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Original poster

Experience of shared room in Uni Halls

37 replies

KnowtheBand · 31/08/2022 08:16

DS made a very mast minute decision to go to Uni in Sept and therefore missed the accomodation application deadline.

He has however been offered a place in a twin room. He has 48 hours to accept/decline. I'm thinking take it because otherwise we have 2 weeks to find something in the private rental market 200 miles from home! It's also cheap relative to the alternatives!

However, he is understandably anxious about not having his own space and not knowing who he'll be sharing with. If he finds a student house, he'll be sharing with strangers, but at least he'll have his own room.

He's very introvert and has had some MH issues, although now improving (hence the late decison) so in some ways sharing could be good for him - I could see him staying in his room alone if he can.

Does anyone have any great experiences of sharing at Uni?

OP posts:
latesummervibes · 31/08/2022 08:20

not me personally but I know of two people who had shared rooms and a great experience. Also, in the first term lots drop out and there will be single rooms available. He could go on the list for single rooms when they come up (which they will) and may find he doesn't want to, if he likes sharing

yomellamoHelly · 31/08/2022 08:21

Long time ago, but I had a few friends in 'shared rooms' who ended up having the whole room to themselves. So also a possibility.

I think noise-cancelling headphones would be a good backup plan for room sharing as he can use them to zone out if needed.

Threelittlelambs · 31/08/2022 08:24

I agree people will drop out not have the grades or try and find alternative courses -
Why not ask admissions what they think are his chances. Also if there’s a list for single rooms etc - gather information to get an informed choice.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Higher education Property
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 31/08/2022 08:24

Yes! Shared with a random person, chose to share for the next 2 years of our uni life. Still one of my best friends 25 years later…

FartOutLoudDay · 31/08/2022 08:24

I had a shared room but the two I shared with didn’t stay long, either moved onto campus or left uni. So I ended up with an enormous room to myself with a spare bed when friends came to stay.

HiVisAndWellies · 31/08/2022 08:28

DH shared a room, albeit 25 years ago. He is pretty insular, and always says that his room mate was just what he needed to get out and socialise.

CuriousMariette · 31/08/2022 08:28

One of the better decisions I made in life. Still good friends 40 years later.

alphasox · 31/08/2022 08:28

I shared a room at Uni and it was so big we both had our own ends and clear areas so it was fine.
we also had an en-suite while everyone else on our floor in the single rooms had to share 2 showers between 12 of them. We became really good friends and the only difficulty was agreeing when one wanted the room to themselves to entertain a boyfriend etc. but we worked it out!
headphones, ear plugs and being thoughtful and it was fine!

hotdiggetydog · 31/08/2022 08:29

100 per cent take it

He can either

1 End up with it to himself

2 End up moving to a single

3 stay put in the shared room and have cheaper accomodation

4 have a great room mate

1 and 2 are very possible
3 is a definite if he does nothing
4 is a lottery, and if it doesn't work out he can look at step 2

Dadaya · 31/08/2022 08:32

I would never take a shared room. Especially if he’s an introvert with MH issues, it’ll be a nightmare. God knows who the other person might be or what they might do with your DS’s stuff. They could take his money, smoke drugs, bring partners home to bed, or anything! Plus the discomfort of having to get undressed in front of a stranger, it’s just weird. By all means share a flat but always have your own bedroom with a lockable door!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 31/08/2022 08:34

Back in the early 1980s when I went to uni sharing was commonplace. My first year room mate was a complete arse and had poor personal hygene. Never spoke to them again afterwards.

Cantshakeit · 31/08/2022 08:38

Do it! I shared a room in Halls years ago. First roommate moved upstairs within a couple of days, next roommate moved into a single room when it became available, third roommate left Uni after a couple of weeks due to homesickness, then I moved to a new bigger room with a chosen roommate. The following year, I chose to share again in a huge room so we each had lots of our own space. We're still best friends 25 years later.....

Didiplanthis · 31/08/2022 08:44

Everyone had to share where I was. It was a bit mixed, some people hit it off, some people loathed each other. One or 2 moved to the few single rooms if an older student moved out. Most people were fine, some had to learn compromise and tolerance. It did mean people mixed more rather than hiding away in their rooms as is hard to hide with company. The girl I shared with was VERY different to me but we got on OK and actually meant I wasn't ostracised by the cool crowd she was part of, like the rest of the not cool crowd I was part of ! Look at what study arrangements there are.. we had one desk between 2 and then there were communal study rooms which was tricky as we were doing medicine which was very study heavy ( and room mates had to share a skeleton as there wasn't enough to go round 🤣) I wouldn't say it was great but we coped. I am also an introvert with social anxiety.

Bugbeau · 31/08/2022 08:45

My husband got into uni through clearing (20+ years ago though) and ended up in a shared room. They didn’t click immediately but ended up becoming very good friends and still are all these years later. My husband is someone who very much likes his own space but they weren’t in the room together loads during the day due to different lectures and it really did work fine.

Didiplanthis · 31/08/2022 08:45

Oh and nothing got stolen but we didn't have much to steal in those days pre mobile, pre laptop etc ..

Ineedtoletgo83 · 31/08/2022 08:50

Two experiences
DH shared and hated it.

at Uni two people on my corridor shared. They got on fine and it was a huge room, one of them did get their own room after going on the waiting list.

It’s better to be in Halls the first year so deffo share.

EduCated · 31/08/2022 08:52

I think it also partly depends on the room 1 is it a decent size? There’s some I’ve seen recently that are very much single rooms that have had an extra bed shoved in. Is there also communal space so he has options of where to relax/work etc.?

I think it’s slightly different now than when sharing was commonplace/standard, lots of places have lost common rooms in favour of using the extra space for double rooms/en-suites. It may also be harder to be happy with it if you see everyone around you in single occupancy rooms (depending on the set up).

That said it can definitely work, and the money saving can make a real difference to budget etc.

I would ask the housing team whether those in shared rooms get priority for swaps if rooms become available, and take a closer look at the set up of the halls/flat.

notanothertakeaway · 31/08/2022 08:54

One of my friends is still close friends with someone she shared a room with at Uni many years ago

Agree with PP, if it doesn't work out, there may be an option to move to a single room later on

JacquelineCarlyle · 31/08/2022 09:07

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 31/08/2022 08:24

Yes! Shared with a random person, chose to share for the next 2 years of our uni life. Still one of my best friends 25 years later…

This is exactly me too!

felulageller · 31/08/2022 09:08

I think he should take it up and try it. If it doesnt work out he'll be able to move somewhere else as others drop out and private rooms become available.

Twizbe · 31/08/2022 09:09

I shared in my first year. Got a massive split level en-suite room too. My roommate was doing a film degree so brought her own TV with her too (bonus)

She was nice and we rubbed along ok but we didn't stay in touch after the first year. Nothing drastic but we were just quite different people.

It was a good experience though.

Shtfday · 31/08/2022 09:27

I'm very social but wouldn't have wanted to share a room. Its hugely beneficial to have somewhere to zone out. However, saying that halls are a much better option than private housing. He could end up very isolated if not in halls.
In this situation I would say go for the shared room but ask to be put on a waiting list for a single room. He can then decide when a single comes up what he wants to do then.

fyn · 31/08/2022 09:34

The shared rooms at my uni, nobody actually ended up sharing. So many people drop out he can request a room move when he gets there anyway. I think halls are important for the first year for making friends, he could end up quite isolated off campus.

MajorCarolDanvers · 31/08/2022 09:37

I had a shared room in first year halls.

We got on fine and flat shared through the rest of uni.

It was great in the early weeks and months when I didn't know anyone to have an instant chum.

(She did have an out of town boyfriend so was away every week though so that helped)

SweepItUnderTheCarpet · 31/08/2022 09:41

I used to share a room with random people when I was young and staying in a YMCA for work placements. It was never a problem.

The cheapness and not having to deal with a private landlord would be a massive plus. I assume bills will be included. I'd go for it.