St Andrews top tips

[Eightytwenty]

DS will be starting next month and as a Scottish student he has a firm place and halls (Sallies) confirmed.

Anyone have any ‘wish I’d known’ top tips / recommendations for him or us?

Just checking in. So far:

• DD does not have her halls assigned


• Her student loan has not come through


• She is unable to sign up for her modules

ls this the same for other students coming from the UK? I’m antsy because if there are an glitches, we may not have time to fix them by the time it becomes apparent.

It did all seem very last minute when we did it

modules and the talk with the supervisor were the week before I seem to remember I guess when they are back at work. But good to keep any eye on it all

If you’ve not heard you can always call accommodation services. They are very helpful. It would be good to know what the deadline they’re aiming for.

Modules still not done as one of applied for subjects not listed. Hopefully that’s getting resolved.

We're in England. Called accom today and they said we'd know in 48 hours!

Ooooooh, thanks for sharing @Reusername ! That’s reassuring.

Has your DS received his student loan yet?

Finally got DD to check loan website, first payment will be 12/09. I think this corresponds to the actual start of the semester, so that seems right.

Also now able to sign up for modules. Just waiting for halls. 🤞

Good news stockpot. DS says he needs to wait to speak to his advisor before choosing modules - do you think that's correct?

You can choose modules then change them at your advising appointment.

Gosh I graduated nearly 15 years ago and I am amazed at how involved parents are these days. Can’t imagine my mother sorting out bedding for me or even being aware of me signing up to modules etc!

As for St As tips I would say...

• I was initially surprised at it being SO cold (I was originally from SE England and that east coast wind was raw!) so good coat etc essential


• went to lots of balls (made up for lack of ‘nightclubs’) and probably only had a couple of nice dresses, never got anything new, just rewore lots. Fancy dress was common as pp said - not full on costumes but more like accessories.


• It is a beautiful and magical place - enjoy every moment

Ha good tips about the cold - I've just checked and the weather is already about 7 degrees colder than down here.

He's still not got accommodation offer - please alert me @Reusername and @Stockpot if that changes for your offspring so I can ramp up my nagging.

DD is still waiting to hear on accommodation and has just been told they are hoping to get offers out next week. Can this be true?

Noooo? Surely not - we're leaving to go up there on Friday. I'm far too angsty about size of bed and catered v non-catered.

dd is going into 3rd year - luckily managed to secure private accommodation this year. She was in ABH for the first 2 years - hated the food but room was OK.

Friday week (ie the 2nd) my message should say. Not this Friday. That would be keen.

It looks most likely DS would be in ABH or David Russell but more than that I don't know.

Why do you say that @Valleyofthedollymix ? I have no idea where DD will end up.

Waiting till the 2nd seems unreadable and unworkable. I hope this doesn’t mean they have run out of accommodation.

Unreadable?
Unreasonable!

Feel for you guys waiting. Anecdotally the kids DS knows have been given the choice of halls that they wanted. Lots in ABH & DRA. Only a few in the older halls and there there’s a mix of shared and singles. Fingers crossed that you hear soon. It does help to make it real as well as having practical implications.

They made it very clear to me that it’s not allocated on a first come first served basis. But I can imagine the anxiety especially seeing the posts on the parents of st A Fb page.

Proper tux & bow tie & smart black shoes for the uni balls!

I broke and called St As accommodation. They tell me as long as you put your accommodation request in before 30.06.2023 you will hear before the end of this week. Phew!

Well I was wrong - he's not in either of those halls. He's in a small central one. I guessed he'd be in one of the big ones in the burbs as that's where most of the rooms are especially the en-suite ones which (precious prince that he is) he'd requested.

Instead he's got a much more aesthetically pleasing, £2k cheaper, shared bathroom one. Once he'd got over his shock, he's pleased as it's got such a great location. And I'm happy about the saved money, much prettier building and I think 18 year old should share bathrooms. But harder to make friends with so many fewer people? And it's a smaller bed (ha!).

Hope others find out theirs soon. @Stockpot let me know if your geography girl ends up in a hall that sounds like DS'.

DD has an en-suite in David Russel.
She wants what your DS has.
Feels a bit perverse.

Hmmm weird that. I had heard that en-suite was less popular due to the cost so he was likely to get hence the surprise. It was his fourth choice. Maybe it's a bit names-in-the-hat. Or do you think they look at the preferences? He said he goes to bed late, gets up late and likes to socialise...

Does anyone know if there's a place to leave stuff as he has to vacate in the holidays, which is a PITA?

Enjoy every last minute! I'm a St Andrew's graduate and reading this thread makes my heart hurt for those days! Balls were a big thing when I went so have a formal outfit or two. I had a red gown, but this was a long time ago (still got it in case the children go). It's cold so a good coat, loads of tea bags, biscuits and a few cups to get to know others in the early days. Don't wait 3 months to find the beach and library like it did....