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Is it crazy to reject Imperial for Bristol (Chemistry)?

I have offers from both of them. Currently Imperial is firm and Bristol is insurance. I have a few days to change that before my 14 days run out.

The course at Bristol sounds like it would be easier to do well in and more interesting, but it doesn't have quite as much prestige as Imperial.

I'm doing chemistry for a general degree rather than to become a career scientist.

Imperial would give me a much harder three/four years (I'm not a fan of lab work) - but will it really pay of compared to Bristol or will my friends that go there come out in the same place as me but just having had a more enjoyable and rounded experience? I don't want to rule myself out from the best careers though.

anybody got any insights into that?

Reply 1

Intriguing Alias

16

There is a difference in prestige, BUT Bristol is a good enough University that you should still have plenty of opportunities and there won't be a big difference in your opportunities I don't think.

Maybe Imperial would be a more sensible choice, BUT it is just as important that you enjoy the course - you won't do as well with a course you don't enjoy.

You sound like you really don't want to go to Imperial and Bristol is your real choice.

IMO firm Bristol, the next 3-4 years are a very important part of your life you've got to enjoy!

Reply 2

Nix-j-c

15

This'll be a big part of your life and there's no point doing it somewhere that you won't enjoy . . .

Reply 3

a.partridge

OP

Yeah It's true. I may just firm UCL since it's a sort of mix of good reputation and still being quite easy and enjoyable. Can't remember a thing about the UCL open day since I was too stressed about the interview - I think it was okay...

Reply 4

Leighthesim

2

go for where you think you will enjoy and be genuinely interested in, cause 4 years is a long time to be miserable.

Reply 5

spazman21

12

Cool, my sister's got offers from Bristol and Imperial for Chemistry as well!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 6

Funkymonkzz

Imperial is 90% guys. Consider that when you think about how much you're going to enjoy your time at uni. It scared me the hell away from there anyway.. Bristols pretty awesome, and its cheaper to live there.

Reply 7

im so academic

15

Original post by Funkymonkzz

Imperial is 90% guys. Consider that when you think about how much you're going to enjoy your time at uni. It scared me the hell away from there anyway.. Bristols pretty awesome, and its cheaper to live there.

Bad for boys, but surely that would be an incentive for girls? You know, all of those fine English gentlemen? :rolleyes:

Reply 8

tuckaa

Original post by Funkymonkzz

Imperial is 90% guys. Consider that when you think about how much you're going to enjoy your time at uni. It scared me the hell away from there anyway.. Bristols pretty awesome, and its cheaper to live there.

I really dont think it can be that high

wikpedia says : Imperial's male:female ratio for undergraduate students is uneven at approximately 64:36 overall and 5:1 in some engineering courses.

Reply 9

Cyanohydrin

13

Absolutely not. I would do the same in your position.

Reply 10

Phil1541

10

Original post by a.partridge

I have offers from both of them. Currently Imperial is firm and Bristol is insurance. I have a few days to change that before my 14 days run out.

The course at Bristol sounds like it would be easier to do well in and more interesting, but it doesn't have quite as much prestige as Imperial.

I'm doing chemistry for a general degree rather than to become a career scientist.

Imperial would give me a much harder three/four years (I'm not a fan of lab work) - but will it really pay of compared to Bristol or will my friends that go there come out in the same place as me but just having had a more enjoyable and rounded experience? I don't want to rule myself out from the best careers though.

anybody got any insights into that?

Bristol has a very good Chemistry department so you will not be losing out on much by firming them over Imperial.

Yes Imperial is slightly more prestigous (both are top 10 uni's so your not missing much) but if you don't enjoy yourself you are less likely to get a good degree.

A 1st/2:1 from Bristol will always be better than a lower grade from Imperial.

Reply 11

ChemistBoy

16

It'll make naff all difference.

Reply 12

Hazular

14

No, it's not crazy :smile:

I 'rejected' somewhere prestigious like UCL in favour of UEA, purely because I liked UEA more. At the end of the day, if you're coming out with a decent degree it's not going to matter.

Reply 13

Complex Simplicity

14

Bristol's chemistry course is hard. There's lots of resources yet quite a few found second year in particular very challenging. I would advise that you pick the course which most suits you, which from what you've said sounds like Bristol. but ve be under no illusion that the course will be easy.

Reply 14

michael clayton

15

In terms of quality there is nothing separating the two departments but I heard you mentioning UCL earlier which isn't as strong as Imperial/Bristol for Chemistry. Go with where you would be happiest.

Reply 15

A level Az

16

Original post by im so academic

Bad for boys, but surely that would be an incentive for girls? You know, all of those fine English gentlemen? :rolleyes:

Haha, there is one flaw in your theory ISA - it's Imperial :biggrin:

home to mostly foreign males who don't talk to anyone from the U.K and spend most of their time playing online fantasy games :tongue:

Though you may have implied this in your emoticon I'm not too sure... :wink:

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 16

Sanjetti

9

Original post by Funkymonkzz

Imperial is 90% guys. Consider that when you think about how much you're going to enjoy your time at uni. It scared me the hell away from there anyway.. Bristols pretty awesome, and its cheaper to live there.

lol, bit of an exaggeration there mate!

Reply 17

xxangelxwingsxx

I think you should go with what your heart is telling you. I had Bristol as my second choice when I got into Oxford (also Chemistry) and I wish I'd gone to Bristol. Don't get me wrong, I know how lucky I am to get a place at Oxford and what a good uni it is etc...but I've had THE worst time. Even though I had lots of friends before I came and loved Chemistry, being at Oxford has been one of the worst experiences of my life. The tutors are great and there are some nice people, but most of the time I just felt like the idiot of the university with all the work being super hard and not at all fun. I had no time for myself or seeing friends as everything just went into work. I even ended up having to re-do my 3rd year due to having panic attacks in my finals (which I've never had before). Once I'm finished, I know I'll be chuffed to have an Oxford degree...but I know for a fact it won't be as good a degree as I could have got elsewhere and if I had to go back and choose again I'm almost certain I wouldn't have gone to Oxford...in fact I would probably have done a totally different course.

Reply 18

Peel

10

Nah, go for Bristol. The third year chemists here are doing like 70 hour weeks because of intense lab work this year or something. A bit surprising but the chemistry department here does have some quite attractive girls - not really sure why though!

That said, I think your hearts in Bristol. Imperial's a great place but it's pretty full on at times; pretty soul destroying; I think if you're having serious doubts already then go to Bristol: have a great time, do well, get involved in student life and don't look back :smile:

Reply 19

im so academic

15

Original post by ChemistBoy

It'll make naff all difference.

What about for other subjects?

Is it crazy to reject Imperial for Bristol (Chemistry)?

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