Russell Group

RG grads don't have "greater opportunities" than those going to non RG unis in general. The RG is a pretty broad range of unis and while some may have specific advantages in particular fields (e.g. Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick and Imperial for investment banking) plenty won't make any difference in any field or may even be worse than others in particular fields/areas.

e.g. SOAS commands a much greater level of prestige internationally in countries speaking languages it teaches as it's well known outside of the UK; within the UK Bath and St Andrews are much better known than some RG unis and Bath particularly has very good track records in graduate placements. Other unis like Loughborough, Strathclyde, and Heriot-Watt place graduates very well within areas they are well known (mainly engineering and related areas).

Thanks, I just wish I could believe you, all my friends are going to RG and I just think the unis I can get into won't be worth the lifetime of debt.

If you genuinely believe that then just go straight to work.

Or use some critical thinking and make your own path. I work in RG admissions. My uni does not grant people magical career powers despite your classmates buying the hype.

I am using critical thinking which is why I'm not just getting into £60k of debt for a degree which isn't worth it. Honestly I don't know why you're being so passive aggressive about it. It's not exactly a secret that many degrees and universities leave people worse off, I'm just trying to ask questions to work out what is best for me.

And I've answered that, not necessarily a RG uni.

Your two options aren't RG or employment. That's betraying a lack of critical thinking.

Thank you for an actually useful reply. Where would you have gone if you could do it again? Did you go to RG and regret it?

Thank you for an actually useful reply. Where would you have gone if you could do it again? Did you go to RG and regret it?