St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)

[Newgirls]

Ok can’t think of a catchier title! If anyone can send the other thread over here pls do!

Prospective and existing parents etc all welcome here. Transport, accom, cloaks, choirs, beaches and more to be discussed. Next year will be better surely!

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/accommodation/

My DD medic was fully catered (3 meals a day except Sunday evening, iirc) at Andrew Melville. V close to lectures, and yes, they could go back for lunch. It was extremely good value, and there were choices but she wasn't at all keen on the vegetarian options. She's quite a fussy eater though. What was a bit strange, compared to other unis, was that there was a mix of 1st years and older years together, so some corridors were very unsociable. But as everyone ate together, it wasn't too hard to get around that problem.

@NadiSel my medic son was in Uni Hall for his first year and it's staying there for sending year. Takes about 5 mins to get to medical school, but that is true from ABH, AMH and John Burnett. St Andrews is tiny, everything is close. Catered standard is great value, particularly AMH, but lots of people are prepared to pay extra for en suite. My DS very happy to have a shared bathroom which was cleaned for him!

How is everyone?

I saw that St. Andrews did very well in a poll about student happiness. My dd did roll her eyes but we are hopeful that the Can Do will be good in sept.

She also mentioned that some had discussed a staggered start to term. Anyone heard rumours on that?

Hello!!

Just saw a summary of the accommodation zoom meeting the FB people organised, which said they want to phase arrivals. I don't know how that might work for returning students as we booked arrival slot when he filled in the induction firm when accommodation was allocated last year. DS hopeless at reading emails, but hoping to get in on Saturday before Freshers, which is likely to be very popular.

Hi! She thought first years might get priority but not sure how that would work in practical terms. As internationals all arrive at dif times anyway it shouldn’t be a huge issue hopefully

I agree that first years should get priority, but if we want to book accommodation for the drop off, it would help to know when it is! When are others hoping to arrive?

Has anyone used the rather lovely sounding Northern Lights train from kings cross that stops at Leuchars? It goes via Edin too. It’s only once a day but great name!

Booking now open for arrivals at St Andrews. DS has managed to get evening of Saturday 4th, which is what we wanted as I had booked a B&B for us.

Do you know if uni hall will do social welcome things? Not sure when dd planning to go - will ask

I don't know, but DS had friends on the Hall committee so will ask if he knows

Thanks that could really help with plans here x

My DD has got a place in Whitehorn hall and she is driving me crazy because she doesn't seem to realise it is only a month or so to go and I'm trying to get organised. I've learned from here that you need to book arrival so will nag her to look into that.

What exactly is provided in the kitchens and how much storage space do they have for food and utensils?

What kind of supermarkets etc will she have access to? She will be walking or using public transport.

I'm thinking she will need basic pots and pans, baking trays, cutlery etc. Will they have a shared kettle? Will electricals like a toastie maker be allowed?

I'm planning a drive up there in the next couple of weeks, are there any places you recommend to visit? She will be studying philosophy.

She seems really nervous and right now is saying she plans on spending a lot of time at home (we live about 1 hour drive away) but I hope she settles in and is happy to enjoy student life.

The accommodation looks lovely

Hi @Gingerkittykat. I don't know anything specifically about Whitehorn as dd was in ABH last year (and again this year). I don't think there's any cooking stuff in the kitchens except kettle & microwave. They can take a toastie maker etc but they're only meant to use it in the kitchen. All electrical equipment gets inspected at some point during semester 1. There's a small Tesco and Sainsbury's within easy walking and a large Morrison's (and M&S Food and Aldi) a longer (30 mins?) walk away. DD was fully catered last year (same this year actually but plans to do more for herself) and didn't bother with pans but brought a couple of plates / bowls, glasses, cutlery etc. which she stored in her room. In ABH there is storage space available in the kitchen for stuff (kitchen's there are pretty good) but don't know about Whitehorn.
We also live around 1 hour away. DD came home a lot last year but is wanting to spend more time away this year. Make sure your dd is checking her St Andrews email address. Everything gets sent there! Has she made her other module choices yet?

@Gingerkittykat she is super lucky to get Whitehorn, it is the most popular hall for returning students if she has standard self catered! I think they have induction hobs.

@newgirls I am afraid DS has no idea whatsoever what is happening in Uni Hall for Freshers as he had not been on touch with anyone over the summer - sorry!

Yay, DD has finally realised she only has a couple of weeks left till she goes and has started to organise herself. The thing I have been nagging her to do for weeks is organise her disabled student assessment but she has now probably left it too late to have it in place by the beginning of term.

She has decided she is spending a small fortune on an ebike to get around, we are going to visit one day next week so she can see what everything looks like.

It's glad to know Whithorn is popular, it looks lovely from the brochure, they didn't have cinema rooms in halls when I was young!

Hi all - good to see this discussion picking up again - and welcome to parents of new students. It's come as a bit of a shock to me that there's suddenly only four weeks till they go back.

DD completely missed any email asking them to complete pre-arrival forms and is being alarmingly casual about getting round to it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all the arrival slots aren't getting booked up. But on the bright side, they do seem to be feeling positive about getting back and hopefully resuming something more closely resembling normal student life.

DS received an email today offering to release him from his accommodation contact because they are short of accommodation again, but he definitely doesn't want to be released! I don't really know how universities have managed to make the same mistakes again when they know the TAGs were coming!

It does worry me about what it will be like getting accommodation for 3rd year. dd and her friend did look around Christmas at getting a flat but there was nothing (although more did become available after the deadline to commit to halls..) but if they've over offered again, finding somewhere for 3rd year will be tough.

Yes how could they get admissions so wrong again? Why not under offer and do clearing or email candidates more discretely if they need to? What a muddle. I wonder how many will take them up on their offer?

I know a few bright teens who applied this year and didn’t get offers so I think they possibly did offer fewer places - but still not right 🤷‍♀️

But yes hello all! I will be very glad when dd is there and settled in

Hello, DS1 now confirmed place post A level results yesterday, not had any email from uni as yet though. Has anyone else who confirmed post A levels please?

hollypocks DD is second year, but I recall that there was a bit of a stressful delay before communication started last year. Then when it started, things moved pretty quickly. So I wouldn't worry just yet. And congratulations to your son!

Yes it all seems to take a while and feels stressful as they go so early compared to English unis. They will be moving in sep 4/5 onwards in the most part. He will get all emails so as long as he keeps checking it will be ok

@hollypocks I assume you know that accommodation emails go to St Andrews email?