There's little difference in difficulty between universities

Wrong, it's not based on the cohort but set standards which are reviewed by external examiners. If you don't reach the minimum threshold no firsts will be awarded. I've seen years on uni stats there's been no firsts recieved and only one or two 2.1's if that's the case grade boundaries would be dramtically reduced enabling more people to gain 1sts/ 2.1s which isn't the case.

There have been three Skull and Bones Presidents, Taft and two Bushes.

Taft's father was Secretary for War and Attorney General. The elder Bush's father was a US Senator and his maternal grandfather was a staggeringly wealthy banker who organised a World's Fair and rebuilt Madison Square Gardens and after whom golf's Walker Cup is named. The younger Bush's father was President.

Do you really think being members of Skull & Bones made a material difference to their lives?

I suppose you could argue that seeing as they got into yale they must of been reasonably intelligent anyway. So it's more than likely they'd of been successful either way. But I'd say they wouldn't be where they are today without skull and bones.

So what you're saying is a first class Cambridge mathematician will have identical knowledge to a first class London met graduate in maths?

You know damn well that isn't true. I've seen my friends modules, they're not the same - there can be a set standard, but what's stopping other institutions from setting harder work? Some chemistry degrees don't require A-Level maths, do you really think the degree is going to have the same amount of mathematics rigour as one that did? The same with some computer science courses - some places don't require A-Level maths, instead they teach you at as part of the course, where as others go and study more advanced maths straight off.

I'm not saying anything, just pointing out how it is. The first year is irrelevant anyway it's merely getting everyone to the same standard that's required to study the degree. Maybe they don't see maths as being neccesary in the first year and that applicants that haven't sudied it aren't at that much of a disadvantage. You've got to remember that the best Unis can be incredibly strict on what is required as demand is so high. So they can really focuses in on getting the best students who'll be successful on their chosen course thus leading to higher classifications. Less reputable unis can't afford this they need to sell seats hence lesser grade boundaries/ wider span of subjects that are acceptable doesn't mean the course is any less difficult. You've got to remember that drop out rates and the attainment of poor classifications are way higher at lesser unis which we would expect.

But the QAA says standards being comparable is uncertain in 2007?

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/are-uk-degree-standards-comparable/2016838.article

So if they'd chosen Harvard instead of Yale, they'd all have been mediocre under-secretaries for trade or school teachers, or something equally soul-destroying.

OP you should probably go on Quora and ask this. There's professors there who would've been at multiple Unis for comparison

Anyone can claim anything on the internet so it's pretty difficult to assess their credibility.

They're professors on a website with their full name and credentials - you should get it, probably the opposite to what you think it is

I know what it is, I've used a fair few times. It's much better than facebook minus the IQ questions haha. I agree but still there's nothing stopping me doing the same. I could easily say I have a Phd from oxford in theoretical physics when I've never stepped through the door. There's no system put in place where you have to validate your claims. I'm sure most probably are who they say they are but I'd still be wary

True, and the IQ questions can be stoped with some effort.

Ask the professors that have thousands of followers and good answers - I doubt it'd be fake then

I suppose, it's a shame there's no sort of verification though.

It's staggering how some people on here who are exceptionally academic can also think so stupidly. With some stating that the difficulty of a degree is based upon A level results. No, It's no different to college/sixth form where the elite colleges will require a string of A's and A*'s to your average college that'll only require 5'Cs. They will select the crème de la crème because a) places are heavily demanded b) it takes no statistician to work out that those with good GCSE's are likely to attain strong A levels, thus making the school look good on league tables. This exact system operates at undergraduate level that's why as we'd expect top institutions give out the highest percentage of 1st's and 2.1's.


Another thing to note as with anything people will mature at different times both emotionally and academically, so while someone may peak at A level, another person will peak during their undergrad which again is perfectly plausible. So when someone argues that they know someone who could barely pass an A level to then gain a 1st you don't know what this persons mental state was, how their life at home was so on so forth, so again it's perfectly possibly as nothing in life is fixed or certain. More so I can validate this as I know people who have recently graduated from unis in the top 10 to those over 100 on the league table in similar disciplines and even they've said how similar their courses were.


The only way I'd say that there may be a fair amount of variance though is something which isn't accredited and is fairly subjective such as philosophy where unis can set their own material. I'd defiantly say that top unis are more rigorous than lesser ranked ones in this case. But generally I think it's just those who've flunked their degrees trying to give themselves justification at the expensive of others success. Debate away...

Very much, but I do think there is for the uber famous people doing Q and A.

That's good, there's some invaluable information on it. Maybe Quora should gain University status =)

There's a lot of people on it asking for help on homework - like a ridiculous amount