I applied to a good University, but now I won’t graduate from one

Kingston received the news of our Vice Chancellor’s resignation on the first day of term, straight after hearing that the University has become one of the worst in the UK.

Though the two are not related, it was unsettling news to hear before the first day came to a close. The Times’ Good University guide ranked 128 universities, and Kingston was 122.

When I applied to Kingston at the end of 2013, Kingston was around 30 places higher, depending on which ranking you looked at. I thought I was making a great choice, and though I do not regret making it, I am a bit ashamed to know that the University somehow managed to drop 30 spots in three years, and even more if you look further back.

I applied to a good university, and now I might graduate from a not so good one.

The toughest part to comprehend was how could a university that ranked so well in student satisfaction in 2013, drop ridiculously over a time period of three years? Kingston offers some of the best courses in the country including architecture, fashion, and accounting but it also offers some of the worst in the country.

As if it was not hard enough thinking about facing the “real world” in May, I now have to face employers, look them in the eyes and manage to conceal the fear of having my university ranking potentially damage that interview.

Honestly, I am most probably overreacting, because employers will hopefully look past that point. I also managed to land one of the good courses, in which I get the privilege to rant about the University for course credit.

There is so much pressure put on students’ shoulders to get as much as possible out of an expensive education one which will take years to pay off. It makes my transition a little more stressful, knowing that my education’s worth might have been severed by 30 ranks.

Why did the University do so badly?

Everyone seems to have a warm affection towards Kingston – just ask all the graduates who opted to remain in Kingston for their masters or the loyal professors who have dedicated many years of their lives to the University.

Then again, how did it manage to lose some of its best?

We are all here now, trying to make the best of the situation, and hoping that the University recovers and goes back to its rightful position in the ranks. It was there once and it should be there again.

I am sure we all hope it will, just maybe before May?