which uni is for me? terrified of ending up somewhere i'll hate. PLEASE HELP!!
10
I have offers from Southampton and Lancaster. My course is Physical Geography bsc at both, and i'm soo confused
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 1
20
Original post
by varsh_xxI have offers from Southampton and Lancaster. My course is Physical Geography bsc at both, and i'm soo confused
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
You have until JUNE to decide this.
You gain absolutely noting by making an over-fast decision.
Go to any Offer Holder visit days - listen to the more detailed subject presentation about the course structure etc than you probably heard at an Open Day, look around, ask existing students questions about night-life / social etc, and think carefully about the reality of being there. In the meantime, look for Open Day films etc and tourist films about Soton / Lancaster on YouTube. It sounds like you have already started on the right thought process - you just need to continue with this, and not get rushed into making any panicky decision you later regret.
Reply 2
Original post
by varsh_xxI have offers from Southampton and Lancaster. My course is Physical Geography bsc at both, and i'm soo confused
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
Hello @varsh_xx,
Congratulations on your offers! 🥳
I am a second year psychology student at the University of Southampton and can tell you a bit about the uni to hopefully help your decision.
•
Replying to your first question, Southampton has a lot of opportunities for socialising, including over 200 societies (check them out here) and events run by the Student Union. Last year I got involved in rollerskating, Bingo Lingo, club nights, quizzes and paint and sip sessions during freshers week.
•
There are lots of clubs in Southampton such as District, Orange Rooms, Trilogy, and smaller ones which are very close to campus, such as Sobar and Jesters. There are also lots of pubs and bars if that's more your thing, like The Hobbit and The Stag's (the on-campus pub). These are always really lively and affordable.
•
Students often host their own house parties too which are fun!
•
West Quay and The Marlands are great shopping centres with lots of restaurants too.
•
The campus is very green and there are many nice nature spots nearby that you can visit, such as the Valley Gardens (on-campus), the park in the city centre, The Common and Riverside park.
•
There is a train station right near campus so you can explore other nearby cities such as Winchester, Romsey, Portsmouth, etc. We are also right by the ferries which go to the Isle of Wight (I highly recommend!).
Comparing the accommodation, prices, nightlife, shops, campus, course syllabus, open days, etc, can help you to decide which uni is best for you. Try not to panic as you have a while to decide yet and I'm sure that you will have a memorable university experience at either Lancaster or Southampton!
Good luck and if you have any more questions or would like to hear more about my experience at Southampton, don't hesitate to ask. 😀
Poppy, 2nd Year Psychology Student.
Reply 3
Original post
by varsh_xxI have offers from Southampton and Lancaster. My course is Physical Geography bsc at both, and i'm soo confused
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
I'm an extroverted person who needs social interaction frequently. Not neccessarily a party animal but I do enjoy them, and i do want a bit of nightlife
I enjoy time in nature and don't mind quiet days but I like spontaneous plans and places to visit with friends - i am really social, I even study better in groups than on my own. (idk why)
My course at Southampton is a solid 8/10 in terms of modules, quality, and fieldwork - but the course at Lancaster looks absolutely perfect. like 10/10. The specifications of each course is different as soton focuses on oceanography and coastal areas, and lancaster goes into ecology and rainforests etc (im interested in both)
Obviously Lancaster is much much smaller, more remote location and feels a lot quieter than Southampton - which has a lot going on always, bigger campus, more events and nightlife.
Which do I go to? The entry requirements are the same for both. I want a really good memorable uni experience, and i'm stuck between which is the right place for me - i'm absolutely terrified of picking wrong and being miserable for 3 years. They're very different to each other, and my mood is very much influenced by my surroundings
Hi @varsh_xx
Congratulations on your offers from Lancaster and Southampton. I did my undergraduate degree at Lancaster in Physical Geography and are currently study a masters at Lancaster now, so will try to provide an insight into what studying at Lancaster is like.
In terms of the course, I loved the flexibility of the physical geography course to allow you to tailor it to your interests. The Geography department at Lancaster is part of the Lancaster Environment Centre which includes other subjects like ecology, environmental science and earth and environmental science, which means that you are able to take some modules from these departments as well. For instance, in my first year I chose to do a minor in Ecology, which i really enjoyed as it gave me the option to study something completely new. Also, the flexibility of the modules allows you to either keep your interests quite broad and study a range of interesting modules covering a large variety of Geography or you have the option to become more specialized in which modules you pick if you have a particular interest. E.g. in my 3rd year in decided to study mainly water-based modules on rivers and coasts ect.
Lancaster has quite a range of social life, with over 150 different societies at the university covering lots of different interests. Also, there is 8 college bars on campus, and the college system is great for socializing and meeting new people as they run lots of different weekly events that you can attend. Lancaster city is a short 15-minute bus ride from the university campus, and the city has a wide range of pubs, bars and clubs. There are 3 clubs in the city, with one of them being ran by the student union, meaning only students can enter making it have a nice atmosphere. Equally, there are lots of great bars with live music, and a local live music festival every year.
Also, Lancaster is well placed for nature, with the Lake district and Yorkshire dales being close by, which make excellent locations for geography field trips. But equally the lake district is only a 40 minute train journey away so great to visit on a weekend with friends.
As other people have mentioned, I would recommend visiting both universities on an offer holder day, to get a feel for the university, speak to academics and to see if you could imagine yourself studying and enjoying yourself there.
If you have anymore questions on Lancaster, feel free to ask!
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Reply 4
varsh_xx
OP
10
Original post
by Lancaster Student AmbassadorHi @varsh_xx
Congratulations on your offers from Lancaster and Southampton. I did my undergraduate degree at Lancaster in Physical Geography and are currently study a masters at Lancaster now, so will try to provide an insight into what studying at Lancaster is like.
In terms of the course, I loved the flexibility of the physical geography course to allow you to tailor it to your interests. The Geography department at Lancaster is part of the Lancaster Environment Centre which includes other subjects like ecology, environmental science and earth and environmental science, which means that you are able to take some modules from these departments as well. For instance, in my first year I chose to do a minor in Ecology, which i really enjoyed as it gave me the option to study something completely new. Also, the flexibility of the modules allows you to either keep your interests quite broad and study a range of interesting modules covering a large variety of Geography or you have the option to become more specialized in which modules you pick if you have a particular interest. E.g. in my 3rd year in decided to study mainly water-based modules on rivers and coasts ect.
Lancaster has quite a range of social life, with over 150 different societies at the university covering lots of different interests. Also, there is 8 college bars on campus, and the college system is great for socializing and meeting new people as they run lots of different weekly events that you can attend. Lancaster city is a short 15-minute bus ride from the university campus, and the city has a wide range of pubs, bars and clubs. There are 3 clubs in the city, with one of them being ran by the student union, meaning only students can enter making it have a nice atmosphere. Equally, there are lots of great bars with live music, and a local live music festival every year.
Also, Lancaster is well placed for nature, with the Lake district and Yorkshire dales being close by, which make excellent locations for geography field trips. But equally the lake district is only a 40 minute train journey away so great to visit on a weekend with friends.
As other people have mentioned, I would recommend visiting both universities on an offer holder day, to get a feel for the university, speak to academics and to see if you could imagine yourself studying and enjoying yourself there.
If you have anymore questions on Lancaster, feel free to ask!
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Congratulations on your offers from Lancaster and Southampton. I did my undergraduate degree at Lancaster in Physical Geography and are currently study a masters at Lancaster now, so will try to provide an insight into what studying at Lancaster is like.
In terms of the course, I loved the flexibility of the physical geography course to allow you to tailor it to your interests. The Geography department at Lancaster is part of the Lancaster Environment Centre which includes other subjects like ecology, environmental science and earth and environmental science, which means that you are able to take some modules from these departments as well. For instance, in my first year I chose to do a minor in Ecology, which i really enjoyed as it gave me the option to study something completely new. Also, the flexibility of the modules allows you to either keep your interests quite broad and study a range of interesting modules covering a large variety of Geography or you have the option to become more specialized in which modules you pick if you have a particular interest. E.g. in my 3rd year in decided to study mainly water-based modules on rivers and coasts ect.
Lancaster has quite a range of social life, with over 150 different societies at the university covering lots of different interests. Also, there is 8 college bars on campus, and the college system is great for socializing and meeting new people as they run lots of different weekly events that you can attend. Lancaster city is a short 15-minute bus ride from the university campus, and the city has a wide range of pubs, bars and clubs. There are 3 clubs in the city, with one of them being ran by the student union, meaning only students can enter making it have a nice atmosphere. Equally, there are lots of great bars with live music, and a local live music festival every year.
Also, Lancaster is well placed for nature, with the Lake district and Yorkshire dales being close by, which make excellent locations for geography field trips. But equally the lake district is only a 40 minute train journey away so great to visit on a weekend with friends.
As other people have mentioned, I would recommend visiting both universities on an offer holder day, to get a feel for the university, speak to academics and to see if you could imagine yourself studying and enjoying yourself there.
If you have anymore questions on Lancaster, feel free to ask!
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Hi!! thank you for this reply it was very helpful.
Could you tell me more about the major/minor system? I've read this is something not offered by all unis so it's definitely of interest to me. I'm sure the modules available change every year.
does it say what minor you did on your degree certificate? or is it more of a trial thing to experiment with modules from other courses?
and last question (sorry) - do you think i can request to do a minor in biology? or does it have to be the courses you listed
Thank you!!! I think i'm leaning towards firming lancaster
Reply 5
Hi there,
Congratulations on your offers!
Whilst ambassadors from Lancaster and Southampton have responded and would have more helpful information, I just wanted to advise you to check if the Universities have any applicant days or campus tours in the next few months!
Even if you have already visited both Universities for an open day, I would recommend going to both places again before making your decision, whether it be specifically for an applicant day or just to go and visit each city - also bring a friend so you can see what city life is like for young adult students! I think being able to immerse yourself in the experience before choosing will be a big help.
You could also do some research on the nearby cities to each location, as you said you like taking day trips etc - see where is nearby and where you would be more willing to visit (e.g. Lancaster has Blackpool and Liverpool nearby and Southampton had Portsmouth and Bournemouth)
Hope this helps!
Jorja (LJMU Rep)
Congratulations on your offers!
Whilst ambassadors from Lancaster and Southampton have responded and would have more helpful information, I just wanted to advise you to check if the Universities have any applicant days or campus tours in the next few months!
Even if you have already visited both Universities for an open day, I would recommend going to both places again before making your decision, whether it be specifically for an applicant day or just to go and visit each city - also bring a friend so you can see what city life is like for young adult students! I think being able to immerse yourself in the experience before choosing will be a big help.
You could also do some research on the nearby cities to each location, as you said you like taking day trips etc - see where is nearby and where you would be more willing to visit (e.g. Lancaster has Blackpool and Liverpool nearby and Southampton had Portsmouth and Bournemouth)
Hope this helps!
Jorja (LJMU Rep)
Reply 6
Original post
by varsh_xxHi!! thank you for this reply it was very helpful.
Could you tell me more about the major/minor system? I've read this is something not offered by all unis so it's definitely of interest to me. I'm sure the modules available change every year.
does it say what minor you did on your degree certificate? or is it more of a trial thing to experiment with modules from other courses?
and last question (sorry) - do you think i can request to do a minor in biology? or does it have to be the courses you listed
Thank you!!! I think i'm leaning towards firming lancaster
Could you tell me more about the major/minor system? I've read this is something not offered by all unis so it's definitely of interest to me. I'm sure the modules available change every year.
does it say what minor you did on your degree certificate? or is it more of a trial thing to experiment with modules from other courses?
and last question (sorry) - do you think i can request to do a minor in biology? or does it have to be the courses you listed
Thank you!!! I think i'm leaning towards firming lancaster
Hi @varsh_xx
The major minor system gives you the option to study models from outside your major subject area in your 1st year of study, however it isn't available for all degrees. For instance, my main degree was physical geography but in my 1st year I took some minor modules related to Ecology.
There are some restrictions on the types of other subjects/modules you are able to study and these do change each year, but the major minor system is a great way to have flexibility to either learn a new subject or continue a subject you enjoyed at A Level. If you email [email protected] they should be able to give you an up to date list minor options to have a look at.
There is the option to continue your minor subject after year 1, if your intrested in it. More information on the major-minor system can be found here Your first year at Lancaster - Lancaster University.
If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask!
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
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