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LEEDS vs YORK

Yes, another thread...

I know that York is a better university than Leeds - but how much should this affect my decision?
I mean, York's a beautiful city as well, but I've just been looking about and Leeds seems quite cool - There's the Hifi club where they have live Jazz/funk/soul - very my thing.

Anyway - this has mainly come about because I was looking through the Leeds course in a bit of detail, and it looks very good - almost salivatingly so. There are so many options, whereas with York it doesn't seem quite so flexible.

Any thoughts on the two courses welcome...

(Also, I need to point out that if I went to York I'd be doing English/philosophy joint, too... though I'd rather be doing straight English, I can't apply because of no MFL at GCSE)

Thanks xxx

Reply 1

hobnob

To me it sounds like at the moment you're clearly favouring Leeds: you prefer the city, you prefer the course structure, and you prefer doing a single honours degree. So your only objection is this bit:

BornUnderPunches

I know that York is a better university than Leeds...

Is it really, though? As far as I know, both universities have strong English departments, actually. Even if York's is rated a bit higher, I doubt the difference is significant enough to justify going for the course you seem a lot less enthusiastic about. After all, your course is partly what you make of it. If you enjoy your course and get a good degree, it won't matter in the end whether you went to York or Leeds.
So basically I'd say go with your gut feeling on this one. :smile:

Reply 2

Kater Murr

^^ But I think overall I prefer the city of York - it's just that I was googling about Jazz in Leeds, and one very nice club caught my eye. But York is really brilliant - that's why I initially set my sights on York and thought I'd rather go there than anywhere else (except maybe Oxford :biggrin:

)...

Basically, it's:

Leeds Course + Hifi Club VS York reputation + city

this is tough...

(Oh - and my brother goes to Leeds. I kind of wanted to go somewhere different - have my own city, if you like.)

Reply 3

Wildebeest

BornUnderPunches

I know that York is a better university than Leeds

But is it a better university for you?

Similarly to what has already been said, you sound very passionate about the course (and I agree, it is very nice). Both universities have good reputations, but if you want to think in terms of English in the league tables, there is a group of universities (Leeds, York, Warwick, St. Andrew's, Bristol, Nottingham etc.) which always seem to cluster near the top. In reality, there is little difference results-wise between the Top Ten universities for English, and I strongly believe that how much you like the place will influence how well you do. Choose Leeds if you prefer it.

Reply 4

notsoperfect

leeds.

Reply 5

yvonnay

I agree, just because it may seem a better university it may not be the better university for you. Take into consideration what you want rather than what other people may say or think because you are the one who will be spending 3 years there doing that course and if you don't really like the university you may end up not achieving the best degree possible.

Reply 6

the_alba

If you don't think you'll enjoy the philosophy as much as English, then I wouldn't go to York - it will make the work harder for you, you may even grow to resent it, and it might make your marks suffer. However, you did apply for the joint degree, so there must be a part of you that likes it.

If it were English at Leeds v. English at York, I'd definitely pick York. It has a great department... which is why I'm going there for my PhD this year :smile:

Reply 7

Lidka

Actually, it's not impossible to apply for English at York without an MFL qualification - a friend of mine did it this year. At first they tried to fob him off with English with History, as he was doing History at A-level, but he protested that it was English he loved, not History so they gave in. I think so long as you're persistent and can show either a willingness to learn a new language, or prove that it was difficult for you to take an MFL qualification (poor teaching, for instance) it wouldn't be the end of the world if you applied without it.

Reply 8

supersteiger

Call me biased, but I'd choose Leeds, based on both what you've said (i.e. the course is more to your liking at Leeds, which is one of the MOST important factors) and that I just personally think Leeds is more fun... :smile:

I think a lot of people let the reputations they think universities have affect their decisions too much- in this case I think Leeds and York are percieved to be of a fairly similar standard, just with different atmospheres (I see York as more traditional).
Having said that, I see what you mean about not wanting to go to the same university as your brother- that's one of the reasons I couldn't go to Sheffield!

Reply 9

Neutral_Tones

I think it's pretty unanimously Leeds! You seem to obviously prefer it, so it'd be a better place for you! :biggrin:

Have a good time at uni!

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