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University & College Guides
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 Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
Really not worth it., 27 Sep 2008
The guide kicks off with a lot of irrelevant information about general application to medical school, UCAS, personal statement writing etc - not useless by any means, but definitely not brilliant.
The real meat of the book is the practice questions, and I'm afraid to say that this is where it really falls over. The verbal reasoning questions are terrible, there are multiple typos, huge logical inconsistencies, many ambiguous questions and some of the answers are simply entirely wrong.
The other sections seem to be of a better quality, but on the basis of the second chapter, I really wouldn't bother with this book - no academic text (especially one with an emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking) should contain such elementary mistakes.
So far, so bad, 20 Sep 2008
I'm a magazine sub-editor and my flatmate is a patent attorney - we're both professional wordsmiths in our thirties. Following considerable analysis and debate (with diagrams!), we agree that there are flaws in the reasoning and the explanations of some of the verbal reasoning tests in this book. The logic applied also seems to be inconsistent across different questions. As a result, some of the questions seem ridiculously difficult.
The text also contains grammatical and typographic errors, which contribute to the sense of a badly produced guide.
The rest of the book may be more useful, but I am not impressed so far. It gets two stars because it could be worse!
Helpful for some sections, 26 Aug 2008
The book will help you mainly for the abstract reasoning and decision analysis. However the verbal reasoning section is terrible. A lot of the answers are wrong and provide invalid explanations.
Helpful? Some parts
Worth the money? No
Better alternatives? Buy the succeeding the UKCAT book.
OK-ish, 17 Aug 2008
I found the first section helpful, applying for Graduate Entry by myself means I haven't been told some of the things that I'm sure those applying straight from college will have about personal statements etc.
The questions were however too few and disproportionately difficult; though I guess being overprepared is better than under. There were also 3 errors (that I picked up on; there may in fact be more) but they were quie obvious ones so don't really impede on your learning.
Worth the £10 I paid just to feel a bit more prepared but not great.
Disappointing, 30 Jul 2008
Like most people, I bought this book for the practice questions in order to supplement those already available on the UKCAT website, as well as some useful tips on tackling the questions, managing time etc.
However, I was dissapointed to see that the majority of the book was taken up with material irrelevant to the UKCAT (e.g. all the stuff about med school application in general, and the BMAT). I also found the practice questions VERY hard, which is odd as the test itself was comparitively easy and I scored well over 700 on each section.
If you're sitting the UKCAT and can borrow a copy of the book, then go for it, you might get something out of it, but not worth buying.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
Really not worth it., 27 Sep 2008
The guide kicks off with a lot of irrelevant information about general application to medical school, UCAS, personal statement writing etc - not useless by any means, but definitely not brilliant.
The real meat of the book is the practice questions, and I'm afraid to say that this is where it really falls over. The verbal reasoning questions are terrible, there are multiple typos, huge logical inconsistencies, many ambiguous questions and some of the answers are simply entirely wrong.
The other sections seem to be of a better quality, but on the basis of the second chapter, I really wouldn't bother with this book - no academic text (especially one with an emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking) should contain such elementary mistakes.
So far, so bad, 20 Sep 2008
I'm a magazine sub-editor and my flatmate is a patent attorney - we're both professional wordsmiths in our thirties. Following considerable analysis and debate (with diagrams!), we agree that there are flaws in the reasoning and the explanations of some of the verbal reasoning tests in this book. The logic applied also seems to be inconsistent across different questions. As a result, some of the questions seem ridiculously difficult.
The text also contains grammatical and typographic errors, which contribute to the sense of a badly produced guide.
The rest of the book may be more useful, but I am not impressed so far. It gets two stars because it could be worse!
Helpful for some sections, 26 Aug 2008
The book will help you mainly for the abstract reasoning and decision analysis. However the verbal reasoning section is terrible. A lot of the answers are wrong and provide invalid explanations.
Helpful? Some parts
Worth the money? No
Better alternatives? Buy the succeeding the UKCAT book.
OK-ish, 17 Aug 2008
I found the first section helpful, applying for Graduate Entry by myself means I haven't been told some of the things that I'm sure those applying straight from college will have about personal statements etc.
The questions were however too few and disproportionately difficult; though I guess being overprepared is better than under. There were also 3 errors (that I picked up on; there may in fact be more) but they were quie obvious ones so don't really impede on your learning.
Worth the £10 I paid just to feel a bit more prepared but not great.
Disappointing, 30 Jul 2008
Like most people, I bought this book for the practice questions in order to supplement those already available on the UKCAT website, as well as some useful tips on tackling the questions, managing time etc.
However, I was dissapointed to see that the majority of the book was taken up with material irrelevant to the UKCAT (e.g. all the stuff about med school application in general, and the BMAT). I also found the practice questions VERY hard, which is odd as the test itself was comparitively easy and I scored well over 700 on each section.
If you're sitting the UKCAT and can borrow a copy of the book, then go for it, you might get something out of it, but not worth buying.
It worked for us, 06 Dec 2007
When my daughter was applying for university we bought the Virgin Guide and friends bought other guides so we could all swap. I preferred this one although it doesn't give huge detail about individual courses. Where it seems to score is on giving an accurate flavour of how it will feel to be at a particular university for 3 or more years. My daughter is in her 2nd year now and re-reading what the Virgin Guide said about her university and the city, I think the portrayal of the whole experience is remarkably accurate.
Shoulda read this before applying, 10 Nov 2007
This is by far the best guide to what it is like to actualy live at university and the practicalities of studying there which goes beyond league tables. It gives rankings of elements of a non academic nature such as the male female split and the national football/hockey/rugby rankings. It also rates the social life, and this is where I fell down. Because I ignored the advice of this book before I applied I am now at a university whose course is in the top 10 in the times however socially I hate it. I am now using this guide to help inform my decision on where to transfer to. I beg you to read this guide carefully and make a decision based on this and academic league tables, it will save your future and your life. Ive wasted 5 weeks at a university I now hate and as a result have missed the deadlines for one of the Oxbridge courses I wanted to re-appy for.
Generaly I dislike richard branson and most of his products (especially his trains) but this is one virgin brand product which is definately worth the investment.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
Really not worth it., 27 Sep 2008
The guide kicks off with a lot of irrelevant information about general application to medical school, UCAS, personal statement writing etc - not useless by any means, but definitely not brilliant.
The real meat of the book is the practice questions, and I'm afraid to say that this is where it really falls over. The verbal reasoning questions are terrible, there are multiple typos, huge logical inconsistencies, many ambiguous questions and some of the answers are simply entirely wrong.
The other sections seem to be of a better quality, but on the basis of the second chapter, I really wouldn't bother with this book - no academic text (especially one with an emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking) should contain such elementary mistakes.
So far, so bad, 20 Sep 2008
I'm a magazine sub-editor and my flatmate is a patent attorney - we're both professional wordsmiths in our thirties. Following considerable analysis and debate (with diagrams!), we agree that there are flaws in the reasoning and the explanations of some of the verbal reasoning tests in this book. The logic applied also seems to be inconsistent across different questions. As a result, some of the questions seem ridiculously difficult.
The text also contains grammatical and typographic errors, which contribute to the sense of a badly produced guide.
The rest of the book may be more useful, but I am not impressed so far. It gets two stars because it could be worse!
Helpful for some sections, 26 Aug 2008
The book will help you mainly for the abstract reasoning and decision analysis. However the verbal reasoning section is terrible. A lot of the answers are wrong and provide invalid explanations.
Helpful? Some parts
Worth the money? No
Better alternatives? Buy the succeeding the UKCAT book.
OK-ish, 17 Aug 2008
I found the first section helpful, applying for Graduate Entry by myself means I haven't been told some of the things that I'm sure those applying straight from college will have about personal statements etc.
The questions were however too few and disproportionately difficult; though I guess being overprepared is better than under. There were also 3 errors (that I picked up on; there may in fact be more) but they were quie obvious ones so don't really impede on your learning.
Worth the £10 I paid just to feel a bit more prepared but not great.
Disappointing, 30 Jul 2008
Like most people, I bought this book for the practice questions in order to supplement those already available on the UKCAT website, as well as some useful tips on tackling the questions, managing time etc.
However, I was dissapointed to see that the majority of the book was taken up with material irrelevant to the UKCAT (e.g. all the stuff about med school application in general, and the BMAT). I also found the practice questions VERY hard, which is odd as the test itself was comparitively easy and I scored well over 700 on each section.
If you're sitting the UKCAT and can borrow a copy of the book, then go for it, you might get something out of it, but not worth buying.
It worked for us, 06 Dec 2007
When my daughter was applying for university we bought the Virgin Guide and friends bought other guides so we could all swap. I preferred this one although it doesn't give huge detail about individual courses. Where it seems to score is on giving an accurate flavour of how it will feel to be at a particular university for 3 or more years. My daughter is in her 2nd year now and re-reading what the Virgin Guide said about her university and the city, I think the portrayal of the whole experience is remarkably accurate.
Shoulda read this before applying, 10 Nov 2007
This is by far the best guide to what it is like to actualy live at university and the practicalities of studying there which goes beyond league tables. It gives rankings of elements of a non academic nature such as the male female split and the national football/hockey/rugby rankings. It also rates the social life, and this is where I fell down. Because I ignored the advice of this book before I applied I am now at a university whose course is in the top 10 in the times however socially I hate it. I am now using this guide to help inform my decision on where to transfer to. I beg you to read this guide carefully and make a decision based on this and academic league tables, it will save your future and your life. Ive wasted 5 weeks at a university I now hate and as a result have missed the deadlines for one of the Oxbridge courses I wanted to re-appy for.
Generaly I dislike richard branson and most of his products (especially his trains) but this is one virgin brand product which is definately worth the investment.
o.k, 03 Aug 2008
just purchased this product to enhance my knowledge on writing law essays and exams, was very helpful
Practical and to the point, this little gem is worth every penny !, 08 Jan 2007
This is an excellent introduction to studying law by a very experienced law tutor.
McBride taught at Oxford and was a fellow at All Souls before he moved to Cambridge. His advice is practical and to the point and would benefit any law student. This book would be particularly useful to someone who is studying at Oxford or Cambridge.
Whether it be study techniques, law essay writing, surviving tutorials, making notes or relations with fellow law students, McBride has something useful to say about all of these issues.
Miss a meal or two if you have to, but make sure that you scrape together the modest sum needed to buy this little treasure. You will buy many, many law textbooks during your career in law. But this modest and unassuming book will rank highly among the most useful of them all.
Addendum:
It is over a year since I wrote this review.
I notice that this is one of the well thumbed books that my law student child at Oxford, brings home every vacation. My recommendation stands. If you are a law student in the UK,and more particularly at Oxford or Cambridge, buy this book. It will save you hours of anxiety.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
Really not worth it., 27 Sep 2008
The guide kicks off with a lot of irrelevant information about general application to medical school, UCAS, personal statement writing etc - not useless by any means, but definitely not brilliant.
The real meat of the book is the practice questions, and I'm afraid to say that this is where it really falls over. The verbal reasoning questions are terrible, there are multiple typos, huge logical inconsistencies, many ambiguous questions and some of the answers are simply entirely wrong.
The other sections seem to be of a better quality, but on the basis of the second chapter, I really wouldn't bother with this book - no academic text (especially one with an emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking) should contain such elementary mistakes.
So far, so bad, 20 Sep 2008
I'm a magazine sub-editor and my flatmate is a patent attorney - we're both professional wordsmiths in our thirties. Following considerable analysis and debate (with diagrams!), we agree that there are flaws in the reasoning and the explanations of some of the verbal reasoning tests in this book. The logic applied also seems to be inconsistent across different questions. As a result, some of the questions seem ridiculously difficult.
The text also contains grammatical and typographic errors, which contribute to the sense of a badly produced guide.
The rest of the book may be more useful, but I am not impressed so far. It gets two stars because it could be worse!
Helpful for some sections, 26 Aug 2008
The book will help you mainly for the abstract reasoning and decision analysis. However the verbal reasoning section is terrible. A lot of the answers are wrong and provide invalid explanations.
Helpful? Some parts
Worth the money? No
Better alternatives? Buy the succeeding the UKCAT book.
OK-ish, 17 Aug 2008
I found the first section helpful, applying for Graduate Entry by myself means I haven't been told some of the things that I'm sure those applying straight from college will have about personal statements etc.
The questions were however too few and disproportionately difficult; though I guess being overprepared is better than under. There were also 3 errors (that I picked up on; there may in fact be more) but they were quie obvious ones so don't really impede on your learning.
Worth the £10 I paid just to feel a bit more prepared but not great.
Disappointing, 30 Jul 2008
Like most people, I bought this book for the practice questions in order to supplement those already available on the UKCAT website, as well as some useful tips on tackling the questions, managing time etc.
However, I was dissapointed to see that the majority of the book was taken up with material irrelevant to the UKCAT (e.g. all the stuff about med school application in general, and the BMAT). I also found the practice questions VERY hard, which is odd as the test itself was comparitively easy and I scored well over 700 on each section.
If you're sitting the UKCAT and can borrow a copy of the book, then go for it, you might get something out of it, but not worth buying.
It worked for us, 06 Dec 2007
When my daughter was applying for university we bought the Virgin Guide and friends bought other guides so we could all swap. I preferred this one although it doesn't give huge detail about individual courses. Where it seems to score is on giving an accurate flavour of how it will feel to be at a particular university for 3 or more years. My daughter is in her 2nd year now and re-reading what the Virgin Guide said about her university and the city, I think the portrayal of the whole experience is remarkably accurate.
Shoulda read this before applying, 10 Nov 2007
This is by far the best guide to what it is like to actualy live at university and the practicalities of studying there which goes beyond league tables. It gives rankings of elements of a non academic nature such as the male female split and the national football/hockey/rugby rankings. It also rates the social life, and this is where I fell down. Because I ignored the advice of this book before I applied I am now at a university whose course is in the top 10 in the times however socially I hate it. I am now using this guide to help inform my decision on where to transfer to. I beg you to read this guide carefully and make a decision based on this and academic league tables, it will save your future and your life. Ive wasted 5 weeks at a university I now hate and as a result have missed the deadlines for one of the Oxbridge courses I wanted to re-appy for.
Generaly I dislike richard branson and most of his products (especially his trains) but this is one virgin brand product which is definately worth the investment.
o.k, 03 Aug 2008
just purchased this product to enhance my knowledge on writing law essays and exams, was very helpful
Practical and to the point, this little gem is worth every penny !, 08 Jan 2007
This is an excellent introduction to studying law by a very experienced law tutor.
McBride taught at Oxford and was a fellow at All Souls before he moved to Cambridge. His advice is practical and to the point and would benefit any law student. This book would be particularly useful to someone who is studying at Oxford or Cambridge.
Whether it be study techniques, law essay writing, surviving tutorials, making notes or relations with fellow law students, McBride has something useful to say about all of these issues.
Miss a meal or two if you have to, but make sure that you scrape together the modest sum needed to buy this little treasure. You will buy many, many law textbooks during your career in law. But this modest and unassuming book will rank highly among the most useful of them all.
Addendum:
It is over a year since I wrote this review.
I notice that this is one of the well thumbed books that my law student child at Oxford, brings home every vacation. My recommendation stands. If you are a law student in the UK,and more particularly at Oxford or Cambridge, buy this book. It will save you hours of anxiety.
Setting the standard for UCAS Personal Statements, 09 Dec 2006
Ann Starkie discovers what goes into making a successful UCAS personal statement
"Differentiation" has become the defining catch word connected to university application. Admissions tutors at UK universities are increasingly faced with the challenge of picking out "the best from the rest" when the rest are all well qualified and able candidates. This alongside the fact that references are no longer confidential means that greater emphasis has been placed on additional selection techniques. Inevitably this has increased the power of the personal statement.
"40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS application" is therefore a timely and welcome addition for burdened admission tutors and advisers looking to convey to their students the standard of what is required. Its purpose is to inspire and guide, demystify the personal statement by showing what admission tutors want, and help admissions tutors pick out the best students. For those hoping for a convenient crib sheet, even using the modern technique of cut and paste they will be sadly disappointed. This is not what is intended nor is it provided. All the examples used are very personal and really give a sense of the individual behind the statement.
The book is expertly laid out with a snappy introduction followed by a series of short sections. These sections include an excellent piece on planning the personal statement. This divides the content into the first 60% tailored to achievements and information specific to the course that is being applied for and the rest which is general achievements and activities. Also there is a helpful inclusion on how to begin and end the personal statement with suggestions for making these creative without the risk of appearing an "oddball". The 10 Golden Rules are something to have up in your department and contain how to avoid frequent mistakes so often seen and repeated by students who lack attention to detail and focus.
The rest of the book is dedicated to real life examples of personal statements according to course subject. There is a critique throughout each statement provided by a series of open question marks which point to weaknesses and strengths of the statement. This allows the reader to feel involved in the process and highlights points to be considered. At the bottom of each statement is a thumbs up sign for the named institutions that offered places to that candidate. There is a handy index cross referenced by subject at the back of the book allowing the reader to dip and pick.
Some subjects are given a couple of examples so the reader can compare the different styles. The statements make for interesting reading. Each statement is unique and some of the opening lines are extraordinary to the point of being moving. There is a sense of fun highlighted in the "howlers" such as "At school I held the position of head bog" and the application which abandoned caution by targeting the statement to one institution only.
This book is an invaluable aid to all applicants, advisers and tutors. It provides a much needed example of the standard applicants need to aspire to in order to stand out. It challenges students to produce a statement that accurately reflects the very best they have to offer in a way that will capture the interest of admission tutors. Finally 40 Successful Personal Statements keeps to its own Platinum rule. It differentiates itself from other guides on personal statements. It doesn't just tell you what makes a defining personal statement - it shows you.
Ann Starkie is the East of England Council Representative for the Institute of Careers Guidance.
40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS Application is published by COA (2006) and edited by Ken Reynolds with introduction and comments by Guy Nobes and Gavin Nobes Ph.D. ISBN 0-9550541-2-5
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
Really not worth it., 27 Sep 2008
The guide kicks off with a lot of irrelevant information about general application to medical school, UCAS, personal statement writing etc - not useless by any means, but definitely not brilliant.
The real meat of the book is the practice questions, and I'm afraid to say that this is where it really falls over. The verbal reasoning questions are terrible, there are multiple typos, huge logical inconsistencies, many ambiguous questions and some of the answers are simply entirely wrong.
The other sections seem to be of a better quality, but on the basis of the second chapter, I really wouldn't bother with this book - no academic text (especially one with an emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking) should contain such elementary mistakes.
So far, so bad, 20 Sep 2008
I'm a magazine sub-editor and my flatmate is a patent attorney - we're both professional wordsmiths in our thirties. Following considerable analysis and debate (with diagrams!), we agree that there are flaws in the reasoning and the explanations of some of the verbal reasoning tests in this book. The logic applied also seems to be inconsistent across different questions. As a result, some of the questions seem ridiculously difficult.
The text also contains grammatical and typographic errors, which contribute to the sense of a badly produced guide.
The rest of the book may be more useful, but I am not impressed so far. It gets two stars because it could be worse!
Helpful for some sections, 26 Aug 2008
The book will help you mainly for the abstract reasoning and decision analysis. However the verbal reasoning section is terrible. A lot of the answers are wrong and provide invalid explanations.
Helpful? Some parts
Worth the money? No
Better alternatives? Buy the succeeding the UKCAT book.
OK-ish, 17 Aug 2008
I found the first section helpful, applying for Graduate Entry by myself means I haven't been told some of the things that I'm sure those applying straight from college will have about personal statements etc.
The questions were however too few and disproportionately difficult; though I guess being overprepared is better than under. There were also 3 errors (that I picked up on; there may in fact be more) but they were quie obvious ones so don't really impede on your learning.
Worth the £10 I paid just to feel a bit more prepared but not great.
Disappointing, 30 Jul 2008
Like most people, I bought this book for the practice questions in order to supplement those already available on the UKCAT website, as well as some useful tips on tackling the questions, managing time etc.
However, I was dissapointed to see that the majority of the book was taken up with material irrelevant to the UKCAT (e.g. all the stuff about med school application in general, and the BMAT). I also found the practice questions VERY hard, which is odd as the test itself was comparitively easy and I scored well over 700 on each section.
If you're sitting the UKCAT and can borrow a copy of the book, then go for it, you might get something out of it, but not worth buying.
It worked for us, 06 Dec 2007
When my daughter was applying for university we bought the Virgin Guide and friends bought other guides so we could all swap. I preferred this one although it doesn't give huge detail about individual courses. Where it seems to score is on giving an accurate flavour of how it will feel to be at a particular university for 3 or more years. My daughter is in her 2nd year now and re-reading what the Virgin Guide said about her university and the city, I think the portrayal of the whole experience is remarkably accurate.
Shoulda read this before applying, 10 Nov 2007
This is by far the best guide to what it is like to actualy live at university and the practicalities of studying there which goes beyond league tables. It gives rankings of elements of a non academic nature such as the male female split and the national football/hockey/rugby rankings. It also rates the social life, and this is where I fell down. Because I ignored the advice of this book before I applied I am now at a university whose course is in the top 10 in the times however socially I hate it. I am now using this guide to help inform my decision on where to transfer to. I beg you to read this guide carefully and make a decision based on this and academic league tables, it will save your future and your life. Ive wasted 5 weeks at a university I now hate and as a result have missed the deadlines for one of the Oxbridge courses I wanted to re-appy for.
Generaly I dislike richard branson and most of his products (especially his trains) but this is one virgin brand product which is definately worth the investment.
o.k, 03 Aug 2008
just purchased this product to enhance my knowledge on writing law essays and exams, was very helpful
Practical and to the point, this little gem is worth every penny !, 08 Jan 2007
This is an excellent introduction to studying law by a very experienced law tutor.
McBride taught at Oxford and was a fellow at All Souls before he moved to Cambridge. His advice is practical and to the point and would benefit any law student. This book would be particularly useful to someone who is studying at Oxford or Cambridge.
Whether it be study techniques, law essay writing, surviving tutorials, making notes or relations with fellow law students, McBride has something useful to say about all of these issues.
Miss a meal or two if you have to, but make sure that you scrape together the modest sum needed to buy this little treasure. You will buy many, many law textbooks during your career in law. But this modest and unassuming book will rank highly among the most useful of them all.
Addendum:
It is over a year since I wrote this review.
I notice that this is one of the well thumbed books that my law student child at Oxford, brings home every vacation. My recommendation stands. If you are a law student in the UK,and more particularly at Oxford or Cambridge, buy this book. It will save you hours of anxiety.
Setting the standard for UCAS Personal Statements, 09 Dec 2006
Ann Starkie discovers what goes into making a successful UCAS personal statement
"Differentiation" has become the defining catch word connected to university application. Admissions tutors at UK universities are increasingly faced with the challenge of picking out "the best from the rest" when the rest are all well qualified and able candidates. This alongside the fact that references are no longer confidential means that greater emphasis has been placed on additional selection techniques. Inevitably this has increased the power of the personal statement.
"40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS application" is therefore a timely and welcome addition for burdened admission tutors and advisers looking to convey to their students the standard of what is required. Its purpose is to inspire and guide, demystify the personal statement by showing what admission tutors want, and help admissions tutors pick out the best students. For those hoping for a convenient crib sheet, even using the modern technique of cut and paste they will be sadly disappointed. This is not what is intended nor is it provided. All the examples used are very personal and really give a sense of the individual behind the statement.
The book is expertly laid out with a snappy introduction followed by a series of short sections. These sections include an excellent piece on planning the personal statement. This divides the content into the first 60% tailored to achievements and information specific to the course that is being applied for and the rest which is general achievements and activities. Also there is a helpful inclusion on how to begin and end the personal statement with suggestions for making these creative without the risk of appearing an "oddball". The 10 Golden Rules are something to have up in your department and contain how to avoid frequent mistakes so often seen and repeated by students who lack attention to detail and focus.
The rest of the book is dedicated to real life examples of personal statements according to course subject. There is a critique throughout each statement provided by a series of open question marks which point to weaknesses and strengths of the statement. This allows the reader to feel involved in the process and highlights points to be considered. At the bottom of each statement is a thumbs up sign for the named institutions that offered places to that candidate. There is a handy index cross referenced by subject at the back of the book allowing the reader to dip and pick.
Some subjects are given a couple of examples so the reader can compare the different styles. The statements make for interesting reading. Each statement is unique and some of the opening lines are extraordinary to the point of being moving. There is a sense of fun highlighted in the "howlers" such as "At school I held the position of head bog" and the application which abandoned caution by targeting the statement to one institution only.
This book is an invaluable aid to all applicants, advisers and tutors. It provides a much needed example of the standard applicants need to aspire to in order to stand out. It challenges students to produce a statement that accurately reflects the very best they have to offer in a way that will capture the interest of admission tutors. Finally 40 Successful Personal Statements keeps to its own Platinum rule. It differentiates itself from other guides on personal statements. It doesn't just tell you what makes a defining personal statement - it shows you.
Ann Starkie is the East of England Council Representative for the Institute of Careers Guidance.
40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS Application is published by COA (2006) and edited by Ken Reynolds with introduction and comments by Guy Nobes and Gavin Nobes Ph.D. ISBN 0-9550541-2-5
Very useful, 22 Sep 2008
I'm not a student, but have been using this book at work. Lots of very useful tips and strategies - I really like the note-taking section, which makes you think of a better way to take notes - so that not only do you not forget everything from a meeting or presentation, you seem to come away with much better knowledge of the key points.
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Customer Reviews
Very useful, but..., 01 Sep 2008
I had been using this book in careers class to help me decide which universities I was going to apply to, and this book was exceedingly helpful for this task.
This book gives a league table of universities and also ranks them by each subject for example, Law or History. Another important aspect of this book is that it describes the universities making it truly invaluable to any A-Level student.
However, I only gave this book four stars because the vast majority of information is available online - in the Times website and also through the universities' websites.
Overall I would say that this book is very useful and definitely needed for any student who wants to make the right choice of university - after all it is one of the most important decisions you will make!
Excellent, 23 Jan 2007
Required reading for anyone considering or planning to go to University in the UK. A mass of well-researched, well-analysed data and information that helps one make much better informed judgement on one of the most important decisions of one's life.
The most useful book I have read, 05 Sep 2005
When my mother gave me this book as a leaving present I did at first feel a little skeptical of its promises... well the title had a lot to live up to. However, having poured over this book during my train journey up to Manchester I kind of got the impression that this book had been written from experience rather than to simply make a fast buck. The sections are clear, the information useful and honest. I loved the section on Hedonism!
I especially liked the section on housing. Being a student and leaving home for the first time I found the information invaluable.
This is the one time my mother got it right. I think they should give it out on fresher's week.
The Virgin University Survival Guide, 31 Aug 2005
This book gave the most comprehensive guide to life as a student that I have come across in my travels and was an instant buy when I sent my first child off to university. My second child is off to university again this year and I will be buying another copy for her too.
Not the best of its kind, 01 Aug 2005
I checked this book out and a couple of other similar ones. Its okay, I suppose, but when I compared it to The Push Guide to Choosing a University which has similar content, at almost half the price and is much funnier and more readable, it's clear which is a better buy.
Blaggers guide revealed!, 21 Apr 2004
I bought this for my little bro (off to uni) and won't be giving it to himuntil well after the event as i chuckle and chortle my way though thewhole thing.
Simply put it is a list of all the scams and blags that it took the likesof me and my mates three years to work out, tidily organised into oneconcise book. During the dark days of cash-flow problems (which tend toresemble the hoover dam)known as university, this seems like anindispensible aid to keeping your head above water in a variety of (legal)ways.
Since its not from the library there is a chance that they will actuallyread it well before the third year. I can only sit and be jealous of thisyears fresh crop of first years as they sit smug in the knowledge thattheir ride through the first tumultuous years of post-home life will be assmooth as... well picking up a book and reading it.
Fabulous!, 25 Aug 2008
This is a fantastic student recipe book. As a student I've owned many recipe books aimed at students but none of them have the content and quality of this one. It makes healthy eating seem easy and achievable, which for students setting out on their own can seem daunting. With the clever and helpful extras such as tips, tricks and games that other books don't have, it is an awesome guide for students - particularly freshers who are looking for an insight into what university life will be like. I wish I'd had it as a fresher!!
Would 100% recommend this book! :)
Definitely "Sorted"!!, 20 Aug 2008
This is a great book, bought one for my daughter who is just about to head off to uni and she loves it! It has plenty of tips as well as the recipes, so it covers all aspects of the student lifestyle.
We tried one of the recipes tonight, Portugese soup, and it was gorgeous!
Definitely not just for students, this book really hits all the right places!!
Sorted, 19 Aug 2008
Brilliant book, cleverly put together in "student speak" although clearly you do not need to be a student to enjoy the fabulous recipes.
Really not worth it., 27 Sep 2008
The guide kicks off with a lot of irrelevant information about general application to medical school, UCAS, personal statement writing etc - not useless by any means, but definitely not brilliant.
The real meat of the book is the practice questions, and I'm afraid to say that this is where it really falls over. The verbal reasoning questions are terrible, there are multiple typos, huge logical inconsistencies, many ambiguous questions and some of the answers are simply entirely wrong.
The other sections seem to be of a better quality, but on the basis of the second chapter, I really wouldn't bother with this book - no academic text (especially one with an emphasis on comprehension and critical thinking) should contain such elementary mistakes.
So far, so bad, 20 Sep 2008
I'm a magazine sub-editor and my flatmate is a patent attorney - we're both professional wordsmiths in our thirties. Following considerable analysis and debate (with diagrams!), we agree that there are flaws in the reasoning and the explanations of some of the verbal reasoning tests in this book. The logic applied also seems to be inconsistent across different questions. As a result, some of the questions seem ridiculously difficult.
The text also contains grammatical and typographic errors, which contribute to the sense of a badly produced guide.
The rest of the book may be more useful, but I am not impressed so far. It gets two stars because it could be worse!
Helpful for some sections, 26 Aug 2008
The book will help you mainly for the abstract reasoning and decision analysis. However the verbal reasoning section is terrible. A lot of the answers are wrong and provide invalid explanations.
Helpful? Some parts
Worth the money? No
Better alternatives? Buy the succeeding the UKCAT book.
OK-ish, 17 Aug 2008
I found the first section helpful, applying for Graduate Entry by myself means I haven't been told some of the things that I'm sure those applying straight from college will have about personal statements etc.
The questions were however too few and disproportionately difficult; though I guess being overprepared is better than under. There were also 3 errors (that I picked up on; there may in fact be more) but they were quie obvious ones so don't really impede on your learning.
Worth the £10 I paid just to feel a bit more prepared but not great.
Disappointing, 30 Jul 2008
Like most people, I bought this book for the practice questions in order to supplement those already available on the UKCAT website, as well as some useful tips on tackling the questions, managing time etc.
However, I was dissapointed to see that the majority of the book was taken up with material irrelevant to the UKCAT (e.g. all the stuff about med school application in general, and the BMAT). I also found the practice questions VERY hard, which is odd as the test itself was comparitively easy and I scored well over 700 on each section.
If you're sitting the UKCAT and can borrow a copy of the book, then go for it, you might get something out of it, but not worth buying.
It worked for us, 06 Dec 2007
When my daughter was applying for university we bought the Virgin Guide and friends bought other guides so we could all swap. I preferred this one although it doesn't give huge detail about individual courses. Where it seems to score is on giving an accurate flavour of how it will feel to be at a particular university for 3 or more years. My daughter is in her 2nd year now and re-reading what the Virgin Guide said about her university and the city, I think the portrayal of the whole experience is remarkably accurate.
Shoulda read this before applying, 10 Nov 2007
This is by far the best guide to what it is like to actualy live at university and the practicalities of studying there which goes beyond league tables. It gives rankings of elements of a non academic nature such as the male female split and the national football/hockey/rugby rankings. It also rates the social life, and this is where I fell down. Because I ignored the advice of this book before I applied I am now at a university whose course is in the top 10 in the times however socially I hate it. I am now using this guide to help inform my decision on where to transfer to. I beg you to read this guide carefully and make a decision based on this and academic league tables, it will save your future and your life. Ive wasted 5 weeks at a university I now hate and as a result have missed the deadlines for one of the Oxbridge courses I wanted to re-appy for.
Generaly I dislike richard branson and most of his products (especially his trains) but this is one virgin brand product which is definately worth the investment.
o.k, 03 Aug 2008
just purchased this product to enhance my knowledge on writing law essays and exams, was very helpful
Practical and to the point, this little gem is worth every penny !, 08 Jan 2007
This is an excellent introduction to studying law by a very experienced law tutor.
McBride taught at Oxford and was a fellow at All Souls before he moved to Cambridge. His advice is practical and to the point and would benefit any law student. This book would be particularly useful to someone who is studying at Oxford or Cambridge.
Whether it be study techniques, law essay writing, surviving tutorials, making notes or relations with fellow law students, McBride has something useful to say about all of these issues.
Miss a meal or two if you have to, but make sure that you scrape together the modest sum needed to buy this little treasure. You will buy many, many law textbooks during your career in law. But this modest and unassuming book will rank highly among the most useful of them all.
Addendum:
It is over a year since I wrote this review.
I notice that this is one of the well thumbed books that my law student child at Oxford, brings home every vacation. My recommendation stands. If you are a law student in the UK,and more particularly at Oxford or Cambridge, buy this book. It will save you hours of anxiety.
Setting the standard for UCAS Personal Statements, 09 Dec 2006
Ann Starkie discovers what goes into making a successful UCAS personal statement
"Differentiation" has become the defining catch word connected to university application. Admissions tutors at UK universities are increasingly faced with the challenge of picking out "the best from the rest" when the rest are all well qualified and able candidates. This alongside the fact that references are no longer confidential means that greater emphasis has been placed on additional selection techniques. Inevitably this has increased the power of the personal statement.
"40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS application" is therefore a timely and welcome addition for burdened admission tutors and advisers looking to convey to their students the standard of what is required. Its purpose is to inspire and guide, demystify the personal statement by showing what admission tutors want, and help admissions tutors pick out the best students. For those hoping for a convenient crib sheet, even using the modern technique of cut and paste they will be sadly disappointed. This is not what is intended nor is it provided. All the examples used are very personal and really give a sense of the individual behind the statement.
The book is expertly laid out with a snappy introduction followed by a series of short sections. These sections include an excellent piece on planning the personal statement. This divides the content into the first 60% tailored to achievements and information specific to the course that is being applied for and the rest which is general achievements and activities. Also there is a helpful inclusion on how to begin and end the personal statement with suggestions for making these creative without the risk of appearing an "oddball". The 10 Golden Rules are something to have up in your department and contain how to avoid frequent mistakes so often seen and repeated by students who lack attention to detail and focus.
The rest of the book is dedicated to real life examples of personal statements according to course subject. There is a critique throughout each statement provided by a series of open question marks which point to weaknesses and strengths of the statement. This allows the reader to feel involved in the process and highlights points to be considered. At the bottom of each statement is a thumbs up sign for the named institutions that offered places to that candidate. There is a handy index cross referenced by subject at the back of the book allowing the reader to dip and pick.
Some subjects are given a couple of examples so the reader can compare the different styles. The statements make for interesting reading. Each statement is unique and some of the opening lines are extraordinary to the point of being moving. There is a sense of fun highlighted in the "howlers" such as "At school I held the position of head bog" and the application which abandoned caution by targeting the statement to one institution only.
This book is an invaluable aid to all applicants, advisers and tutors. It provides a much needed example of the standard applicants need to aspire to in order to stand out. It challenges students to produce a statement that accurately reflects the very best they have to offer in a way that will capture the interest of admission tutors. Finally 40 Successful Personal Statements keeps to its own Platinum rule. It differentiates itself from other guides on personal statements. It doesn't just tell you what makes a defining personal statement - it shows you.
Ann Starkie is the East of England Council Representative for the Institute of Careers Guidance.
40 Successful Personal Statements for UCAS Application is published by COA (2006) and edited by Ken Reynolds with introduction and comments by Guy Nobes and Gavin Nobes Ph.D. ISBN 0-9550541-2-5
Very useful, 22 Sep 2008
I'm not a student, but have been using this book at work. Lots of very useful tips and strategies - I really like the note-taking section, which makes you think of a better way to take notes - so that not only do you not forget everything from a meeting or presentation, you seem to come away with much better knowledge of the key points.
Fantastic aid!, 30 Aug 2007
This book is a fantastic way to get started, especially in the early stages when you may not know how/what to include. It gives you a basic framework to work from and handy hints about how to link paragraphs. Follow the guidelines however ensure that you make it personal and relevant to you! A great tool.
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