Starting uni in less than 3 weeks time - still no accommodation!

[GrumpyOldBag]

DS is off to Birmingham in a coupe of weeks - he's still waiting to hear about his accommodation as it was his insurance choice. He just called them and they said it will not be allocated until next Tuesday, and it's not guaranteed for insurance students.

He's pretty relaxed about it - but I'm not! Can anyone put my mind at rest please...

[LineysRun]

Hi, Grumpy. I just want to commiserate with you and say that you're not alone. DS and a good friend from college are going through the same thing for Reading University and it's made me slightly unhinged tbh.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Does he desperately want to stay in halls if not I would start helping him look for a room in a student house.

[GrumpyOldBag]

Yes, we both think it's really important to be with other first year students from the start.

One reason I'm worried is that when I went to Uni I somehow missed out on being allocated accommodation for my first week - didn't get a space until someone dropped out - and it felt horrible.

Liney - good to know we're both in the same boat.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

He won't be stuck, lots of people don't take up places, they will assign him somewhere, it's part of the adventure.... sorry that isn't really reassuring you is it.

[GrumpyOldBag]

Well it does a bit Donkeys ... if you are so sure!

[Viviennemary]

He'll most likely be fine once the admin get it all sorted out. I think halls is better especially in first year unless the student specifically doesn't like the idea.

[Tiredemma]

Nothing of any real use to add other than I went to Uni of Bham and its a fabulous Uni!!

[LineysRun]

I think you have to hope for the best on Tuesday, and have a Plan B in place just in case. So, make sure he's on the University Halls waiting list - tbh this should happen automatically if he doesn't get allocated a room on Tuesday - and sort out with the accommodation service what their interim arrangements are.

I know it's very stressful. (DS and I have spent days on the phone and emailing ... I honestly have accommodation fatigue.)

In Reading in 2015 some students had a fortnight in travel lodges or premier inns I think. Far from ideal.

[GrumpyOldBag]

They said if he doesn't get a place in Uni accommodation they will provide a list of private places. But I have no idea how we'd sort that out - we are on holiday abroad until next Thursday, and live miles away from Birmingham - and I work - & don't know how on earth he'd find somewhere without my help (he has some confidence issues).

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

He is not in a flap, that's good, he has to pounce on Tuesday. Fingers crossed they will have something in Hall or student flats. If not there will be options, expect you have sifted through this kind of thing:

Guild lettings

[GrumpyOldBag]

He's not in a flap because he thinks the University will sort it out for him, he is quite naive like that. So we haven't looked at any alternatives.

It's frustrating - his friend who put Birmingham as his firm choice got an offer within 2 days of the results. DS is being made to feel like a 2nd class citizen just because he put it as his insurance choice.

He is not a very self-confident person, and I'm not sure how he'll cope if it doesn't work out as he's expecting.

[Hollybollybingbong]

Hi Grumpy
Ds is in the same boat, also Birmingham, also insurance choice, he phoned today to be told next Tuesday.
Threads from previous years mention students being asked to group up into 4 and to look for a student rental house together. They go on to mention that Selly Oak is mostly student accommodation and is nearer to the university than the student halls so it is not as extreme as wandering around the outskirts of Birmingham.
for the waiting.

[Hollybollybingbong]

I feel angry about the 2nd class citizen feeling but DS is relaxed about it.

[GrumpyOldBag]

to you too Holly.
Don't know how DS can group up with other students as he doesn't know anyone else in his situation.
Just desperately hoping he gets offered something.
We don't know the city at all.
It's turning into a horrible stressful experience when he should be looking forward to the most exciting phase of his life.

[GrumpyOldBag]

DS was told a few days ago it would be sorted by August 31st and now they are saying next Tuesday, which is also not very encouraging ...

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Good luck everybody

[littlemissneela]

My son applied for a different course and uni through clearing, and sadly all the students halls are gone. Not sure why they took us on a tour of the halls if this was the case - a bit of a waste of time. They were also meant to send him an application form after he accepted his place, but they didn't. He really wasn't confident about sharing a house with complete strangers so he has actually deferred for a year. This is a good thing as he will hopefully do an alevel in the new course as its very different to the ones he did at 6th form.
Good luck to your son for Tuesday and hope he gets something.

[Hollybollybingbong]

There are Birmingham university accommodation twitter and Facebook accounts you can follow.
We also don't know the area, we're going to wait to hear from the university but will also be looking at Selly Oak online to see what is currently available.
I don't think the accommodation department will abandon them as such, I believe/hope they will still offer advice even if they're going to private accommodation as they would for year 2 students.
I am an eternal optimist though!

[GrumpyOldBag]

Thanks Holly - yes DS has been following the Facebook page. Pretty depressing as they are now telling students what to pack! I will also follow on Twitter as DS does not use Twitter. Like you I also think it will all probably work out OK in the end.

Thanks to everyone else for the supportive comments.

[Hollybollybingbong]

Just a thought, DS has received paperwork from his subject, Computer Science, it included a timetable for the welcome week and details of a Facebook group and webpage specific to his subject. This information will at least give them a chance to start feeling part of the university even if they don't know where they'll stay.

[GrumpyOldBag]

Thanks Holly - DS has had a similar email for Maths. I think I'm the one who's most stressed about it all!

[LineysRun]

DS's friend (insurance, Reading) just been told No for halls, apparently. Just awful.

[Stopyourhavering]

My ds went through clearing, heads to Uni this weekend and only found out his accommodation a week ago ( i.e. 10 days before starting)

[Sofabitch]

Even if he didn't/doesnt get halls there will be a lot of rooms to rent.

Some people on my course sorted it a few days before they moved in.

The uni will have a few companies they recommend. You go online look up distance/photos etc and can pay a deposit without even viewing.

Or pick one day go and look at properties.

[Hollybollybingbong]

Something I've been reminding DS of is that unfortunately there are a number of students who will drop out of university during the first term, further accommodation opportunities may become available. Whatever arrangements are made initially it is worth putting your name on the student housing list for if a possible transfer to halls comes up.
I hope DS's friend is okay LineysRun.