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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Cardiff Uni Open Day

21 replies

snowyowl70 · 18/04/2013 20:11

Anyone else making the trip to the Welsh capital on Weds for the Open Day ? Am taking DD1 and quite excited about our first open day (very sad I know -I don't get out much !!) and a night away with my big girl exploring a city we haven't been to before. Also terrified as I know this is the first steps towards flying the nest !

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sashh · 19/04/2013 05:59

Not going, but my niece in in her second year and loves it.

senua · 19/04/2013 09:04

DD is there and also loves it.
If part of your 'exploring' includes the shops then make sure that you include the Arcades. They are small retail units that don't suit the rigid demands of the Big Corporates so they are full of quirky, interesting Independents.

Is she interested in sport? - it is the Varsity next Wednesday.

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 19/04/2013 10:26

Thanks everyone, we arrive 10.30 tues eve then have the whole day weds until 5.45 to do the open day and hit the shops - never been to Cardiff so really looking forward to it as everyone keeps telling me how nice it is !

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Original poster
snowyowl70 · 19/04/2013 10:27

Senua - she's not into sport but her dad is eager if she goes there to see some rugby !

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Original poster
snowyowl70 · 19/04/2013 10:28

Any comments on what the accomodation is like both in halls and then living out in following years ?

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Moominmammacat · 19/04/2013 13:45

I was at Cardiff ... great, cheap, interesting, safe. Don't discount the all girls Aberdare Hall which is so central and has lots of character. Some of the other halls are a bit further afield, ie bus ride. I'd stay central if I could. The civic centre, where the university is, is just beautiful and you can walk through the arcades from the main station or get a valleys train to Cathays for the uni. Good luck, am very envious.

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 19/04/2013 14:11

Moominmammacat - would you know how long it would take to walk from the central station to the main university building ? We could catch the train but we thought that if the weather is ok that walking would give us chance to see something of the city

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Slipshodsibyl · 19/04/2013 15:53

Fifteen minutes walk I'd say. Leave yourself more of course.

senua · 19/04/2013 18:28

Any comments on what the accommodation is like both in halls and then living out in following years?

DD was in Halls in Talybont, made great mates there. It is in walking distance of the University and Tescos (the largest in Europe!).
She then lived out in the Cathays area, like everyone else. It is studentville. Her (cheap) student houses have been grotty character-forming.Grin
DD is Hmm about Aberdare. Unless, of course, your DD fancies being a hermit/nun.

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 19/04/2013 20:27

No, definitely the hermit/nun type! I lived in halls all three years at uni but my DP had an interesting student house . On visiting him he told me he would show me how to use the bathroom ???? Despite being affronted the problem soon became clear - there was a clear glass door on the bathroom !!!!!! So you had to open the airing cupboard door across it to cover the glass and retain some dignity !!!

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Original poster
snowyowl70 · 19/04/2013 20:28

That's definitely NOT the hermit / nun type !!

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sashh · 20/04/2013 03:04

So you had to open the airing cupboard door across it to cover the glass and retain some dignity !!!

Lol, I hate to stereotype but if it was a girl's house do you think someone would have put newspaper up?

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 20/04/2013 07:30

Yes, am sure girls would have covered it with newspaper or wrapping paper etc !! It was all boys in the house so they weren't bothered !!

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SkiBumMum · 20/04/2013 07:45

Ah! Memories. We called it Frigidare Hall (Blush about that now!). I lived in Talybont N in the newer bit. They had just opened Talybont S at the time. We were the first wave of ensuite self catering. It was nice. I met DH in the bar about a month in......

Uni hall is good too. Much further away but they had a fab community.

The more central halls used to have less community as people would head to the union more.

Living out most people were in Cathays or Roath. Usual student housing really. Very concentrated though "normal" people stood out!

The SU is fab in Cardiff. A really good mix of social and support. Sports are good too.

What's she thinking of doing?

I so hope my pre school DDs pick Cardiff!

Iheartcrunchiebars · 20/04/2013 07:46

I was at Cardiff and it was brilliant. Talybont is great and about a 15 minute walk into lectures. Amazing city, lovely people, great shopping and social life. Best decision I ever made was going there. Enjoy!!!

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 20/04/2013 08:52

DD wants to do languages French/German and you are all making me feel it would be a great place for her !

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BestIsWest · 21/04/2013 19:18

Give yourselves more like 30 minutes to walk from Central Station to the University. You can do it in 15-20 but only if you know the way and walk quickly (I work near the uni and do it every morning).

Good luck. Cardiff's great.

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 21/04/2013 21:32

Thanks so much for that BestIsWest - we will leave plenty of time !

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BestIsWest · 25/04/2013 20:11

How did it go snowy?

Original poster
snowyowl70 · 28/04/2013 13:43

We had a great day thank you ! Loved the city , DD1 loved the Uni and liked the course so Cardiff definitely going on the UCAS form in the autumn! Halls seemed fine, Students Union massive !! And we loved Dylan the Welsh dragon mascot who seemed to follow us around !

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senua · 28/04/2013 22:21

Yay. Glad she liked it! Just four more decisions to make now ...

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