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Most private/state school unis

If you were to create a list of the unis that attract the largest number of private school students and the same for state school, which unis would be near the top? (I'm just curious...I'm from state school btw) :smile:

Reply 1

mtbab

see that its from 2000 but things havent changed that much in the past 5-6yrs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/league_tables/958040.stm

Reply 2

Winnipeg

Thanks for that - it's really interesting to see :smile:

Reply 3

Oldmannow

http://www.unofficial-guides.com/guides/

Reply 4

FadeToBlackout

Oxford and Cambridge both have something along the lines of 40-50% private school students. However that's not because they're discriminating, but that state school pupils are put off applying and so don't, hence the skewed ratio. Change is happenning, but slowly.

I'd imagine the same is true at other unis, too. Just because there's a high percentage of private-schooled people, it might well dissuade state-schooled pupils from applying, hence maintaining the ratio for no real reason.

So the moral is, apply where you like- even at what are percieved to be the most public school dominated universities in the country, you'll have at least 50% of people witha common educational background.

Besides which, it doesn't really matter overall. No-one ever feels the need to talk about it, or brag, or boast. The only time it has come up is in a joking, bantering kind of way, and you can well give as good as you get. Just because someone payed money for their education does not make them an intrinsically better person, nor academically superior- you've got just as much right to be at the same unis so apply where you feel comfortable, not due to some percieved need to stick with a large percentage of similarly schooled pupils.

Reply 5

The Boosh

oxford, oxford brookes and exeter were in the top 10 for least amount of state school students. one of the papes monitors the figures (probably the paper that produces league tables with 'inclusivity' as a criterion).

Reply 6

Oldmannow

why wouldnt you want to go with a Uni with high % of private school ppl?

Reply 7

guccilittlepiggy

abrp

why wouldnt you want to go with a Uni with high % of private school ppl?

why would you?

Reply 8

Oldmannow

you didnt answer my question.

and seeing as i asked it first i think its only fair that you answer mine before i answer yours.

Reply 9

Huw Davies

The percentages largely reflect applications rather than any broad-brush discrimination. And of course applying to universities with the most people like you only exacerbates things.

Reply 10

happydinosaur

Nobody cares once you get there.

Reply 11

Oldmannow

really?

all i seem to see on this forum are posts like:

"i love the Uni but i avoid the private school people like a plague".

clearly some people do care where people have gone :frown:

Reply 12

The Boosh

aye - the exeter forum is full of people with a class complex.

Reply 13

Nikuhiru

Does it really matter anymore? Out of all the people I've met so far only one guy has bothered to ask me whether I went to a private or state school and he's probably the most classist guy I've met so far. Most of the people I talk to don't really care what type of schools people are from unless it seems to come up in friendly banter.

Reply 14

Apricot Fairy

Bristol has a very high proportion of privately educated students - you could almost say we have a "rah problem". :wink:

That said, you're not going to find many universities worse than Bristol for that, and I don't think it seriously affects anyone even here. I'm from a state school, and so are most of my friends, but I don't have a problem with people from different backgrounds. My boyfriend went to a very famous public school, but he's totally down to earth and a really lovely guy. Whereas last year I lived with a stuck up whingebag who had a total complex about posh people and southerners and how she'd rather die than be a rah, and she was the most boring person I've ever met. She didn't make many friends, either.

It's true that at some universities you'll get large cliques of ex public-schoolers who want to stick together and wear Jack Wills and show off, but there are so many people at university that you'll find more than enough people you can talk to. You don't need to worry about a small minority who are a bit behind the times.

In any case, just because you think someone is a rah doesn't mean they're not worth getting to know. I know I'm a little bit prejudiced, and I've looked at people on my course and thought, "Oh god, your classic nightmare. Jack Wills, pashmina, and I bet she got up at 5am to make her hair do that..." but then I've spoken to them and been completely disarmed by how nice they are. I've joined the rowing team which is always going to be a bit public school, and yes, sometimes in a big group I suspect I really am the only person who didn't go to boarding school and it feels strange, but it's only a problem if you let it be one.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I don't think most privately-educated people actually care whether you went to a comprehensive, and the few who do certainly aren't worth wasting any time on.

PS - I see you have a Bristol offer. Accept accept accept! You won't regret it. :smile:

Reply 15

Huw Davies

Practically speaking, most state school people at universities with lots of private school people are themselves either from grammars or "nice" comprehensives: in practice, just as upper-middle-class as most private school people. The truly uber-posh public school types have little in common with either group (which is not to say that they can't be nice as individuals).

Reply 16

Winnipeg

Apricot Fairy

PS - I see you have a Bristol offer. Accept accept accept! You won't regret it. :smile:

I am strongly considering putting Bristol as my firm choice...I'm just waiting to see if they'll let me switch course from French and Spanish to French and Russian :smile:

Reply 17