University of St Andrews

[MelodyMalone]

DD starting her first year at St Andrews in a couple of weeks - she was desperate to go there, and luckily got an unconditional place. Hoping she's able to settle in quickly and it lives up to her expectations. She's only 17 so still quite young for uni.

Does anyone have experience of either having a child at StA or going there themselves?

My parents both went back in the 70s and met/fell in love there when my mum was just 17 🥰 They also still hang out with lots of the people they were mates with back then, despite having lived all over the world in between.

Yes she does, has been auditioning 😊

I went there-but a long time ago. I loved it for the first 3 years, but I struggled a bit in the 4th year because it was so small-I felt I had outgrown it. I remember the feeling of bumping into a tutor you owed an essay to over the veg counter in the supermarket! I do think the transport links are better now and it's easier to escape!

That's lovely 🥰

@EngineEngineNumber9 I wonder if I knew your parents!

DD had a job in 1st year and after that concentrated on maximising summer earnings.

Yes 4 years is a lot - mine did spend y3-4 exploring more of Scotland, with lots of free bus trips along the coast and to Dundee and Edinburgh. They did road trips further too as some students had cars. You do have to make your own entertainment for sure!

mermaids - mine did a lot of backstage etc too to stay busy.

My daughter has just started in history and is feeling overwhelmed with the amount of reading and essays she’s supposed to be doing. I keep suggesting she does a plan to break it down and work through small steps but so far she’s just freaking out and ends up doing nothing. Just keeps saying everyone is much cleverer than her and are coping fine. Not the case of course ! But hopefully she will settle down although admittedly she is not the most hardworking teenager!

Is it still called Mermaids? Wow! In my day it was the stamping ground of the extraordinarily posh English. Some good productions, though.

@Drinthehouses Can I suggest she talks to her personal tutor (or whatever the equivalent is now) sooner rather than later? There will be help available and better before she gets submerged.

Absolutely talk to tutor. Mine left that a bit late and wished she had sooner

yes the mermaids productions are good and varied - also they go to Edin festival etc and have a theatre to run so a great society to join

Yes it is - called Mermaids that is, dunno about the posh part,

She's managed to get herself a role in a play, though, so that's exciting!

I went-but so many years ago that it was practically in prehistoric times! All I can add is try to find ways to get out of St Andrews every now and then, especially in winter. It’s very small and can feel a bit claustrophobic..

Oops! Sorry, zombie thread I have already posted on🫢

I was glad to see the thread pop back up! Any SA parents about? I cannot believe that my DD has only one more year to go! Time flies.

I’m here Stockpot! Just moved out DC into some temporary accommodation in St A for the Summer and then will move back into final year (!!) accommodation in August. They’ve had a great time - made some good friends and not done too shabbily in terms of academics. Emphasis seems to have been on earning money working to pay the extortionate rent for a very centrally located flat share - but that’s their choice. Some friends are in another league financially but I love they’ve got friends from all walks of life, and all parts of the world. They’re staggered that they’re going into their final year already - it’s flying.

Such a unique place. My DC has been very happy. Has your DD been having a good experience?

Same! DD has worked some during term time and some at the summer. We help a lot though. DD has been amazed at the wealth of some of the Americans especially. Growing up in London did not prepare her! As you say, it’s good to get to know all kinds of people and realise they are just people too.

DD has had a good time. She is just below a first at the moment and she wonders if she can manage to pull it over the line next year.

She has not managed to secure an internship this summer. Shame. She tried very hard, but I think taking the train from SA to London multiple times, missing classes really wore her down.

She intends to make the most of this last year.

Mine hasn’t had an internship either but they’re so busy doing a million and one other things and aren’t certain of what it is they want to do yet. I’ve told them not to panic as they’re still only 21.

They’re also hovering below a 1st and would really like to get a 1st but not sure if it’s possible if they didn’t get a 1st for their 3rd year? I don’t know how these things work. Again, I have to remind them that getting a 2:1 would be brilliant.

My dd was in st sals and also got to stay in hols for second year. She loved it. Well done your daughter

DD went there. English, from state school. LOVED it. Such a fabulous experience, despite Covid. We were worried about the posh vibes, but that wasn't really an issue, apart from the cost of rent once she left halls.
She worked in a restaurant out near the golf course - good tips. Was a committee member of a couple of very active societies, so got a lot of transferable skills outside her studies. The many American students were v focused on internships etc, and that rubbed off on everyone else, so they were mostly very career-ready by the time they graduated.
She did a lot of swimming in the sea, and gorgeous walks, as well as huge amounts of sport. We absolutely loved visiting, despite the distance - one of my favourite places.
Re balls, when she went to Manchester uni after St A, the expected price for ball tickets was a lot lower. I do think the committees in St A can get a bit carried away sometimes with throwing a spectacular event without thinking about cost.