Uni Dilemma

GoldenEye

If you have a choice between The University of Manchester and UCLAN I think the best choice would be Manchester. Again, I am biased as I studied there (Studied at both UMIST and University of Manchester before the merger but degree awarded by UMIST. Studied MSc at University of Manchester - newly merged Uni!). Many years ago I went to a Salford Uni open day and enjoyed it. My heart was set on that Uni. At the last minute I changed my mind and chose Manchester because of its reputation and degree standard. I cannot comment on the quality of degree in the subject of psychology but for my degree it was a lot more difficult/intense at Manchester than Salford (Salford Uni's own lecturers told me this).

BTW, Manchester is oversubscribed due to the merger and it is going to be very difficult to get a place in the future (especially for psychology).

Don't believe stats. They are load of nonsense.

Blacksheep1979

I think that universities that deliberately go out to use stats to prove they aren't a second rate uni are only proving themselves to be just that as you can prove almost anything with stats.

Yes it may be snobbery people thinking manchester is better (although it actually is ), but if that is the perceived view then it will also be held by employers - which in this case makes it a valid point - a degree from manchester is more likely to get you the job, therefore better.

studentphil

UCLAS will be very good if you want a vocational subject so if you want to be a Nurse, teacher, Social worker, but for the traditional subject you probably are better going for the name of Manchester.

Oldernotwiser

SamMoffatt28 wrote: »

Just to set the record straight Uclan isnt exactly a small uni - with around 35000 students I'd say it was pretty large, in fact its one of the largest Uni's in the UK. I think the trouble here with most people suggesting Manchester instead of Preston (when they've probably never even been to Uclan)because its an 'ex poly' is sheer snobbery. Lancaster Uni used to be a Poly but that doesnt seem to affect its reputation

Also around 93% of all students from Uclan go straight into employment after graduation, which I think is a pretty good indicator of the success of the Uni.

Lancaster University isn't an ex poly. It was one of the new universities of the 60s, along with Essex, UEA,Warwick and etc.

You may think it snobbery but some universities are better than others. Who would choose to go to Thames Valley University if they could go to Oxford? Or would you say that they both offer the same standard of education and the same opportunities afterwards?

studentphil

A course that takes AAA can not be at the same standard as one that takes EEE as the level of the students must be miles apart in ability, so the levels of the courses can just not be the same.

GoldenEye

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Lancaster University isn't an ex poly. It was one of the new universities of the 60s, along with Essex, UEA,Warwick and etc.

You may think it snobbery but some universities are better than others. Who would choose to go to Thames Valley University if they could go to Oxford? Or would you say that they both offer the same standard of education and the same opportunities afterwards?

Totally agree. If you are clever enough and willing to work very hard you deserve to go to the best. Isn't that what we all want? You should always aim for the best.

Stats are usually flawed. I don't believe Manchester's stats either. Your judgement and choice should be based on the standard of education and future opportunities because that is the whole point of going to Uni.

iglimpse

It is your daughter who has to make the decision and not you. I don't mean that to be offensive in any way and you are just trying to gather info for her to make the decision which is just what I would do.

Have been down this road twice now. It all depends on what type of relationship you have with daughter. My first one was generally receptive to most help and advice. My second was the opposite. Whatever I advised, was rejected and he was more likely to do the opposite for the hell of it.

It is very hard as a parent when you know the bigger picture and that clearly if she is bright and fortunate enough to get in Mchester, she should go there. Nothing is certain in life but you know it will give the best options.

If she is receptive, she will accept your advice. However, she may rebel against it. Even though you are doing all the work (!) she has to know it is her decision and that she made it on her own.

The skill as a parent is to provide all the info (you know the better uni is best option) then employ anything you can to help her make the right decision, without her noticing!!

It is unrealistic to say all quiet people should opt for Preston and livley types to Mchester. That has got nothing to do with it. Both can accomodate every type of personality. Aim for the highest, and hopefully she agrees with you.

However, once the results hit the mat - everything can all be thrown up in the air again and unfortunately nothing is definite until then.

Impet_Limpet

Some employers are not as 'snobbish' as implied, when the hospital I worked at recruited in cardiac physiology for our new tertiary specialist centre, the staff came from various universities, Newcastle, Salford, Birmingham, UCLan (not UCLAS Phil!), Manchester Met..... Which university they attended had no weighting. It was all those other things such how they came across in the interview, personality, knowledge, extracurricular activities and being suited to the job.

Obviously I cannot speak for other employers, but as is shown in employer surveys recently qualifications do not account for as much as they used to.
No matter which university somebody attends they can improve their chances of job success by going the extra mile during their studies.

Obviously your daughter should attend the one that feels best for her, as iglimpse said help her without her noticing. Teenagers (and some men!) are more likely to do what you would like them to do if they think it was thier idea!

Blacksheep1979

I'd hardly call it snobbish (although I did use the term myself), but as studentphil has pointed out you don't get the same calibre of student with EE compared to AAA or even ABC. It is universities that have these students that tbh the top tier recruiters look at because in general the people that got there worked harder to get to those universities/get the grades and are in general cleverer and make better employees.

Yes some vocational based courses from some ex-polys are good, but I'd say they are the exception rather than the rule and if they were the courses in question the OP wouldn't have to ask as they would know straight off that it was an excellent course.