Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)

944 replies

Newgirls · 11/12/2020 15:16

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Ameadowwalk · 14/02/2023 19:38

My recollection is that DD was asked a series of questions on the application for halls which were around about whether she wanted same-sex/mixed sex, quiet/party type, when she went to bed etc. So I think they try to match people to their flatmates. But in catered, then they also go for meals, so DD always had someone to chat to.

Doyourealise · 14/02/2023 20:05

Andrew Melville is the only hall you can express a preference for (don't know why). My DC has found it a sociable hall with the opportunity to meet lots of people - I don't know if that counts as a party hall. They have their own hall ball which sounded pretty fun.

EachandEveryone · 14/02/2023 20:35

My niece wanted self catering but got catered and has complained bitterly on a weekly basis about how bad the food is. Shes vegetarian and cant afford to eat out nightly which is what the other students do. Shes having a great time but it is very affluent more than what we all thought, I think if she’d have got her choice of halls in the beginning shed be alot happier. Its such alot of money if you arent eating the food.

WednesdaysPlaits · 14/02/2023 22:17

Thanks all, this is helpful

Stockpot · 23/02/2023 17:37

Anyone’s DC coming home for the February break? DD is deciding to stick around. She has plenty to do. I’ll miss her, but I am glad that she is settled in now. She says lots of students are going on breaks to Europe.

Monkey2001 · 23/02/2023 18:29

My DS is going to stay with his GF in Sheffield and we are going up there to meet them on Sunday for a pub lunch 😁

Stockpot · 23/02/2023 19:52

Sounds lovely!

Original poster
Newgirls · 24/02/2023 16:10

Coming home - swapping wardrobe items etc will be a key part of that.

OP posts:
Monkey2001 · 24/02/2023 16:16

Newgirls · 24/02/2023 16:10

Coming home - swapping wardrobe items etc will be a key part of that.

Haha, that is a female response! I think DS wears the same clothes all year round. I am sure it will be lovely to have her back.

Valleyofthedollymix · 24/02/2023 17:02

DS has gone skiing with new friends - had to work over Christmas to earn the money to pay for it. Other than that he's still loving it.

My mind turns to that mahoooosive summer holiday. I don't know what he's intending to do with it.

Original poster
Newgirls · 25/02/2023 17:03

Really lovely - it feels like ages since she was here 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
Newgirls · 25/02/2023 17:04

It’s great for getting the summer jobs as they tend to be home a few weeks before everyone else

OP posts:
Stockpot · 25/02/2023 17:37

The early start of teaching after the summer is the flipside of breaking up earlier. DD had to pass up a job at Buckingham palace as a warden because she couldn’t work into September.

Not sure how she will spend the summer yet. Now that she has a part time job during term time, she is under less press to work. She already has a little extra money, and now has a first job under her belt which was important in her case because she had never had a Saturday job.

EachandEveryone · 26/02/2023 08:47

What job is she doing? My niece has found it difficult as she can’t commit to working the holidays. Are any of your reapplying to stay in halls?

Stockpot · 26/02/2023 18:39

She has a job in a cafe @EachandEveryone . It’s minimum wage and zero hours. They don’t expect her to stick around for the summer.

It would be precarious, if she didn’t have us as a backstop. But for her, it’s good. She has never had a job before and this is a first step.

ToYouIAm · 28/02/2023 15:59

Namechange regular here - please feel free to DM me if you prefer. My DS is currently trying to sort out 2nd year accommodation and has hit a bit of a hurdle in that the Landlord of one of the properties they’re interested in wants paying quarterly. The first rent payment in September would need to be paid before the first SAAS comes through. We get minimum maintenance loan (Scotland) and have been using that to pay the bulk of the rent and then have made up shortfall and paid some living costs on top of that via a monthly DD into our DS’ account. DS is working and will work over Summer but this has thrown us a real curve ball. We paid halls in 3 instalments this year but the first payment didn’t fall due till after we’d had 3 months SAAS payments so we just about managed. Anyone else being asked to pay on a non-monthly basis? They had no luck with Uni run accommodation.

Ameadowwalk · 28/02/2023 16:27

Monthly rent here but my DD had to pay from 1 June at the end of her first year, including a month deposit. Which I presume is about the same upfront before September, if not more. Can you not ask to pay the deposit and then the quarterly rent once the loan comes in?

Stockpot · 28/02/2023 17:18

DD’s rent is quarterly in advance. Lease starts on July 1st. The first quarter was split: first month’s rent was paid in January to secure the property; balance of the first quarter to be paid before July 1st. Then full quarters in advance.

Is there any chance your DS could get back into halls? I thought the application for second year halls was still open.

Eightytwenty · 28/02/2023 23:06

Lucky that DC have accommodation secured albeit quarterly billing brutal. DS getting more & more anxious and having no luck securing private or uni accom. He probably would have got back into halls as he held a committee role but decided he wanted to apply for a flat with friends. Keeping fingers crossed something comes up soon.

Monkey2001 · 01/03/2023 09:10

I really feel for the parents and students worrying about accommodation, and grateful not to be in that position again as DS moves to Manchester this year. Just remember that there is plenty of accommodation in Dundee, so if they don't manage to find anything in St A they will not be homeless.

Stockpot · 03/03/2023 08:22

DD called for a chat last night. Apparently halls have been allocated and many second years could not be accommodated. There is real panic on where to live.

I know that Dundee is possible, but I think it is unfair to let in so many students, when there is not enough housing. Four years at uni is expensive, and I can understand why students would want an immersive experience and to feel part of a community.

I hope options are coming through for all your DC.

fifelife · 03/03/2023 10:15

To be honest,its mainly parents panicking and especially American ones,so they are paying silly money for anything that is available at the moment ,they dont seem to understand that Scotland doesnt have fixed tenancies,all a tenant has to do is give 28 days notice,thats why the bulk of properties become available in may/june onwards..at the moment there isnt much available,but there never is at this time of year,hopefully by this time next yer the HMO restriction will have gone as well.

Stockpot · 03/03/2023 10:30

That’s good to hear!

Doyourealise · 03/03/2023 14:28

Fifelife what's happening re HMOs?

My DC didn't get in to halls - neither did most of their friends. It is stressful but those are wise words about the fact that it's early days for properties to come on to the market.

fifelife · 03/03/2023 15:09

People are campaigning to get the ban on the issuing of HMO licences lifted, this ban has led to higher rents,the ridiculous situation of" locked bedrooms",students being forced to rent away from the town centre where they are competing with long term residents etc