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Higher education

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

Original poster

Accommodation disappointment

76 replies

lightisnotwhite · 31/08/2022 17:04

I know it’s DS’s problem and it might all be lovely but DS got his last choice out of 6.
He had to put down three that were not en Suite but these were all older buildings near to central campus. He’s got one close to the middle.
He really wanted the blocks further out as he likes green space and isn’t bothered by a walk or cycle.
In addition he’s 6’4” and the block he’s allocated has some of the smaller rooms at 8m2 with a single bed. The two accommodation blocks he wanted were 13m and 16m and have the three quarter beds.
He was so excited about going but this has been a real disappointment. I don’t know what to say really apart from “it will be fine”. 🙁

OP posts:
Treacletoots · 31/08/2022 17:12

Such a first world problem isn't it. I used to work in student accommodation and the amount of complaints we'd get for ridiculous things were just insane. "When does the cleaner come?" Was one of my personal favourites.

Show him an episode of 'the young ones' and explain this is how student accommodation used to be like.

vjg13 · 31/08/2022 17:15

On the upside is it cheaper and will he have more money for other things?

CantFindTheBeat · 31/08/2022 17:17

Did he put down about his height, OP?

Is it too late to put a change request in based on physical need?

poster82 · 31/08/2022 17:24

@Treacletoots that's all well and good but considering the cost of student accommodation I think it is perfectly reasonable to have high expectations. Students aren't any less of a customer just because they are students.

MrsMitford3 · 31/08/2022 17:26

Uni age DD said it's one of those things that really matter at the time but doesn't really matter.

The bed thing is a bit shit though...

LIZS · 31/08/2022 17:28

Chances are there will be a swap list when things settle down , if he still feels disappointed.

Original poster
lightisnotwhite · 31/08/2022 17:37

Yep I know it’s first world but we heard such good things about how well students are allocated to rooms. I think he thought his comments about wanting to be further out, liking quiet, space and walking were enough to get his first 3.

I did tell him to put down his height but he said I was being fussy. Mmm. Whose going to be fussed when they are trying to get a couple of pairs of their size 14 shoes in the room.

It’s also 12 to a small kitchen which is their only social space as it’s flats. DS is quite reserved ( he did put that) so he’ll just cook and go back to his room. I was hoping he’d get a corridor rather than a flat.

Yes it’s cheaper. Just have to remind him of that although he’s not really a spender. I’m just a bit sad for him.

OP posts:
vjg13 · 31/08/2022 17:45

In my daughter's hall of residence last year there was a lot of movement. The room next door to her became available and there was an online message board for swaps. It definitely doesn't need to be set in stone that he stays where he is first placed.

Dannexe · 31/08/2022 17:48

Which university is it?

TheBikiniExpert · 31/08/2022 17:50

So the bed is shorter than standard? Never heard of that before!

Original poster
lightisnotwhite · 31/08/2022 18:10

@TheBikiniExpert What ? No it’s a standard single. The beds in the others were 3/4 doubles. Which at least gives you move to turn over if you’re tall.
Warwick.

OP posts:
KittyMcKitty · 31/08/2022 18:17

i think all young people going to Uni need to accept that it’s luck of the draw to a certain extent. My ds has been allocated the grotty accomodation at his Uni (and it is truly grotty) but that’s just the way it is - he has a tiny room and single bed.

I don’t agree with asking to change as it means that essentially you’re saying that his needs are more important then others. (I know you haven’t said this but that is the message).

he will be fine - yes it’s disappointing but it will all work about absolutely fine.

CantFindTheBeat · 31/08/2022 18:43

@KittyMcKitty

OP's son is 6'4" and has been allocated a single bed.

That is worth asking to swap. (Although he should have requested this as part of the special requests option).

KittyMcKitty · 31/08/2022 18:54

@CantFindTheBeat yes I read his height - but many others may also be tall - agree he should have put it on a special request initially. But the bottom line is not everyone can get their preferred choice and like everything don’t put down an option unless you would be happy to accept it.

there are probably many students at Warwick who would have preferred other options but if there aren’t enough of those rooms then some will have to be disappointed.

I know the OP wasn’t proposing to phone and complain but many parents do phone then university for their children- they are adults and need to deal with disappointment / sort out problems for themselves - that’s part of growing up / going to Uni.

RedHelenB · 31/08/2022 18:58

lightisnotwhite · 31/08/2022 17:04

I know it’s DS’s problem and it might all be lovely but DS got his last choice out of 6.
He had to put down three that were not en Suite but these were all older buildings near to central campus. He’s got one close to the middle.
He really wanted the blocks further out as he likes green space and isn’t bothered by a walk or cycle.
In addition he’s 6’4” and the block he’s allocated has some of the smaller rooms at 8m2 with a single bed. The two accommodation blocks he wanted were 13m and 16m and have the three quarter beds.
He was so excited about going but this has been a real disappointment. I don’t know what to say really apart from “it will be fine”. 🙁

And it will. My dc were so busy doing stuff that their room wasn't that big a deal

RedHelenB · 31/08/2022 19:00

Also if he's reserved it might do him good to spend a bit more time in the kitchen. He may surprise you with how different he becomes noe he's starting his independence life.

FictionalCharacter · 31/08/2022 19:00

Tell him to put himself on a waiting list for the other halls in case someone drops out or leaves. The student union will be able to advise.
If he can’t move, it’s only for a year (9 months living there). I had just about the worst room in the most unpopular hall in my first year and I was still happy!

Dannexe · 31/08/2022 19:03

He will love it once he’s there and will feel like his accommodation is the best. Whether he is on a corridor or in a flat he will make friends and have s great time. Put money on the fact that after a few weeks if you offered him a switch he’d decline it.

Tiani4 · 31/08/2022 19:04

Hopefully he'll be able to swop in sue course.

He' has got accomodation at least, we're still trying to find accomodation for my DD for uni. They don't have enough halls places for all their first year uni students 😱

Tiani4 · 31/08/2022 19:05

In due course , I meant!

Whalesong · 31/08/2022 19:13

Mine got his last choice out of 5 but is fine with it. He only put down two halls but a selection of rooms as while his preference was for a large single en-suite he said he'd rather be in a smaller room with shared bathrooms (which is what he got) as long as he was in one of these two halls. Location was by far his most important criteria. And on the plus side, it's a lot cheaper.

I've seen so many in the last few days over on WIWIKAU who haven't managed to get any accomodation at all that I'm just relieved he got one of his choices. He's also quite tall, 6'3", and we didn't think to request a long bed. I don't think his hall has any 3/4 doubles (London), but in your shoes I'd definitely see if there is any chance of a swap.

HeyDuggeesFavouriteSquirrel · 31/08/2022 22:20

As soon as I read your original post I knew it was Warwick. I went to Warwick myself (albeit 20 years ago!) and I'm pretty sure your son is in the same halls I stayed in. I didn't put it on my choice of three either.

The shared kitchen and bathroom weren't great and the room was small but I absolutely loved my time at university and the first year accommodation didn't spoil it at all. And I'm a bit of a princess who had a big bedroom with an ensuite at my parents house!

DelphiniumBlue · 31/08/2022 22:28

He's lucky he got a place in halls at all. DS1 and DS2 didn't, we had to negotiate house shares from the off, it was not great.
If he speaks to the Accommodation Officer and explains about his height and the bed issue, they might be able to do something.

EduCated · 01/09/2022 07:44

The accommodation experience is far more about who they’re sharing with, which is always luck of the draw. Sharing with twelve is a bigger pool to find a couple of like minded people close to home.

When it comes down to it, very few students request to move because they don’t like the room - usually it’s if they really haven’t got on with who they’re living with. It’s why universities often don’t open swaps lists until a couple of weeks in - people mostly settle down, and most students by that point will give you chapter and verse on why their accommodation is, in fact, better than the others.

Original poster
lightisnotwhite · 01/09/2022 08:21

@HeyDuggeesFavouriteSquirrel Thank you, that’s reassuring.

All first years get a place in halls there , so the expectations are different to those that have to fight for it I think.
You had to pick 6 of which at least 3 have to be shared bathrooms. None of those were in his preferred location so he picked ones that you didn’t have to move out at Easter, 2 had bigger beds and the one he got he picked as the cheapest of the remaining choices as none were great.
He won’t ask to move to I guess we’ll put a positive spin on the cheap rent and hope he has 12 lovely flatmates.

OP posts: