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What do you do when you dont like the universities you applied for

I currently study A level maths, further maths and physics and am looking at going on to study maths (and possibly statistics) at university in September.However, at the start of this year when I was applying to UCAS I had some health issues and spent a lot of time in hospitals, so I wasn't really that focussed on my application. I applied to Exeter University however I currently go to college nearby and a worried that I may not be happy staying in the same city even though the course is one of the best. I also applied to surrey and they gave me a great offer. I originally wanted to go to surrey but found on visiting that Surrey is definitely not the place for me. Loughborough offered me AAA but I feel this is quite high for what they have to offer me; the transport links to home are very poor and the university is far out of the town and the maths department is not ranked as highly as the rest of the university. my fourth choice was Reading. I put this down as I didn't know what was going to happen with my health and how that would affect my grades and have since decided that I don't want to go there, I visited and loved the university but feel the quality of teaching is not quite what I'm looking for. this is a shame because I really loved the area and the university itself. my final choice was Heriot Watt in Edinburgh. I visited yesterday and was told by one of the academics that I would be silly to go to a non-Russel Group university to study maths. However, he suggested that I look in to studying Acturial sciences at HW but I feel this course may be too specialised for someone who has no idea what they want to do in the future. Any help?
Original post by user464940393
I currently study A level maths, further maths and physics and am looking at going on to study maths (and possibly statistics) at university in September.However, at the start of this year when I was applying to UCAS I had some health issues and spent a lot of time in hospitals, so I wasn't really that focussed on my application. I applied to Exeter University however I currently go to college nearby and a worried that I may not be happy staying in the same city even though the course is one of the best. I also applied to surrey and they gave me a great offer. I originally wanted to go to surrey but found on visiting that Surrey is definitely not the place for me. Loughborough offered me AAA but I feel this is quite high for what they have to offer me; the transport links to home are very poor and the university is far out of the town and the maths department is not ranked as highly as the rest of the university. my fourth choice was Reading. I put this down as I didn't know what was going to happen with my health and how that would affect my grades and have since decided that I don't want to go there, I visited and loved the university but feel the quality of teaching is not quite what I'm looking for. this is a shame because I really loved the area and the university itself. my final choice was Heriot Watt in Edinburgh. I visited yesterday and was told by one of the academics that I would be silly to go to a non-Russel Group university to study maths. However, he suggested that I look in to studying Acturial sciences at HW but I feel this course may be too specialised for someone who has no idea what they want to do in the future. Any help?


do you have no idea about jobs at all that you'd like to go into?
Not really, I'd like to do something maths based but at the moment I have absolutely no idea what i'd like to do
Original post by claireestelle
do you have no idea about jobs at all that you'd like to go into?
Original post by user464940393
Not really, I'd like to do something maths based but at the moment I have absolutely no idea what i'd like to do


I think in that case you don't want to be doing a specific degree ideally. could you still see yourself doing maths? perhaps another university could be a better fit for you
Original post by user464940393
I applied to Exeter University however I currently go to college nearby and a worried that I may not be happy staying in the same city even though the course is one of the best.


Exeter is great. You can still live away from home and be independent.

my fourth choice was Reading. I put this down as I didn't know what was going to happen with my health and how that would affect my grades


I don't quite get this - does it have lower entry requirements?

I visited and loved the university but feel the quality of teaching is not quite what I'm looking for. this is a shame because I really loved the area and the university itself.


How can you tell the quality of teaching from a visit?

was told by one of the academics that I would be silly to go to a non-Russel Group university to study maths


I kind of agree - try to go to the most selective university you can get into.
Original post by user464940393
I currently study A level maths, further maths and physics and am looking at going on to study maths (and possibly statistics) at university in September.However, at the start of this year when I was applying to UCAS I had some health issues and spent a lot of time in hospitals, so I wasn't really that focussed on my application. I applied to Exeter University however I currently go to college nearby and a worried that I may not be happy staying in the same city even though the course is one of the best. I also applied to surrey and they gave me a great offer. I originally wanted to go to surrey but found on visiting that Surrey is definitely not the place for me. Loughborough offered me AAA but I feel this is quite high for what they have to offer me; the transport links to home are very poor and the university is far out of the town and the maths department is not ranked as highly as the rest of the university. my fourth choice was Reading. I put this down as I didn't know what was going to happen with my health and how that would affect my grades and have since decided that I don't want to go there, I visited and loved the university but feel the quality of teaching is not quite what I'm looking for. this is a shame because I really loved the area and the university itself. my final choice was Heriot Watt in Edinburgh. I visited yesterday and was told by one of the academics that I would be silly to go to a non-Russel Group university to study maths. However, he suggested that I look in to studying Acturial sciences at HW but I feel this course may be too specialised for someone who has no idea what they want to do in the future. Any help?


So I would suggest considering the following...

Exeter--Here you have to consider if you want to move far away. As far as I know from a quick Google, Exeter isn't too small, so for what it's worth unless you've been there quite a bit there's still new people to meet, new places to explore, etc. But if you're reading this and thinking that's not true and want to go elsewhere--then clearly you've made your choice already regarding Exeter.

Surrey--If you've visited Surrey and don't like it--then it's definitely out of the running. How good you feel about a Uni and the surroundings is paramount; you don't want to be stuck somewhere you don't want to be!

Loughborough--The TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) awarded Loughborough the same status (Gold) as Surrey and Exeter, so the Uni overall at least has the same standards (in this regard) as Surrey and Exeter, and the Maths course is still 22nd in the country in these rankings. You mentioned poor transport links to home--but you're only going to be using those twice a semester--at the beginning and then at Christmas to go back.

Reading--If you loved the Uni, then I would say--go for it. Yes, it might have a Silver as opposed to the rest with a Gold TEF award, but what matters more than rankings, than what some third person says about the Uni, is what you feel about the Uni. After all, the third person isn't going there, you are! At the end of the day, your uni experience is what you make of it. Being an unmotivated, dispassionate student at Exeter is the same as being an unmotivated, dispassionate student at Reading. You'll be doing the same independent work at Reading as you will at Exeter. As long as you love it there, and as long as you're proactive, seeing lecturers regularly, enhancing your CV throughout your time at Uni--there's no reason why you shouldn't find the same success as you would anywhere else.

Heriot-Watt--I personally don't think Russell Group makes a difference here or not (see above, re: uni experience is down to you). However, it is true that pigeon-holing yourself into actuarial science right away when you're not sure what you want to do with maths isn't the right thing to do. Do make sure though that you have some idea; after all, there's not much point in doing a degree if you're not sure what you'll get out of it, career-wise, afterwards. Start doing work experience ASAP at uni, somehow or other, to get a head start!

I hope this has helped...
Original post by user464940393
I currently study A level maths, further maths and physics and am looking at going on to study maths (and possibly statistics) at university in September.However, at the start of this year when I was applying to UCAS I had some health issues and spent a lot of time in hospitals, so I wasn't really that focussed on my application. I applied to Exeter University however I currently go to college nearby and a worried that I may not be happy staying in the same city even though the course is one of the best. I also applied to surrey and they gave me a great offer. I originally wanted to go to surrey but found on visiting that Surrey is definitely not the place for me. Loughborough offered me AAA but I feel this is quite high for what they have to offer me; the transport links to home are very poor and the university is far out of the town and the maths department is not ranked as highly as the rest of the university. my fourth choice was Reading. I put this down as I didn't know what was going to happen with my health and how that would affect my grades and have since decided that I don't want to go there, I visited and loved the university but feel the quality of teaching is not quite what I'm looking for. this is a shame because I really loved the area and the university itself. my final choice was Heriot Watt in Edinburgh. I visited yesterday and was told by one of the academics that I would be silly to go to a non-Russel Group university to study maths. However, he suggested that I look in to studying Acturial sciences at HW but I feel this course may be too specialised for someone who has no idea what they want to do in the future. Any help?


Hi user464940393,

Holly here

I've been having a think about your dilemma and realised that our BSc in Mathematical, Statistical and Actuarial Sciences GGD3 course (MSAS for short) might be the perfect one for you!

The module choice within it is so flexible and it’s a great combination of mathematics, statistics and actuarial science. First year comprises core topics in algebra, calculus and statistics with an introduction to finance and economics. Second year builds upon this foundation by introducing actuarial science topics. Third and fourth year allow you to choose the combination of mathematical, statistical and actuarial science courses that best reflects your interests and career objectives. You can even gain the same number of exemptions from the professional actuarial exams as the BSc in Actuarial Science if you do decide that being an actuary is the route for you. You can read more about it here https://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/students/m...rial-sciences/

If you do choose a maths degree, you'll find your problem solving and numerical skills highly sought after across a wide range of careers. We put a strong emphasis on transferable skills training throughout our maths programmes, including a careers course, a project preparation skills course and a dissertation-based project.

95% of our 2017 MSAS graduates reported via the National Student Survey that they were satisfied overall with the quality of our MSAS degree. 91% said staff were good at explaining things. 90% of our MSAS graduates were in work or further study 6 months after graduating .

The Guardian League Table 2018 ranks Heriot-Watt 3rd in Scotland and 26th in the UK for Mathematics (out of 66 Mathematics Departments) which is higher than 12 Russell Group universities

You might like to read a profile of one of our current MSAS students, Katherine, here.

If I can help you more in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me!

Good luck with your decision.

Holly
(edited 6 years ago)

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