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Reading vs Queen Mary - Your Say!

Poll

Which course is the best choice for enjoyment and academic purposes?

Hi,

I am applying for computer science, and as you can tell by my sig I have decided to choose KCL as my firm. I have received offers for all my places but only interested in these two unis as a insurance.

My current thoughts are Reading may be good but QM is in London. part of uni of London etc. QM requires 280 UCAS points, whereas Reading want BBB (but i was told by the course director I would be accepted with BBC as i attended an open day and that showed commitment ...no i'm not special this applied to everyone who attended)

In addition...(sorry for the long post)....I have two offers for QM, one for straight computer science and one for computer science with business managment and accounting (280 offers aswell).
At first it sounded great becuase I wanted a slight "mix" but now i am thinking is is too much of a mix? plus it may mean I dont do everything in enough depth so may not be attractive to employers. However it is a four year course, so maybe not.

I think other peoples perspective on the two unis, espeacilly for the foresaid course could be insightful, any advice is much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Slick 'n' Shady

Reply 1

Vera5018

Short look on The Times ranking:

* Queen Mary : 41
* Reading : 31

Reply 2

sol89

10

Reading is near the silicon valley where they make silicon chips for computers, so that should be a good reason to go to Reading! :biggrin:

Reply 3

Slick 'n' Shady

OP

15

^^^

Thanks, I heard that at the open day. But surley 'being' in the silicon valley doesn't make it any better does it? for QM it can be argued it is in london.
Just wanted you to elaborate on this if you could. I appricate your post

Thanks

Slick

Reply 4

Pandy

10

I chose Reading over QMUL as my firm because QMUL is a bit of a dump really. It may be in London, but it's not in a good part of London. The place is just really doomy and gloomy to be honest. They also closed down their student union too, which makes nights out a bit less exciting. I was there visiting my best mate a few weeks ago, and he was up here last week... he says he prefers QM.

As far as the courses go though, no idea to be honest. Still probably Reading as it's closer to Silicon Valley and it may be easier getting work experience as the uni has good links with a few companies like Microsoft and HP.

Reply 5

Né Stig

15

Vera5018

Short look on The Times ranking:

* Queen Mary : 41
* Reading : 31

Takes an even quicker look at the Sunday Times, Guardian (29 to 44 - ouch), THES, SJTU where QM is higher. League tables mean piss all.

Pandy

I chose Reading over QMUL as my firm because QMUL is a bit of a dump really. It may be in London, but it's not in a good part of London. The place is just really doomy and gloomy to be honest. They also closed down their student union too, which makes nights out a bit less exciting. I was there visiting my best mate a

QM closed their SU - I don't think so! They have moved from the east of the campus to the west. They are rennovating their existing SU, building a new Gym etc. I'd rather live in Mile End than residences at where other London universities offer. The place isn't as bright as Aldwych - but, its a hell of a lot busier than Reading! You can ascertain this by looking at exit/entrance numbers at Mile End and Stepney Green stations alone, not to mention the traffic. So its hardly 'doom and gloom'.

Regarding the leaflets and discriminate acts against Jews - my ex was a jew and went to QM. Graduated now, and she sometimes had leaflets given to her by Muslim people. This was most notable in 2003 Iraq war; she graduated in 2005. I look at this as positive and negative - the univeristies democracy and the peoples opinions which seem to represent the university as a whole. I think not. I've been there 3 years and never have I had any leaflet given to me apart from SU elections etc.

Lastly - So many people form Reading go to QM! It's like Reading/York and Brighton people are somehow attracted to QM lol.

Reply 6

sol89

10

Slick 'n' Shady

^^^

Thanks, I heard that at the open day. But surley 'being' in the silicon valley doesn't make it any better does it? for QM it can be argued it is in london.
Just wanted you to elaborate on this if you could. I appricate your post

Thanks

Slick

Sorry I can't really elaborate on this anymore as I am nowhere near an expert in the field of IT. But I just heard that Reading is in an area where silicon chips for computers are produced and personally, that would be a major reason to go to Reading over Queen Mary in my opinion. :smile:

Reply 7

Slick 'n' Shady

OP

15

What does everyone think about the fact that QM offer a year in industry bt reading dont?

Thanks for all the replies so far, v helpful

Slick

Reply 8

zippy_gerbil

2

Slick 'n' Shady

What does everyone think about the fact that QM offer a year in industry bt reading dont?

Thanks for all the replies so far, v helpful

Slick

Reading do - they just call the course 'Applied Computer Science'.

Reply 9

Pandy

10

walshie

QM closed their SU - I don't think so! They have moved from the east of the campus to the west. They are rennovating their existing SU, building a new Gym etc. I'd rather live in Mile End than residences at where other London universities offer. The place isn't as bright as Aldwych - but, its a hell of a lot busier than Reading! You can ascertain this by looking at exit/entrance numbers at Mile End and Stepney Green stations alone, not to mention the traffic. So its hardly 'doom and gloom'.

Maybe my bad about the union then, I didn't realise E1 was being moved.

However, you can't tell me East London along Mile End Road isn't doomy and gloomy. It just looks like an utter shíthole. Reading is far more aesthetically pleasing, great shopping prospects (Oracle) and such... though QM does have Oxford Street just down the road a bit. Go see both and see what you like more, a lot of it's down to personal preference!!!

Reply 10

Né Stig

15

Pandy

Maybe my bad about the union then, I didn't realise E1 was being moved.

However, you can't tell me East London along Mile End Road isn't doomy and gloomy. It just looks like an utter shíthole. Reading is far more aesthetically pleasing, great shopping prospects (Oracle) and such... though QM does have Oxford Street just down the road a bit. Go see both and see what you like more, a lot of it's down to personal preference!!!

Oh no - E1 isn't being moved - its being replaced by the Gym. E1 is officially closed now, having hosted a few famous DJ's on its final night. The SU though is still open - a nightclub does not make an SU :wink:

Mile End is not a hole! I do though think it's matter of taste. A really bad area is when you're witnessing a university amongst many bad buildings within the middle of nowehere. QM is in an extremely vibrant area with 2 parks around it (1 mile form City and Canary Wharf either way). The Oracle is really absolutely nothing to compare to QM's surroundings: Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane, Spitalfields etc. Maybe it's because I've always lived in London and know the really bad, bad, average, good and very good. Mile End is in between good and average for London, whereas UCL is in 'excellent' for me. Oxford Street is nothing - really. I'd much rather be in the small shopping stores in and around the City anyday (I live close to Oxford Street).

Reply 11

Pandy

10

Fair enough. See, I've always lived in London too... wanted to go to UCL/QMUL amongst some others at first, but I am so glad I got out in the end. Needed a change. Personally I felt Mile End is a bit of a dump, but then again I've not spent massive ammounts of time there! As for a nightclub not making a SU, you're correct - my bad in getting my words mesed up... down here we refer to the "union" as the nightclub place, not the actual shops and facilities :p:

anyway OP, go see both and decide on that. They're about as good as eachother as far as ratings and stuff go.

Reply 12

fettucini

1

Posting this in a Reading forum is a bit unfair...you're gonna get everyone saying Reading. I think they're about the same but I might just choose the course with a year in industry over the course at Reading solely because of the year in industry (so valuable). But in terms of how nice the universities are, it's Reading all the way!

Reply 13

Slick 'n' Shady

OP

15

Thanks walshie, Pandy and others. I have been to Reading open day and post offers open day. I also went to QM with a friend I STILL cant make my mind up.... :rolleyes: