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Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham
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Warwick or Durham as firm choice for History?

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Reply 20
Avatar for Sophie K
Sophie K
OP
affinity89


As you can see from my signiture, I considered Durham but chose to apply to Warwick. But, at the end of the day, only you know where you will fit in best.

Good luck =D


Hello, what made you choose Warwick over Durham?
Chemistry Research, Durham University
Durham University
Durham
Reply 21
Avatar for tomoli
tomoli
2
Warwick has the better overall reputation - without a doubt.
Reply 22
Avatar for *River
*River
15
tomoli
Warwick has the better overall reputation - without a doubt.


I'm not just saying this because I accepted Durham's offer over Warwick's, but I wouldn't say that one is better than another in terms of overall reputation; it's more like 6 verses half a dozen. It's not as if somebody with a degree from Warwick is going to be employed over a Durham graduate. University is, after all, what you make of it. They're very different universities offering different V100 courses, and the OP should really be basing her decision on that, rather than which university is "better" than the other, because we're not comparing a university at the top of the league tables to one at the bottom.
Reply 23
Avatar for tomoli
tomoli
2
Fair point, but for some careers Uni rep is more important than others. Investment Banking, for example, is very strict about which uni you go to (or so I have heard). I think overall Uni rep should be taken into account because at the end of the day, its what goes on your CV.
tomoli
Warwick has the better overall reputation - without a doubt.


lol, based on what exactly
Reply 25
Avatar for Quinion
Quinion
10
Reblet
Warwick is in Coventry. It may be three miles from the centre, but it's still in Coventry.
I have no bias either way (going to Durham, living next to the Warwick campus) but I'd say the living in Warwick is rather tough, as students live in Leamington, Earlsdon, Nuneaton etc. so you could live potentially quite a way away from the university (I know of no student houses around here).

First years at Warwick live on campus, and finalists may apply to live on campus. All second-year students live in Leamington Spa / Coventry / Kenilworth, so the commute is anywhere between 20-35 minutes by bus. It's considered more stressful than living on campus as for first year, certainly, but considering I usually make the day of it and spend time between lectures and seminars doing independent studying (which is pretty essential to a History degree anyway...) it really doesn't bother me at all.

Anyway, Durham is probably marginally better on the grounds that it can afford to demand AAA for History whereas Warwick always ask for AABb. However, they are both excellent departments and there really isn't that much to choose between them. Employers won't take one look at a degree from Warwick and turn up their noses because you didn't go to Durham, or vice-versa. Base your choice entirely on which university you prefer in general, not on the department's reputation. I applied to Warwick and not Durham based on location as I didn't want to move that far up north; another contributor to this thread went to my school and obviously wasn't bothered by that. Just comes down to personal tastes.
Reply 26
Avatar for Reblet
Reblet
12
Yes, the third oldest English University just hasn't had time to build up the reputation like Warwick has. :biggrin: haha

(To tomoli)
Sophie K
Hello, what made you choose Warwick over Durham?


=D

Warwick offers some really interesting opportunities, such as the One World Week they hold each year, which I would personally enjoy. It is slighly closer home - not massively, but enough to lower train bills a little and when you are a student every saving helps lol.

In all honesty, I was determined to apply to Durham right from the start, as I was with Bangor (not that they are very different haha). But, I can't afford the college residence fees, and there were aspects that I felt would not suit me as an individual - such as the prospect of shared rooms. Don't get me wrong lol, I can share, it was just the prospect of having absolutely no private space to escape to when things get too much.

Ahh well. I want to go to Lancaster anyway, I think, as they offer a fantastic study aboard scheme. I contacted the coordinator for it and they were so friendly - so long as you pass well in my first year, you can go where ever (I'd love to go to Wellesley lol). Although Warwick offers an exchange scheme with the USA, it says they send the top 6(ish) applicants, grade wise, that wish to go. I imagine that with the entry requirements being high, and the university being quite large, the changes of me being in the top 6 for history are unlikely - definately not impossible lol, just unlikely.

Well, that is a short version (lol) why. I think I looked into things too much - I was determined to find the right place for me although now, I am not too fussed. The length of the application process and everything else going on in life has meant it has lost its... grasp on my attention.

Either university is fantastic. As I said, it is just about finding the one for you.

=D
warwick really isnt as good as durham for humanities, just its got more famous atm due to its fastly rising rep mainly due to its maths department
Reply 29
Avatar for Fillette
Fillette
14
Quinion
First years at Warwick live on campus, and finalists may apply to live on campus. All second-year students live in Leamington Spa / Coventry / Kenilworth, so the commute is anywhere between 20-35 minutes by bus. It's considered more stressful than living on campus as for first year, certainly, but considering I usually make the day of it and spend time between lectures and seminars doing independent studying (which is pretty essential to a History degree anyway...) it really doesn't bother me at all.

Anyway, Durham is probably marginally better on the grounds that it can afford to demand AAA for History whereas Warwick always ask for AABc However, they are both excellent departments and there really isn't that much to choose between them. Employers won't take one look at a degree from Warwick and turn up their noses because you didn't go to Durham, or vice-versa. Base your choice entirely on which university you prefer in general, not on the department's reputation. I applied to Warwick and not Durham based on location as I didn't want to move that far up north; another contributor to this thread went to my school and obviously wasn't bothered by that. Just comes down to personal tastes.


Actually :smile: But I agree entirely with what you said
Reply 30
Avatar for Reblet
Reblet
12
I live next to one of the Maths lecturers. haha. I could put a good word in for someone :wink: haha
Reply 31
Avatar for Quinion
Quinion
10
Fillette™
Actually :smile: But I agree entirely with what you said

AABb was my requirement, as it is for most people, so presumably you got lucky?
Reply 32
Avatar for Fillette
Fillette
14
"=
Quinion
AABb was my requirement, as it is for most people, so presumably you got lucky?



Well... AABc is what is says in the 2008 prospectus." History/History and culture/History and Politics: AAB+ AS level C in one other subject," Quote unquote.
Fillette™
"=


Well... AABc is what is says in the 2008 prospectus." History/History and culture/History and Politics: AAB+ AS level C in one other subject," Quote unquote.


And I got rejected with AAAC AS and predicted AAA. Hmmm....
Reply 34
Avatar for Fillette
Fillette
14
Jon of the North
And I got rejected with AAAC AS and predicted AAA. Hmmm....



Aww, sorry to hear that :hugs: Two of my friends got in on AABc at AS so maybe it was the personal statement/ references?
Fillette™
maybe it was the personal statement/ references?


Must have been, unless they didn't like my name :rolleyes:
Reply 36
Avatar for Fillette
Fillette
14
^^ meh, sod 'em... you probs got into other (better) unis :smile:

edit: and ones that are less pedantic over grades, hopefully, cos thats really flipping ridiculous.
affinity89

but you could argue that Durham is in the city and close to Newcastle as opposed to Warwick being three miles from Coventry.


It takes me exactly 10 mins by bus (5 mins on a good day) to go from Coventry to Warwick campus...I doubt Durham is as close to Newcastle as Coventry is to Warwick campus.
The Orientalist
It takes me exactly 10 mins by bus (5 mins on a good day) to go from Coventry to Warwick campus...I doubt Durham is as close to Newcastle as Coventry is to Warwick campus.


Durham itself is a city though so it is automatically closer to the things that go hand in hand with that, such as highstreet shops.
Reply 39
Avatar for Tomber
Tomber
13
affinity89
Durham itself is a city though so it is automatically closer to the things that go hand in hand with that, such as highstreet shops.


Haha, Durham is a city in the same way the Vatican is a country :p:

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