hiya!
So I've very unexpectedly received a couple offers from universities and now I really need help choosing between them... I would very much appreciate any advice.
So I have an offer from King's for Politics Philosophy and Law and another one for a dual BA between Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University for European studies and Political Science.
So here are my own thoughts/likes and dislikes on the courses:
For Kings:
- I really like the combination of subjects, and all while concentrating on subjects that interest me quite a bit more it is still a qualifying law degree.
- I don't live in the UK but London is just a 2 hour train ride away from my parents, friends etc so if ever there were a problem I wouldn't be too far away from home, and also I do already have family friends there etc so I could have a support network
- It's in London, which is both a pro and a con, I've always liked London and I think it could be a really vibrant city for students, but it's also very big and I come from a city but not nearly as big (mine is about the size of Bristol), meaning that it might be hard to navigate and that it might be hard to make friends (also very pricey so even though it's a vibrant city I might not get to appreciate it fully - but this is the same problem with the other course so at the moment I'm not taking price into consideration yet)
- In applying to university I really valued the experience of living abroad, and it was a big factor in where and to what courses I applied to, however for this course, there is no guarantee of a year abroad (there is the possibility of going to Spain in year 3 - it's a four year course btw - but as I understand it, there are not so many places on this year abroad not at all a guarantee)
For TCD & Columbia:
- very interesting course in terms of subjects
- An amazing opportunity to properly experience living in two different countries, which I have never lived in and would love to experience this, not an experience that I think I could get again, really does guarantee that international aspect I wanted
- two amazing cities (Dublin and New York)
- A truly unique course and experience in life
- Despite not qualifying me to do law, I could do a law conversion after or go into politics (as I am hesitating to do law or politics after my degree so studying either is a good base bcs they are - I believe - very much linked together)
- In terms of making friends, both pros and cons: Two years in one country and two years in the other, not enough time to really live in the country, make friends etc, however they both have campus approaches which means I could more easily make friends while there and also close knit community between those doing the course probably
- Trump in the US: I have US citizenship so I would not, I do not think, be a particular target so it's not really my safety I would worried for, and this is of course looking at it with pessimism, but it seems to be verging away from democracy - but then again I would only be there two years and I guess that could also be an interesting experience, in the sense that I have the opportunity to be there and not be a target ig)
Now I know whenever I mention "prestige" people tell me not to take it into account but I do not agree with that at all, of course it's not the main factor but it can truly help with employers later on, from having had discussions with employers who have admitted to me that University name is very much taken into account. Even without taking into account employers, going to a highly ranked university often also correlates with a good support network (either from the people you have networked with, or from the universities which set up very good support networks in that sense -- and Ivy leagues in the US are known for this very good support network after graduation):
- King's at the moment is ranked 5th for law in the UK, 27th in the world for law, and is situated in London -- even if the rankings might change I do believe that it will remain top 10 for at least some time, so I think in that sense it's a very good opportunity
- However, the Dual BA combines two very good universities, the top university in Ireland and an Ivy League in the US, I don't think I would get another opportunity to go Ivy League or to go to THE top university in a country (bcs Kings is not the top university in the UK - does not rival with UCL or Oxbridge)
Finally I am still waiting on other university decisions so If I do end up getting an offer I would appreciate anyone's opinions on those ( but mainly on what to choose between both above and then after that which one I would hypothetically choose if I got other offers, if they would trump the ones I have know)/
So I am still waiting on Bristol for Law and French and for UCL on Law and French Law
- UCL is the top uni in the UK for Law and is partnered with the top uni in France for law, it guarantees two years abroad, (but again it's 2 years and 2 years so ig same problem as Columbia - trinity), qualifies me to do law both in France and in the UK (I speak French fluently and have ties with France), also would be a good degree in the sense that it very much supports an international career I think, in a big firm
- Bristol is a campus uni, visited it and liked it, qualifies me for law, still well ranked, an hour away from my grandparents place (so I would have a support system in place), French aspect of course guarantees year abroad and is interesting bcs it's the study of literature and films etc (however as I am being educated in French might be repetitive of things I'm already doing, but with other books and I like it rn, but people I've spoken to have questioned wether an employer would ask why I chose this course if I already speak French etc)
Anyway thanks for reading and I appreciate any opinions, whatever they may be!