Should you choose a university for it's reputation or for the course?

I think I should definitely go and visit Sheffield, because I only have a real idea of Bristol and Manchester's courses. I preferred Manchester's course, it was really flexible and focused on bio more than chemistry!

Well lincoln is my local city, so i know it well anyway. the student night life is brilliant, the uni is gorgeous so thats all a bonus! But i primarily picked it for how good it is for forensic science! all the other stuff just sorta adds to it

Lucky it was your local city then!

Take both into account, as well as a number of other things.

I have to decide which university to firm between Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester, and I haven't a clue :/ I'm applying for Biological sciences (biochem) and I've been to see Bristol and Manchester, but I haven't seen Sheffield... I loved the look of Bristol, but the course didn't sound so good... And I thought Manchester wasn't so "pretty", even though the course sounds great!
Can anyone give me some advice?

Definitely course, but uni is very important too. You need to have a course which covers the stuff you want to learn, so if you are really interested in the biomedical side of biochemistry (for example) you have to make sure that is covered in the course. You do need to live there for 3 years though so it has to be somewhere you like. In terms of sheffield, I didn't think it was too bad when I visited it, didn't really visit it properly though. I wouldn't go to a uni without visiting it, but equally a lot of my friends hadn't visited lancaster before coming and say they don't regret coming here without seeing it!

Personally, for rep and course- both.

I would choose Manchester (no bias) but can understand what you mean. The buildings, the building I am in for lectures and seminars is pretty disgusting. For a university that made nearly a billion pounds, you would think it would at least rebuild some of the buildings.

Yeah I'm more interested in the biomedical side of biochem! And all the courses cover that at the unis where I have an offer. Sheffield is just a tiny bit easier to get into, (they are less demanding result-wise). I should definitely go and see the university because otherwise I won't even consider it, and what a shame: I may have liked it! I have got till the 7th May

Should I sort of look at the pros and cons then? For looooads of aspects?

I have to decide which university to firm between Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester, and I haven't a clue :/ I'm applying for Biological sciences (biochem) and I've been to see Bristol and Manchester, but I haven't seen Sheffield... I loved the look of Bristol, but the course didn't sound so good... And I thought Manchester wasn't so "pretty", even though the course sounds great!
Can anyone give me some advice?

Personally, for rep and course- both.

I would choose Manchester (no bias) but can understand what you mean. The buildings, the building I am in for lectures and seminars is pretty disgusting. For a university that made nearly a billion pounds, you would think it would at least rebuild some of the buildings.

I'd go to Bristol. Such a great city and it's just awesome. Research the courses online though before you make your mind up. Find out what modules are on offer and whether you like them.

Wow, I am in the exact same position!

Applied for bio science (cell biology) Manchester, Sheffield, York, UCL and Newcastle.

Most likely I will choose Manchester, as it offers the most flexible course

Still I am considering Sheffield badly.. I have e-mailed the department of bio science for the complete modules/courses but they haven't replied yet..

Well I studied at Sheffield and I loved it, so I definitely wouldn't discredit it on the social side. I don't know what reputation they have for Bio Sciences, but my ex studied Biomedical Science there and it seemed to be a pretty thorough and rigorous course from what I could gather. I definitely agree with one of the posters above though that you should go for a course that you'll be interested in over location. If you go to a city you love, but end up on a course you hate it'll be a loooooooonnngggg 4 years to be sure...