h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I never thought I'd say that. After all, they did send me umpteen reminders that I'd been turned down by Oxford and that annoyed me.

However, today I am happy because late yesterday I got an email telling me to go and look on the tracking service. Unexpectedly, I'd been given a conditional offer. In addition to my AAB to Birmingham and my ABB to Leeds, I can now proudly add that University College, London have offered me the following:

A in English A-level
AB in 2 of Chemistry, History, French
Pass at AS-level in the fourth subject

I guess that's all round, then, although it does tell me to read the UCL letter (which hasn't arrived yet) for 'further information'...



Whoami?

awh yaay! congrats hunny

Which one d'you fancy?

I'm not 100% sure - I need to have a proper look round at UCL again. However, Leeds was stunning - their department were really helpful and their welcome wagon was by far the best of the three when I was visiting. Plus, they have a well-developed programme for Erasmus (European) years, which does not have to be applied for in advance of the course...

Whoami?

I just came back to London after living in Leeds for three months, and I have to say I'd quite fancy being a student in Leeds...

The decision is too hard!

We're in London!

Yeah - virtually within walking distance from UCL! Still, the main difference is that in London I'll have to be constantly trying not to spend money whereas in Leeds I'll be more comfortable...

I'm entirely undecided. Leeds' European year schemes look fantastic. In terms of academic dept., there's little to choose between them, according to most people I've spoken to who ought to know. I'm really unsure. I guess I'll know soon...

Whoami?

I'll look after your money for you. No need to worry.

You'll probably have such a good time in Leeds you'll end up spending the same amount... it's just you'll have had more for your money!

Aaaaaaaaaaaagh! I hate decisions. You'd never have guessed, wouldya?

Mina, I trust you entirely, but hands off my money!

Whoami?

Belated congratulations, Whoami!

That really is a difficult choice isn't it? I'd always be tempted to say London (many times!) because I love it so much but Leeds is a fantastic place isn't it? It's got a really good, young atmosphere...tricky! But I suppose it's a good decision to have to make Well done!

I just wiped my posting by pressing the wrong button!
*back in a minute*

If you think cash is going to be a problem go for Leeds because it does make a huge difference. I'm currently studying in Guildford, Surrey and my rent is going to be £330 pcm next year, this is less than London but I think you'll find a damn sight more than those further out from capital.

UCL does however have the advantage of being well known but I'm not sure whether that will mean much to you if you want to do erasmus type things as you'll come out a more rounded person which is what many companies are looking for in the hoards of graduates nowadays.

From what you've written you seem fairly taken by Leeds and the only thing I can advise you to do is go where you feel you will be most happy. The name or the reputation of a university means nothing if you spend 3 years wishing you'd chosen the other one because it had a better sports hall (or whatever it is that takes your fancy). If you're not happy at uni you wont make the most of it.

Mel *Who also got turned down by Oxford... all the best people do! *

Thanks for the support, Natalie! You're a real star and I must make another attempt to deliver the Christmas goodies to you at Bush House - I called by before Christmas but you were all in meetings, or not working, or something. On second thoughts, maybe new goodies since I ate the Christmas ones and sent you a card instead.

Now, E G Mel:

I feel I'd be really happy at *both*, despite their obvious differences. I'm ecstatic about the UCL thing, but it's all been settling, whereas I've had more time to reflect on Leeds. There are a hoard of reasons for and against both situations, and I'll be outlining them as I come to them over time.

On the subject of years abroad. I looked at UCL's foreign study things and English don't seem that involved, particularly within Europe. But the information's sketchy so I'll be asking the dept. about that. Leeds have a well developed programme and it is something that I'd love to do. But further research re: UCL and that one is required.

Your advice re: being happy is spot on. My parents are wonderful with all this (I'm really lucky), and they are really trying hard to discuss things with me as much as possible, without forcing their opinions upon me. They never have done - I'm away at school and that was my decision. This is the same thing.

Regarding reputation, you're right. From knowledgeable circles it would appear that academically there is little between them for Eng. Lang. and Lit., (and this from people connected with a very highly respected Uni in those fields, just down the road towards Coventry). Currently, Leeds have been far better in terms of information and they put on a smashing day where they explained everything to us without a particularly hard sell.

Perhaps a factor that bears disproportionately upon my mind is the opportunities to gain experience in my current area of obsession, which is journalism. Leeds has the country's best student paper (according to the last 3 years' Guardian awards) and their radio station has an apparently thriving journalistic bent too. I'd love to get involved in things like that. But then, in London, there have to be good opportunities if you look hard enough...

I have to give this *lots* of thought. Which I am. I'm discussing it in parts here because you're all so wonderful at bringing up issues that I haven't given proper consideration, and because I respect all your opinions and want to hear as much as possible to help me decide!

Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that this is h2g2, where I live when I'm not doing other unavoidable things...

Whoami?

A good student newspaper and radio station symbolises a thriving and enthusiastic student base. It tends to show that the people there are not just interested in getting degrees etc.

If the presentation you received was good that will probably mean that any presentation skills you will be taught will be good. Often uni's that make good impressions on students during opendays are the ones that have strong links with industry and know how to appeal to their audience.

Campus based universities tend to have a stonger union set up and therefore offer more in the way of societies and clubs (I don't know the set up of Leeds or UCL).

http://www.uclunion.org/discuss/ UCL Student Union Boards
http://www.luuonline.com/messageboards Leeds Union Boards (closed due to negative campaigning during the election but they should be open again soon)

Ask the students, that way they'll tell you what it's actually like to be at that uni.

Mel *Who answers these questions on her own Uni BB *

Thanks for the links!

As far as the Leeds 'Open Day' went, I was being careful to try and decode the positive presentation and asked my tour guide some challenging questions. I was very happy. The interview at UCL was quite scary in that there weren't many people there and the area around the Dept. was a building site. The first thing to do is to do the self-guided tour of UCL at the earliest opportunity, and get involved on the boards a bit.

Thanks again for all the help!

its Phreak here as well, we're in french! well done, good luck and choose the right one!

Oogle - Woogle.

Oh don't you want to come to Birmingham You could join and we've got a thriving bunch of hootoos up here - well a few of us and we like coming to the pub.

I just wanted to say that what are the important factors in a descion now may not turn out to be important when you get their.

Allow me to waffle about my own experiences.

When I was 17 I really really really wanted to go to St Georges Hospital Medical School in Tooting. It was small friendly, and the only medical school left that was actually in a hopsital not attached to a university. I thought it would be really nice to be at a small friendly universiy - and I really wanted to go to London..

But I had a panic attack in the interview and ended up at Birmingham - it was the best thing that ever happend to me. I love the course* the city#, and I've made some fantastic friends here. The things I like about it are things that I never thought would be important when I was at sixth form.

Such as

I want to stay around when I graduate and I can afford to buy a place of my own in Birmingham. I never thought that I'd want to live in Birmingham when I was 17.

My best friends aren't medical students and I really value having a life outside of medicine - it keeps me sane and normal. - that by far makes up for the fact that Birmingham is far more impersonal. And one of the things I liked about St Georges was the fact that it was small and personal, because it was only a medical school, not a whole university.

I've got involved in the guild of students in Birmingham, doing things that I'd never have had the chance to do in London. Gliding for instance. I never knew that I wanted to do that until I did it for a dare.

Admittedly I've changed a lot at university because I've been here five years (out of a total of six) and being saner than me you're probably not planning on staying as long.

Getting, slowly, to the point. Whatever things seem important now might not actually turn out to matter that much when you get their - so try not to spend too much time thinking about it.


Z

*not quite enough to revise at the moment..
#yes Birmingham

Thanks, Z!

Unfortunately, Birmingham has effectively ruled itself out by making an offer equal to that of UCL - when I take into account the proximity of Edgbaston to home, UCL perhaps appeals more.

I looked at UCL's environs on Sunday and am doing a tour on Friday of the buildings themselves. I'm much more positive about the idea now since looking at the possibility of intercollegiate accomodation, and having had a nose against the window of UCL Union and ULU...

The logical thing to do is go with UCL as my firm and Leeds as my insurance - but really I'm doing all my research the wrong way around - I ought to have done this before I filled out the UCAS form.

Whoami?