Bangor – what's it really like?

[Dave Rice]

Back story:

My daughter wants to do modern languages at University with a view to a career involving languages (not necessarily “translation” but working say in an industry where languages are useful or in a foreign country). She’s pretty good at German and was expected to get good grades and has her heart set on Exeter or Nottingham.

However she’s been ill quite a bit this year (investigations still under way) and reality is starting to bite. It seems that ABB may now well be beyond her reach. She could repeat this year but for one but gotcha. The Govt have dicked with the curriculum again and this years lower 6th are studying different topics in their A levels. No-one will be teaching this year again.

She’s just been thrown a possible lifeline by Bangor who have offered her an unconditional place to do German and Chinese.

There are open days coming up in the next few months and we will be going. It’s actually not too bad to get there from Bristol as there’s a direct Cardiff to Holyhead train every two hours and Newport is only a 20 minute hop under the Severn. The whole journey is about 4 1/2 hours so doable in a day but only gives us 3ish hours in Bangor.

I know we have at lesat two Forumites that live in the area so I’m looking for some unbiased views on the town and area (not the Uni) as we won’t have the time to do much outside of the Uni visit.

[Jason]

I know two people who have gone there — one is still there, in the second year. He’s a bright guy, with good grades, and actively chose to go there. He has no complaints. He’s doing computer science, though, so his experience may not be comparable to that of someone doing languages. Still, from my slender knowledge, I would have no serious concerns about the place. It’s a good, solid university, mid-table or better.

[JayCeeDee]

My sister went to Bangor ( UCNW it was then ),  in the early to mid 70’s. She did a BA in Modern Languages there and although she may not have wanted “translation”  it stood her in good stead between jobs initially, between kids after, then between writing books. She had various jobs as for example, tour guide around London, filling in at a translation bureau including scientific documents. Her husband at the time was high up in the research/development field. There are numerous permutations that make the boring translation aspect come to life, so don’t let her write it off without some lateral thinking.

Good luck to her.

[Richard]

One of my daughter’s friends was there a little while back and he survived the experience well, in fact better than well. His home situation had been pretty grim and he overcame a range of other personal issues. He has built a better life since he graduated. So it may not be the top flight, or it might be a lot better than it has been painted, but it does have other aspects in its favour.

On a personal note, I am sorry that your daughter has had health issues I have been through that with one who had similar timing issues with an over lay of personal issues which lost her several years. Since graduating and after a bit of a job struggle she works at Addenbrooks Hospital and is expecting her second child in the spring – not that you will be anticipating that second part any time soon!

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by looking.

Good luck to you and your family.

[dwynnehugh]

Dave can you pse PM me – I have two daughters at the Uni, the youngest is the Dep Head Warden for all of the Halls of Residence and the eldest is in the QA Dept.

Just had a thought – are we able to PM now?

 

D2

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[dwynnehugh]

Dave – if you all make it here – give me a date/time and I’ll collect you from the station, take you around the town and deliver back to Uni.  D2

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[Dave Rice]

Thanks Dave. I’ve sent you a PM.

[JayCeeDee]

dwynnehugh wrote:

Just had a thought – are we able to PM now? D2

It’s under Activity/Messages/Compose.

[The Duke]

I went Bangor , uni of Wales as it was , and I do know they have big modern arts and  at the bottom I’m the town, and nursing near the station, but that’s about it, my building (the business centre ) was across from the main building. I loved Bangor, and rents are cheap, I never lived there but drove in each day.

Regarding chineese, the business school is , or was 95%, chineese, so she will have a lotof people to practice on.

The main building is stunning, like Hogwarts, the 60s addition library is an abomination to that glorious building, and someome deserved to be shot for allowing it!

Bangor city itself is tiny, and doubles in population semester time. Also it sits on the boarder for English people, if you venture west or south your not really liked, but Bangor is fine, as is Anglesey . The business centre is placed on the banks of the menai straights, and looks out on Anglesey and the Marine bio school asross the water.

You should go and check it out, it’s nice and small, so more intermate from the larger places or was 15 years ago. Student rent was cheap then, the rent my lad pays now in Liverpool is stupid, and the uni is a massive mess sprawed across the city. Your never 10 mins from walk from the furthest buildings in banger (baring the marine school) , but your girl best like hills .

[The Duke]

And Dave, you don’t need to get off a Hollyhead, banger station is a stop or two from Hollyhead which is 250m from the main Bangor building, where your open day will be held. I drove the first year, and got the train the last two.

[Dave Rice]

Thanks Steve. I wasn’t planing on getting off at Holyhead! That train comes up the borders and stops literally everywhere. Looks like the return journey is via Birmingham.

Cheap rent is always a good thing. Daniel is at Plymouth which is slightly cheaper than Bangor, so he’s an easy walk away. My eldest has been at Bath for 7 years (he’s doing a PhD now) and lives well out of town to get affordable rent. Luckily that’s where the Uni is, well a 20 min bike ride.

Bristol is an extremely hilly area, you always seem to be going up or down. Her 2km walk to school has 30m elevation change but there’s two hills so that’s more like 50m.

[Dave Rice]

Well it’s booked for Saturday 25th Feb. Not been that far north in Wales since the early 70’s.

Bought the last two cheap advance tickets saving £82, but it’s still costing £112. There were a good half a dozen permutations in price and routes.

I can’t understand why they think I’ll be interested in a train that leaves Bristol Parkway at 22:10 and arrives in B’ham at 23:32 for the 5:30 train to Bangor. It’s not even cheap at £100 each!

In any case 4 singles are cheaper than a return and will involve 3 different operators and 2 different routes.

This country is an absolute mess when it comes to getting around on public transport.

[wasbit]

I’ve been waiting for John to chip in about the lovely time he had the day he went there. 🙂

--
Regards
wasbit

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Dear Starfleet, hate you, hate the Federation, taking Voyager. - Janeway

[Bob Williams]

Wasn’t that Maggie Oldfield? Or am I wrong again?

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Jason]

No, she did Tubular Bells.

[Richard]

Jason wrote:

Maggie Oldfield

No I think that was Mike Oldfield she did work with Mike but supplied vocals to some of his work and was really Maggie Reilly.

[Jason]

<Whoosh!>

(It was Fiddler’s Dram.)

[Bob Williams]

It was indeed Fiddlers Dram: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=T8WiPy1xSkw

And it was Maggie Reilly.

Memory spike by onboard biological computer. :wacko:

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Author]

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