1st year uni accommodation - ensuite essential?

[ifonly4]

Does anyone think ensuite accommodation is really essential?

DD has always said she was more than happy to share, looked in a flat for eight which had four shower/bathrooms,, looked clean despite still being in partial use. However, when walking around, so many were saying they had to have an ensuite or parents insisting. DD has spoken to her cousin whose told her people will be sick and not clear it up.

Any thoughts?

I have rather reluctantly agreed that my younger daughter can have an ensuite room in her first year on the grounds that the older one did in her first year. We didn't apply for an ensuite room for her, or pay extra for it. She was just lucky. She didn't have one in her 2nd or 3rd years.

As well as fairness, my reasoning is that you don't know who will share with in the first year and you might end up living in close proximity to people you really don't want to share a bathroom with. In the second and third years, you can generally choose who to live with, so no need for an ensuite.

We're doing the rounds of open days now with DC1. I had shared toilets & showers down the corridor when I was at uni. Hated it, but that's just how it was then. DC1 struggles even in a communal changing room & was very unhappy at the idea of showering in a shared space. UCL was showing off a shared twin room with just one desk, let alone shared toilets! We'll be happy to pay for a room with en suite.