St Andrews

[IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere]

DD has received a very good offer from St Andrews. She loves the look of the course and is very keen to go there. Aside from the course she loves the idea of a small town, has no interest in nightlife as part of the "student experience" and loves the quirky traditions.

Does anyone have any experience of being there and the extra expenses that could be involved such as the extra cost of travel, formal dinners and the like?

We are a low income family in an economically deprived area. She is part of a very small 6th form - 12 in the Upper 6th. Her school is not in special measures but is holding on by the skin of its teeth! They are very keen for her to go to St Andrews but she is not going to be their responsibility!

We will support her as much as we possibly can but I am worried that it will be a lot more expensive than a less elite university.

Any thoughts?

Good tip on the gown!

Will chase up accom today - or rather will gently suggest dd does

We have still not heard about accommodation but DS’s friend heard last night. Hoping today might bring some news as getting time off work during the week to drive up is difficult for me.

Hello all.

No news re accommodation for DD. Really hope we’ll hear soon.

Thanks for the gown information - really useful.

DS2 actually missed his accomodation offer 2 years ago because he failed to realise he had to go into his new student mail account and was patiently waiting for it to come to his regular email account. Luckily I got suspicious if the long wait and made him investigate as we duscovered his accommodation offer had expired the day before! Managed to rescue the situation with a phone call but it was a bit hairy as we were restricted on choice due to budget. He loves St Andrews by the way, had Oxbridge worthy grades but only ever wanted to go to St Andrews and it suits him very well.

They usually have second hand gown sales in freshers week but not sure if they will do that this year for hygiene reasons.
Another accomodation point you may not realise is that its not that unusual to stay in halls for more than one year, DS2 did it as he's a bit shy and wasnt proactive enough to push himself forward as a potential flatmate in first year. Made stronger friendships in second year and is private renting this year.

Just found this thread. DD starts St. As this year too. Agnes Blackadder hall. She is terrified as quite shy and finds it difficult to make friends. She has been assigned a mentor (4th year student) who has emailed her and helped reassure her a bit. I have been really impressed with all the communication- far more than ds got from Aberdeen. (apart from the accommodation offer only going to the uni address and her very nearly missing the deadline!)

@haggisaggis DS was very shy and was 17 until thesecond semester which didn't help but joining societies was the secret for him, this is something St Andrews does very well and is a real boon for the socially unconfidant. DS2 now runs the board game club (he is a bit of a nerd) and has even done stand up comedy!

@haggisaggis i see you had the same issue with the accomodation email, its worth warning about.

@Wbeezer My socially nervous DD is first year at St Andrews as well. She's relieved that COVID means the first weeks won't be the rounds of drinking and socialising she's heard about from her parents.

@Wbeezer Thanks for all the info and tip re student email account. DD has been looking in her new email account, I believe, but I shall double-check nonetheless after your accommodation experience!

Does anyone else's child have issues logging onto their St Andrews email? DD has a log in for MySaint but we can't find any link to her email. There's a Saint Mail link on the website but it won't let her in

She's never accessed her email before (following the hint to look there for accommodation confirmation)

If she goes into the library tab on my saint can she see outlook?

She can also log on to the accommodation website which is not on my saint in the same way as she did when she put in her accommodation request. That is where the accommodation email sends you anyway.

Dd has been checking her st Andrews email but has also contacted them to ask. It’s not the most straightforward start is it?!

Glad to hear of the students who love it!

Thank you to the Mumsnet Massive!!!

She has a room in Agnes Blackadder.

That is 2 on here for ABH then (unless there are more I have missed).

@Newgirls the A level people seem to be getting ABH and DRA, so maybe they are saving the standard catered for last!

My DS had to download Outlook to access his email.
@Newgirls did your daughter receive a response from chasing up the accommodation? Still waiting here!

@Dahliafairy did he want standard catered? Testing my theory that they did en suite first.

@Monkey2001 - yes - standard catered was his first choice! Maybe your theory is correct?!

DS2 was in standard catered, he quite liked the food especially the breakfasts, he's been missing the Sunday morning waffles.

Waffles sounds nice!

She’s at work but be assured I shall update ASAP!

She’s asked for catered so theory might hold.

Hi everyone, for those in Agnes Balckadder (ABH) if you havent found it already there is a facebook page. Once your DC ask to join there is a senior student whom they message to get added to the chat. Dd said it wasnt obvious but she has been messaging one or 2 girls now. Hope that's helpful.
Not long to go now.....

Oops Blackadder ( my typing is appalling!)

Dd is in ABH too - catered option. I haven’t managed to get her to join the Facebook group yet - she’s not great at social media. Had a wander round St. Andrews today (we live about 1 hour away) so she’s more confident about getting around now. It is a lovely wee town.