my friend says my uni is for dumb people

the problem is i know i could get in somewhere else, i'm sure i could get into ucl. but i can't - i have to work full time (can't afford living in london otherwise) and i still want to have some me time, i already studied once full time (over 20 hrs a week) and worked full time and i was half alive

Hey, I've wondered why I never hear of anyone in your position going to Birbeck before. For anyone working lots of hours it seems far better to go to a course where other students are in the same position. I'd also much prefer the type of work available in normal working hours - you might build up a great CV before you graduate.

What course are you doing? I think most interviews you have as a graduate will be both interested and impressed by your choice.

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?

UCL isn't number one and even if it was, he shouldn't have said a certain uni is for "dumber" students based on a temporary ranking.

The point you were trying to make was that he shouldn't say birkbeck if for dumb people because UCL isn't that good anyways. When you were proven wrong you changed your argument to 'ranking's don't determine the intelligence of students', when it fact they do.

Stop being silly

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?

University ''prestige'' only really matters at postgraduate level. Which most undergraduates never reach. Often their own egos get in the way of their own progression.

University ''prestige'' only really matters at postgraduate level.

Why? And source please...

Well for subjects like Medicine, Law, Vet.Sci etc You are ultimately coming out with the same degree and will eventually become qualified in your respective field. There can be Oxbridge and Liverpool graduates in the same hospital.

You can't get anywhere in Science without a Ph.D. Firstly you need a good reference from an academic to even get in the door, no matter if you went to Oxbridge or Newcastle. You next need to be motivated, have at least a 2:1 and usually some experience. Being a graduate of UCl isn't that much of a big deal without a solid reference and even some experience when applying for a Ph.D.

For the humanities, I will say that prestige probably matters a bit more simply due to the competition for jobs however its nothing like people on TSR makes it out to be.

Source: Talking to various Chemistry Ph.D students.

So you haven't said why university prestige matters more for postgrads. You've even indicated it doesn't...

thanks! i'm feeling so much better now, i know i shouldn't care that much about what others say but somehow it just got to me... i really want to study and work, i am a bit jealous that he gets so much money from his parents to help him with living costs and he doesn't even have to work (just works part time). jealous is a wrong word in this context but i just wish he never said that, i wouldn't even think about this right now, making myself so sad over something so stupid

I went to birkbeck. I got my degree despite work in full time and having a young baby to look after. Birkbeck is incredibly highly regarded. You just need to look at some of its lecturers to see that. Go birkbeck!!!!!