So I'm thinking of studying in the U.K.

[clippen05]

So as my senior year of highschool begins to come to a close, I've been faced with a very big dilemma over where to continue my education. But while most people have to decide between a few schools, I'm deciding between countries... I applied to a couple of schools from the U.K. as well as some from the United States. To sum things up, I got into the average state school (NJIT) that I absolutely do not want to go to, and am waiting back from 2 other colleges. Then, across the pond, I was accepted to the University of Liverpool and I got conditional offers from Durham and King's College of London. I don't know if I'll be able to get the necessary scores for the latter two, but Liverpool is a very serious option for me. Most people would say, 'Why would you ever want to leave your friends and family behind?". Well, to be honest, I really want to get away from my family, and I'm sort of an odd-man out amongst my friends. (I don't usually get invited to things... etc. It probably has something to do with the fact that I don't drink) Anyway, studying in England has been a dream of mine since the 5th grade, you could say I'm an Anglophile. Cost-wise it would probably be equivalent or cheaper than the U.S. schools that I applied to. One of my main concerns is that I won't be able to make new friends abroad.(Shyness and Loneliness are a weird pair of traits to have) Obviously I'm not going to base my decision on an internet forum's say, but I was wondering what if you guys might have some input. Maybe some of you Brits could chime in with thoughts?

(Sorry if this belongs in the advice forums BTW, but I figured since I wasn't asking for specific advice, just general thoughts and comments, Off-topic would be moar appropriate)

 

[Crenelate]

England is a good place :3 most of us like it, though we'd never admit it unless someone else is criticising our healthcare or we're playing rugby... You may find the fact you don't drink an even bigger problem over here though, as it's very much ingrained into our culture. Saying that, there will always be people who don't drink much, and prefer quite nights. You get all sorts at uni. We have a couple of Americans in our class atm and they seem to have mixed feelings about being here. The girl from California especially hates the weather. Just make sure you look into it properly, and remember living up north will be much cheaper than going to uni in London.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

Liverpool is a very serious option for me.

Ewwwwww, Liverpool! You should've come to Yorkshire, the greatest part of Britain!

...just kidding man, Liverpool's a fine city and probably a damn good place to study. Massive congratulations to you on getting conditional offers into Durham and KCL as well though!

In terms of advice, if you really consider studying abroad to be a dream of yours and you have the chance to do it, then damn well go for it! I wouldn't be too worried about not making friends though - I think moving away from family and old friends (and you're doing the mother of all moves) is kind of a great way to force you to try and make friends, as well as the fact that almost everyone will be in a similar position to you. Even if you don't necessarily make friends with your flatmates, you'll have all the people on your course and in any societies and clubs you visit to pick from as well!

EDIT: Also, Crenelate made some very good points. The weather is a bit shite and the North is a much, much cheaper place to live than London (although Durham can be rather pricey). Drinking is a big thing in our culture, but I've found no-one begrudges the guys who don't drink, so I wouldn't worry terribly about that either.

 

[ScoopMeister]

I vote come to the UK, as long as you can put up with the crappy weather. Also, you might wanna listen to some northern accents on YouTube or something before you come here, just in case you have trouble understanding a strong Scouser accent (look up John Bishop).
Also, out of interest, what do you plan on studying at uni?

 

[DJjaffacake]

You got offers from Durham and King's? That's pretty impressive.

While I'm pretty sure tuition fees and such are less over here, it's worth remembering that cost of living is a bit higher because of the exchange rate.

 

[bluepilot]

You have got into three very good Universities in very good locations. I am a Northern lass so of course I will say COME TO DURHAM!!!

Durham is tiny though, is is a city but only because it has a cathedral (and an amazing 1000 year old one at that, they filmed some Harry Potter), but it is close to Newcastle where you can experience the real city life. The North of Britain is very cold though.

Oh yeah, in the Liverpool and Northern regions, people talk funny. It might not be much of a problem since university is fairly international but you might struggle with the natives. I am Geordie (Northumbria region, "Scouser" for Liverpool) so I will try to illustrate what people might talk like.

Standard English: Hello, How are you? Geordie: Hiya, ow or ye?

Standard English: I am going to the shops. Geordie: I am ganna tea tha shops

So yeah, I think that studying abroad will be an amazing adventure for you. All the places that you got into are really good, so I suggest that you do some research about what you want and pick a place.

Liverpool is a strange mix of urbanization, modernization and and industrial past. Some of the buildings and sites are beautiful and others will make you feel like you fell through a time hole. Parts of the area are an awful dump of building projects from the 60s, other places are majestic

 

[AnarchistFish]

Offers from Durham and Kings are impressive. I almost applied to Durham (decided it wasn't my kind of place) but I don't know if I can help you with those universities cos in the end I applied almost exclusively to Southern universities. But this country has a lot to offer and as long as you're willing to make friends it shouldn't be a problem. Impression I get of Durham is that it's small and relatively quiet. Heard it described as the place "Oxbridge rejects" go.

 

[Auron225]

I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject myself but do you know how student fees work if you're a foreigner? I have a friend originally from China studying here and she wasn't entitled to any tuition or maintenacne loans so she had to have all the money saved in advance for her to be here, and I think they charge her more than us on top of that. So definitely find out about that first if you haven't already!

As for the drinking thing - I'm not sure Britain is the best place to come to in order to escape from that... there are people (such as myself) that like you don't enjoy it and you may be fortunate enough to find such people at uni here but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

I did a semester of college in Oxford and I'm dying to go back for grad school - so I would say do it. Just remember the cost of living is different and the visa application process for students full time is a huge complicated cluster-f**k, so get on that right away if you're thinking about it (researching it, prepping paperwork, getting your finances in order because they look at those closely).

 

[Blunderboy]

Do it buddy.
Blighty is great.
I'm sure you'll make friends regardless.

 

[The White Hunter]

I'd say come to the UK if you want a much more specialised education and a chance of much more moneys and such outside of the US.

Also it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the US for tuition, though still rather expensive.

And paperwork: start it now, it is unpleasant.

 

[Dragoon]

Forget England come to Scotland, specifically Edinburgh, it's a great city to be a student in and we have quite a large amount of foreign students. Britain in general's a good place to study though if your deadset on England, if you can get here do it, I doubt you'll regret it.

 

[omega 616]

snip

As a scouser (from liverpool almost the city centre), it's a shit hole... Has been much improved in the last 5 years though.

You can believe the "city of culture" advertising but that only applies to Liverpool one, a shopping centre. We have some pretty cool buildings, proper buildings built out of huge slabs of stone.. We also have a few of those modern ones, not a fan of them.

The people for the most part are tools, imagine a red neck crossed with a stereotypical gangster from Harlem. Not the smartest and love "weed", they also have fondness for fighting.

Nothing will happen if your respectful but start puffing your chest out or mouthing off, you should expect something unpleasant to happen.

If I remember correctly, a part of the uni is (or near) a red light district.

If you want to Google Street view round Liverpool to see what it's like the post code is L7, should put you close to Liverpool City centre.

Liverpool isn't the worst place but don't be expecting to hear Hugh Laurie's real accent being spoken or sun shine or anything to look pretty. It's grey, grey buildings, over cast weather, noisy, bustling and hard to understand.

Hope I haven't put you off too much.

 

[Comando96]

Well what are you studying?

It would help with suggestions if we knew what you were wanting to study.

I'm going onto study International Politics later this year, and am most likely going to be going to Aberystwyth (who are one of if not the best, in this niche of Politics).

Where you go within the UK largely relies of the subject.

Should you come to the UK?

Anyway, studying in England has been a dream of mine since the 5th grade, you could say I'm an Anglophile. Cost-wise it would probably be equivalent or cheaper than the U.S. schools that I applied to. One of my main concerns is that I won't be able to make new friends abroad.

Ok... you've made your mind up to be honest, you've just got butterflies in your stomach about making the decision. I don't blame you. But don't waste an opportunity if you think you would look back and regret it.
At my friends University in the middle of bloody Wales(yeah thats still a country apparently), there are a whole diversity of people. One of their friends is a German who at the beginning still had trouble speaking the language. She is now happily getting along at Uni. You WILL make a lot of friends unless you are a total unlovable bastard. If you have any interests in anything then there will be a Society for you to join, with lots of like minded people.

 

[The Selkie]

Kings is a VERY good uni, Durham is probably the best sporting uni in the UK and my mate at Liverpool loves it there.

I'll give you the same advise I give everyone going to uni - pick a sport/activity and get involved. Particularly if it's a sport you already do, training a couple of times a week with the team, plus meeting up every couple of weeks for a social and you'll get to know people very quickly. Otherwise take a beginners course in something you've always wanted to try, most people there will either be alone or with one friend so people are quick to mingle.

Also, pretty much everywhere will guarantee you (as a foreign student) your first year in university accommodation. Take it. It'll give you a chance to get to know the city (and where to avoid) and you'll be living with 3-7 other people who also don't know anyone.

If you can deal with the weather and the terrible Liverpudlian accent then it's definitely worth considering.

 

[Aikayai]

After studying at uni I realized something. Its a complete waste of time. Wasted 30k on uni and all so I could stick my thumb up my arse while I swam through a sea of job rejection letters telling me I didn't have enough "experience".

But don't let my experience put you off, it was fun while it lasted. Its just its a more important decision as to if you want to go or not before where. You could be earning/training in that time.

 

[Hafnium]

You should really go, sounds like it would be good for you. Maybe you'll even fit in quite well. One of my best friends spent a semester in Durham, pretty sure it was good, but have no clue about the universities there myself.

 

[latiasracer]

NO

NO

TURN BACK NOW!

Captcha : Take wrong turns (Topical!)

If you do come here, please take me with you when you leave.

Everyones rude, It's 90% horrible weather, And everythings a wee bit depressing!

 

[Alandoril]

Don't come to Britain. Don't go to university.

This country is falling apart and higher education is a waste of time unless you're posh.

Just get a job and/or start professional training whilst working for free somewhere because that's the only way you'll get the experience you need to get a foot in the door anywhere unless you're stacking shelves.

Wish I'd had someone to be so brutally honest with me before I went to uni. It would have saved me three years of my life and thousands of pounds worth of debt.