Would you chose:University of Edinburgh or University of Glasgow?Help Sheila or anyone else from Scotland!!!
Dec 9th, 2002, 04:49 AM
#21
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Frank, I don't know what parts of Edinburgh you visited but it certainly wasn't the University areas!<BR><BR>Prostitution - the "tolerance zones" were scrapped earlier this year. Most of it is centred in Leith, a good mile or so from the University. And I assume you never walked through Blythswood Square in Glasgow any night?<BR><BR>"Famous for hard drugs" - because of "Trainspotting", mainly (a great book, but does Edinburgh no favours.) Yes, you'll find hard drugs in certain areas - Leith again, and some of the council estates - but you'll also find them in Glasgow's poorer areas along with a strong gang culture to protect the dealers interests.<BR><BR>"No affordable housing near the centre" - well, from my own experience I have to agree with you on that to a point! However, the University will normally house exchange students in its halls of residence (Pollock, usually) and if this doesn't happen there's no shortage of student flats in the Newington and Marchmont areas.<BR><BR>I'd agree with the comment that the university area in Glasgow is the best area in the city - it's certainly my favourite part and an area I like visiting. But, just as the problem areas are on the periphery of Glasgow, so they are in Edinburgh. Like I said, if you don't go looking, you won't find - both my wife and my brother (and many of my friends) went to Edinburgh University, and to the best of my knowledge weren't offered hard drugs or prostitution during their four years there.<BR><BR>Like I said before, make the choice based on the course - in terms of nightlife there's (in my view) little to choose between the two as a student (although Edinburgh might have lost some after yesterday's fire in the Old Town.)
Dec 9th, 2002, 04:52 AM
#22
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Ira - in the UK a "school" is what you go to before you go to University. This causes endless confusion when UK students go to the US and are asked "What school do you go to" and reply "I've left school, I'm going to University now."<BR><BR>Like Churchill said, two nations divided by a common language....
Dec 9th, 2002, 04:58 AM
#23
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Someone should mention that many travel agents in the US continue to advise tourists on the "sport" in Glasgow of youths waiting outside of pubs and clubs to attack. This can be viwed on the police cameras that have been set up in part because of the frequency of these attacks.<BR>That travel agents regularly advise tourists to visit Glasgow during the day but stay indoors at night.<BR>
Dec 9th, 2002, 05:48 AM
#26
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Sorry, trying to be a touch ironic.<BR><BR>Basically this happens everywhere - Glasgow, Newcastle, London, New York, Barcelona, Edinburgh.... Whatever you call it, and however it happens, it's still a mugging. I think giving a specific warning about it is an exaggeration, and suggesting people don't go out after dark is simply ridiculous and way over-the-top! Sounds to me like they're covering themselves for lawsuits.
Dec 9th, 2002, 09:11 AM
#27
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Glasgow has an undeserved bad rep - it cleaned up its act many years ago.<BR>However some who don't know the city still delight in telling scary stories.<BR>Keith, please tell us the names of some of the gangs involved in this "stronger gang culture".Just one would do.<BR>Fact is they haven't existed for 20 years.<BR>SStone please supply the name of one of these pubs.I have never heard of such a situation.<BR>Give a dog a bad name.....
Dec 22nd, 2002, 09:19 AM
#29
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Okay-we still have another week to decide.The choices are: University of Edinburgh or Glasgow or Aberdeen;Leeds University or Warwick University or the UK campus of his school located south of Gatwick somewhat near Battle in the country. This would be for a year(Oct to June).Anyone else? Scotland seems to be where he would really like to go .........Thanks!
Dec 22nd, 2002, 09:48 AM
#30
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I wouldn't let the drug problems affect such a decisions. Since he's already been in college two years, he has had ample opportunity to be exposed to drug temptations. If he's made good choices up to now, I doubt he will change by going overseas. He'll do best in place he wants to be.
Dec 22nd, 2002, 10:13 AM
#32
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Have no comment on the Scottish Universities but I went to Warwick in the 90s and it was a wonderful place to be.<BR><BR>Being a campus university meant that life was very much more concentrated on interaction with fellow students - that's what I wanted but it doesn't suit everyone. <BR><BR>Warwick has a good reputation, academically, offers a strong social life for students (I don't just mean lots of bars but also a lot of interest-driven clubs and societies based on everything from sport to cinema to sci-fi to photography).<BR><BR>It's also wonderfully diverse - being in the Midlands it attracts students from all around the UK as well as a lot of overseas students from all over the world.<BR><BR>In my first year, when I lived in halls, I lived next door to an American exchange student from Michigan who enjoyed his year with us immensely - there were a number of American students at Warwick - some of whom chose to hang out which each other and some who didn't.<BR><BR>Whichever uni your son chooses I am sure will give him a great opportunity - what he makes of it will be down to him.<BR><BR>Kavey
Dec 27th, 2002, 02:56 AM
#33
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I live and work in Edinburgh so maybe I'm biased. Edinburgh is a great place to be a student. Now pretty hip - lots to do - theatre, cinema, galleries, museums, all the history stuff, bars, restaurants, clubs etc etc. The new Scottish parliament has certainly given the city a new found confidence. Safety wise - it's absolutely fine. Sure there are crime and drugs but probably less than most American cities. Most students would never come across this aspect unless they were looking for it. I studied at Edinburgh University - it's a got a very good academic record and lot's happening in student life if that's your thing.<BR><BR>Having said all that, I must admit Glasgow would be absolutely fine too. The city is larger and more industrial than Edinburgh and probably has more crime...but again most students wouldn't come across that side of things. Heaps to do in Glasgow too although probably a bit less history.<BR><BR>However, my main advice would be to avoid St Andrew's. OK - it's got academic repute (although probably no more so than either Edinburgh or Glasgow) but is stuck in a small town in Fife (ie middle of nowhere)where the number of students almost exceed that of the local population. Boring and tedious ... but hey if that's what you like ...
Dec 27th, 2002, 04:36 AM
#34
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All the universities you have mentioned have good academic and research records.Does he want an ancient university? In that case, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen would fill the bill. Aberdeen is a beautiful city but it's very far North and would involve a longish train journey to get to Edinburgh and an even longer one if he wanted to visit England.<BR>Leeds is a "redbrick" university, a good, solid civic university. Warwick is much more modern but has an excellent reputation.<BR>Has your son had a look at the UCAS website at http://www.ucas.ac.uk/?<BR>As well as giving information about universities and colleges it links to individual institutions. Many students' unions issue an "alternative prospectus" giving a warts and all description of the place.<BR>I'd personally go for Edinburgh, beautiful city, good university, good range of students and not to far from England.
