I'm a yr 13 student struggling to pick what uni to firm

Hello! I'm currently in year 13 and have been fortunate enough to get offers back from the uni of leeds, uni of york and durham uni for a joint honours in english literature and history!! I've been to all the offer holder days and I'm still really struggling to pick one out of the three. I'm looking for a uni that is a comfortable place for someone from state school and is affordable to live which is obviously difficult considering my options. I also want a uni that will put me in the best position for my future I want to end up doing a masters and hopefully a phd and remain in the world of academics.Im interested in history topics relating to modern history and the 20th and 19th century, im interested in china and the soviet union, the cold war era, us imperialism and colonialism and in terms of literature im interested in the contemporary period and studying literature through theoretical lenses such as marxism, feminism and post-colonialism!!I really don't know what university to choose and im not writing this without doing my own research, I am just hoping that if anyone who has any input or advice is out there because this feels like an impossible decisions!!! 😓😓😓

Hello! I'm currently in year 13 and have been fortunate enough to get offers back from the uni of leeds, uni of york and durham uni for a joint honours in english literature and history!! I've been to all the offer holder days and I'm still really struggling to pick one out of the three. I'm looking for a uni that is a comfortable place for someone from state school and is affordable to live which is obviously difficult considering my options. I also want a uni that will put me in the best position for my future I want to end up doing a masters and hopefully a phd and remain in the world of academics.Im interested in history topics relating to modern history and the 20th and 19th century, im interested in china and the soviet union, the cold war era, us imperialism and colonialism and in terms of literature im interested in the contemporary period and studying literature through theoretical lenses such as marxism, feminism and post-colonialism!!I really don't know what university to choose and im not writing this without doing my own research, I am just hoping that if anyone who has any input or advice is out there because this feels like an impossible decisions!!! 😓😓😓

Hi!
I totally get the struggle, choosing universities is hard work! I remember really struggling to choose between universities in my A-Levels as well. You mentioned that you wanted a comfortable place for state school students - I recommend having a look whether each uni has a "93% Club" society, and how active they are! The 93% Club is a society that represents state school students and they host a bunch of activities to support students. Whilst finding affordable places to live is also a bit challenging, I recommend having a look at what kind of support each university (whether thats the uni itself or the student union) gives with the cost of living.
My best suggestion to helping you come up with a decision, is probably to do a pros and cons list or a table that compares universities against your personal values/what you want from a uni. Its what really helped me choose my university! So, for example, it sounds like to me that you're looking for a uni that is state school friendly, affordable, good career support, and have modules you're interested in? (Tell me if I'm wrong!) Its worth comparing the universities against these factors - sometimes seeing it on paper helps a lot!
~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep

The good news is that if you like all 3 of these universities then there is no bad decision here.
Have you looked at the recently published research/research groups at each university? If you're interested in academia then finding a university that's got research staff actively working in the topics you think you're interested in would be a bonus, it means that your resources and options for dissertation topics are likely to be good for those areas.

Hello! I'm currently in year 13 and have been fortunate enough to get offers back from the uni of leeds, uni of york and durham uni for a joint honours in english literature and history!! I've been to all the offer holder days and I'm still really struggling to pick one out of the three. I'm looking for a uni that is a comfortable place for someone from state school and is affordable to live which is obviously difficult considering my options. I also want a uni that will put me in the best position for my future I want to end up doing a masters and hopefully a phd and remain in the world of academics.Im interested in history topics relating to modern history and the 20th and 19th century, im interested in china and the soviet union, the cold war era, us imperialism and colonialism and in terms of literature im interested in the contemporary period and studying literature through theoretical lenses such as marxism, feminism and post-colonialism!!I really don't know what university to choose and im not writing this without doing my own research, I am just hoping that if anyone who has any input or advice is out there because this feels like an impossible decisions!!! 😓😓😓

Hello there,
First of all – massive congratulations on receiving offers from such incredible universities! That’s a huge achievement in itself, and it’s totally understandable that you’re feeling the pressure of making the “right” choice. I’m not studying your subject area, but as someone currently in my final year at The University of Law and someone who also remembers how overwhelming it all felt back in Year 13, I just wanted to say: you’re definitely not alone in this, and whatever decision you make will be the right one for you.
From what you’ve said, it’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought into what matters to you: feeling comfortable as a state school student, affordability, and strong academic support to take you through to postgrad study. All three unis on your list are academically strong and have fantastic reputations – especially in English Lit and History – but each has a slightly different atmosphere and living experience, which might help tip the balance for you.
Durham has an excellent academic rep, particularly for humanities and for sending students on to further study. It’s very traditional and collegiate, which some people absolutely love for the sense of community. That said, some students from state schools have reported feeling a bit out of place at first, but others find their people quickly – it really depends on your college and how involved you want to get.
York is known for being really friendly, inclusive, and laid-back. It has a strong history department (especially modern history) and great options in postcolonial and feminist theory in literature. The campus is lovely, and the cost of living tends to be more manageable than Durham’s. A lot of students I know found it a comfortable transition from school to uni life there.
Leeds is vibrant, diverse, and based in a big city with loads going on. It's also a Russell Group uni with strong departments in both of your subjects, and it offers a lot of modern and global modules. For affordability, Leeds probably wins out – it’s one of the more budget-friendly student cities. And the size and diversity of the student body can make it feel more accessible and welcoming to people from all backgrounds.
Since you’re interested in theoretical approaches and modern/global history, I’d suggest looking closely at second and third-year module options for each course – they can really vary. Also, see if the uni has research centres or staff doing work in your areas of interest, especially if you're thinking about a master's or PhD later on.
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of these choices, and it’s okay if the decision feels hard – it is hard! But your instincts will take you where you’re meant to be. Trust them!
Wishing you all the best with your decision and your amazing academic future ahead!