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!

Anyone know how I edit the title of the thread? I can simply call it St Andrews?

I’m not sure that you can change a thread title without help from a site administrator. I’m sorry not to be more helpful.

DD is now very happy at DRA. Its a trek, but she has clicked with her roommates and is having a good start. Her initial disappointment is long forgotten.

She says the gym is amazing, and there seems to be lots to do with all the clubs and societies. She has bought a ticket to the ball in October along with her new mates. They are all disappointed that many welcoming events are cancelled in mourning for the Queen. It sounds like everyone is just getting a jump on their reading lists which is quite sensible. She tells me that the library is newly renovated and very nice.

I hope all the new starters are having a good start.

Glad she is off to a positive start

hopefully the smaller events will be happening. Things happen every weekend so they will get more chances for beach barbecues etc

They might find being forced to spread out fresher's events is a good thing, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide what to do and inevitably getting FOMO about things you didn't manage to go to...

Apparently theyve all been going to the pub. They are all american in my nieces halls I dont think she expected that. Shes really enjoying it so far. I dont kniw how many meals she hasnt slept through though.

Interesting FOI with Admissions Stats here
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/admission_statistics_202182#incoming-2114684

Yes Chingford that it is generally much easier to be offeted a place of you are an overseas student, followed by RUK, hardest if you are a Scot.

Eek, confirming not Chingford.

@Wbeezer Does that FOI confirm that?

will take a look thanks

are Scottish students choosing Edin etc over at Andrews I wonder? Less of a novelty to them than the Americans?! Dd knows a few Scottish students but more Americans I think!

It's the cap on numbers because of the free places. It's a small uni so can only offer a smallish number of free places to Scots. Most Scots pupils fill all their UCAS slots with Scottish unis so you end up with lots of kids with v good grades chasing a small ?number of places and a lower offer rate.
They used to be able to offer places to rUK freely but they are now capped too and the difference is smaller
Americans like it because it has a very high offer rate compared to their "elite" unis and us cheaper too.
Obviously there are a lot more Americans in general too than 5 million Scots.
I've looked at similar charts before when DS was applying to gauge how likely he was to get an offer.

And yes, the "posh" reputation, the small town vibe and the cost (our minimum lian lian is smaller ) does put some Scottish students off.
This bit is anecdotal.

Sorry about typos didn't have glasses on.
I should have said I mostly looked atdigurea for arts subjects.

I had a look at the stats. Again very difficult to get a place for economics and maths. Also psychology.

IR is popular. I assume that’s very popular with Americans?

@Newgirls last year Psychology was the hardest to get an offer for (21.46% of applicants got offers) and Chinese the easiest (74.75%). Earth Sciences was weirdly good (69.43%), so if you want to do a science degree and really want St A, may be best to apply for Earth Science and take some Physics or Biology modules (Physics only 24.78% got offers, Biology 27.63%).

Chinese can only be taken as joint honours there so I wonder how the figures work. If someone were to apply for economics and Chinese, would they be in the Chinese figure or the economics one?

Surprised at earth sciences

People generally don't understand what Earth Sciences is 😂

Anyones dc disappointed with the catered food? My niece is a vegetarian and said it’s not that good at all very bland and small portions. It’s annoying to hear as she never wanted catered. The menu looks blooming gorgeous I’m sure I wouldn’t have a problem having three meals a day cooked for me😀

According to DS and his friends, the food was good in 2020, then went downhill. Maybe they lost staff when they furloughed people.

Thats a shame when it costs so much.

DD was desperate for standard catered but was assigned a self catered en-suite. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It sounds like she is getting on cooking for herself after all which is great. But, the lack of hygiene/tidiness from three of her four other roommates is really getting her down.

Sharing a kitchen with so many people is never easy. And these girls are inexperienced.

Can they arrange their own swap? Does that ever happen?

She tried earlier. The week before she joined, a girl who wanted an en-suite approached her. The accommodation office refused, but did move the girl who wanted the en-suite on the basis that the girl was asking due to some sort of medical need. So that was good at least.

I think frustrating shared kitchens are part of student life. I just wish she would have spent the first year complaining about the catering rather than unhygienic roommates!

She did get the classes that she wanted, and is keen for the tutorials to start.

@Stockpot sorry she’s not loving the flat experience. I suspect there will be some movement before too long. DS’ friend isn’t getting on with his room mate. Wouldn’t surprise me if that led to a change. Not that she would necessarily want a shared room.