UCL - any DCs who have commuted from SW London?

[frowdow]

DS is aiming for UCL. We live in Richmond. I am interested to hear experiences from families with DC's that have commuted from this area or other parts of London rather than living in halls. Did they find it ok? He is heavily involved in his sport (a big part of the reason he wants to stay local) and likely to be involved in the same sport at uni, so will make friends that way. He doesn't drink or go clubbing.

In general, lots of London based students go to London universities snd live at home., He wouldn’t be unusual. Obviously friends can be made via his course as well as a hall. In second year onwards, it’s likely students spread out a lot due to housing costs.

I don’t have experience of Richmond and commuting but he could always move out and live with friends if he changes his mind in y2 or 3.

UCL's sports ground is in Shenley, a long way to the north. That would make a very long trip for him if his sport is played up there. However, he could get a fair amount of reading done during commutes if his course requires that.

DS has also applied to UCL (no news yet) and lives in SW London. He's added it as a 'live at home' option - no sports here but he does suffer from anxiety and thought it could be a good one to have in the mix just in case.

I don't think the commute is too bad from SW London - train to Waterloo (or Vauxhall) then short trip on the tube

"friends can be made via his course as well as a hall"

This surprises me. At London Universities social life tends to happen on campus. Especially on larger courses with large numbers in first year lectures. He should go to the freshers fair and try out any societies that interest him. He will discover lots of his peers live at home. From memory two of DS' closest friends at LSE lived in Ealing and Kingston. Nothing unusual. I think Tizer's DD was in hall in a different London University, where I assume she made a load of friends. Experiences are different. DS did not meet anyone in his hall, but still got to know loads of people.

That said many of DS' school friends, and a large number ended up in London, spend their first year in hall to establish that gap between school and University and then move back home, mainly because home was more comfortable than a rented flat.

If he is playing high level sport he may be better off at home. London University sports teams are often not that good (Compared with Birmingham, Exeter, Loughborough, Bath etc.) When DD was playing club sports whilst still at school, she often came across students who preferred to play for a good competitive club.

@frowdow
I don’t understand the post above. I think it’s perfectly possible to make friends on your course and I said this. Halls are not the only way to meet people. But lots of local students won’t necessarily hang around the “campus”. They go home!

Richmond to UCL is easy. train to Vauxhall and straight up to Warren Street on Victoria line.. also lots of night buses.. I grew up in Richmond and went out with UCL friends in town all the time in my teens and 20s . It’s no problem!

Several of my DC's friends did this.

But they went into halls first year -- the rite of passage, living away from parents, doing their own catering, staying out until all hours doing heaven knows what.

Then returning home on a slightly different footing, having been away

DS was at home all last year and in the occasion that there was in person teaching commuted.He is at King's.He is living with a school friend in London this year,( at a different London university) .He has met lots of friends, mainly from his course but also from 2 clubs that he signed up to. He thinks at least 1/3 of students on his course live at home..

DD’s commuting from Reading to UCL for second year. She’s finding it ok.