Turning down a prestigious uni for a lower-ranking one?

Hi TSR,

I have an offer from a very prestigious RG uni, top 10 in the UK. Obviously I should be happy about having the opportunity to go to such a great uni, but I'm seriously considering turning it down in favour of a much less prestigious university (about 30 places lower in the league tables).

I've visited both unis and preferred the less prestigious one, because it's more of a campus uni, all a bit more small-scale, and the staff were much more friendly. It seemed to be a place that suits me better, and I also prefer the course content. It's also quite highly regarded for my course, hmore so than the RG uni. However, I do think that the people at the RG uni will be more academically inclined and since I'm quite academical myself, maybe it'll be easier for me to make friends there. And I've just read so much about attending a good uni really helping in further study/employment, so maybe it'd just be plain stupid to turn the RG uni down.

I'm really unsure of what to do, advice would be more than welcome :smile:

Reply 1

Ahad27

12

I'm in the same position, I prefer the "less prestigious" one because it's closer to home (almost walking distance). The other uni makes me take the train and I hate public transport/travelling far continuously.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 2

A Rolling Stone

20

you sound like you've already made your mind up, so i hope you enjoy your time at uni :smile:

Reply 3

Notoriety

22

What are the unis and what is the course you're looking to study?

Reply 4

blawan

14

Yes go for the university that you prefer. Don't use league tables to make your decisions for you. It's not stupid to turn down a more prestigious university, it's more stupid to choose a university just because it's in the top 10. What university is the lower one btw? 30 places down from top 10 isn't even that low. I'm sure you'll be able to find people just as academic as you...

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 5

hysterria

OP

17

Original post by Notoriety

What are the unis and what is the course you're looking to study?

Edinburgh and Aberdeen, for Neuroscience.

Original post by blawan

Yes go for the university that you prefer. Don't use league tables to make your decisions for you. It's not stupid to turn down a more prestigious university, it's more stupid to choose a university just because it's in the top 10. What university is the lower one btw? 30 places down from top 10 isn't even that low.

Thanks for the advice! :smile:

I think you're right, I'm just worried about further study/employment mostly haha.

Reply 6

Pigster

20

You should have done your research properly before dong your UCAS application.

Reply 7

Lily048

16

League tables are just a guideline IMO - any worthwhile employer will take into a better taught course at a less prestigious university than one that is taught at a lower level at a Russell group.
I go to one in the top 50 and it’s won loads of teaching in excellence awards (and University of the year) so it honestly doesn’t matter!

Reply 8

username2337287

14

Original post by Lily048

League tables are just a guideline IMO - any worthwhile employer will take into a better taught course at a less prestigious university than one that is taught at a lower level at a Russell group.
I go to one in the top 50 and it’s won loads of teaching in excellence awards (and University of the year) so it honestly doesn’t matter!

The finance and law sector are obsessed with applicants being educated either at Oxbridge, Imperial, Kings, UCL or LSE. Although, for other subjects this "criteria" is insignificant.

Reply 9

hysterria

OP

17

Original post by Pigster

You should have done your research properly before dong your UCAS application.

What a waste.

I suppose there's a reason you can apply to five unis... I simply chose the five unis that I liked most, out of the Scottish ones that is - can't afford tuition fees otherwise.

Original post by Lily048

League tables are just a guideline IMO - any worthwhile employer will take into a better taught course at a less prestigious university than one that is taught at a lower level at a Russell group.
I go to one in the top 50 and it’s won loads of teaching in excellence awards (and University of the year) so it honestly doesn’t matter!

Thanks for the advice! :smile:

I think I shouldn't worry but it's just that everyone around me is urging me to pick the RG uni ugh

Reply 10

Notoriety

22

Original post by Lily048

League tables are just a guideline IMO - any worthwhile employer will take into a better taught course at a less prestigious university than one that is taught at a lower level at a Russell group.
I go to one in the top 50 and it’s won loads of teaching in excellence awards (and University of the year) so it honestly doesn’t matter!

Employers aren't going to have a clue which course has won which awards.

Reply 11

SpicyMemes69

5

The best advice I could say would be to go to which ever one you prefer, look at the differences between the course modules, the accommodation and the city. If it helps make a table of pros and cons and speak to teachers or close friends/family if in doubt for their input on the matter but it will be your choice to make not theirs. Good luck :smile:

Reply 12

Lily048

16

Yeah I can understand that for those degrees - but that’s because they have such high number of student applicants. It’s overly competitive and studying at a less prestigious university may affect your employability for those sectors

Reply 13

Lily048

16

Well considering I was contacted by an employer yesterday purely because they saw what university I want to it obviously does have some bearing. It’s ignorant to think awards mean nothing - besides pushing universities UP the league tables it also shoves more “prestigious” ones further down

Reply 14

<..........>

19

Original post by hysterria

Edinburgh and Aberdeen

There are only two rules for making a successful university choice that will give you a happy 4 years ahead of you:

1) Choose wherever you feel most comfortable.

2) Don't live in Aberdeen.

Seriously, it's bleak and tiny, and expensive, and just... Terrible.
I moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh last year and it's night and day - speak to some local students and ask them how many plan to stay once they graduate.

Reply 15

DrawTheLine

22

I was in this position last year and went for the lower one, even though I got the grades to go to the higher one. My reasons were because it actually offered the specific course I wanted whereas the other one didn't, I felt more at home and welcome at the lower one and I could see myself studying there. I am very happy here and doubt I would have been at the other uni. I'm still determined to get a great degree even though my uni may not be highly ranked. It is best for me.

Reply 16

howitoughttobe

20

Original post by Science99999

The finance and law sector are obsessed with applicants being educated either at Oxbridge, Imperial, Kings, UCL or LSE. Although, for other subjects this "criteria" is insignificant.

Not true. Which uni you went to is important in a lot of sectors.

Reply 17

username2337287

14

Original post by howitoughttobe

Not true. Which uni you went to is important in a lot of sectors.

Examples? Medicine really don't care which university you go to. Subject degrees arent even considered since it's a subject, and the content is the same. Engineering? Majority of universities that provide engineering courses are highly ranked, in addition to this, having an engineering degree is valued as a whole.

Reply 18

howitoughttobe

20

Original post by Science99999

Examples? Medicine really don't care which university you go to. Subject degrees arent even considered since it's a subject, and the content is the same. Engineering? Majority of universities that provide engineering courses are highly ranked, in addition to this, having an engineering degree is valued as a whole.

Engineering definitely do. I'm studying an engineering degree and have family in engineering and where your degree is from is important. And generally office roles tend to favour the more prestigious unis.