I know sydney has prestige and my parents knew it BIG time. It was really hard for me to choose CSU (now i sound like a snob!), i could have done something else at syd if i wanted to and transfered but its just not the same. The social and cultural life at a place like Bathurst is really good. There are only 3000 full time students there and so you really feel like a person.. not just one of the 20000 odd people at USyd. Ive a couple of friends who transferred to bathurst after a yr at sydney because they hated the pretentious snobbery of the whole place.. NOTE: not everyone shares that experience though.. At CSU, they have a club for just about every taste and if there isnt one to suit you, you can start one.. the best part is the uni will subsidise it!
Every thursday night is bar night, they mostly all have themes and everyone gets dressed up and goes nuts! some recent ones were 80's Prom night, Dag night, back to school, a night at the playboy mansion.
The alumni for Bathurst is outstanding. Ive spoken to a few people in the industry and they always talk about how bathurst has its own mafia or boys club in the industry. What they mean is that throught the comm industry, there are HEAPS of CSU affiliated people in highly regarded positions.
Of course, the final choice is up to you. I had to face that reality myself. Who cares if your parents can say youre at USyd just cause it sounds good? A place like sydney has an established aura around it, whats the big deal if non industry people havent heard of it?? theyre not the ones who are going to be hiring you in the long term!