Isn't Loughborough very overrated now?
17
Doesn't teach several 'classic' subjects such as Law, Medicine, Classics and Philosophy, is high for research quality overall (83%, equalling Durham, Bath, and St Andrews) but that is only 1% more than Leicester yet average entrants to Loughborough have 14% higher grades than Leicester because students with those grades have been drawn to Loughborough), is slightly picturesque but not massively. Known for Sport, Engineering, (and Media and Communications) but not necessarily much else. Yet average entrants now have higher grades than Nottingham and Birmingham. Did it just become a go to for some private school entrants who like doing sport but who couldn't get in Bath?
Or is it also people don't want to live in Southampton as much and it's the best university that's not too far from London, for people who can't get in, or don't want to get in, Oxbridge or the London universities?
Or was it all generated by Loughborough at one time asking for higher entry grades than they knew most entrants would actually get - which then resulted in the prestige of the place going up - which then resulted in more entrants getting those asking grades. Meanwhile Leicester, essentially just about as good a place academically, kept on asking for more achievable grades.
I will end by saying that because Durham, St Andrews, and Bath have the same research quality as Loughborough yet have significantly higher entry standards, those 3 are likely overrated, the first 2 merely because of their age and the latter because Bath is a pretty city.
Or is it also people don't want to live in Southampton as much and it's the best university that's not too far from London, for people who can't get in, or don't want to get in, Oxbridge or the London universities?
Or was it all generated by Loughborough at one time asking for higher entry grades than they knew most entrants would actually get - which then resulted in the prestige of the place going up - which then resulted in more entrants getting those asking grades. Meanwhile Leicester, essentially just about as good a place academically, kept on asking for more achievable grades.
I will end by saying that because Durham, St Andrews, and Bath have the same research quality as Loughborough yet have significantly higher entry standards, those 3 are likely overrated, the first 2 merely because of their age and the latter because Bath is a pretty city.
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 1
I wouldn't really say Loughborough is overrated.
I have spent 5 years at Loughborough and went to this university because it offered Natural Sciences with notably lower entry requirements than some of the universities you've mentioned as I never did well in exams due to (what I now know in hindsight) not getting my adjustments in secondary school.
Loughborough does great in research as you said and as you said we don't offer any of the 'classical' subjects but I would say that we have a high percentage of state school students and that Loughborough has only really been starting to become a serious option for students over the past 2-3 years. For example, when I arrived in 2019, a lot of my peers got into Loughborough through clearing and told me that half of their friends had never even heard of Loughborough.
I also wouldn't really say Loughborough is overrated as it genuinely just offers so many extra-curriculars for you to get involved in that many other student's unions/universities don't offer to the same capacity.
To name a few: 36 student ran volunteering projects, 62 athletic union sport clubs alongside weekly free sport sessions as well as sport competitions between halls of residence, societies and departments, 100+ different societies, our own student ran media team, loads of different fundraising challenges and much more.
Good universities aren't just about the grades you get when you leave or the grades you need to get in, it's not even about how good they are at research. A good university is one that gives you loads of opportunities to find yourself, find your people and gain experience and skills and that is what Loughborough is so so great at - we support our students.
Sincerely, a Loughborough University final year student with offer for Cambridge and Oxford for a MSc who would never have gotten in if it weren't for Loughborough.
I have spent 5 years at Loughborough and went to this university because it offered Natural Sciences with notably lower entry requirements than some of the universities you've mentioned as I never did well in exams due to (what I now know in hindsight) not getting my adjustments in secondary school.
Loughborough does great in research as you said and as you said we don't offer any of the 'classical' subjects but I would say that we have a high percentage of state school students and that Loughborough has only really been starting to become a serious option for students over the past 2-3 years. For example, when I arrived in 2019, a lot of my peers got into Loughborough through clearing and told me that half of their friends had never even heard of Loughborough.
I also wouldn't really say Loughborough is overrated as it genuinely just offers so many extra-curriculars for you to get involved in that many other student's unions/universities don't offer to the same capacity.
To name a few: 36 student ran volunteering projects, 62 athletic union sport clubs alongside weekly free sport sessions as well as sport competitions between halls of residence, societies and departments, 100+ different societies, our own student ran media team, loads of different fundraising challenges and much more.
Good universities aren't just about the grades you get when you leave or the grades you need to get in, it's not even about how good they are at research. A good university is one that gives you loads of opportunities to find yourself, find your people and gain experience and skills and that is what Loughborough is so so great at - we support our students.
Sincerely, a Loughborough University final year student with offer for Cambridge and Oxford for a MSc who would never have gotten in if it weren't for Loughborough.
Reply 2
Picnicl
OP
17
Original post by Anonymous
I wouldn't really say Loughborough is overrated.
I have spent 5 years at Loughborough and went to this university because it offered Natural Sciences with notably lower entry requirements than some of the universities you've mentioned as I never did well in exams due to (what I now know in hindsight) not getting my adjustments in secondary school.
Loughborough does great in research as you said and as you said we don't offer any of the 'classical' subjects but I would say that we have a high percentage of state school students and that Loughborough has only really been starting to become a serious option for students over the past 2-3 years. For example, when I arrived in 2019, a lot of my peers got into Loughborough through clearing and told me that half of their friends had never even heard of Loughborough.
I also wouldn't really say Loughborough is overrated as it genuinely just offers so many extra-curriculars for you to get involved in that many other student's unions/universities don't offer to the same capacity.
To name a few: 36 student ran volunteering projects, 62 athletic union sport clubs alongside weekly free sport sessions as well as sport competitions between halls of residence, societies and departments, 100+ different societies, our own student ran media team, loads of different fundraising challenges and much more.
Good universities aren't just about the grades you get when you leave or the grades you need to get in, it's not even about how good they are at research. A good university is one that gives you loads of opportunities to find yourself, find your people and gain experience and skills and that is what Loughborough is so so great at - we support our students.
Sincerely, a Loughborough University final year student with offer for Cambridge and Oxford for a MSc who would never have gotten in if it weren't for Loughborough.
I have spent 5 years at Loughborough and went to this university because it offered Natural Sciences with notably lower entry requirements than some of the universities you've mentioned as I never did well in exams due to (what I now know in hindsight) not getting my adjustments in secondary school.
Loughborough does great in research as you said and as you said we don't offer any of the 'classical' subjects but I would say that we have a high percentage of state school students and that Loughborough has only really been starting to become a serious option for students over the past 2-3 years. For example, when I arrived in 2019, a lot of my peers got into Loughborough through clearing and told me that half of their friends had never even heard of Loughborough.
I also wouldn't really say Loughborough is overrated as it genuinely just offers so many extra-curriculars for you to get involved in that many other student's unions/universities don't offer to the same capacity.
To name a few: 36 student ran volunteering projects, 62 athletic union sport clubs alongside weekly free sport sessions as well as sport competitions between halls of residence, societies and departments, 100+ different societies, our own student ran media team, loads of different fundraising challenges and much more.
Good universities aren't just about the grades you get when you leave or the grades you need to get in, it's not even about how good they are at research. A good university is one that gives you loads of opportunities to find yourself, find your people and gain experience and skills and that is what Loughborough is so so great at - we support our students.
Sincerely, a Loughborough University final year student with offer for Cambridge and Oxford for a MSc who would never have gotten in if it weren't for Loughborough.
I do notice that they rank highly for spending money on facilities.
Reply 3
Loughborough is not overrated, I would say it is not rated at all. Let me explain, pretty much everyone outside of England have never even heard of it. In terms of sport, the best student athletes are attending it, this is evident from BUCS and several other leagues so I don't get your point about people who can't get into Bath go to Loughborough ?
Therefore I don't agree with the premise of your question.
Lets take a look at the entry requirements for MEng in Electrical Engineering is AAA at A-levels in Maths, Physics etc. This is the standard for pretty much all top 5-10 universities in the UK. So the entry requirements are not that high.
I am just about to complete my engineering degree at Loughborough with pretty strong marks. Having spent several years at Lboro, imo Loughborough is a good university but not great and I don't find it overrated or underrated. Moreover, I have to disagree with the Anonymous answer, he basically admitted to Lboro being inadequate otherwise why is he applying for Oxford/Cambridge haha.
Therefore I don't agree with the premise of your question.
Lets take a look at the entry requirements for MEng in Electrical Engineering is AAA at A-levels in Maths, Physics etc. This is the standard for pretty much all top 5-10 universities in the UK. So the entry requirements are not that high.
I am just about to complete my engineering degree at Loughborough with pretty strong marks. Having spent several years at Lboro, imo Loughborough is a good university but not great and I don't find it overrated or underrated. Moreover, I have to disagree with the Anonymous answer, he basically admitted to Lboro being inadequate otherwise why is he applying for Oxford/Cambridge haha.
Reply 4
Picnicl
OP
17
Original post by jonathan_smith
Loughborough is not overrated, I would say it is not rated at all. Let me explain, pretty much everyone outside of England have never even heard of it. In terms of sport, the best student athletes are attending it, this is evident from BUCS and several other leagues so I don't get your point about people who can't get into Bath go to Loughborough ?
Therefore I don't agree with the premise of your question.
Lets take a look at the entry requirements for MEng in Electrical Engineering is AAA at A-levels in Maths, Physics etc. This is the standard for pretty much all top 5-10 universities in the UK. So the entry requirements are not that high.
I am just about to complete my engineering degree at Loughborough with pretty strong marks. Having spent several years at Lboro, imo Loughborough is a good university but not great and I don't find it overrated or underrated. Moreover, I have to disagree with the Anonymous answer, he basically admitted to Lboro being inadequate otherwise why is he applying for Oxford/Cambridge haha.
Therefore I don't agree with the premise of your question.
Lets take a look at the entry requirements for MEng in Electrical Engineering is AAA at A-levels in Maths, Physics etc. This is the standard for pretty much all top 5-10 universities in the UK. So the entry requirements are not that high.
I am just about to complete my engineering degree at Loughborough with pretty strong marks. Having spent several years at Lboro, imo Loughborough is a good university but not great and I don't find it overrated or underrated. Moreover, I have to disagree with the Anonymous answer, he basically admitted to Lboro being inadequate otherwise why is he applying for Oxford/Cambridge haha.
Loughborough is joint 15th for entry standards achieved by entrants for that subject but only 25th for research quality for that subject. Research quality isn't the only way of assessing a university's worth but it's a starting point to say there's evidence that Loughborough has become overrated by UK students. It didn't used to be overrated but perhaps now it is. And I appreciate that the international view can be a very different one.
Student satisfaction, facilities spend, graduate prospects and, probably, sometimes quite demanding entry requirements, seems to put it high up the league tables. If this is what makes a good university, then Loughborough isn't overrated. I just want people to point out why its entry requirements are often higher than its academics suggest it might be worth. Is the community feel and facilities at Loughborough that special?
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 5
Original post by Picnicl
Loughborough is joint 15th for entry standards achieved by entrants for that subject but only 25th for research quality for that subject. Research quality isn't the only way of assessing a university's worth but it's a starting point to say there's evidence that Loughborough has become overrated by UK students. It didn't used to be overrated but perhaps now it is. And I appreciate that the international view can be a very different one.
Student satisfaction, facilities spend, graduate prospects and, probably, sometimes quite demanding entry requirements, seems to put it high up the league tables. If this is what makes a good university, then Loughborough isn't overrated. I just want people to point out why its entry requirements are often higher than its academics suggest it might be worth. Is the community feel and facilities at Loughborough that special?
Student satisfaction, facilities spend, graduate prospects and, probably, sometimes quite demanding entry requirements, seems to put it high up the league tables. If this is what makes a good university, then Loughborough isn't overrated. I just want people to point out why its entry requirements are often higher than its academics suggest it might be worth. Is the community feel and facilities at Loughborough that special?
Having read your post twice, I am now even more confused, what is your question and what is the purpose of this post?
Do you believe that the entry requirements are too high while the academic standard is not as high ? Do you study at Lboro or do plan to go there ?
My main point was that Lboro can't overrated or underrated as nobody has even heard about it. Most of my friends in Scotland have never heard of Lboro. What bothers me the most is that I've worked quite hard to get my degree but when spending time with many of my dad's friends, they have not heard of Lboro. So when they talk about sending their children to big London unis like UCL or Imperial; me attending Lboro doesn't really give me bragging rights.
Reply 6
Picnicl
OP
17
Original post by jonathan_smith
Having read your post twice, I am now even more confused, what is your question and what is the purpose of this post?
Do you believe that the entry requirements are too high while the academic standard is not as high ? Do you study at Lboro or do plan to go there ?
My main point was that Lboro can't overrated or underrated as nobody has even heard about it. Most of my friends in Scotland have never heard of Lboro. What bothers me the most is that I've worked quite hard to get my degree but when spending time with many of my dad's friends, they have not heard of Lboro. So when they talk about sending their children to big London unis like UCL or Imperial; me attending Lboro doesn't really give me bragging rights.
Do you believe that the entry requirements are too high while the academic standard is not as high ? Do you study at Lboro or do plan to go there ?
My main point was that Lboro can't overrated or underrated as nobody has even heard about it. Most of my friends in Scotland have never heard of Lboro. What bothers me the most is that I've worked quite hard to get my degree but when spending time with many of my dad's friends, they have not heard of Lboro. So when they talk about sending their children to big London unis like UCL or Imperial; me attending Lboro doesn't really give me bragging rights.
Yes I do think the entry requirements exceeds the academic standards (but it's still clearly a decent university). Loughborough is not alone in that but there's normally an easily understandable reason for that such as 'Bath is a well known, pretty, historical city and people with highish grades will regularly consider it as a result'. I'm just wondering what's the reason would people say in the case of Loughborough. I mean, I've suggested some already. I'm not going to university, no. I had those days over 20 years ago but I'm interested in the history of universities. I know Loughborough University used to be rather formal in its early days and modelled itself a bit on Oxbridge. Is that why it now asks for relatively high grades compared to its public recognition? n.b. your father's friends are stupid if they've never heard of Loughborough University.
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 7
Original post by jonathan_Smith
Loughborough is not overrated, I would say it is not rated at all. Let me explain, pretty much everyone outside of England have never even heard of it. In terms of sport, the best student athletes are attending it, this is evident from BUCS and several other leagues so I don't get your point about people who can't get into Bath go to Loughborough ?
Therefore I don't agree with the premise of your question.
Lets take a look at the entry requirements for MEng in Electrical Engineering is AAA at A-levels in Maths, Physics etc. This is the standard for pretty much all top 5-10 universities in the UK. So the entry requirements are not that high.
I am just about to complete my engineering degree at Loughborough with pretty strong marks. Having spent several years at Lboro, imo Loughborough is a good university but not great and I don't find it overrated or underrated. Moreover, I have to disagree with the Anonymous answer, he basically admitted to Lboro being inadequate otherwise why is he applying for Oxford/Cambridge haha.
Therefore I don't agree with the premise of your question.
Lets take a look at the entry requirements for MEng in Electrical Engineering is AAA at A-levels in Maths, Physics etc. This is the standard for pretty much all top 5-10 universities in the UK. So the entry requirements are not that high.
I am just about to complete my engineering degree at Loughborough with pretty strong marks. Having spent several years at Lboro, imo Loughborough is a good university but not great and I don't find it overrated or underrated. Moreover, I have to disagree with the Anonymous answer, he basically admitted to Lboro being inadequate otherwise why is he applying for Oxford/Cambridge haha.
Funny that you assume the anonymous poster is a guy, because I was the anonymous poster
I can say that Loughborough is an amazing university in my eyes and still apply elsewhere for a masters?
I was on track to come back to Loughborough after placement for my integrated master's year, but I have recently decided that I want to do a PhD and that I might want to specialise a little bit more and therefore I'm going elsewhere.
If it was a choice between Loughborough or another non-Oxbridge university I would have chosen Loughborough 100% but unfortunately, they don't offer the course specialism I want to do.
You bet I will be looking at PhDs at Loughborough when I finish my MSc though because I really do believe Loughborough has an amazing and unique learning environment with outstanding facilities.
Reply 8
Original post by lot.burgstra
Funny that you assume the anonymous poster is a guy, because I was the anonymous poster
I can say that Loughborough is an amazing university in my eyes and still apply elsewhere for a masters?
I was on track to come back to Loughborough after placement for my integrated master's year, but I have recently decided that I want to do a PhD and that I might want to specialise a little bit more and therefore I'm going elsewhere.
If it was a choice between Loughborough or another non-Oxbridge university I would have chosen Loughborough 100% but unfortunately, they don't offer the course specialism I want to do.
You bet I will be looking at PhDs at Loughborough when I finish my MSc though because I really do believe Loughborough has an amazing and unique learning environment with outstanding facilities.
I can say that Loughborough is an amazing university in my eyes and still apply elsewhere for a masters?
I was on track to come back to Loughborough after placement for my integrated master's year, but I have recently decided that I want to do a PhD and that I might want to specialise a little bit more and therefore I'm going elsewhere.
If it was a choice between Loughborough or another non-Oxbridge university I would have chosen Loughborough 100% but unfortunately, they don't offer the course specialism I want to do.
You bet I will be looking at PhDs at Loughborough when I finish my MSc though because I really do believe Loughborough has an amazing and unique learning environment with outstanding facilities.
Sure thats your opinion and everybody is entitled to express themselves.
I came to Loughborough after being rejected for Electronic Engineering at Imperial. Imperial is far more known world wide and in terms of academic standards/employability it is a league above Loughborough. So I would challenge your claim of choosing Loughborough as a non-Oxbridge university, I would not choose Lboro "100%" myself lol.
Reply 9
Original post by Picnicl
Yes I do think the entry requirements exceeds the academic standards (but it's still clearly a decent university). Loughborough is not alone in that but there's normally an easily understandable reason for that such as 'Bath is a well known, pretty, historical city and people with highish grades will regularly consider it as a result'. I'm just wondering what's the reason would people say in the case of Loughborough. I mean, I've suggested some already. I'm not going to university, no. I had those days over 20 years ago but I'm interested in the history of universities. I know Loughborough University used to be rather formal in its early days and modelled itself a bit on Oxbridge. Is that why it now asks for relatively high grades compared to its public recognition? n.b. your father's friends are stupid if they've never heard of Loughborough University.
Personally I am not aware of anyone who even thinks that Oxbridge "model" is comparable to Lboro or that Lboro tried to emulate that model, if this is indeed true that would make me happy as a Lboro graduate haha. Lboro is a sports university with a large engineering department, other subjects to me at least feel like an after thought; because their departments are tiny in comparison to the Wolfson School of Engineering.
The campus does have quite a rich(well-funded) looking feel to it as they are always constructions and many buildings keep getting upgraded. Lboro at best is a rich sports university with a somewhat oversized engineering department; and at worst it is a middling university with run-of-the-mill academic standards.
In a relentless pursuits of profits, I have noticed a surge in international students. With some questionably not meeting the standard academic requirements. I remember in my last semester I had a Machine Learning module with a international MSc student who had never programmed in Python. Obviously this guy had not meet the entry requirements but I know why he was there because international students pay a huge fees. Somebody somewhere behind the scenes is making a lot of money from all this. (This is not unique to Lboro, I am just sharing my observation).
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