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Original poster

AIBU re Uni accomodation

102 replies

mumofflautist · 30/07/2018 19:23

Dd (not 18 until December) over 30 miles away from chosen Uni, unconditional offer, applied on the first date you were allowed to apply and has been disappointed to find out today she's been offered her third choice. Still ensuite, but kitchen and bathroom much more tired than the lovely brand new accomodation she'd set her heart on (even though she'd told us at the open day she was prepared to rough it in the worst ones!) I know you can't expect all your home comforts and have to rough it a bit, I'm interested as to how they allocate because the vibes we got from folk we talked to at the applicants' day (this was for people who had firmly accepted unconditionals) were that they definitely were not up for paying top whack for the "poshest" halls. I wonder if there's some sort of ballot (in which case she is beyond lucky to not have been given choice 4, 5 or 6!) or if any matching goes on. AIBU as it sounds like stamping your feet and saying why haven't we been given the nicest choice (choice 1)

OP posts:
readsalotgirl63 · 30/07/2018 19:59

Not sure how the allocation is done . DD had a conditional offer but applied early for accommodation and was given her second choice ( I think).

It was ensuite but all pretty tired altho by the end of the year dd had had a new microwave, hob and freezer as the originals broke down.

MidgeMidge · 30/07/2018 20:14

Is it because she's not yet 18, do they have to keep minors in one block ck for safeguarding?

RiverTam · 30/07/2018 20:15

Can’t answer your question but given that no-one had ensuite when I was at uni I am not in the least sympathetic!

readsalotgirl63 · 30/07/2018 20:17

2 of dd's flatmates were under 18 so not sure it would be for safeguarding.

fourpawswhite · 30/07/2018 20:18

Years since I went but distance used to be a factor, she is very close compared to some. Also as said age, so they may keep under eighteens together. No harm in asking for policy?

DorisDay88 · 30/07/2018 20:19

Tbh it's more about the people she's sharing with than the accommodation- it all pales into insignificance if you all get on and get a good social life life going in the first year rather than securing top notch accommodation
Been there ,done that with two dd, ones 32 and ones 28 now and both are still best mates (and bridesmaids to) with people they shared with in the first year
I'm sure it'll all work out ok

Phosphom · 30/07/2018 20:25

I wanted what I thought was the posh accommodation in Leeds. Didn't get it, but ended up in the best location with great people! Worked out for the best in the end

Phosphom · 30/07/2018 20:29

Bf and I loved the area so much that we ended up buying a house pretty close to those run-down student digs.

Original poster
mumofflautist · 30/07/2018 21:06

River Tam - when I was at Uni 30 years ago in halls, we had 3 toilets and sinks and 3 showers between 6 rooms and you only shared with one other person - must have been luxury 30 years ago. I do think standards of living are different nowadays and currently we live in a newbuild with 3 toilets so dd and her friends expect a certain standard! I was surprised that some of the halls I viewed were not as nice as the ones I stayed in (and they've been knocked down now!)

Midge Midge - I wondered about that too. All the younger ones in trad style accomodation right next to the Uni. The only thing though is they have to cook whereas my old halls were meals provided. Not great but I suppose saved one thing when moving out!

OP posts:
NatalieRushman · 30/07/2018 21:11

Has she phoned to ask if she can switch? I did, and they just switched me to the one I asked for. I've told various other people throughout the years to phone and ask to switch if they're not happy with they're allocation, and all except one have been successful! No harm in giving that a shot?

Sturmundcalm · 30/07/2018 21:19

DD was similar (although she was listing the cheapest options not the en-suite!) - 30miles away, unconditional, applied early. Her uni asked for 3 choices and she got her 3rd, which is mixed undergrad/postgrad and she'd prefer just undergrad. She even emailed a couple of weeks after the allocations and asked if anyone had refused her 1st/2nd choices and could she swap but was told no...

NatalieRushman · 30/07/2018 21:25

Their! I meant their!

Groovee · 30/07/2018 21:27

Dd was allocated her choice. It wouldn't have been mine but she's happy.

Where is your dd going? Can she see if she can switch?

Passmethecrisps · 30/07/2018 21:33

I wonder if there are factors at play as well as her being a minor? When I went (20 years ago) I was in a corridor with a large number of people who were studying the same or similar subjects. It sort of worked in faculties. I don’t think it was something they advertised as they wouldn’t always be able to do it but I think that when they could they did.

I requested a room swap within about 2 weeks of moving in as I happened to make pals on another floor in a different wing. That was allowed and a few people did it. We were 18 to a kitchen, three toilets and two showers (which were weirdly in the same room so only best pals ever doubled up!)

I think it may be worth her contacting the uni but I don’t think she should get her hopes up. Our local uni has been struggling to accommodate all their first years and for two years running been forced to out students into off campus private rentals. I was 150 miles from home and that would have scared me enormously.

So I suppose she is being a little unreasonable but I do understand why

Original poster
mumofflautist · 30/07/2018 21:43

Sturmundcalm - yes after big family discussion, that is my opinion of what would happen - I couldn't get DH to see tonight that if she didn't accept within 7 days AND if they didn't REPLY to queries within seven days she'd be left with nothing or something worse. She was minded to accept and decided she was happy to accept what was offered as yes there may e reasons, faculty matching etc. After she had read some online comments on the student room she was happier. No mention of her favourite hall by anyone there, so who knows where those places have gone. One friend from her school has a conditional for the same Uni, so her situation will be more precarious!
Passmethecrisps - I also agree with your comments. Although it was more me being unreasonable than her. I was being a slightly huffy snob based on what we'd seen at the applicants' day where loads of people were practically seeing the reality and saying there was no way they were going to fork out for the expensive halls even with student loan! So I thought Ha! Loads of places for those that want them then - turns out I was wrong!

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 30/07/2018 21:50

I can see your logic completely and I would have thought the same. I wonder where those have gone?

WaxOnFeckOff · 30/07/2018 22:34

Could it be because she is close to home so a presumption that she may be home a lot?

glasshalfsomething · 30/07/2018 22:44

@Passmethecrisps - sounds the same as my set-up! Those showers were the strangest of things!

Passmethecrisps · 30/07/2018 23:03

Very odd indeed glass! Funny how we all just worked it out though. I used to quite like the camaraderie of sitting in a group waiting my turn

lecossaise · 30/07/2018 23:12

At least at my uni, they tried to match people with others they thought they might get on with (obviously a shot in the dark but based on subject choice and interests if they filled in a form to that effect) - a tired kitchen might be worth it if you have any faith in their matching systems!

Sturmundcalm · 31/07/2018 06:49

our discussion ahead of her accepting was along the lines of:
would you rather stay at home? NO
would you rather rent privately than get your third choice? NO
well then...

like your DD she looked up stuff online again and found that the more negative comments she'd seen were all older and the issues have been addressed. the response to her email about preferring an undergrad hall also assured her that there were at least 100 undergrad students in her building (that hall has more than one building).

hope she's happy when she gets there :-) not long to go!

Downeyhouse · 31/07/2018 06:55

My son applied 1.5 hours after online applications opened and got his 3rd choice.

It is what it is.

Whichever hall they get they are bound to meet and make great friends.

FinallyHere · 31/07/2018 07:32

Since its always easier to accept facilities that are better than what you are used to, it could be that third years are given priority for the better halls. It would be tough to have lovely halls in the first year, and then have to put up with worst in subsequent years.

prettybird · 31/07/2018 08:51

Ds applied quite early to Aberdeen (back in May?). It wasn't as soon as it opened though as we were arguing over the cost of ensuite/less recently refurbished/smaller communal space (£142/week) versus 1 shower/toilet per 5 person flat/more recently refurbished/better communal space (£109/week).

In the event, he thought we weren't going to pay the cost of the Sports Village membership, not realising it was his own budget compromised and he applied for the 2 loos per flat (again recently refurbished) per 5 for £4 a week extra at £113/week.

He got allocated his room (which was one if the blocks in his "1st choice" type) within a few days. He'll still be 17 when he goes up (but turns 18 the first week of lectures).

Not sure if this is because Aberdeen Uni guarantees 1st Years a place in Uni accommodation and akaik, splits some of the different accommodation types into undergraduate only. Niece who is going into 4th year says that most move out in 2nd year.

In your dd's case, can you reassure her by saying that she will have more disposable income than those "paying top whack" and that at the end of the day it is the quality of friends that you make, rather than how new your accommodation is?

It may be that because you are so close, she was lower down the list of priorities when doing the allocations.

sashh · 31/07/2018 09:21

One friend from her school has a conditional for the same Uni, so her situation will be more precarious!

The vast majority of first years will be conditional offers so the uni will be keeping most of the accommodation for them.

After results day (a day or two) might be a better time to ask to swap, and if they say 'no' she still has a place.

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