Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

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:
PrimalLass · 02/08/2018 09:09

The halls I was in at Glasgow Uni were a total dump but we had a brilliant time. My
Mum cried when she left me there but I loved it. They are 18 - roughing it a little is fine.

Original poster
mumofflautist · 02/08/2018 09:59

Primal How long ago? My halls at Glasgow (Queen Margaret) were nice for 30 years ago! I wasn't in the rickety tower block which shook in the wind!
Indigo She'll pay the halls out of her loan which doesn't quite cover all of it (obvs if it's now going to be £22 a week less than we were thinking we should maybe be pleased about that) Shock and we'll give her a weekly allowance. DH has a spreadsheet, it will all be fine. (Some folk on mumsnet although not on this chat will probably work out who I am now) Wink She's been working but after her last online order she's been told no more buying clothes now until at least Christmas Shock I only buy if they are necessary rather than "fashion for my new life" type items. Who thought it would be great not having to buy school uniform this year (big mistake)

OP posts:
longbar · 02/08/2018 10:25

I was in ASH OP for first year. It’s really close to Pathfoot if her lectures are in there - but who am I kidding, all the central halls are really close to everything. I lived off campus the next year in a much bigger room (but with a journey) and was really happy to move back on in year. As long as she doesn’t spend time comparing her room to others it will be perfectly fine for her needs. Electric cookers are absolutely fine too, not sure where this became a problem! Glad there are ensuites though, formerly they had sinks only and I’m sure all the boys just peed in them. Envy

Original poster
mumofflautist · 02/08/2018 10:51

longbar because the electric cookers in the new flats are better. In ASH they look like those horrible old ones with the swirly rings. And they take feckin' ages. Still better an electric hob because she's only just mastered the gas one at home. We have a gas hob and electric fan oven. Smile

OP posts:
longbar · 02/08/2018 11:07

It’s really not an issue though, compared to all the other things she will be experiencing. Anyway she will be eating chips and drinking pints in the pub most mealtimes Grin

Original poster
mumofflautist · 02/08/2018 11:15

longbar true. She has unrealistic expectations about how much she can/will cook. Currently her repertoire is fairly limited anyway! Guess what else I found out the new builds have 8 studio flats each - I'm sure we were told they wouldn't be given to first years but on one of the student forums some folk have got them (I don't know if they are first years) but they are £167.99 a week Shock

OP posts:
longbar · 02/08/2018 11:59

If she’s an extrovert type this won’t apply, but if not it is good to have to leave your room and mix with others regularly. If you’d your own kitchen and en suite you could lock yourself away really. She might make lots of friends if she cooks enough to share!

WaxOnFeckOff · 02/08/2018 12:06

if DS had moved out and into a studio flat he wouldn't speak to anyone all year so maybe not the best idea for a 1st year, well not mine anyway :)

OP she won't use the hob to heat up her ready meals anyway :o

WaxOnFeckOff · 02/08/2018 12:08

When a friends DS went away, they all agreed to cook one night a week for everyone so he learned about half a dozen dishes and rotated them.

Original poster
mumofflautist · 02/08/2018 12:25

Wax Interesting (your last point) I never cooked with folk when I was in a flat in my 3rd and 4th year. They ate completely different stuff. I'm not a proper veggie but only eat chicken and fish occasionally and other than that, no meat. Dd was saying she would quite like to cook with people and I said how that (for me) would be absolutely horrifying. We are all different ha ha

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 02/08/2018 12:29

well me too, back then anyway as I was a fussy bugger. DS1 is fussy too and also has "isshoos" with damaged food and textures and vegetables so it wouldn't suit him either. He does have a wee repetoire of meals he can make and he can grill sausages and fry/poach eggs etc so he would definitely manage to feed himself. he makes a mean carbonara or mac and cheese.

MrsSnootyPants2018 · 02/08/2018 12:29

Your DDs accommodation sounds fine. Having an ensuite is fab but a communal kitchen is actually great. It's somewhere to mix with flat mates, get to know each other and actually helps you settle in quicker.

I think you're making a little bit of a fuss. She'll be fine.

redfairy · 02/08/2018 12:32

I haven't read the whole thread and I don' t know about your particular uni but international students very often ARE prepared to pay top dollar. I'm sure she'll have a brilliant time no matter what grade of accommodation she has. Good luck to her!

CraftyGin · 02/08/2018 13:00

I paid for DD’s halls in 7 monthly installments. She kept her loan for living expenses (and did not spend it all).

Her halls were almost £7000, iirc - double her loan.

Passmethecrisps · 02/08/2018 15:12

In my first year my repertoire was noodles. And cheese and bacon pasta/baked potato/sandwiches

We did occasionally do group shops and cook together but it depended on our schedules. I was a science person so had long lab sessions. My chums were arts so had a lot more “reading” time

To be honest, I only remember cooking in second year

PrimalLass · 02/08/2018 17:42

Primal How long ago? My halls at Glasgow (Queen Margaret) were nice for 30 years ago! I wasn't in the rickety tower block which shook in the wind!

Maclay Halls, 1992 onwards. Big houses at the top of Kelvingrove Park.

They are now posh flats.

Original poster
mumofflautist · 02/08/2018 18:55

MrsSnootyPants2018 It's because she got choice 3, not choice 1 and 2 as 1 and 2 have nicer kitchens, they are all communal kitchens. Ye gods, I wasn't suggesting studio flat for HER.

OP posts:
Sturmundcalm · 02/08/2018 20:05

DD's halls will be £4.5k. we're paying £1.5k, she's got a scholarship which covers just over another £1k and she got money from grandparents for her 18th that will cover the rest.
we're giving her a small monthly amount, she has savings and she's still contemplating whether to take any of her loan or not for this year. if my DH hadn't been going to uni we probably would have upped the monthly amount but for this year that's not going to be possible.

IndigoApple · 02/08/2018 22:06

Thanks for the replies about finances. Think I need to set up a spreadsheet!

Abra1de · 02/08/2018 22:10

My daughter got her seventh choice and we had huge strops from her. It was a little tired but fine and she was very happy last year—her first. Her flat mates were lovely.

glasshalfsomething · 04/08/2018 21:40

Sounds like Stirling halls are on the up! Definitely improved since my days...sure she will soon forget it if she doesn't get moved to. Choice 1 or 2. The campus facilities and layout will more than make up for it! Do they still do meal plans? May be worth considering?

readsalotgirl63 · 05/08/2018 14:59

We paid for DD's accommodation and she lived on her loan. Have just discovered during conversation that she still has about £1k of loan left. She has been more frugal than expected which is good but dh has been paying her (quite generously) for doing gardening and DIY tasks so he is a bit Hmm. Grin

DD paid the accommodation from her account and we refunded in 7 instalments and paid the upfront initial charge.

Stopyourhavering64 · 07/08/2018 15:41

I went to Aberdeen 35 yrs ago and had to share 2 showers and 1 bath between 12!
We don’t have any en suites at home now either so dcs didn’t have any expectations
Dd1 and ds were both at Dundee in Westpark which is 2 miles off campus
we now live in Wales - so go figure how they allocate rooms- certainly isn’t for students coming from further afield getting pick of the accommodation
Any way by time they’re in second year they’ll be living in some pretty dire flats so make the most of the en suites 😂

Groovee · 07/08/2018 15:58

@Stopyourhavering64 Dd chose westpark. She moves there on the 1st.

Stopyourhavering64 · 07/08/2018 16:49

Groovee both mine were v happy there, the rooms and living area are pretty spacious and bright ( compared to dd who's at Man Met and was in a pokey room in halls for first year)
Ds is in Campus Apartments for 2nd yr - just across road from main campus at Hawkhill -£1050 per quarter ( above Tesco express and very near Lidl)
dd was in an awful flat for second year....avoid Jamal Lettings!