KCL or St. Andrews?
I know this is late, but that's how I roll. St Andrews for History, KCL for War Studies and History. I have maybe two days. Which one?
Any tips, anecdotes about either of these unis/environments, or advice would be appreciated.
some of the things I'm stuck on:
- I'm Scottish, which means St. Andrews is free. However, it's a tiny town very close to where I already live. London has far more opportunities etc. but it's also bloody expensive and frankly it gives me fear
- I'd love to do a joint with St. A IR, but it's always super oversubscribed. KCL gives me a chance to do the similar joint honours degree I want.
- Loads of people I know are going to St. Andrews, and I have one friend's sister in London. Is this good? Is this bad?? zero idea.
- my St Andrews offer is unconditional but my KCL one is two As, including History.
Any tips, anecdotes about either of these unis/environments, or advice would be appreciated.
some of the things I'm stuck on:
- I'm Scottish, which means St. Andrews is free. However, it's a tiny town very close to where I already live. London has far more opportunities etc. but it's also bloody expensive and frankly it gives me fear
- I'd love to do a joint with St. A IR, but it's always super oversubscribed. KCL gives me a chance to do the similar joint honours degree I want.
- Loads of people I know are going to St. Andrews, and I have one friend's sister in London. Is this good? Is this bad?? zero idea.
- my St Andrews offer is unconditional but my KCL one is two As, including History.
Original post by raveyard
I know this is late, but that's how I roll. St Andrews for History, KCL for War Studies and History. I have maybe two days. Which one?
Any tips, anecdotes about either of these unis/environments, or advice would be appreciated.
some of the things I'm stuck on:
- I'm Scottish, which means St. Andrews is free. However, it's a tiny town very close to where I already live. London has far more opportunities etc. but it's also bloody expensive and frankly it gives me fear
- I'd love to do a joint with St. A IR, but it's always super oversubscribed. KCL gives me a chance to do the similar joint honours degree I want.
- Loads of people I know are going to St. Andrews, and I have one friend's sister in London. Is this good? Is this bad?? zero idea.
- my St Andrews offer is unconditional but my KCL one is two As, including History.
Any tips, anecdotes about either of these unis/environments, or advice would be appreciated.
some of the things I'm stuck on:
- I'm Scottish, which means St. Andrews is free. However, it's a tiny town very close to where I already live. London has far more opportunities etc. but it's also bloody expensive and frankly it gives me fear
- I'd love to do a joint with St. A IR, but it's always super oversubscribed. KCL gives me a chance to do the similar joint honours degree I want.
- Loads of people I know are going to St. Andrews, and I have one friend's sister in London. Is this good? Is this bad?? zero idea.
- my St Andrews offer is unconditional but my KCL one is two As, including History.
How much cash do you expect to have to live in London? Its not so great having no money. How close do you live to St A? Close enough to commute for a year or two?
I'd probably take St Andrews over KCL, mostly due to the money savings but also because it's a great university and excels in the subject in question. Regarding IR, couldn't you follow your degree up with a Masters in London later on, which would compress living costs to a year? What are you hoping to do once you graduate?
Original post by ajj2000
How much cash do you expect to have to live in London? Its not so great having no money. How close do you live to St A? Close enough to commute for a year or two?
I'll be living in halls for both universities. I should manage to scrape by in London but I imagine it'll still be financially difficult and a bit of a struggle
Original post by Hero_Lou
I'd choose Kings because of the benefits I've heard and its rankings..
Can you name any benefits in particular?
the irony is that being a student in London is a more isolating feeling than living in St Andrews.
Source: a londoner who went to st andrews and didn't apply to any London unis
Source: a londoner who went to st andrews and didn't apply to any London unis
Original post by raveyard
I know this is late, but that's how I roll. St Andrews for History, KCL for War Studies and History. I have maybe two days. Which one?
Any tips, anecdotes about either of these unis/environments, or advice would be appreciated.
some of the things I'm stuck on:
- I'm Scottish, which means St. Andrews is free. However, it's a tiny town very close to where I already live. London has far more opportunities etc. but it's also bloody expensive and frankly it gives me fear
- I'd love to do a joint with St. A IR, but it's always super oversubscribed. KCL gives me a chance to do the similar joint honours degree I want.
- Loads of people I know are going to St. Andrews, and I have one friend's sister in London. Is this good? Is this bad?? zero idea.
- my St Andrews offer is unconditional but my KCL one is two As, including History.
Any tips, anecdotes about either of these unis/environments, or advice would be appreciated.
some of the things I'm stuck on:
- I'm Scottish, which means St. Andrews is free. However, it's a tiny town very close to where I already live. London has far more opportunities etc. but it's also bloody expensive and frankly it gives me fear
- I'd love to do a joint with St. A IR, but it's always super oversubscribed. KCL gives me a chance to do the similar joint honours degree I want.
- Loads of people I know are going to St. Andrews, and I have one friend's sister in London. Is this good? Is this bad?? zero idea.
- my St Andrews offer is unconditional but my KCL one is two As, including History.
If i were you i would go to St Andrews. It's not too far from where you are already, the uni has an incredible reputation, and you won't be spending near as much money as you would going to KCL. A big thing to think about here is the atmosphere you want at university - I don't know much about either uni but i imagine St Andrews is a quieter place to live. It may be more homely and community-based. There will still be plenty for students to do though. As KCL is in London it would probably be a different atmosphere - more noisy, hectic, but more in terms of nightlife. I think it ultimately depends on where you imagine yourself to be most comfortable and happy, which is a decision you have to make.
Original post by raveyard
I'll be living in halls for both universities. I should manage to scrape by in London but I imagine it'll still be financially difficult and a bit of a struggle
I'm not convinced struggling in London is much fun. I live here - its expensive.
If it were me I'd need a great reason to avoid the student debt. Comp Sci at Imperial - sure. Oxbridge - very possibly. St A has more wow factor - bit of a hassle about the extra year but some benefits in a wider range in the first year.
Original post by ajj2000
I'm not convinced struggling in London is much fun. I live here - its expensive.
If it were me I'd need a great reason to avoid the student debt. Comp Sci at Imperial - sure. Oxbridge - very possibly. St A has more wow factor - bit of a hassle about the extra year but some benefits in a wider range in the first year.
If it were me I'd need a great reason to avoid the student debt. Comp Sci at Imperial - sure. Oxbridge - very possibly. St A has more wow factor - bit of a hassle about the extra year but some benefits in a wider range in the first year.
I have an opportunity to take on the entirely unique War Studies course - I'm genuinely considering that to be a great reason, but I guess I need to analyse it more. The material for both WS and History is also far more diverse than that of St. Andrews, which I like. I guess it depends how difficult it is to budget/enjoy yourself if you're a student there who isn't made of dough.
Original post by CollectiveSoul
the irony is that being a student in London is a more isolating feeling than living in St Andrews.
Source: a londoner who went to st andrews and didn't apply to any London unis
Source: a londoner who went to st andrews and didn't apply to any London unis
Really? How so?
Again, couldn’t you do a Masters at KCL? Or isn’t the subject offered at that level?
Original post by raveyard
Really? How so?
Other than London being a generally less friendly place than the rest of the UK (especially Scotland), students here are extremely spread out because the only affordable areas are well out of the centre and are dotted around everywhere, which isn't great for socialising and getting together to go out etc. I imagine being a student in London feels far more like a job (commuting into uni, spending 9-5 in lectures/library, commuting home) than a uni experience should do. Imo London's benefits are not worth the lifestyle or the extortionate costs, especially when the alternative is an equally and probably more excellent university and is unconditional and debt-free.
If you do decide that KCL and the London life really is for you, just make sure you're prepared for the costs, because as far as I'm aware SAAS don't grant any extra maintenance loan for students going to study in London, unlike SFE which does.
Source: another Londoner who didn't apply to any London unis.
Original post by TCA2b
Again, couldn’t you do a Masters at KCL? Or isn’t the subject offered at that level?
i'm not sure i'd be accepted
Original post by raveyard
i'm not sure i'd be accepted
Why? Universities are not generally known for being picky about who they let in for masters (with notable exceptions of course). They like the money!
Original post by ajj2000
Why? Universities are not generally known for being picky about who they let in for masters (with notable exceptions of course). They like the money!
do those notable exceptions include St Andrew's / KCL?
Original post by raveyard
do those notable exceptions include St Andrew's / KCL?
I've never heard of KCL being particularly hard to get into for masters degrees although that must vary by subject. St Andrews - no idea. I could imagine it being hard its it a pretty unique environment so must appeal a lot to some people.
Original post by Hero_Lou
I'd choose Kings because of the benefits I've heard and its rankings..
could you talk about the benefits in detail? thanx
Hi everyone, me again. I'm in my final year at KCL and thought I'd answer my own question.
I'm so glad I picked London, honestly. If you want more of an insular student experience, I'd say St Andrews for sure, but it's (harder, but) definitely possible to have enough of that in London while still having the benefits of variety and opportunity.
If you want your life to be totally different, London is your place. There are people from all over the world, a billion different places to try a bunch of different activities, and you can sort of pick how different or similar you want each day to be. London universities and organisations also have way more opportunities for academic and career development. You're in the centre of the country, so when something big happens, you experience it firsthand. Mental health support in London is also much better - any university is going to be understaffed and underfunded in that department, but there are way more organisations and avenues for you to seek different types of help (for free / low cost), and the NHS is better funded and organised.
I have also visited St Andrews a lot and taken part in a lot of their student culture, so here are some positives about that:
- freshers is much easier. you're less adrift, it's easier to find your way around, and you don't have to learn to navigate as much at once. fresher's in London can be very, very stressful - but it is only temporary.
- the degree is longer. three years goes by way too fast.
- in a student town, you have an experience unlike any other where most inhabitants are a member of your community. it depends on how important that is to you. some people love it, some people find it claustrophobic. if you're not sure how you feel about it right now, just don't worry - it probably doesn't matter to you that much.
- you have way less to travel. it takes less time to get to lectures, to people's houses, to events. you spend less time on public transport.
- rent is still expensive, but much cheaper. your student houses will have much more space.
- for your first two years, you can/you must study other subjects. this is great if you're not ready to specialise. however, if there's only one subject you're really interested in studying in depth, England is better.
I wish I could tell 2018 me that I was going to be okay and not to worry so much - no matter what you pick, you'll adapt and get positives out of your situation. besides, nothing is permanent - if you really hate it, you can transfer. being a year behind is not as big a deal as it seems in school, and I can't even count how many of my friends have intermitted or changed course or university or derailed their lives to pursue something different (and it's absolutely been for the best). be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want/need, trust your gut, and relax. You'll be absolutely fine
I'm so glad I picked London, honestly. If you want more of an insular student experience, I'd say St Andrews for sure, but it's (harder, but) definitely possible to have enough of that in London while still having the benefits of variety and opportunity.
If you want your life to be totally different, London is your place. There are people from all over the world, a billion different places to try a bunch of different activities, and you can sort of pick how different or similar you want each day to be. London universities and organisations also have way more opportunities for academic and career development. You're in the centre of the country, so when something big happens, you experience it firsthand. Mental health support in London is also much better - any university is going to be understaffed and underfunded in that department, but there are way more organisations and avenues for you to seek different types of help (for free / low cost), and the NHS is better funded and organised.
I have also visited St Andrews a lot and taken part in a lot of their student culture, so here are some positives about that:
- freshers is much easier. you're less adrift, it's easier to find your way around, and you don't have to learn to navigate as much at once. fresher's in London can be very, very stressful - but it is only temporary.
- the degree is longer. three years goes by way too fast.
- in a student town, you have an experience unlike any other where most inhabitants are a member of your community. it depends on how important that is to you. some people love it, some people find it claustrophobic. if you're not sure how you feel about it right now, just don't worry - it probably doesn't matter to you that much.
- you have way less to travel. it takes less time to get to lectures, to people's houses, to events. you spend less time on public transport.
- rent is still expensive, but much cheaper. your student houses will have much more space.
- for your first two years, you can/you must study other subjects. this is great if you're not ready to specialise. however, if there's only one subject you're really interested in studying in depth, England is better.
I wish I could tell 2018 me that I was going to be okay and not to worry so much - no matter what you pick, you'll adapt and get positives out of your situation. besides, nothing is permanent - if you really hate it, you can transfer. being a year behind is not as big a deal as it seems in school, and I can't even count how many of my friends have intermitted or changed course or university or derailed their lives to pursue something different (and it's absolutely been for the best). be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want/need, trust your gut, and relax. You'll be absolutely fine
Original post by raveyard
Hi everyone, me again. I'm in my final year at KCL and thought I'd answer my own question.
I'm so glad I picked London, honestly. If you want more of an insular student experience, I'd say St Andrews for sure, but it's (harder, but) definitely possible to have enough of that in London while still having the benefits of variety and opportunity.
If you want your life to be totally different, London is your place. There are people from all over the world, a billion different places to try a bunch of different activities, and you can sort of pick how different or similar you want each day to be. London universities and organisations also have way more opportunities for academic and career development. You're in the centre of the country, so when something big happens, you experience it firsthand. Mental health support in London is also much better - any university is going to be understaffed and underfunded in that department, but there are way more organisations and avenues for you to seek different types of help (for free / low cost), and the NHS is better funded and organised.
I have also visited St Andrews a lot and taken part in a lot of their student culture, so here are some positives about that:
- freshers is much easier. you're less adrift, it's easier to find your way around, and you don't have to learn to navigate as much at once. fresher's in London can be very, very stressful - but it is only temporary.
- the degree is longer. three years goes by way too fast.
- in a student town, you have an experience unlike any other where most inhabitants are a member of your community. it depends on how important that is to you. some people love it, some people find it claustrophobic. if you're not sure how you feel about it right now, just don't worry - it probably doesn't matter to you that much.
- you have way less to travel. it takes less time to get to lectures, to people's houses, to events. you spend less time on public transport.
- rent is still expensive, but much cheaper. your student houses will have much more space.
- for your first two years, you can/you must study other subjects. this is great if you're not ready to specialise. however, if there's only one subject you're really interested in studying in depth, England is better.
I wish I could tell 2018 me that I was going to be okay and not to worry so much - no matter what you pick, you'll adapt and get positives out of your situation. besides, nothing is permanent - if you really hate it, you can transfer. being a year behind is not as big a deal as it seems in school, and I can't even count how many of my friends have intermitted or changed course or university or derailed their lives to pursue something different (and it's absolutely been for the best). be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want/need, trust your gut, and relax. You'll be absolutely fine
I'm so glad I picked London, honestly. If you want more of an insular student experience, I'd say St Andrews for sure, but it's (harder, but) definitely possible to have enough of that in London while still having the benefits of variety and opportunity.
If you want your life to be totally different, London is your place. There are people from all over the world, a billion different places to try a bunch of different activities, and you can sort of pick how different or similar you want each day to be. London universities and organisations also have way more opportunities for academic and career development. You're in the centre of the country, so when something big happens, you experience it firsthand. Mental health support in London is also much better - any university is going to be understaffed and underfunded in that department, but there are way more organisations and avenues for you to seek different types of help (for free / low cost), and the NHS is better funded and organised.
I have also visited St Andrews a lot and taken part in a lot of their student culture, so here are some positives about that:
- freshers is much easier. you're less adrift, it's easier to find your way around, and you don't have to learn to navigate as much at once. fresher's in London can be very, very stressful - but it is only temporary.
- the degree is longer. three years goes by way too fast.
- in a student town, you have an experience unlike any other where most inhabitants are a member of your community. it depends on how important that is to you. some people love it, some people find it claustrophobic. if you're not sure how you feel about it right now, just don't worry - it probably doesn't matter to you that much.
- you have way less to travel. it takes less time to get to lectures, to people's houses, to events. you spend less time on public transport.
- rent is still expensive, but much cheaper. your student houses will have much more space.
- for your first two years, you can/you must study other subjects. this is great if you're not ready to specialise. however, if there's only one subject you're really interested in studying in depth, England is better.
I wish I could tell 2018 me that I was going to be okay and not to worry so much - no matter what you pick, you'll adapt and get positives out of your situation. besides, nothing is permanent - if you really hate it, you can transfer. being a year behind is not as big a deal as it seems in school, and I can't even count how many of my friends have intermitted or changed course or university or derailed their lives to pursue something different (and it's absolutely been for the best). be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want/need, trust your gut, and relax. You'll be absolutely fine
Great post!
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