidates on a number of criteria, do you think the presence of multiple rankings will stop them or pose a particular hindrance? Even if they're not fit for their purposes, they can easily rank the universities on a basis of their choosing, or simply focus on those which do include elements relevant to their consideration.

In fact, they probably do this by correlating graduate performance in terms of hires from particular universities with psychometric testing, which is effectively a redacted IQ test. Nevermind alumni networks. Point being, the university's reputation does matter.

The last bit is true, but how do they determine that before making the hire? One factor they look at is the degree, the subject and where it was taken. Why? Because they will be investing considerable sums in training someone who will be a net liability for years to come and in some cases, difficult to fire if they make the wrong decision.

Nope


Source: The CBI

What is your evidence for this. With a few notable exceptions this isn't backed up by evidence, or employer policies. Its a dangerous myth.

And this is what, exactly? An infographic stating what hiring managers surveyed claim they rank most highly? It'd be far more interesting to see which universities they tend to draw their graduates from, where the degree is a relevant consideration.

And this is what, exactly? An infographic stating what hiring managers surveyed claim they rank most highly? It'd be far more interesting to see which universities they tend to draw their graduates from, where the degree is a relevant consideration.

Also, your friend should know that UCL isn't ranked that highly in the league tables!

Ok, what's the "evidence" that it isn't "backed up by", that leads to the conclusion that it's a "dangerous myth"? I'll need a bit more than an infographic intended to convince the gullible.

To OP, if you have decent work Birkbeck/Open University are completely fine and recognised.