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?

How exciting everyone! We are also heading up first thing tomorrow, Dd was a wee bit tearful this afternoon but also excited. I had a wee cry when I was making up her "a hug from home " basket. So lovely to hear that the settling in is going well for all the DC. Wishing everyone a safe trip tomorrow and the days to come.

We may see each other tomorrow and not know! We are on the way from Edinburgh to our Travelodge now, checking in to Uni Hall late morning.

We also dropped DD off today. Very easy ‘check-in’ (lovely staff) and parking. After a walk along the beach in the glorious sunshine, we said our goodbyes as she headed off to hall for dinner. She has reported back that everyone she has met so far seems very friendly, and that she has plans to head out for a walk with a few of them tomorrow (which is a relief as she was very nervous on the drive to St A this morning). More importantly, her bed is apparently, surprisingly comfortable and the food is good.

We are heading back South with a few of DD’s items which didn’t make the final cut, including shorts and sundresses

I hope it all goes well for everyone’s DC - they certainly deserve it to.

@AChickenCalledDaal

Well we've done it! DD1 safely installed in Andrew Melville Hall. St Andrews looking sparkly in the sunshine (in between showers LOL). Her room is small but really well designed and lots of nice green space round the building.

On the catering front, she reports that meals are indeed in the dining room but they are to space out. However, she's not bothering with dinner tonight because I filled her up with baked goods in town before we left .

Just FYI you can send baked goods from Fisher and Donaldson as an essential! I sent food parcels from here to my Ds when he was on lockdown on his own in flat at Dundee Uni ....if she's in St Andrews for 4 years, you will often hear of this much revered baker and patisserie! www.fisheranddonaldson.com/ The fudge doughnuts are legendary!

@Samueljohnsonsdictionary that's fab news that your Dd is making connections already and getting out and about. I am just sipping a herbal tea to prepare for the day ahead, we have a 10am slot so will be leaving in about an hour. Monkey I bet we do pass each other at some point today as it's a small town maybe us mumsnetters in St Andrew's shoukd have a secret code to recognise each other. Anyway wishing all the DC the very best for the coming semester as others have said these kids so deserve a break it's been a tough year. Please all report back on how your kids are doing I feel a vicarious vested interest in them all.

Would like to echo everything @Alittlewornout said. Good luck to them all!

We'll be leaving in about half an hour - I hope the rain stays off! Good luck everyone 😁

We’ve got an afternoon slot so not heading out for a while yet. Good news about the meals and that everyone is friendly! If you see a family wandering about town with a large black collie dog that’s us!

So exciting for everyone! Perhaps the mumsnet sign could be waving a gin and tonic? Too early possibly and tricky while carrying bags?!

Pretty sure we are flying up tomorrow. Bags are being packed. Cloak has arrived and much liked.

Fisher and Donaldson do very nice frog cakes a bit like French fancies.

What is in the hug box? I was thinking buying wine?!

Also great news on the dining

On news today - st a now ranked higher than Cambridge...

Lovely article with quote from Sally Mapstone saying ‘great news in this tough year... we want to focus on what they CAN do’

Arrived! Everyone so far really lovely, room not big but nice, really clean. Dd and Dh carting stuff up, it is a bit of a maze. Poor Dd sprained her ankle on Thursday so she is hobbling along. Love the gin idea!! The hug box is just daft things eg cosy pjs and fluffy socks percy pigs, a mug and hot chocolate. Oh and a cushion with a photo of the cat on it for her bed, as the cat always sleeps with her at home.
Well you will spot us too as I am the tiny mum supporting her much taller dd with dodgy ankle! Our kids are going to fine ladies.

Ah sounds all good 👍 hope ankle feels better soon too

Son dropped off and now I'm home again - to a sulking cat! Room small but clean and warm. They are going to be fine 😁

We have left DS and GF sorting room. Only thing he knows he has forgotten so far is an adaptor plug for his electric toothbrush. I think he should have brought more than 1 pair of trainers, but he is happy with one.

Slightly worried about how he is going to meet people as only 1 person at a time allowed in kitchen. Hope there is a chance of talking to people at dinner. They are doing dinner tonight even though it is Saturday.

... and I agree that staff were very friendly. They were happy for us to go in with DSone at a time, just didn't want big parties traipsing through.

Good intel gang 👍 do you think they will do dinner for them on Sunday night too? Not expecting it but might be really nice.

Can he head to the common rooms later too? Maybe not much reason to be in the kitchens so maybe not so let?

Key

Not let

More people arrived after him and there was lots of chatting in the corridor. He was off to the beach with others from his corridor when we left. Looked happy - phew!

Same here, dd chatting to other students and seems really happy. The town has a lovely buzz and as we walked along South street the bells of the local church were ringing the theme to Chariots of Fire!! Fab end to our day, and I haven't cried yet!! Glad they are all settling in, think we all deserve a glass of something tonight.

Wow chariots of fire! What a welcome - really lovely

Glad all making pals already

@Newgirls it really was! Please reassure your dd that despite the masks and covid rules it feels really welcoming and friendly. In Agnes Blackadder there are signs up in the social spaces saying how many are allowed in so they are in no way confined to their rooms. I hope she will be pleasantly surprised. Safe journey to you tomorrow and welcome to sunny Scotland!

If anyone was in Morrisons at @3ish you might have seen me, there certainly seemed a few parent/student pairs stocking up. We had to have lunch in Morrisons too (oh the glamour) because the town and parking were so busy.

Just home after safety depositing DS at St Regulus. His room is lovely - not huge but cosy and plenty of room for everything. We had a walk around town this afternoon then chippy tea before leaving. He’s had a chat to others on his corridor and another walk around. All good so far!
Catering hours are extended - only 30 allowed in at a time so the option to eat in your room if it’s busy which seems fair enough to me.