Choosing a university

After going to several university open days my 19 year old Aspergers son has made his choice. I found his reasons interesting. I was suprised that major factors of choice was the quiet sleepy little town, the modern understated architecture, general peacefulness of the campus (corridors had sound duddening carpets), ceilings were relatively low, plenty of green space, and lots of fancy technology. The set talk by the professors, to me seemed garbled and exuberant as they enthused about the intricacies of computer science. I whispered to my son that they were clearly all nutcases. His eyes were bright and he had one of his rare smiles, and agreed with a resounding 'Yes!' Later, when talking with the lectueres/students we mentioned his aspergers, and they told him that he would 'fit right in.' They were all very welcoming and enthusiastic about their subject and the possibilities of the industry.

Other universities were more businesslike, with grand architecture, in busy cities,the staff a little more cool with a little too much emphasis on how many millions had just been spent on infrastructure. I guess all of them want his fees ultimately, but my son has chosen the quiet one (also a lot further down on the 'best unis' lists). It was also the last one we saw and considered as a possible insurance choice should be muck up his exams as he often does. He says, all he wants to do is learn and he thought it the best one for that, even if he got high grades.

Then, just a few days ago the uni announced that it was closing the campus down in 2016 and almagamating with their other campus in a busy city. This would all happen part way through his course there and the disruption might be tricky for my son. Having a rethink. I know it's just coincidence but why is nothing EVER straight forward for him when my other 2 sons (NT) just seem to sail through life? Smile

Parents
  • Hopefully Aberystwyth is not the one in your first post you said was to merge. I know they were talking about merging some of the Welsh Universities, and Aberystwyth has talks with Bangor periodically.

    Aberystwyth would be a good choice. It is the oldest of the Welsh Universities despite which it is not the senior, and was founded from Bala to provide nonconformist education, by Lewis Edwards, with his son Thomas Charles Edwards as first principal, statue by the old hotel where it was first located. I would regard it as a privilege to go to if you are Welsh.

    It had a bit of a reputation in the 70s for being not far from Pontrhydygroes and associated hippies etc., and for "that book" by Michael Carson (when you write a bit of controversial fiction set in a university you surely make up a fictional university, not set it in a real one).

    Hope all goes well. I would say, if my opinion counts, Aberystwyth is a good choice, though I don't know its disability support record www.aber.ac.uk/.../  It looks OK on the web pages but you have to see the support staff face-to-face to be sure.

Reply
  • Hopefully Aberystwyth is not the one in your first post you said was to merge. I know they were talking about merging some of the Welsh Universities, and Aberystwyth has talks with Bangor periodically.

    Aberystwyth would be a good choice. It is the oldest of the Welsh Universities despite which it is not the senior, and was founded from Bala to provide nonconformist education, by Lewis Edwards, with his son Thomas Charles Edwards as first principal, statue by the old hotel where it was first located. I would regard it as a privilege to go to if you are Welsh.

    It had a bit of a reputation in the 70s for being not far from Pontrhydygroes and associated hippies etc., and for "that book" by Michael Carson (when you write a bit of controversial fiction set in a university you surely make up a fictional university, not set it in a real one).

    Hope all goes well. I would say, if my opinion counts, Aberystwyth is a good choice, though I don't know its disability support record www.aber.ac.uk/.../  It looks OK on the web pages but you have to see the support staff face-to-face to be sure.

Children
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