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?

Well our experience was a bit different...social spaces all shut, no one in her corridor at all and the WiFi didn’t work...so we moved her stuff in then brought her home and will try again tomorrow.

@haggisaggis

Well our experience was a bit different...social spaces all shut, no one in her corridor at all and the WiFi didn’t work...so we moved her stuff in then brought her home and will try again tomorrow.

My DS was alone in his DRA apartment from Wednesday till today, when 2 others moved in. We also needed IT support to get WIFI working but they did sort it. Better luck tomorrow.

@Dahliafairy I was a resident of St Regulus for three years back in the 1990s. Had a wonderful time: I hope he does do.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby thanks for that - was thinking we were the only ones where it wasn’t going smoothly! Luckily we don’t live far away and didn’t see the point of her sitting there all alone tonight. She has a friend moving into University Hall tomorrow so at least can meet up with her if need be. On the plus side, the town was buzzing (we heard the bells too!) and we had a lovely meal in Tanon.

[quote haggisaggis]@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby thanks for that - was thinking we were the only ones where it wasn’t going smoothly! Luckily we don’t live far away and didn’t see the point of her sitting there all alone tonight. She has a friend moving into University Hall tomorrow so at least can meet up with her if need be. On the plus side, the town was buzzing (we heard the bells too!) and we had a lovely meal in Tanon.[/quote]
The bells playing sounded like wishful thinking to me...so it's really true is it? I am also not too far away and hope to make many visits especially once Covid not such an issue.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby Bells were definitely playing! It’s a lovely place so I hope our dc will enjoy there time there when things settle down.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby the bells were definitely playing our family all heard them. It was lovely, I honestly didn't make it up.

We arrived yesterday, but DD doesn’t move in until Tuesday! I’d booked our accommodation months ago, thinking she’d move in Sunday or Monday.
The town was really busy yesterday, and looks like another nice day today

@haggisaggis I’m sorry to hear things did not go smoothly. With the Wi-fi, DS had downloaded the apps / installers for eduroam before he moved in. Have you tried this? Wishing you better luck today - the weather forecast looks lovely too x

@Gormless - Thank you - it’s in such a peaceful spot. I think he’ll be very happy there.

My husband went to St Andrews university in the nineties. He met his best friend on the same course. They shared a flat in the town after graduation and then both bought houses in the same street near East Sands.
Such a lovely place neither of them wanted to go back to where they came from 😁

I've lived here for 18 years (from way down South) and its the best place I've ever lived.

Welcome 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Hemlock how lovely thanks for posting

A little - thanks that sounds very reassuring

Haggis - this is the downside of this staggered settling in. There must be a thousand freshers so hopefully the neighbours will be visible today and it goes more smoothly

Will report back on how our day goes 👍

@haggisaggis sorry to hear you had a disappointing attempted drop off. It is such an emotional time for the DCs and difficult if it does not go to plan. Hope the corridor has filled up today.

@Newgirls we cast a jealous look at Wardlaw whilst moving DS into Lumsden. His room is cosy and perfectly nice, but he would have loved something old and characterful. Hope you have a good move in.

DS was fine getting laptops in to system, but had trouble getting phone to access WiFi.

@Dahliafairy thanks for tips re downloading files in advance. We did them in halls yesterday but wasn’t convinced they’d installed properly. Did them at home just now using our own WiFi and they took longer so am hopeful it will work today... DD has her positive face on and ready for a new day. We’re going to get there in time for lunch so hopefully she will actually meet someone.

@haggisaggis dd just but the bullet this morning and asked knocked on the door of the girl opposite and they had breakfast together. It's hard being the one brave enough to make the first move but it really is worth it. Everyone is feeling the same and lunch in the hall is a good place to start a conversation. Lots of luck today. Let us know how she gets on.

DD also having a bit of a slow start I think. Drop off went fine but someone in her actual household was awaiting a covid test result. So she's in a temporary room, which is perfectly nice but she doesn't yet know whether she'll end up in it permanently or not. And therefore hasn't fully unpacked which can't be helping with settlng in.

She sounded quite positive yesterday, but I hope she gets some clarity very soon. And I must admit I'd also quite like to know if they do have an active covid case in her building!

Fingers crossed Chicken - all the people I know who had tests got negative results, hope it was just somebody being cautious. Frustrating not being able to unpack properly.

She didn’t make it to lunch after all partly owing to the Guardbridge road works and also because she was in the phone to IT for ages. However there is definitely more movement in the corridor and I think we’ve persuaded her to knock on a few doors! She’s more positive today - planning to meet up with her friend later and after having to physically take her laptop to IT she now has WiFi! (Printer now not working but one step at a time!). So think we’re getting there! She met a very positive girl, also a fresher, when we were out so I think sh’s gained a bit of confidence. Hope your dd manages to get properly settled soon @AChickenCalledDaal.

Ok we made it! Wardlaw room is beautiful and roommate seems a great match. Other girls appeared and whisked her away and I have wandered into town. So it’s going well I think. Late arriving due to slightly delayed flight - shuttle was good but waited a little while.

Monkey it’s quite a big place so might take a while to all meet but the main dining hall looked smart?

Thanks for the update @haggisaggis, hope it continues to be good for her.

Yes Newgirls, lovely dining hall and the common spaces in the old hall are lovely too. Has your DD got a good view? Some Wardlaw rooms have a view of the sea. DS did not do too badly as he has a view of the old wing of the hall across a grassy area.

Ps it’s not the famous wardrobe room but it has fancy ceiling, fireplace and sea view. Corridors from the 70s. Huge common room with a sign saying 4 people only which seems a bit mean as it’s huge. There is grass to sit out so maybe that will be their social space 👍

Lovely to hear all the updates and si pleased they are beginning to find their feet. Dd enjoyed Sunday lunch and is now about to participate in some event so all going well I think Her ankle is easier to walk on but she sent me a photo and the bruising and swelling are awful. She remains positive and says it's not getting her down.

Great to hear she's arrived Newgirls and that her roommate seems compatible. That's a great start. Keeping everything crossed that she decides to hang in there.

Has she seen the new drama schedule for freshers? www.facebook.com/MermaidsStA

Just spoken to DD who is definitely hampered by being in a temporary room. She's discovered her neighbour is quarantining so we're guessing that's why the corridor is so quiet and there seems to be a lack of face to face contact. But they have now communicated by post-it note and neighbour will emerge soon! In the meantime, DD is getting involved in virtual events, has been into town and bought a gown (the photo of which made Grandma very proud!) and spoken to a couple of other mathematicians online and at breakfast. So a slow start but probably OK.

A chicken - I think more people still to arrive so helpfully more will appear soon. Will she meet up with the maths class in real life soon? Seems to be plenty of large green spaces to head to for informal meet ups. I wonder if tutorial groups will do that in a week or so?

Thanks for drama link I have shared so hope she goes along to that. She also plans to go to the sports groups thing mon and tues afternoon more for walking and dance than team sports I think, if any one interested in that.