What UK Universities would make someone think, 'They must be intellegent'
My firm choice is KCL, however I'm curious how other people perceive this university to be. What UK Unis to people think of and think, 'they must be smart if they're going there'?
Reply 1
17
The only ones for sure are Cambridge, Imperial, and Oxford - but the layperson might not have heard of Imperial, or know how highly rated it is. Or might only regard being at even older universities or with a larger range of subjects than Imperial as a sign of academic gravitas.
Some might include LSE, UCL, St Andrews, Edinburgh, Bristol, Durham. Some may think Warwick, Bath, and Exeter make the grade. Kings College London may make either of these grades.
King's College London is generally 'unless they're studying Law, Medicine or have laser targetted knowledge of some staff specialities in the arts or social sciences, their grades were very decent, sometimes outstanding, but not necessarily outstanding at the rate seen at UCL. If they chose it over UCL, it might be because of differences in teaching or accommodation or social life'.
Some might include LSE, UCL, St Andrews, Edinburgh, Bristol, Durham. Some may think Warwick, Bath, and Exeter make the grade. Kings College London may make either of these grades.
King's College London is generally 'unless they're studying Law, Medicine or have laser targetted knowledge of some staff specialities in the arts or social sciences, their grades were very decent, sometimes outstanding, but not necessarily outstanding at the rate seen at UCL. If they chose it over UCL, it might be because of differences in teaching or accommodation or social life'.
(edited 12 months ago)
It depends who is doing the thinking.
Some people know barely anything about universities. They don't know the difference between St Andrews, Oxford, or Cambridge vs an ex-poly. So anybody saying they've got a degree sounds impressive.
Other people are poorly informed snobs and think that the only degrees worth getting are from Oxbridge. If you're not in Oxbridge you're practically a Neanderthal as far as they're concerned.
Others are the RG Brigade. They reckon you must be smart as long as you've secured yourself an RG uni, but they look down their noses at anybody at any other uni.
Then there are those who think you're intelligent enough with a degree from any uni as long as it's a physical university, not an online one like the OU, because that's "not a real uni so the degree is worthless."
And then you have those who think a degree is a degree regardless of which uni it came from. They know the difference between university rankings but they recognise that oftentimes those rankings are just based on quality of teaching, student satisfaction, how many students go on to find a job, etc. - it has nothing to do with the validity of the degree. They understand that all degrees themselves are hard work, all degrees are real, and ultimately a degree is a degree, so the University it came from is probably the least important aspect.
So I can't answer your question as it depends who you're trying to impress.
Some people know barely anything about universities. They don't know the difference between St Andrews, Oxford, or Cambridge vs an ex-poly. So anybody saying they've got a degree sounds impressive.
Other people are poorly informed snobs and think that the only degrees worth getting are from Oxbridge. If you're not in Oxbridge you're practically a Neanderthal as far as they're concerned.
Others are the RG Brigade. They reckon you must be smart as long as you've secured yourself an RG uni, but they look down their noses at anybody at any other uni.
Then there are those who think you're intelligent enough with a degree from any uni as long as it's a physical university, not an online one like the OU, because that's "not a real uni so the degree is worthless."
And then you have those who think a degree is a degree regardless of which uni it came from. They know the difference between university rankings but they recognise that oftentimes those rankings are just based on quality of teaching, student satisfaction, how many students go on to find a job, etc. - it has nothing to do with the validity of the degree. They understand that all degrees themselves are hard work, all degrees are real, and ultimately a degree is a degree, so the University it came from is probably the least important aspect.
So I can't answer your question as it depends who you're trying to impress.
Reply 3
Original post
by PinkMobilePhoneIt depends who is doing the thinking.
Some people know barely anything about universities. They don't know the difference between St Andrews, Oxford, or Cambridge vs an ex-poly. So anybody saying they've got a degree sounds impressive.
Other people are poorly informed snobs and think that the only degrees worth getting are from Oxbridge. If you're not in Oxbridge you're practically a Neanderthal as far as they're concerned.
Others are the RG Brigade. They reckon you must be smart as long as you've secured yourself an RG uni, but they look down their noses at anybody at any other uni.
Then there are those who think you're intelligent enough with a degree from any uni as long as it's a physical university, not an online one like the OU, because that's "not a real uni so the degree is worthless."
And then you have those who think a degree is a degree regardless of which uni it came from. They know the difference between university rankings but they recognise that oftentimes those rankings are just based on quality of teaching, student satisfaction, how many students go on to find a job, etc. - it has nothing to do with the validity of the degree. They understand that all degrees themselves are hard work, all degrees are real, and ultimately a degree is a degree, so the University it came from is probably the least important aspect.
So I can't answer your question as it depends who you're trying to impress.
Some people know barely anything about universities. They don't know the difference between St Andrews, Oxford, or Cambridge vs an ex-poly. So anybody saying they've got a degree sounds impressive.
Other people are poorly informed snobs and think that the only degrees worth getting are from Oxbridge. If you're not in Oxbridge you're practically a Neanderthal as far as they're concerned.
Others are the RG Brigade. They reckon you must be smart as long as you've secured yourself an RG uni, but they look down their noses at anybody at any other uni.
Then there are those who think you're intelligent enough with a degree from any uni as long as it's a physical university, not an online one like the OU, because that's "not a real uni so the degree is worthless."
And then you have those who think a degree is a degree regardless of which uni it came from. They know the difference between university rankings but they recognise that oftentimes those rankings are just based on quality of teaching, student satisfaction, how many students go on to find a job, etc. - it has nothing to do with the validity of the degree. They understand that all degrees themselves are hard work, all degrees are real, and ultimately a degree is a degree, so the University it came from is probably the least important aspect.
So I can't answer your question as it depends who you're trying to impress.
"Other people are poorly informed snobs and think that the only degrees worth getting are from Oxbridge. If you're not in Oxbridge you're practically a Neanderthal as far as they're concerned."
It's horrific to think that some people out there seriously think like that, in this day and age. But they absolutely do. And they're not as rare or as easy to avoid as you'd think. Nor are they necessarily limited to Oxbridge graduates - even family members, friends and work colleagues of people who went there will mention Oxbridge as some sort of irrefutable 'proof' that they must be clever, sometimes even using that as an implicit way of saying they must be smarter than you, regardless of whether that's truly the case.
A complete joke considering that getting into Oxbridge vs. another top university very heavily comes down to luck even though no one wants to hear it. Our society, our attitudes and our ability to pause and think critically have regressed so much over the last 15 years it's pathetic. It's almost like the Victorian era never really ended. Appalling. No wonder mental health issues are on the rise if people are made to feel inadequate because of rubbish like this.
There are plenty things in life you have some degree of control over. If you're not happy with your job, your financial situation, your weight, your health, your lifestyle, and even your physical appearance, you can change those things, at least in theory. However, if you did not go to Oxford or Cambridge when you were 18, you can never change that. And you will never benefit from the vicious halo effect and the surety that Oxbridge students and graduates will always have over you. That's why Oxbridge adulation in our society is particularly insidious and corrosive. Even just hearing and seeing those words can be triggering for smart, ambitious people who did not happen to go there, for whatever reason.
I really hope our society moves away from this odious, toxic rubbish at some point in the future. It does not belong in this century.
Reply 4
Original post
by 25lkwMy firm choice is KCL, however I'm curious how other people perceive this university to be. What UK Unis to people think of and think, 'they must be smart if they're going there'?
In the UK, undergraduate degrees are judged as course + institution and certainly not on institution alone.
Reply 5
18
Original post
by username7413282My firm choice is KCL, however I'm curious how other people perceive this university to be. What UK Unis to people think of and think, 'they must be smart if they're going there'?
I think we are obsessed with this rather vague notion of prestige. As if somehow going to a perceived "good" university puts you above others. In reality, employers are looking for skills and knowledge and after around 3 years, your degree is pretty much worthless because it is your work experience that counts.
The other thing to throw into the mix is who you were born to has a much higher standing as a mark of success that university. If your parents are wealthy and / or connected that will count for very much more.
For me, the key is to find out what you want to do or where you are going and then tailor your learning to that rather than get into a "good" university and hope something turns up.
Reply 6
NB. Thread starter has deleted their account, so won't be responding.
As someone that works in admissions and sees transcripts from all over the world, the answer is none. There is no uni that makes me think the applicant is intelligent by virtue of attending.
As someone that works in admissions and sees transcripts from all over the world, the answer is none. There is no uni that makes me think the applicant is intelligent by virtue of attending.
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