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Don't know which uni/s to pick for your Firm and Insurance? FAQ 2012 **here**

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Original post by sarah1345
Deciding between History straight and History and Economics at Manchester :/ Can't decide what I want to do. lol. Well done on Bristol, notoriously hard to get an offer from them


Economics is so interesting. If I was good enough at Maths I would have taken it for A-Level. Definitely doing some Economic History modules. best of luck with getting into Manchester, and thank you!
Original post by TonyH663
Economics is so interesting. If I was good enough at Maths I would have taken it for A-Level. Definitely doing some Economic History modules. best of luck with getting into Manchester, and thank you!


Same here! Economic history is amazing, and I think employers like history too tbh :smile: Can't wait to start uni, grades permitting. Good luck to you as well!
Reply 82
Hi guys (please tell me if this is in the wrong thread :colondollar:)

I've recently got offers from UCL, Imperial, King's and Warwick for Biomedical Sciences, but can't seem to settle on a firm between UCL and Imperial (King's will most likely be insurance). Both universities want AAA and Biology and Chemistry, but UCL also want Maths (which isn't a problem to get, so I can mostly ignore that).

Both unis are similar in ranking, Imperial is epic at sciencey subjects but that's all they seem to do, whereas UCL is fairly good at science but it does other subjects as well (not sure if the other subjects are relevant to this though, but apparently you can make friends with a wide range of careers and have lots of useful contacts when you're older...:confused:)

Several of my friends are also going to UCL to do similar subjects (one medicine, one pharmacology) so we can help each other in the first year where there are similar course units. Even though you're meant to go with your own choice and not "jump on the bandwagon", having some people you know at uni is quite an advantage and it probably would improve your social life (a definite advantage for me, given that my social life has mostly been suppressed to the extent of not meeting anyone outside school so far (sorry about the life story :rolleyes:))

I'm thinking of asking some teachers on their opinions over the coming days, but thought I'd put it on here as well to see what you guys think, and then hopefully make a decision between the two based on both info sources.

Soo... which one would you pick if you were in this situation, and why? Appreciate your help guys :biggrin:
Both unis are similar in ranking, Imperial is epic at sciencey subjects but that's all they seem to do, whereas UCL is fairly good at science but it does other subjects as well (not sure if the other subjects are relevant to this though, but apparently you can make friends with a wide range of careers and have lots of useful contacts when you're older...:confused:)

Several of my friends are also going to UCL to do similar subjects (one medicine, one pharmacology) so we can help each other in the first year where there are similar course units. Even though you're meant to go with your own choice and not "jump on the bandwagon", having some people you know at uni is quite an advantage and it probably would improve your social life (a definite advantage for me, given that my social life has mostly been suppressed to the extent of not meeting anyone outside school so far (sorry about the life story :rolleyes:))


That's because you've only been to school so far.
When you go to university you enter a world where you meet more people in a short space of time than arguably you will at any other point in your life. The majority of people manage to go to university where they don't know anyone else and make friends no problem, why would you be any different? It's unlikely that you would see your friends on a more of a regular basis if you were at UCL or if you were at Imperial given in both situations you'd all be in central London.
I'd actually say that going to university with an existing friendship group will put you at more of a disadvantage socially than if you're on your own and forced to make friends. This is what everyone else will be doing whereas if you go with existing friends its easy to fall into the trap of meeting them in freshers week and doing things with them when really you need to be meeting new people. You don't have to go to university with your friends from school to remain friends with them as you already know them, its the new people from university who you do need to meet. When I started university there were people who hung around with their friends from school and to be honest, it was difficult as they already had their 'in' jokes and knew about each others lives so didn't need/want to do the whole "what's your name, where are you from, what are you studying, where do you live, omg we're best friends for life!!!" thing that happens at the start of university. As a result, these people ended up with less friends as everyone else couldn't really be bothered with them as it felt like you were invading an existing social circle where you were an outsider, which was true. You mention that your existing friends will be able to help you as you're doing similar courses - what about the friends you haven't yet met? They will also be doing similar courses and you'll also meet people on your course too. Similarly, even if you go to Imperial and your friends are at UCL there's nothing stopping you from meeting up to do revision together anyway. Particularly in London, being at the same university isn't your only way to meet up -your life will be no different if you're in different halls at UCL or one of you is at Imperial and the other UCL. It's unlikely that you will be meeting up on a daily basis.

In terms of making contacts, you'll get that where ever you go. As a graduate, yes the people I met at university are useful contacts but they're useful contacts because they're my friends rather than they're useful contacts. My friends are all following similar career paths to me because I guess this is why we're friends in the first place - we became friends through a common shared interest where we'd all joined a society so it makes sense that my friends are similar to me.

I would advise you to look closely at the module choices for both courses and look into other opportunities such as studying abroad, industrial placements or anything else which is of interest to you. Just because they're both called biomedical sciences it doesn't mean that you'll actually learn the same things on the degree. Biological science related courses tend to be very broad in the first year then you can specialise later - check out the options and regulations for this sort of thing as one might be more flexible than the other.

Take your friends out of the equation and concentrate on you. Its probable that in 3 or 4 years you won't actually be as close to your friends from school as you are now because when you go to university its inevitable that you lose touch with people, even those who you considered to be your best friends. Then when you graduate and start work you then lose touch with people again. I left school just over 6 years ago now and I'm still very close friends with 3 people from school out of a "best" friendship group of about 8 or 9 people when I was 18. In terms of university, I'm still in touch with about 8 of my best friends and I only graduated 2 years ago. The people you know now aren't the only people you're ever going to know in life unless you limit yourself by letting these people be the only people you end up knowing.
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 84
Original post by oxymoronic
...


Very sound advice oxymoronic, and a good piece of advice for everyone.

I'm the friend wishing to study Pharmacology, and I really don't mind which university Yosemite choses. They're both Universities in London so I'm sure we'll be able to meet up on the weekends etc. without any hitches. I'm really just saying that it's his choice where he wants to go, and if he goes to Imperial then all power to him, we'll still know each other and be able to meet.

Also, I know he's been really hung up about this, and if he asks me this question one more time I might eat a pigeon or something, so thanks for helping him.

PS: Now to go to the next lesson and tell him I found his message during my frees, heh.
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 85
I only have two offers as I was rejected by my other three choices - **** happens, I guess.
My two choices are KCL and Lancaster, and on Wednesday I firmed KCL and put Lancaster as my insurance. But I've just been looking at the KCL accommodation and where it's all located and I'm now thinking I won't be able to cope in a city like London.
Lancaster is my only other option, which has a far greater sense of community as it is a campus uni and is also collegiate, which I really like. The thing is, I've been to a Lancaster open day and didn't think much of it (although now I come to think of it, I can't remember what was so bad about it), but I've never been to KCL. If I'm going to change my mind, I need to contact UCAS within the next couple of days.
HELP.
Reply 86
i firmed swansea and insuranced heriot watt.... (chem engineering) but now im starting to wonder... should i have done it the otherway round??
Original post by lp94
I only have two offers as I was rejected by my other three choices - **** happens, I guess.
My two choices are KCL and Lancaster, and on Wednesday I firmed KCL and put Lancaster as my insurance. But I've just been looking at the KCL accommodation and where it's all located and I'm now thinking I won't be able to cope in a city like London.
Lancaster is my only other option, which has a far greater sense of community as it is a campus uni and is also collegiate, which I really like. The thing is, I've been to a Lancaster open day and didn't think much of it (although now I come to think of it, I can't remember what was so bad about it), but I've never been to KCL. If I'm going to change my mind, I need to contact UCAS within the next couple of days.
HELP.


Contact UCAS and ask them to reinstate both of your offers.
This will then give you more time to decide what you want to do - if you push them they should not force you to make your firm and insurance choices now but will instead reset your UCAS so they both show as conditional.

However you need to do this NOW as you only have 7 days to change your mind once you've put your firm and insurance.

Then spend some time thinking over your decision, visit KCL and see what you think. You have until May to decide and it sounds like you need a lot more time to think about this, it isn't a decision you can make right now as you don't have all of the information.
Hi there,

I've gotten acceptances from Bournemouth, Cardiff, Newcastle, UEA and Goldsmiths. I've cut down my top two to Goldsmiths for BA Media and Sociology and UEA for BA Media Studies, but don't know which one to firm :frown:

For environment, I know for sure I'd like UEA more, because it seems safer, quieter, and has a decent hockey team :biggrin: But I do want to put my academics and employability first. Which has better teaching in the departments?

Also, is the main reason that Goldsmiths isn't on the top 400 list of unis on the Times Higher Education list because it's such a small school? Or are their standards just not up to top 400 level?

Please please help me please please please thank you very much appreciated :smile:
Reply 89
Original post by oxymoronic
Contact UCAS and ask them to reinstate both of your offers.
This will then give you more time to decide what you want to do - if you push them they should not force you to make your firm and insurance choices now but will instead reset your UCAS so they both show as conditional.


I wasn't aware that they could do that - are you sure? It would be great if they could.
I'm going to have to do it tomorrow now anyway because they're only available until 6pm.
Hello, Would someone mind giving me some advice or some help please

I have 2 unis which i have got a conditional offer from.

Uni A and Uni B

My Deadline is on May 9th and im stuck

The problem is that I have been to the open day for Uni B but the open day for Uni A in on June 26

So i dont know which to put as my firm and insurance. What can i do? Shall/ Would i be able to do this. Put Uni A as Firm and Uni B as Insurance - for now

After the open day, i see Uni A then can i reject the firm if i dont like Uni A

Sorry if this is confusing but if you need more infomation i will add,


Thank You
Reply 91
Original post by helpmekid
Hello, Would someone mind giving me some advice or some help please

I have 2 unis which i have got a conditional offer from.

Uni A and Uni B

My Deadline is on May 9th and im stuck

The problem is that I have been to the open day for Uni B but the open day for Uni A in on June 26

So i dont know which to put as my firm and insurance. What can i do? Shall/ Would i be able to do this. Put Uni A as Firm and Uni B as Insurance - for now

After the open day, i see Uni A then can i reject the firm if i dont like Uni A

Sorry if this is confusing but if you need more infomation i will add,


Thank You
The wiki article on Changing your Mind has the information you need.
Please help with deciding.

I'm an international student(high school graduate)
I've applied to 5 unis in UK.

QMUL
University of Manchester
University of Dundee
University of Leeds
University of Warwick

All courses to which I applied to are similar-Economics and Finance with exception of Warwick where I applied to Economics and Industrial organization.

Now...I have trouble deciding which choice is the best.
I received conditional offers from all except from Warwick(no decision yet).


I got a feeling that Warwick is perhaps the best of my choices,but what concerns me is that I can't decide which of other 4 choices is better.

Ranking charts are quite confusing.
Dundee ranks very well on international charts but isn't that good on UK charts.
On the other hand,several people told me that University of Dundee is quite good,even for Economics.




Please,give me some information,opinions etc.


Thanks !!!!
Reply 93
Hey guys, I have applied for Mechanical Engineering and got offers from Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff and Lancaster.
I would have firmed Manchester, but I am really concerned about the low student satisfaction...any suggestions??:biggrin:
Reply 94
So glad I'm not the only indecisive mess out there :colondollar:

Have been very lucky to recieve all 5 offers for BSc Psychology, and am pretty confident I'll be putting York (AAB) as my insurance, but I'm completely torn between UCL or Durham for my firm :confused:

They both want AAA, although UCL have specified this must include Psychology and Maths, wheras Durham are happy for them to be in any of the four subjects I'm taking...which technically means I could fail Psychology and still have a place, not something I'm planning on doing, but still, nice to know :wink:

I love both unis, and can't help feeling Durham would probably be the more sensible choice (considering the cost of living in London etc.) but then again the fact it's in the centre of London is one of the main things that attracted me to UCL in the first place! Any thoughts?
Original post by kimja
So glad I'm not the only indecisive mess out there :colondollar:

Have been very lucky to recieve all 5 offers for BSc Psychology, and am pretty confident I'll be putting York (AAB) as my insurance, but I'm completely torn between UCL or Durham for my firm :confused:

They both want AAA, although UCL have specified this must include Psychology and Maths, wheras Durham are happy for them to be in any of the four subjects I'm taking...which technically means I could fail Psychology and still have a place, not something I'm planning on doing, but still, nice to know :wink:

I love both unis, and can't help feeling Durham would probably be the more sensible choice (considering the cost of living in London etc.) but then again the fact it's in the centre of London is one of the main things that attracted me to UCL in the first place! Any thoughts?


Congrats on your offers :smile:
I just got my offer for UCL for Psychology as well and I'm putting it as my firm over Bath.
What I mainly looked at was the modules on offer and compared them. UCL appears to have more biological modules compared to Bath which is what I wanted. Also the reputation of UCL is world renowned so that really swayed my decision as well :smile:
Got offers for Biology at both Imperial and Lancaster (study abroad at Lanc though). I prefer London over Lancaster, but the year abroad will more than make up for spending 2 years at Lancaster anyway.
Basically, if I weren't to go to Imperial, is that really gonna make any difference to jobs and the like in the long run?
Reply 97
Original post by alexkol
Hey guys, I have applied for Mechanical Engineering and got offers from Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff and Lancaster.
I would have firmed Manchester, but I am really concerned about the low student satisfaction...any suggestions??:biggrin:


Don't worry about student satisfaction rates ( after all those are just surveys that most students don't bother replying, 40 replies out of 200).. I'm in Manchester for foundation year, and I'll be studying Mechanical Engineering next year.. I have many friends studying Mech. eng. from my hall, and they are all happy with their course. What they usually complain about is their workload, but I'm sure u are aware that a mech. eng degree isn't a nice trip to a great student city :biggrin: From what I've seen in the projects I'm involved (in various clubs and societies), you will have a lot of hands on learning opportunities in great facilities, and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Reply 98
Original post by alexkol
Hey guys, I have applied for Mechanical Engineering and got offers from Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff and Lancaster.
I would have firmed Manchester, but I am really concerned about the low student satisfaction...any suggestions??:biggrin:


Besides, Manchester enjoys a really high reputation ( usually ranked between 18 and 26 in mech. Eng. in the World), while the others are nowhere near that.. Check these links :

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/engineering/mechanical-engineering

http://www.usnews.com/education/worlds-best-universities-rankings/best-universities-mechanical-aeronautical-manufacturing-engineering

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/engineering-and-it.html
Reply 99
Need some advice, hoping to get 260 points to get onto my phyics course at NTU, so Want to firm up NTU but I'm not keen on any of my insurances so do not particularly want to put any down. Reading my reports from staff they predict me to get lower than 260 points by 20. Should I put an insurance which will accept me a grade lower or do I go into clearing if I don't get my firm? Will there be anything lower than 260 in clearing for physics anyway?

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