Kings college London

[BurnoutGP]

DD2 has just firmed her KCL offer. Am a little terrified at the thought and cost of London (we are from a rural/suburban area). Any others KCL/London bound?

https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/theology-divinity-religious-studies

Really friends daughter was offered ones that were £350 a week 3 years ago.

My nephew is in y1 at another uni. He is also ND and due to that is allowed to live in halls for y2.

My DC2 is at another uni in London and has a part time job as a lifeguard- it’s good money and there is always a shortage of lifeguards so it is usually easy to get a job. The halls are very expensive- about £1200/month. I assume for that reason, there are always empty rooms .DC2 moved back into hall this year in November. They are in a flat for 7 but there are only 4 of them.

The halls of residence owned by KCL are more central and less expensive than the halls of residence owned by private providers which are also far out and require a commute on public transport (so extra costs). It's quite hard to get a room in the central KCL halls. Under 18s get priority, as do students with disabilities, so there aren't a lot of rooms left over for everyone else.

There’s a range of prices but the majority are over £300 a week. Shared collegiate halls are not much better. DD was at a London university 10 years ago and since then, the student renting world has gone mad. Several cheaper universities are just as good!

Thanks for the helpful/supportive comments was just wanting to share/hear London uni experience. @ceramiq less so. You clearly have an issue with KCL or your DC does. This isn't AIBU your mean spiritness and arrogance is unpleasant and misplaced. Whatever you or your DC think of KCL and look down your noses at is not needed here thanks.
My DD has firmed and will hopefully go there because that's what she wants. I really don't care what you or your rankings think. Mean and miserable.

@BurnoutGP I'm sorry if you feel that way. Personally I feel that I was trying to be kind and warn you about something which is widely acknowledged but about which you seem unaware.

Erm no it didn't come across that way. She's firmed it so not sure what you expect me to say. Gosh I didn't know how awful and low ranking KCL is I'll get her to withdraw immediately thank you so much. Im sorry it clearly comes across as a judgey Imperial/UCL/LSE competitiveness. And pretty superior tbh. I don't really care where she goes or what she does as long as shes happy and functioning. Considering 2 years ago she could barely go to school so if you thought for one moment your "helpful" comments would affect what we do? I don't care what uni she goes to tbh. You are not coming across well.

"I don't really care where she goes or what she does as long as she's happy and functioning."

Yes, you are a caring mother and I am also a caring parent and want everyone's children to have a great university experience. Hence my mother hen instinct kicking in when I hear of children thinking of making choices that I know so many children regret.

I'm sorry that you are taking this the wrong way.

Im not taking it the wrong way. What do you expect me to say or do exactly with your oh so vital information gleaned from your DC contact with many KCL students? Force her to withdraw? Just leave it now. You've completely derailed my thread to continue to hammer home what you feel I need/must know because you care about my DD?? Of whom you know nothing? Really??

@BurnoutGP These are fairly standard comments from this poster. Apparently my DD was failed in her MFL degree elsewhere. Not remotely borne out by anything she’s achieved since. The whole uk experience for MFL students is a waste of time apparently. I’ve no idea who truly cares about the minutae of every degree. Employers don’t. And how can anyone know about every course at Kings? Just ignore this rubbish.

London is big, brash and busy. Is DD familiar with London? If not, I’d definitely go to the offer day and have a good look around. Look at halls and ease of transport. Lots of students could be from abroad but look at halls where she likes the neighbourhood. Has she any favourites? Spend a weekend looking around.

My DD2 wanted glitzy modern and this was a mistake. Area matters more. You cannot control who else is in a flat but she needs to feel confident about where she lives and then will hopefully make friends and have a great time.

Thank you that's what I was hoping from this thread. We live quite rurally but my sister lives half hour by train from London so we go a lot. Shes very familiar with London/transport etc. But she is ND with anxiety so I am concerned. She likes stamford street because its close and hayloft I think because its new and has lots of facilities. Am trying to convince her we should go look before she decides. Lots of her friends are going to London and close by (reading etc) which was another reason for KCL

I think it's exciting that your DD has decided where she wants to go @BurnoutGP. Good luck to her. I hope it's everything she wants it to be.

(We live in London and I am trying to persuade my DS to move away!)

@BurnoutGP We are similar distance. I’d look around the neighbourhoods. I’d not choose on swanky either! Lots seemed to close their bedroom doors and not come out. You want to minimise anxiety- where might friends choose?

Our dd was in Hayloft last year and now is in a flat with friends.
she’s year 2 at KCL and absolutely loves it and loves living in London.
they commute to strand and Waterloo campuses and in good weather and if up in time they walk.
its a very different student experience than our other dc had in campus unis but its been the making of her .
lots commute but she has many friends and some are living out like her and others are commuters on her course.
happy to answer any questions.

Hayloft is unite. It’s a way from the Strand. Stamford is Waterloo. Is she at the Strand? What about other KCL residences?

Thanks so much. DD1 also went to a campus uni but she is NT and super confident and social but DD2 is completely different.
She really likes the look of hayloft but is the furthest one shes shortlisted. Personally I prefer the closer ones but shes done a spreadsheet and pros and cons so will go with what she wants

Yes she will be based at strand it seems. She's done a spreadsheet and pros and cons. I prefer the closer ones but will be led by her

I would say that the accommodation is very sort after so register for accommodation as quickly as possible and reserve a room as soon as possible.
it took us weeks to get a room in hayloft but patience paid off .
Stamford street was never an option on the portal so be aware it’s a bit difficult.
you can change room once if somewhere you prefer opens up and if you’re not offered anything first of all don’t panic about it.
just check the portal a couple of times a day.
dd got an offer in the December and accepted in the January as she KCL was her first choice .
i think from memory accommodation opens in March and its first come first served unlike other unis .
she’s doing a humanities course and has no issues with her course or the faculty!

@IdrisElbow Probably more at home now due to costs. They commute in. London has been like this for a while.

She’s accepted KCL so it’s a case of making sure she’s happy with accommodation. Plenty of unis aren’t campus and dc have a good time.

@BurnoutGP If she’s not overly familiar with commuting, I’d definitely check out if Hayloft is ok. You don’t want her to choose without everything being considered. Spread sheets are only useful if everything is on them.