Why is SOAS so under rated?

I wouldn't say SOAS is underrated ; actually, it's pretty well rated. But then, it depends on how good you think the uni is.

Reply 3

Eien

16

It is often unknown amongst the public circle since it deals with a specialist area (Oriental and African studies) that is not of as widespread interest as say, Science - hence Imperial College being prestigious despite being a specialist science college. Think about it this way - how many famous Japanese/Korean/Burmese stories or art could the average person name? Probably not all that many - and the reputation of SOAS is comparable to that analogy.

Reply 4

Good point Eien, the metaphor works pretty well and I must say that SOAS isn't all that well known.

Reply 5

shady lane

16

Fielder123

I personally think it should be rated amongst the top uni's in the UoL even if it is a specialist uni, Just as Imperial is the best for science and technology and LSE is the best for social sciences SOAS is the best for the study of two thirds of the world

I agree. A friend sent me the reading list for one of the classes in the MSc program I've been accepted to, and it looks amazing! The diversity of texts and the topics offered are so much more inclusive than anything I've done at my uni. I really want to specialize in the developing world and I don't think there's a better place to do it than SOAS.

Reply 6

Fielder123

Surely not being commonly known amongst the general public does not make a uni any less better then it really is

You asked why it was so underrated, not if it was good.

Reply 7

BovineBeast

Fielder123

Johan C, Its all connected is it not, because if a uni is good, it should be highly rated, a highly rated uni should be known by the general public.

SOAS *is* highly rated. It just tends to go under the radar somewhat, partially because it's so small.

Reply 8

Fielder123

Johan C, Its all connected is it not, because if a uni is good, it should be highly rated, a highly rated uni should be known by the general public.

i dont think so, within its field SOAS has an outstanding reputation, but outside of it isnt as well known, which is unsurprising considering its size and specialisation. I know quite a few people who have never heard of Imperial or LSE (who've heard of Manchester & UCL), but their not the sort of person you would get a job with. if you want to work in a profession in London or internationally then nearly everyone will have heard of SOAS. my Dad who runs his own property development business still thinks Warwick is pretty crap, because it was when he want to uni (bath). the amount of apathy towards university calibre never fails to surprise me.

Reply 9

*StarrySkies*

its not! it came 4th in the guardian uni ratings thing for 2005 :smile:

Reply 10

Alias667

I know quite a few people who have never heard of Imperial or LSE (who've heard of Manchester & UCL)

Wow. Indeed, they're not potential employers :p:

Reply 11

Johan C

Wow. Indeed, they're not potential employers :p:

why arent they ? a regional manager for Barclays bank, a property developer & a global hr manager for bowne (heard of lse but not imperial)

Reply 12

Anyone who undertakes graduate recruitment seriously, will know who the good and bad unis are because they do the milkround. Meanwhile, SOAS is still remarkably average in the business world. It's not that kind of place.

Reply 13

President_Ben

Anyone who undertakes graduate recruitment seriously, will know who the good and bad unis are because they do the milkround. Meanwhile, SOAS is still remarkably average in the business world. It's not that kind of place.

what do you mean by that kind of place , and it obviously depends on what sort of career you want to take. If your going to work as a financial adviser in an industry like oil, then surely SOAS would be the best place to go ?

Reply 14

Alias667

what do you mean by that kind of place , and it obviously depends on what sort of career you want to take. If your going to work as a financial adviser in an industry like oil, then surely SOAS would be the best place to go ?

By business, I'm referring to the most competitive jobs in the world of finance, public service (diplomacy, Bank of England, regulatory bodies like the FSA, parliament, Security services such as MI6) and FTSE 100 companies.

In which case, it is the safe bets that work out best. Oxbridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL and the other top unis from outside the south east.

Reply 15

Piers-

2

^ Your definition of business is perhaps a little wide. Diplomacy and the security services (MI5 and the SIS - as they like to be known) do not fall under the 'business' catagory; and SOAS graduates are very well placed to go into that line of work.

In response to the original post: I don't think SOAS is under rated. It's very well known and respected in the fields that it does specialise in, and, as president ben pointed out, in the fields which it does not specialise, it is second choice.

Reply 16

Piers-

^ Your definition of business is perhaps a little wide. Diplomacy and the security services (MI5 and the SIS - as they like to be known) do not fall under the 'business' catagory; and SOAS graduates are very well placed to go into that line of work.

In response to the original post: I don't think SOAS is under rated. It's very well known and respected in the fields that it does specialise in, and, as president ben pointed out, in the fields which it does not specialise, it is second choice.

Firstly, not all business is profit maximising.

And your definition of second choice is looking really wide. SOAS is definitely not second choice in the most competitive graduate recruitment areas (strategic consultancy, the magic circle for law and investment banking)

Reply 17

actually for the type of law and chambers i want to go into SOAS is the best uni for me to study my degree because of its activist reputation and its focus on asia/africa. i asked the head of chambers at garden court chambers (one of the most prestigous for human rights, what i want to do) and he said SOAS is the best place to go for a general degree before conversion ( i want to do religions & politics @ SOAS, then a masters in global politics or human rights then a law conversion course.)

Reply 18

shady lane

16

I keep seeing these debates about whether or not one can get a business job (banking, consulting, etc) from SOAS. I have looked at the Careers Group site and I have definitely seen visits to SOAS from accounting firms, banks, and consulting firms. Additionaly, if you Google "SOAS" and "Goldman Sachs" or "Boston Consulting Group" you will find SOAS alumni whose websites pop up.

Bascially, if you want to be a banker, you can definitely do so from SOAS. Get an internship, take a finance class over the summer, whatever...it's a good uni and the reason it doesn't have a City reputation is that most SOAS grads don't apply for those jobs in the first place! Plus it's a uni of 3000...relatively small anyway.

Reply 19