Durham vs Sheffield

[summersoon]

Hi, i finish college this year and need to be accepting and declining my university offers. I need to put one as my firm choice and a second as an insurance choice(If you get the grades for your firm choice you have to go to that uni). But i cant decide which to put as my first choice!!! I'm looking to study chemistry and im trying to choose between durham and sheffield.

I love sheffield uni and the city, it has a great social scene and students union. It's about 2 hours away from home, the accomodation etc is brilliant. And truthfully i would love to go there.

But durham is higher in the league tables than sheffield and my chemistry teacher tells me that a degree at durham is worth alot more than a degree at sheffield. My dad also wants me to go to durham as it is a better uni. But is it???

Durham is a much smaller city and has only 3 nightclubs so most students go to newcastle for clubs or go to the college bars. It also isnt that far away from home so i dont feel like it would be a change of scenery. But people are just making me feel like i'm throwing away a good opportunity by going to sheffield. Can someone please tell me that im not?!! I'm so confused as to what to do- i mean maybe i would enjoy myself at durham but i wouldnt know till i got there.

Anyway, any help would be appreciated, thanks!!!xxx

[SRH]

I'd say go with your gut instinct. Both unis are very highly rated so a degree from either will be great. I was in a similar position and had to choose between Keele and Durham. Durham was higher up the league tables but I loved the atmosphere at Keele and , like you, much to my dad's annoyance, went there. I had the best time of my life.

You will be living there for three years, so your choice is about more than whether the course is right for you - it's about developing as a person and getting to make friends.

Since I left Keele I've done a masters at Leicester and have a high-flying career. I was happy at Keele and got a great education.

Sheff is a fab city and is highly rated compared to most other unis. To be honest, I don't think most employers know where the majority of unis stand in the league tables.

Go to Sheff - great people, great city, great uni! (BTW one of my cousins did psychology there - she's now a millionaire living in Switzerland with several recruitment consultancy businesses!)

Good luck - wherever you go, you will have an amazing time!

[summersoon]

Thankyou SRH, you wouldnt believe how much i appreciate your answer! To read about someone who was in the same position is very helpful. I'm now favour sheffield even more! xxx

[Buenchico]

When I was teaching A-level students, I always gave two pieces of advice regarding university choices:

1. Get as far away from home as possible. (You'll never really feel part of student life if you're always popping home to visit your parents).

2. Go where you feel you'd be happy. (Three, or more, years is a long time out of your life. If you get depressed at Durham it will be reflected in your academic performance and you'll get a poor degree. If you're really happy in your life, studying will seem a lot easier and you'll probably get 1st Class honours).

Chris

PS: I suppose that I ought to mention where I got my degree (as if you couldn't guess!). Yes, it was Sheffield - it's a fantastic city, especially for students.

[splash_84]

Hiya,

I went to Durham uni and I couldnt recommend it more! Its college based so you can really get involved in the student life and there are always parties going on attached to your college so you dont have to rely on just the city night life.

On the flip side its not for everyone - its the kind of place where on your way to a lecture you'll bump into about 5 people you know and you can guarentee that if you "pull", they will be a mate of a mate of a mate!!

I would look closely at the different colleges at durham as this can effect your experience too as each one is v different! (i would recommend a hill college like Grey though as its 2 mins walk to the chemistry block!)

On the other hand sheffiend is a fab city - lots of night life and things going on so its just really about what makes you happy - go on the open days and have a taster before you decide - it definatly worth it!

[summersoon]

Thanks Buenchico, my tutor said more or less the same as your second point today. Great advice :)

Hi splash_84 thanks for your answer too. I've been accepted at Josephine Butler, i really wanted to go self-catered and that was one of the only ones. It is a hill college but its the furthest one away from the chem block.

I have been on one sheffield open day and 2 durham ones. I also spent a week at durham last year doing a chem project, but i couldnt get a real taster for uni life as there were no other 'real' students there and i wasnt old enough to experience the club scene (and officially still arent!)

I really want to go to sheffield, its just durham's reputation. But as Buenchico said i may not do aswel at durham as i would at sheffield. So yeah i have made up my mind! Thanks guys xxx

[SRH]

Aw, thanks Summersoon - that's so sweet of you! I'm sure wherever you go you'll have a great time. I've been to uni twice (degree and postgrad) and loved both places I went to. But I firmly believe it's best to follow your heart. As I said before, it's about more than just what you're studying - three years can be a long time!

All the best - hope we hear how you get on! x