I agree with asquithian's snob value comment.
uws is in the western district and snobs perceive it to be where poor and stupid ppl live (a prejudice that snobs would never admit to)
I've spoken to other ppl in yr 12 and some of them, even at my public school out in greater western sydney, tend to debase uws without even having ever been there or spoken to anyone who goes there. They just make assumptions based on the location of the uni and its low uai. They're idiots.
My careers advisor has said that sydney and nsw are simply good at marketing themselves, and therefore attracting a lot of students. They often project an image that they can't fulfill once you've made it in.
I've been to several open days now, pretty much all, and a lot of the stuff the lecturers have to say abt their universities is stupid and obvious (e.g general comments such as- we have extensive links with unis overseas- well deerrrrr!!! so does every uni! id be worried if they didnt ... etc). Its still lingering on my mind the lecture the head of marketing gave at syd on degrees in eco and comm. Of course he did the whole "it's all abt reputation" crap and the hypocritical comment that business isn't just all abt nice suits and offices, while being decked out in what must've been armani. Basically, it's obvious that at syd they appeal to the sheep and their little lambs. The dumb parents and kids who have a false sense of hope they'll actually make it there, but in effect it's these herds driving the UAI for syd up.
Despite the eye-opening experience at syd open day, i'm not going to completely shelve the idea of going there, but it's definately made me more aware of what to expect of other uni lecturers as they do the ambassadorial role of promoting their uni.
Anyway, i know ppl who go to uws. One of our relative's son's was doing accounting at uws parra and transferred to macq after his first yr. I asked him why and he said that uws is understaffed and has poor resources. - his opinion.
I have another friend who goes to uws in blacktown and he has mentioned their current problem of having to pay high union fees but getting back a crappy union that doesn't do anything for them. They're going to rally to do something abt it.
Basically, it's all heresay and complete bias. Different ppl will have diff opinions and the best thing to do is to go find out yourself and avoid the complications and danger of relying on what other ppl have to say.