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!

@Eightytwenty My DS was an Oxbridge reject too and loving St As. So many opportunities and such a nice vibe.

To be honest SA probably only tops the rankings because Oxbridge won’t provide data on teaching quality or student experience.

But that said, I feel like DD fell into a bowl of cherries. She is having a wonderful time, making great friends, availing herself of opportunities, being intellectually challenged and it is just such a beautiful place. I think she was lucky to end up at SA. I can’t believe she would have blossomed so much at Oxbridge.

student experience at oxbridge can be very mixed. Not sure that would help their ranking necessarily. I’ve had a few friends be very critical of their time there, felt very pressured. Two recent students didn’t like their course and found it old fashioned though one did love the social life.

So nice to hear of other students enjoying their time at St As. My DS is loving it too. I worried he might find it too small as he’s from a big city but he absolutely loves the mix of students, the ‘international’ vibe, the beauty of the coastline, the parties on the beach, the social life…and the academics (although he’s enjoying the fact that his marks ‘don’t count’ yet!)

He's got a fab job too and has managed to find a lovely house with a great bunch of housemates (expensive because it’s in St As but he’s happy to put some of his own wages towards the rent). All-in-all it’s worked out well and I got one am glad he’s at St As - I don’t think he would have had as much fun at Oxford and he certainly wouldn’t have been able to have a job.

As they say in these parts, what’s for you won’t go by you 🙂

Great turn of phrase @SayYouDontMind !

DD has a part time job and it is so good for her. It’s just a hospitality job, but it has built her confidence.

I think the Scottish universities are distorted on the tables because UCAS points are much more generous for Scottish qualifications and entry UCAS points are one of the criteria. It may also help student satisfaction that half the students in Scotland are from home and don't pay any fees, therefore more likely to be satisfied with the course. Having said that, my DS thrived in St Andrews without having to live for his studies as you are supposed to do at Cambridge. I obviously wish he has not started in 2020, which was dreadful everywhere, but I recommend St Andrews as a really special place to live and study.

Came to this thread as my DS is currently applying to universities for 2024 entry. God it’s stressful, the waiting for offers. His preference is St. As for Classical Studies where I went and graduated 30 years ago! He’s a contextual applicant from Scotland (registered young carer) Really hoping he gets an offer soon and that we can afford the accommodation. Though we live in Dunfermline, so if push comes to shove he could live at home I suppose. Not really ideal though. Predicted 3 As so meets the standard course requirements and well over the minimum contextual requirements.

Fingers crossed for an early offer, I am hoping that the contextual consideration might lead to a decision/offer sooner than the norm. DS seems sooo much more relaxed than me!

Good luck to your ds, @Innisfree ! I have a dc in year 2, didn't get an offer until mid March 22, by which time they had nearly given up hope.

Accommodation is expensive no doubt about it, but these costs seem to be rising everywhere. My dc was in Andrew Melville Hall which was actually relatively cheap, particularly given it was nearly fully catered.

Hope your ds hears soon.

Thank you! Goodness, March seems like an awfully long way away! I’m sort of hoping contextual offers, or at least decisions, come out a bit sooner, but that could prove to be just wishful thinking.

Halls are good value really compared to renting in cities. I think it was about 6.5k for catered halls? My dd was in Uni Hall which she loved - a baronial mansion. A lot of student life is very cheap and subsidised. Offers do come in later than most so don’t worry x

Re accom St Andrews is actually cheaper than most - Andrew Melville is based on around 4k for accom and 2.5k for food, which is very good. There are lots of bursaries available, we were told that many don't get enough applicants. There is an automatic accom bursary for low income families, definitely worth checking out.

I had a look at the accommodation charges yesterday, and for an en suite room not sharing (which is what DD would prefer) there didn’t seem to be anything for less than £7800, which doesn’t seem especially cheap! Certainly more than we paid for older two DDs.

It's only the catered rooms in the older accommodation with shared bathrooms that is relatively affordable but even if you choose that the expense of private housing after first year is often eye watering. Students on a budget often end up living in Dundee and using the free bus pass for under 22s to commute.

It is what it is. Currently DD3’s preferred choice, though neither she nor I have been. It looks lovely, so looking forward to having a good explore on offer holder day!

People saying it’s good value seem to be forgetting it’s for four years not three. My niece is very happy commuting from Dundee. After the first year it became quite stifling.

En suite is over £7,000 in most places. Luckily for us my kids don't see the point in paying extra for en suite. The cleaners are excellent, at Uni Hall the bathrooms were cleaned every day.

My DD loves SA, the teaching is good, and the town and location are charming.

That said, you don’t necessarily get the type of halls you request and there is not enough uni housing for everyone who would like it. Private rentals are scarce and expensive.

I believe other unis also have the same issues.

4 years is ££ for sure. Some courses elsewhere are 4 years any way (year abroad etc) so it depends what you want. Same with Edin, Glasgow, Dundee etc so it can be off putting for English students.

Glad this thread is running. My DS is hoping to go to St Andrews. No offer yet. But has received an email from the finance/scholarship dept advising to not wait for an offer before applying for a scholarship as the closing date may pass and info on how to apply.
Is this standard for everyone? Or may an offer be forthcoming soon? I really hope so for him.