uni choices

hiya, im feeling very stuck on Uni choices rn. at the moment im leaning towards KCL (offer of AB) as I enjoy the advantage of the course and also as a chance from living in a very small town- equally very nervous at the thought of living in London. I have offers also from Edin (unconditional) and Durham (AAA) - im not really interested in Edin but for durham I've not visited or looked into what life it like too much but im not confident I could make the offer. im also waiting for St Andrews which im interested I but loads for my school will be going and quite a mall community close to my hometown. I can help but feel ill regret my decision here whatever I choose .

Reply 1

normaw

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

19

Original post by username_66

hiya, im feeling very stuck on Uni choices rn. at the moment im leaning towards KCL (offer of AB) as I enjoy the advantage of the course and also as a chance from living in a very small town- equally very nervous at the thought of living in London. I have offers also from Edin (unconditional) and Durham (AAA) - im not really interested in Edin but for durham I've not visited or looked into what life it like too much but im not confident I could make the offer. im also waiting for St Andrews which im interested I but loads for my school will be going and quite a mall community close to my hometown. I can help but feel ill regret my decision here whatever I choose .

For what subject?

Reply 2

Stiffy Byng

14

Please don't be nervous about living in London. It's one of the greatest cities in the World, and full of fun for students. I moved to London after I left university, and I have never regretted living here. It is still possible to find places to socialise which are not crazy expensive.

KCL is a great university, in a great location in the middle of London, a short distance from Covent Garden, Soho, Borough Market, Clerkenwell, and other lively parts of the city. KCL has a lovely library in the old Public Record Office building in Chancery Lane, and KCL is not far away from the student area of Bloomsbury, where the Senate House Library, the British Library, and the British Museum are located.

Edinburgh is also a great city with a great university. It is not as intense a city as London, but still a lot of fun.

I don't know much about Durham or St Andrews, but both are generally well regarded universities.

Reply 3

McGinger

18

London is expensive - and can feel lonely.
Edinburgh or Durham might be easier to get used to, and both are good student cities

Reply 4

username_66

OP

7

Original post by normaw

For what subject?

classics and ancient history!

Reply 5

swanseajack1

19

Original post by username_66

classics and ancient history!

This is a decision only you can make. Nobody can help you. You have to decide whether you want the excitement and unfriendly nature that goes with being in London or the smaller environment you will experience in Durham.

Reply 6

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Although finding accommodation in Durham can involve the wrong sort of excitement too!

Reply 7

Stiffy Byng

14

I don't find London unfriendly. It has the characteristics of a large Capital city - people move fast and talk fast, and there is always a degree of urban "anomie", but London is also a place where people display tolerance and rub along together, more or less. There is huge ethnic and social diversity, and non stop hustle and bustle. Having grown up in a Midlands suburb and then studied in a small city, as a young graduate I quickly took to London because of its energy, cultural richness, and sheer fun.

I spent two years studying in London after university (my degree was in history and I then trained to be a barrister), and although I was poor and lived in grotty flats I still enjoyed myself. After qualifying and starting work, the flats became less grotty and the fun continued.

People can be lonely anywhere - but student life in London offers plenty of opportunities not to be lonely.

The main downsides in London are high costs and poor quality in the private rental sector. It is important as a student to spend some time learning that tenants do have quite extensive legal rights, so that you can push back against bad landlords who seek to exploit and bully young people. This is important in any city.

Reply 8

Stiffy Byng

14

London has crime and many social problems, but it's not like New York in the 70s. Homelessness is sadly rising in all major cities.

My personal experience of crime in London is as follows. I have lived in London since 1984 in many different parts of the city, both posh and not so posh. In that time, I have been physically attacked once (no injury), burgled once (stereo and TV taken), and had one car stolen (the car was recovered). I have once intervened to help another person who was being attacked (he was injured and I took him to hospital, I was not injured).

The last time I had a car vandalised, the car was parked at a rural railway station fifty miles from London.

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