Bath

[pigrescuer]

I went to the Natural Sciences Bath open Day today - the one that I was invited to, and wasn't, technically, an interview - or compulsory - and yet the reply slip went something like this

Comments

[littlered2]

I can't help you with this, as I had exactly the same dilemna over Leeds and Oxford. (Leeds even had the year abroad option.) As you know, I chose Oxford, because it is world-class, and I was told by so many people that I would regret it if I turned it down. But it was a hard choice, and one I spent plenty of time crying over (even before I got here). I am happy here so far (well, at times), but I honestly couldn't say if I would be happier here or at Leeds. See what you think of Cambridge at the interview, but if you are anything like me, this may be a hard choice. :( Sorry.

[pigrescuer]

Lol same dilemma exactly! I remember this, actually. But you were sensible enough not to panic until you actually got offers. I will probably panic and then not get any offers adn go to East Anglia.

I'm assuming you are happy at Oxford and you only email me when you are sad?

[littlered2]

I am happy and sad alternately. Right now I'm at the happy end of the scale: my last essay got a good response, and I have a few friends who I feel comfortable with, so things are going well.

I may not have panicked much before applying, but I panicked like mad once I had them. SO MUCH PANIC. Tears all over the place. But I think you are marginally more sensible than me over this sort of thing.

I'm sure you will get offers, though. Although I was talked to my friend Callum today (who came to my room and then stayed for about two and a half hours, which meant neither of us got any work done. Oops) and he said everywhere except Oxford rejected him. It's weird sometimes.

[pigrescuer]

''marginally'' :D

[checkers65477]

Ooh, tough decision. I'm a firm believer in employees caring more about what you did at the university you attended, than caring too much about where you went. Where you went might help you get your first job, but after that it's how you perform at your job.

I'm also a firm believer in going where you feel is a good fit for you. Hopefully you'll get a "feel" for all the choices and it won't be too difficult.

[pigrescuer]

But what if I did the same things at both university and got the same results? What would they think then?

I hope I get a ''feel'' too! :D

Thank you!

[philia_fan]

We should all have such problems! Let's see, which of two wonderful options shall I choose...go see Cambridge first, then go with your gut.

[pigrescuer]

It's a very big problem, thank you very much. :P

I feel that is good advice, thankee. :)

[philia_fan]

What I mean is, it's a problem but it's also sort of not. You're saying both of these places are world-class programs. You CAN'T do the same things at both universities, really. You will have chosen one or the other, and chances are whichever it is will be JUST FINE and if you do well, future employers are not going to say, "Oh, let's hire the PR who went to this OTHER school instead," because there won't be a PR like that in this universe, there will just be the one PR and they will hire YOU because you are awesome.

Right?

[rowana]

I'm going with what Checkers said. Happiness over prestige, every time, because you're spending quite a few years living in this place and you want them to be good years - ultimately the degree is just a piece of paper at the end that isn't much different from uni to uni. I really, really loved UCL, but I liked Oxford's tutorial system so much more, and then absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere and the people and everything at the interviews, so it was a bit of a no brainer

[littlered2]

But seriously, don't go for Cambridge just for the prestige of the degree with employers. You'll end up hating it there.

Hey, that was quite a big factor in my choice of Oxford. ;) And I don't hate it here. Well, not exactly. Not yet.

[emerald_happy]

well, I have a friend who turned down Oxford for Warwick because she didn't like the college she was allocated to and got lots of crap from her family and teachers but is all the happier for choosing what she wanted to do. It's a big decision and I think you just gotta try not be influenced by whole sheep thing.

Employers - probably look at class of degree first, then experience of skills related to the job, then the uni.

Also, i'm dead set on getting a First but it's soooo difficult. You gotta be careful about burning yourself out

[pigrescuer]

Lookit! Em on LJ!

I try not to be a sheep... just not very good at it.

[pigrescuer]

Baaa