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!

I really hoped our students might have had the chance to return after spring break. I know it would only give them a couple of months but it would have been a little something. I am not so sure now but I haven't voiced this to either of my kids. My Ds graduates this year and wanted to travel before he starts his grad job. Doubt that will happen, think the best he can hope for is a road trip round Scotland. Hope all your kids have successful 2nd semester whatever happens.

I’m not bringing it up either.

So many people we know at English unis have gone back to their accom - I think mostly because they have to pay for it - even first years. At least st a were quick to refund. Does give them the power so students can’t pop back. We will need to go and collect dds stuff at some point. Maybe st a will take their own approach and let them go back for a while but with Stephen Reicher so vocal on sage etc that seems unlikely.

I think Nicola Sturgeon has been more prescriptive than BoJo. If Kier was in charge I don't think so many English students would have gone back.

Really hope they can all go back after the spring break.

Details about accommodation have been updated. People who want to stay in hall need to apply next week (1st - 8th Feb), will find out what they have been offered 22/2 and need to accept by 3/3 or it will lapse. www.st-andrews.ac.uk/accommodation/ug/current/applyforaccommodation/

DS applying for 2 years in Uni Hall as the multi year contract means that they are allocated a room for 2-3 years at the 2021/22 price, but can pull out this time next year if they do not want to stay for the following year. He really likes being in hall, although it would be nice to be able to spend some time there in the summer when you do not freeze on the beach!

Most of the prices have gone up a little, but I think the ABH self catered price has gone down slightly - I thought it was over £7k, but it will be just under £7k.

Thanks for posting that Monkey. That's a tight deadline. DD is in a state of panic/denial about 2nd year accommodation but I'm sure applying for halls would be a good idea. Just worried that every single other first year is going to have the same idea!

Thanks monkey - let’s hope there is enough space for those who want it 👍

After all the stress after the exams, she did well - which is a relief!

Fingers crossed that there’ll be enough space for them all. I know DD and a couple of her flatmates are applying together, and want to stay in DRA.

That's good to hear idsisatwat DD also very happy with results which exceeded expectations in their main subject. A nice confidence boost.

Getting back into routine while also being at home is feeling quite stressful at the moment though. DD is definitely someone that likes to compartmentalise work and home, so this is going to need some adjustment.

@AChickenCalledDaal that's brilliant news. It seems like the first semester has gone well for them all academically.

Yes, I think the routine is going to be a bit difficult. I'm hoping our wifi copes, as I spend a significant proportion of time in teams meetings etc. Though DD gets up a lot later than me - a definite advantage of having recorded lectures

Great to hear that they are all having an academically successful term, as somebody said a while ago, having a very limited social life makes work more attractive! Maybe this cohort will have the best results ever!

I did think it was funny when the Principal expressed pride in the quality of their remote provision, on grounds that results had gone up in the second semester last year. No doubt the quality has been pretty good, but I feel the fact that students had literally nothing else to do but study may have been an equally important factor.

Just so grateful it’s a 4 year course so still time for a social life, f2f etc. Good results here too and dd managing to fit in job too which is good but I’d prefer she was being a drunken student 😂

Hi hope it’s okay to jump on here and ask questions, rather than starting a separate thread.

DD has been offered a place at St A and after her not getting a oxbridge place this week she thinks St A is where she wants. Obviously not been able to see it and don’t know anyone who has been. So any advice would be very much appreciated.

As soon as Nicola sturgeon says you are allowed do go up for a walk around. There is no need to go on an organised tour as the beauty of the place is the beaches, the lovely quads, buildings etc. It really is a magical place. Dd chose it over Cambridge as its no1 in her course and she loved the cosy vibe of the place.

Transport isn’t as bad as you think. The uni organised a free shuttle from Edin station and airport to drop the students at their accom each term.

There are some videos on the uni website showing social events eg pier walk. Tho this year has been rubbish of course for social stuff. Hopefully next year will be better.

Hi Strawberryshortcake. You are very welcome to ask questions. DD had a Cambridge offer for maths last year, but didn't make their STEP grade. St Andrews was their insurance offer.

Academically, St Andrews is providing plenty of challenge - they are working hard and being stretched, despite having chosen to do the first year (could have done 2nd year entry but decided against). And if the history and tradition of an ancient university appeals, St Andrews provides all that. Gowns, choirs, ceremonial etc all available, but by no means compulsory, which seems a nice balance.

The main thing I'd advise is to make sure your daughter has got her head round the course structure. It's modular with two semesters per year, which is quite different from oxbridge. If she does first year entry, she may find she has to mix her main subject with something different. For example DD is aiming for an integrated Masters in Maths, but last term actually did one third maths, one third physics and one third astrophysics. This term is two thirds maths. And from second year it will be maths all the time.

As it turns out, DD has enjoyed dabbling in a few other things and having a bit of time to settle in before really getting into the main event. But it was a bit of a change in gear after all that oxbridge-related single minded "passion"!

In terms of social life, although this year has been pants for everyone, DD has found that they've had more access to societies etc than friends at other unis. They've been reasonably proactive about getting things online and doing what they can so, rather than just giving up.

Hello @Strawberryshortcake40, another Cambridge reject here, but he absolutely LOVES St Andrews. It is a beautiful place and has the ancient feel of Cambridge. Most of the people you meet are clever and interesting. I think he has now come to the conclusion that St A was a better place for him than Cambridge as it is challenging work and he can't imagine having to squeeze it into the Cambridge terms. The course structure is similar for medicine. He loves walking round the town and bumping into people he knows. The feel of a university integrated into the whole town is a very Cambridge characteristic. For covid times it has been good to have beaches to go to and beautiful coast line.

It is strange there at the moment as it is only medics, internationals and a few others due to the rules.

Here is a picture I took of the beach from the "Toastie Shack" where we had lunch when I dropped him off last weekend.

Oh that looks beautiful!

She had her heart set on Cambridge as her sister went there, and also because it’s relatively close to us so very familiar to her. Which helped when she hadn’t been able to view any other unis! So really she hadn’t considered any others, just put down ones she thought had good courses. But now she’s been looking on you tube and reading everything she can on SA. Her teachers feel it would be a good fit for her because of its size and traditions etc.

Can anyone tell me what the support for mental health issues is like at SA? She has quite a few problems, which is why a uni close to home would be preferable but I also feel that if she really wants to go this far away then we shouldn’t try and keep her close.

The accommodation costs were an eye opener! Are there ways to get into the older style rooms? Are there halls that are female only (her choice not mine!).

She’s keen on the term structure and also being able to try different things in the first year. And I think a slower start to it all and a four year course will suit her better.

I have no experience of the mental health support, but it seems to be well funded. I think it is very helpful that it is a small university - only around 2,000 students in each year, whereas many universities are now heading towards 10,000 in a year which makes you more anonymous.

The accommodation is expensive, but the halls are not as bad as they first look - Andrew Melville is around £6.5k including food, which is £4k for accommodation and £2.5k for food - www.st-andrews.ac.uk/accommodation/ug/fees2020/ I think private accommodation is expensive and difficult to secure if you want to be in the centre, but in most universities it would be normal to be a 30 min walk or a bus ride from university buildings. My son is at Uni Hall and most corridors are male or female and @Newgirls can tell you about the very pretty all female annex, Wardlaw. We were told at the open day we attended that a lot of the bursaries are under-subscribed, so look at those.

Yes my dd is in the wardlaw annex of University Hall, which is all female. Though it’s connected to the mixed areas and they all eat together so boys very close 😬

We were worried about it as you might see on the old thread but the wow room made up for it. It’s got high ceilings and stained glass windows and a sea view. If she says she wants single sex she’d prob get it.

I think the hall inc catering cost is a bargain. My dd (veggie) likes the food.

Private rental is very expensive as it’s a very switch area full of tourists and Americans so yes budget for that.

Swish not switch!

Oh yes in wardlaw some of the rooms are shared. It’s worked out for my dd as she has a well matched room mate. The rooms are very large so that’s why. It might put your dd off. They have large private common rooms too just for their wing so there is space for privacy.

I am trying to convince her about a shared room! Presumably they take into account the personality types? It might be an idea to bring the cost down. She’s not too worried about an en suite.

Are they only in halls for the first year?

Good to know the food is nice, she prefers veggie food. I’ve insisted on catered for her as although she’s perfectly capable of cooking, shes more likely to eat if she doesn’t have to have to shop, cook and eat too!

Will look into bursaries!

They do a personality quiz and it worked out well for my dd but not for everyone. The common rooms are amazing like gorgeous libraries so space to escape. There are plenty of bathrooms and there is one per room really so no issues there. It’s like an old castle so the old rooms reflect that. They have little kitchens too if they don’t want to go into the hall to eat. They have cleaners who do a good job tho some of the students could tidy after themselves more apparently!