Why is Lancaster viewed so negatively?

After declining Exeter's offer to study at their Cornwall campus due to its location, I've accepted a place on Lancaster's Business Studies course, the entry requirements of which are AAB and is currently in clearing at ABB. However, going over this forum it seems very few rate this university and believe it's only comparable to low-end RG unis, despite its consistent league table ranking for the last 9 years on CUG.

It also concerns me how so many courses are still in clearing, which suggests people don't want to go there.

I'm now regretting not giving more attention to other universities on the first day of clearing, as I remember seeing Management at Manchester for example being available.

I have grades ABB and planned on adding an additional A* or A in the form of Sociology (had a high A at AS) but due to mismanagement by my admissions officer at my old school I had to withdraw and ended up getting rejected by Exeter (Streatham campus) come results day due to not reaching their offer conditions. I'm 21 now and my old subject specs can no longer be retaken, so this increasingly feels like my last shot at all this and I have nothing else to fall back on.

I do very much regret not trying harder at school and fulfilling my potential, as three A's or more was certainly attainable, but there were circumstances out of my control.

Any opinions appreciated.

After declining Exeter's offer to study at their Cornwall campus due to its location, I've accepted a place on Lancaster's Business Studies course, the entry requirements of which are AAB and is currently in clearing at ABB. However, going over this forum it seems very few rate this university and believe it's only comparable to low-end RG unis, despite its consistent league table ranking for the last 9 years on CUG.

It also concerns me how so many courses are still in clearing, which suggests people don't want to go there.

I'm now regretting not giving more attention to other universities on the first day of clearing, as I remember seeing Management at Manchester for example being available.

I have grades ABB and planned on adding an additional A* or A in the form of Sociology (had a high A at AS) but due to mismanagement by my admissions officer at my old school I had to withdraw and ended up getting rejected by Exeter (Streatham campus) come results day due to not reaching their offer conditions. I'm 21 now and my old subject specs can no longer be retaken, so this increasingly feels like my last shot at all this and I have nothing else to fall back on.

I do very much regret not trying harder at school and fulfilling my potential, as three A's or more was certainly attainable, but there were circumstances out of my control.

Any opinions appreciated.

A lot of tsr users don't know any more than you do and are parroting. If they're able to back up their opinion with some sort of believable evidence or experience then they might be worth listening to.
bear in mind that in all aspects of life an unhappy customer will go on about their negative experience a lot more than a happy customer will go on about their positive experience.
Imo Lancaster is basically less fashionable with southern privately educated applicants than, say, Exeter because they've been indoctrinated to think that Exeter is all chocolate box cottages and cream teas whereas Lancaster (and the north generally) is all smoke belching factories and coal miners fighting the police.

I would say Lancaster is a great university and has a good overall reputation and you should be happy going there. However, I would agree that Lancaster is very underrated and part of it is because it is not in the Russel group, also it is a new university and not seen in the same league as say Manchester or Sheffield as these universities are more traditional. add onto that, the fact that it is in a very remote location and so people would rather go to a russel group university sitiuated in a big city than to go to Lancaster as they both offer the same grades. anyways, if you feel happy in Lancaster and love it, then go for it! there is nothing worse than going to a University you do not like.

Don't worry!! You are going to a great University. It is ranked in the top ten in every league table going - much higher than many Russell Group Universities. You have done incredibly well to get there, and their Business School (for Post grad study) is also very well regarded....so although it must be difficult to imagine your next step, that possibility is also there should you want to study beyond your 3 year course. Enjoy, lovely campus too.