Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

UCL vs Southampton

I feel like this situation might appear stupid or like it has a straightforward answer, but I'm genuinely lost. I was a Business student at A-Level and planned to study business analytics. I took a gap year to take A-Level Maths because I realised that it would be important for some parts of the course and started the basics of programming since I knew that programming was used to work with large amounts of data, which is again a part of that kind of course. I applied to Business Analytics at Southampton, and Information Management for Business at UCL and got offers from both. However, during this time learning maths and programming, I really grew a LOVE for electronic engineering, computer science, mathematics and all things related. The more research I did, the more a realised just how well a computer science degree would fit me and how much I'd love it (whereas business was more of a.... salary-based interest?). I ended up contacting Southampton and asking to change my offer to computer science and they were so helpful and did just that for me. UCL on the other hand, wasn't so willing and refused after the first email. I know that Southampton has quite a good reputation for Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (from what I've heard) but despite being a business course, it's hard to let go of UCL when it is such a huge deal for me to get an offer from them personally, since I never thought I'd be good enough for them and applied as an extra "what if". I like Southampton and I really found a passion for Computer Science and everything that comes with it (though I do fear that my maths won't be good enough since I learned A-Level maths so quickly), but the prestige that comes with UCL and the future that I could potentially get from going there and doing that course, even though it's not really where my passion is, seems like something that I would have to be stupid to just throw away. I know all of this may seem stupid, but it stops me from sleeping thinking about this decision. Will I regret turning down UCL to study Computer Science at Southampton where my passion is? Would my future prospects look considerably worse? I'd just love to hear some opinion on this since I'm completely lost myself.

No, no difference.

Original post by random_matt

No, no difference.

You think my prospects would be the same at both?

Reply 3

random_matt

Original post by Kml02

You think my prospects would be the same at both?

Yes. Ask employers if you are really concerned.

Reply 4

Kml02

Original post by random_matt

Yes. Ask employers if you are really concerned.

Thanks, that's good to hear. So do you think you would choose Computer Science if you were in my place?

Reply 5

random_matt

Original post by Kml02

Thanks, that's good to hear. So do you think you would choose Computer Science if you were in my place?

Couldn't answer that, I'm not you. I myself wouldn't study it, I'm into social sciences. If you are truly interested in it, convinced you can make a career out of it, then do it.

Reply 6

Kml02

Original post by random_matt

Couldn't answer that, I'm not you. I myself wouldn't study it, I'm into social sciences. If you are truly interested in it, convinced you can make a career out of it, then do it.

Yeah that's true. I feel a little better that my future won't come crashing down just because I don't take the UCL brand on if I decide to go with Southampton haha

Reply 7

Trinculo

I went to UCL and I think it’s a great university.

But if you want to read CS, and they’re not offering it - then you kind of have to go to Southampton, which is a throughly creditable university. If you want to be an engineer then there’s no point reading business.

Reply 8

Kml02

That's fair... It's good to hear that Southampton has a good rep too, and I'd love to go into Computer Science Engineering in the future if it's realistic and something that's actually attainable. I guess my worry is that I won't get into that kind of career and end up bailing out into business and thinking "should've got UCL on my CV when I had the chance" if that makes sense. I know I probably sound a bit dumb saying that but we all know life doesn't always turn out how you want it to... you know what I mean? I wish I knew people who actually worked in those fields so I could find out more but unfortunately my family members are all on the business side of things haha

Reply 9

Kml02

Also, for Soton I have to do a foundation year first... I'm really worried about computer science being a dying or oversaturated field as soon as I start, because I would just feel sick with regret if UCL business could've changed my life for the better and I just turned it away for nothing...

ucl

Original post by taxonomy.

ucl

Why?

Reply 12

taxonomy.

Original post by Kml02

Why?

it looks better

Reply 13

McGinger

Original post by Kml02

Will I regret turning down UCL to study Computer Science at Southampton where my passion is?
Would my future prospects look considerably worse?

It wont make ANY difference to your career prospects as Southampton is an equally 'top' STEM Uni as UCL.
If S'ton is the Uni where you really want to be, then go there - because being happy is half the fun of being at Uni, and 'happy' usually means 'good degree grades'.

Reply 14

Kml02

Original post by taxonomy.

it looks better

You mean in terms of prospects or the building? haha

Reply 15

Kml02

Original post by McGinger

I really didn't know that Southampton was that well renowned for STEM degrees (I knew they were good but.... not anywhere near UCL) so that's really reassuring. And yeah happiness is important you're right... I just worry that I'll be unhappy due to regretting whichever one I don't choose in the end. I hope things improve because it's unbelievably stressful right now...