The Student Room Group

Last minute, should I pull out of university this year?

Hi, Here's some context. My firm choice was a master's Warwick Mathematics requiring A*A*A* with A* further maths. My insurance choice was a bachelor's Bath Computer Science and Mathematics (though it's more like computing WITH mathematics) requiring A*AA with A in further maths.
I achieved A* computer science, A* mathematics, B in physics, and A in further maths but was one mark away from the 90% for an A* . This means I got into Bath.

Over the past year, I've been more and more against going to Bath just from what I've read online. Eg computer science is hard to get a job for, it's very far from my hometown of Loughborough, Bath isn't a russell group uni, I didn't enjoy computing and I've still not got any accommodation. I was also initially interested in further education but understand it's not too useful for computing.

I'm torn between throwing away a year of my life and applying to Warwick again, but also maybe with a chance of Imperial, or just going to Bath. I probably won't do stuff like internships and whatnot as I'd just get a normal job in my gap year to earn some money. I also wouldn't apply for anything with computing in its name.

Could anyone give some advice in case I do something stupid? I understand I've got until the 20th at the latest to make the decision of pulling out of Bath. At this point, the main thing is if I take a gap year, will that help my career prospects by a lot?
Original post by funnyguppygamer
Hi, Here's some context. My firm choice was a master's Warwick Mathematics requiring A*A*A* with A* further maths. My insurance choice was a bachelor's Bath Computer Science and Mathematics (though it's more like computing WITH mathematics) requiring A*AA with A in further maths.
I achieved A* computer science, A* mathematics, B in physics, and A in further maths but was one mark away from the 90% for an A* . This means I got into Bath.
Over the past year, I've been more and more against going to Bath just from what I've read online. Eg computer science is hard to get a job for, it's very far from my hometown of Loughborough, Bath isn't a russell group uni, I didn't enjoy computing and I've still not got any accommodation. I was also initially interested in further education but understand it's not too useful for computing.
I'm torn between throwing away a year of my life and applying to Warwick again, but also maybe with a chance of Imperial, or just going to Bath. I probably won't do stuff like internships and whatnot as I'd just get a normal job in my gap year to earn some money. I also wouldn't apply for anything with computing in its name.
Could anyone give some advice in case I do something stupid? I understand I've got until the 20th at the latest to make the decision of pulling out of Bath. At this point, the main thing is if I take a gap year, will that help my career prospects by a lot?

Bath not being a Russell group means absolutely nothing to employers...
If you saw the competition for CS at Bath this year, you would think it was Oxbridge or one of the 'top' London Unis. Many many UK applicants were rejected and entry requirements had to be raised from A*AA to A*A*A in this admissions cycle which is just coming to an end.

If your heart isn't set on CS and/or Bath then I wouldn't recommend going. Take a gap year and buy yourself some time to think about what you want to do. You can use the time to get some work experience (and/or some £££) and do some travelling and relaxing. There's no rule saying you must start uni this year, and you'll probably appreciate the experience better next year when you've got some real life experience under you.
Original post by mesub
Bath not being a Russell group means absolutely nothing to employers...
If you saw the competition for CS at Bath this year, you would think it was Oxbridge or one of the 'top' London Unis. Many many UK applicants were rejected and entry requirements had to be raised from A*AA to A*A*A in this admissions cycle which is just coming to an end.
If your heart isn't set on CS and/or Bath then I wouldn't recommend going. Take a gap year and buy yourself some time to think about what you want to do. You can use the time to get some work experience (and/or some £££) and do some travelling and relaxing. There's no rule saying you must start uni this year, and you'll probably appreciate the experience better next year when you've got some real life experience under you.
Thanks for the advice. I did not think Bath was competitive tbh. The russell group thing played on my mind a lot and I think a lot of it is just me feeling like this is a complete world away from what I could've had at Warwick given I had some high expectations my whole life. I've done a lot of thinking and researching recently which I really should've done last year. I always wanted to do a master's, and I found out I can do postgraduate courses elsewhere? It's a lot more expensive with worse funding but I'd get to choose a different course, something like mathematical finances at oxford for eg? Which would hopefully steer me away from the pure computer science-esque careers or somehow even academia idk

It's all a bit surreal tbh. I'm probably more against a gap year now. I know literally no one who won't be going to uni from my school and I don't know if I'd be able to meet new people since Loughborough is just all uni students nowadays. I'm not exactly a proactive person either. Seems like more room for regret in taking a gap year. Ty again
Original post by funnyguppygamer
Thanks for the advice. I did not think Bath was competitive tbh. The russell group thing played on my mind a lot and I think a lot of it is just me feeling like this is a complete world away from what I could've had at Warwick given I had some high expectations my whole life. I've done a lot of thinking and researching recently which I really should've done last year. I always wanted to do a master's, and I found out I can do postgraduate courses elsewhere? It's a lot more expensive with worse funding but I'd get to choose a different course, something like mathematical finances at oxford for eg? Which would hopefully steer me away from the pure computer science-esque careers or somehow even academia idk
It's all a bit surreal tbh. I'm probably more against a gap year now. I know literally no one who won't be going to uni from my school and I don't know if I'd be able to meet new people since Loughborough is just all uni students nowadays. I'm not exactly a proactive person either. Seems like more room for regret in taking a gap year. Ty again

Yes you can do a masters elsewhere, I believe quite a few people do that. If you do decide to go to Bath and you get a first, I see no reason why any UK university would be against you taking a Masters with them. Yes, you'd have to look at how to finance it, but it can provide nice specialisation for what you really wanted to go into, if you wanted.

Taking it from somebody who had their heart set on Bath (for pure CS) but just missed out (and now going for Lboro CS - which tbh actually will align more with my interests since they've got a Networking Lab and Bath doesn't), you do have a really good opportunity here. But again, it's really up to you. Don't do something which you're not going to enjoy, this is the next three to four years you're thinking of, and it will cost a lot.

What career path are you thinking of? An apprenticeship could potentially be an option.
(edited 1 month ago)
That master's thing is a really really key detail. Surprised I never heard about it before.
Career path, before results day it was research, hence the master's at warwick. Now I guess I'd like to do something in the finance sector or something I find meaningful but not that picky, as long as it involves me doing some maths. Can't thank you enough btw, really was close to a gap year. Just need to get it in my head that yes this is actually a good opportunity. I deffo should've used this website more because everyone here is just so helpful

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