The Student Room Group

Honest opinion on edinburgh uni

Hi Im a upper 6th student from Northern ireland, and have just accepted an offer to study pharmacology at edinburgh uni. I've been twice and really loved the look of the course, uni, city, accom etc. I was really excited about going but recently have become somewhat unsure.... After reading various forums about the uni there seems to be a lot of argument about posh 'yahs' at the university, and the stereotype put on students from the university as being 'snotty' and 'posh'. social classes etc dont bother me, but a lot of peple seem to be a bit bitter about their experience at edinburgh due to these (and i quote again) 'Oxford rejects'. Could someone please give me an honest opinion on this issue?

At the end of the day i guess its not something to worry about but would still like to know!

ps are ther ANY Northern irish students at the uni?!!!!

Thanks!

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Reply 1

I've got two Northern Irish friends, so you won't be alone. :smile: (I know quite a few more though...) And about the yahs: they're there, but tend to stick together hence you don't have to worry about them ruining your uni experience. Also there are 25 000 students which is loads so a majority are not overly snobby/posh/whatever or Oxbridge rejects. You're bound to find like-minded people.

I'm doing your course by the way. :biggrin: Well, not pharmacology, but biology anyway which is the same in the first year at least.

This would have probably belonged in the Ed Uni subforum.

Reply 2

There may a few pahs or snobby folk but there are lots of nice students, and Edinburgh is a fantastic city to live in, it's lively and the weather can be nice sometimes!

Reply 3

jimsy

ps are ther ANY Northern irish students at the uni?!!!!



There's about 20 people in my year alone (in Fermanagh) who have put courses in Edinburgh as their first choice, you definitely won't be the only N.Irish person there!

Reply 4

Anywhere with a reputation for being academically good has a reputation for having "rahs" or "yahs" and "oxford rejects", at least the "oxford rejects" at Edinburgh are for the most part ones who aren't bitter about it, and quite often ones who openly criticised the courses at interview (or all the ones I know are :p:). There is possibly a tendancy for people in Edinburgh to be a little bitter, I think that this is more to do with the northern latitude and lack of sunshine in the winter along with a "dour" Scottish mentality being quite catchy really :rolleyes:

University is what you make of it. There is a chance that you'll turn up and really dislike being here but that's not going to happen except under extreme circumstances, every year there will be a few people who dislike it thatmuch, but at the same time there are thousands of students who are having a great time and really enjoying their education. Don't listen to the pointless chatter, if you visited and liked on multiple occasions you're in a good position to get on with everything. :smile:

Reply 5

thanks for the relpys, has really hepled.

edninburgh 2008 woop woop!

Reply 6

And if you are coming from N Ireland, you will already be used to the cold and damp!
That's my only complaint.... I visited in the summer when the festival was on and thought that Edinburgh was amazing. During the univ. term however it's cold and dark most of the time! labeled in the times as one of the places that you most certainly have to take vitamin D supplements :-)

Reply 7

Yeah, I agree, I think a university that's as good as Edinburgh is bound to have a fair few oxbridge rejects...surely that just shows that people rate it highly as a uni? I suppose I'm one of the "oxbridge rejects" that you're worrying about in the sense that I applied to cambridge and got rejected, but I think I'm pretty normal!

Reply 8

The_pink_burglar
Yeah, I agree, I think a university that's as good as Edinburgh is bound to have a fair few oxbridge rejects...surely that just shows that people rate it highly as a uni? I suppose I'm one of the "oxbridge rejects" that you're worrying about in the sense that I applied to cambridge and got rejected, but I think I'm pretty normal!



To be honest I'm not worried about 'oxbridge rejects', its just that i read that some people have had a real problem. I like to think i keep an open mind about everyone, I dont stereotype people like that, just wanted to find out if it really was a big problem for some people there.

Reply 9

arod
And if you are coming from N Ireland, you will already be used to the cold and damp!
That's my only complaint.... I visited in the summer when the festival was on and thought that Edinburgh was amazing. During the univ. term however it's cold and dark most of the time! labeled in the times as one of the places that you most certainly have to take vitamin D supplements :-)


i dont take vitamin D supplements and i seem to be doing fine :p:

then again i dont tan at all so my body must take in as much vitamin D as possible and keep out all the UVA/B rays

Reply 10

Shockingly enough, there is a variety of people that go to Edinburgh, if you have a problem with being exposed to people from all different cultures and backgrounds then I suggest you get on to applying to your local college.

Reply 11

The rah/yah thing is only an issue because people seem to think its an issue. Face it, leaving your little town where you grew up, you're going to have different cultures/classes/etc. Who cares? Make friends with who you want.

Reply 12

zeogo
Shockingly enough, there is a variety of people that go to Edinburgh, if you have a problem with being exposed to people from all different cultures and backgrounds then I suggest you get on to applying to your local college.

That's needlessly defensive. You're not one of THEM are you ?
I have asked a similar question to the one the OP posed on this forum and have come to the conclusion you shouldn't hate people for being rich like you shouldn't hate people for being poor.
Just my two cents.

Reply 13

All I know is that I have a friend over there who has Rupert Grint in one of his classes :wink:

Reply 14

Rocky Raccoon
All I know is that I have a friend over there who has Rupert Grint in one of his classes :wink:

I always thought that was a rumour started just because his character in driving lessons applies there ... ?

Reply 15

ooze
I always thought that was a rumour started just because his character in driving lessons applies there ... ?

I'm sure it's a rumour as he left school at the age of 16 with no A levels.

Reply 16

Well my friend sees him there although not that often, as I'm sure he has 'better things to do'.

Reply 17

Rocky Raccoon
Well my friend sees him there although not that often, as I'm sure he has 'better things to do'.



Oh man, not this again. One of the girls in our building thought she saw him on the street back in September, and even started a Facebook group about whether he actually is at Edinburgh or not. :rolleyes: I've always thought it's just a rumour...

Reply 18

well they're in a class together.

Reply 19

It's an urban myth I assure you. I checked through the university phone/email book on myed and he's not in it.