@jermstar
But top 5% of what? Being at the top of a cohort at a not very impressive uni is probably not as impressive as being in the top half of the cohort at a more impressive university.
Sad to say, but a first from a “bottom 10” university is going to look a lot less impressive than a 2.1 from a “top 10” uni. Anyone who says that it doesn’t matter where you go to uni as long as you get a first is kidding themselves. Yes, you should still try to do your best, but if you want a career in a City/large national law firm or the bar, you’re better off taking a year out to re-sit your A-levels than going to a second rate uni knowing that you can get a first there.
Smaller regional firms will look more kindly on local graduates from all unis (including ex-polys) but higher profile employers do not see all universities as being the same.
I’m originally from the US where colleges and universities don’t try to kid themselves that they’re all equal. There are recognised (sometimes legally explicit) hierarchies of colleges and universities. In the UK these may be more subtle, but the Times rankings give a general sense of the order. And still people kid themselves that a first from East Nowheresville Ex-poly is equal in the eyes of the world to a first from Oxbridge. It isn’t. It’s probably not even equivalent to a 2.2 from Oxbridge.
When I was 17 and applying to universities I didn’t think name would matter. Now I regret that I didn’t at least apply to Harvard/Yale/etc. to see if I could get in. I went to a small, excellent college and got a great education. But no one in the UK has heard of it. It doesn’t have international name recognition, which is a hindrance to me now.
I’m doing English Literature, Welsh, Maths, Further Maths and Music for A level, any tips for when the going gets tough?? xx
