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?

Thanks @Monkey2001 I will get her to check if she has done that yet as I think that may be the issue. She had to log on to her lap top to get them so thanks so much for this. I have seen the medical stuff ( because over invested and paranoid nursey mum has scoured the uni website!) And she needs to choose modules but as she Hope's for second year entry that's a moot point really as modules are set for that( however after seeing the IB scenario I have said to choose first year ones incase the SQA do something very strange with her results!! Started buying bits and pieces this weekend so very excited and we know a family who's daughter has just finished Mmath course so is going to come round and give dd the low down.
Accommodation wise I think all the DC will be happy wherever they are they all seem very friendly. Talking of which I said to dd about a door stop for her room door as a way for her to invite others in and make friends. She thought that was a really good idea and how had I thought of that?! Thank you lovely mumsnet mums.😉

Ooh didnt see your last bit @Monkey2001 we are going up on the 5th too 10sm to 11. We have a lunch booked for 2 and then I think she will just want us gone!!

Thanks @alittlewornout. Will get her to check, as I’m guessing she probably hasn’t. She’s bad enough with her normal email!
We’ve booked accommodation in St Andrews, for 5th to 7th. Fingers crossed she gets in now!

I am looking forward to seeing all your lovely DC here in September along with all the other new students. It was so quiet without all the students after lockdown happened. St Andrews is not the same without them. They will all have a blast.

Monkey no I had no idea about the staggered start!

Will she be allocated accom before she gets a place? She isn’t expecting to hear before results day?

Eek I have no idea on this!

Apollo lovely comment thank you - I am sure all the students will be so happy to be there

@Newgirls, unless they are doing anything different from usual, the staggered start is going to be a bit of a scramble, particularly for A level people, the people with Highers results will know before . They do not allocate accommodation until the offer is unconditional, and last year they took up to 2 weeks to allocate it for A level people. You book your arrival time when completing the e-induction on the accommodation page and I assume that is only available once accommodation has been allocated. You could get DD to check the accommodation page to see if she can click on the link which says "Pre-arrival" to complete the e-induction, but I expect you can't do it until the accommodation is allocated.

If it helps, the orientation stuff for medicine is all on line, so it looks like it may be very possible to do it from home if she does not get an arrival slot before orientation week starts. All quite frustrating for them though, the university should probably have got the unconditional people to book earlier slots to leave the ones just before orientation for those waiting for results.

Maybe people should be asking St A to make all offers unconditional as it is such an odd results year anyway. At lest she will know she needs to set up the e-mail on her phone and do the e-induction as soon as she gets the accommodation offer.

It does seem like a mad last dash for A level students. Some halls have staggered dates starting on the 31st August so that's only just over 2 weeks after A level results??
@Apolloanddaphne my dd and her friends are beyond excited to be starting and my ds cant wait to get in to his new student house in August for his final year. Think both DC will be fighting over the red cloak that belonged to Dh when he was a student there (30 years ago).

Thanks monkey. I would imagine the early slots would be allocated to international students who may want to self isolate or settle in? My dd being an a level student might be towards the end? Or they may get it all allocated faster this year as it’s a weird year? Perhaps they have even decided everyone is unconditional and just not told the students? My guess is they will want a plan in place ASAP and might have it all in place already. Our accom is cancellable so not worried about that - it will all just be go go go after results day.

Congrats to all those going to St Andrews. Only 3 weeks away now - eek!

@Newgirls here’s the St Andrews thread. Congratulations
Don’t know yet if she’s in

Hello gang!

Dd is very excited to be going to St. Andrews! Now to wait for accom and arrival date! I’ve been checking trains and planes and the shuttle bus! Far cheaper and quicker to fly but with all the bags I think train for first time.

What a rollercoaster it has been for everyone! They deserve a drink on that beach!

Yay well done @Newgirls Dd! Hopefully you will hear about accommodation soon. My Dd in in Agnes Blackadder. We had a wee day trip last week when the weather was gorgeous, saw the hall so that made her really excited, visited Ds who has just moved into his student home for this year and is in such a lovely location with the most amazing garden. Sat and had our fish and chips in it. Am sure your daughter will love it, the town is very small but the streets are so pretty lots of lovely old buildings and right on the beautiful coast. Keep us all posted about what hall she is allocated and huge well done once again!

Thank you a little

I think it will suit her very well. We went there on holiday a couple of years ago and loved it. Had lovely fish and explored the fife coastline. What lucky teens they are.

DS has had his results today and his offer for St Andrews confirmed! Very proud and very relieved!! Excited to hear about accommodation/arrival now.

Congratulations all. DD will be going to St Andrews to study astrophysics.

Well done to @Dahliafairy and @slug dc! Exciting times ahead for them all. It will be a busy few weeks getting organised. Can't believe dd goes up in just over 3 weeks. Enjoy your celebrations today they are very well deserved all the kids across the UK have been through the mill this year especially exam wise.

Congratulations to all. DD will be going too, studying environmental earth science.
I’d taken a gamble and booked some accommodation for weekend of the 5th September. Just need to find out what accommodation she’s been allocated now

Looks like DD will be heading to St Andrews. It was her insurance so we have an awful lot to get our heads round in the next three short weeks. Keep telling me nice stories about beaches and lovely halls. It will help us get our heads in the right place!

St Andrews is lovely. Great student community, lovely location.

PS If you can't get parental accommodation in St Andrews, try Dundee - it's less than half an hour away and probably cheaper!

@AChickenCalledDaal I am so sorry to hear you lovely dd didnt get her first choice but can I just say I am sure she wont look back once she is in St Andrews. My dd is doing maths too so DM me if you want to. Hugs to your girl but honestly it may well be blessing in disguise as perhaps a more balanced work/ social life split.

AChickenCalledDahl Have been lurking on this thread as DD will be applying for next year. Both DH and I were there and it is a truly amazing place and a great uni. I’m sure your DD will be very happy there.

nice to hear some positivity on a quite confusing day.

Alittlewornout I may well DM you at some point. Is your DD already there? I think DD is going to have lots of questions about modules etc once she's ready to start thinking about it.

@AChickenCalledDaal please do.
Dd is just about to start and going directly into 2nd year which I take it your Dd is also doing? If so no need to choose modules as these are set.
Think they just need time to let their brains and emotions catch up with the situation. Once the dust settles a bit she will feel more positive. It's so hard for them ( and us parents).

A chicken - they have a nice virtual tour on their website which might help get her excited!