University Halls

MotherMayI · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:28

After screwing up college and spending the last few years simply having the time of my life, I finally got around to doing an access course this last academic year and I will be attending University of West England, Bristol starting in September.

However, I am unsure what to do for accommodation and any words of wisdom from those of you at university would be much appreciated.

I am 21, from Brighton and have lived away from home for 2 years or so. Although I still like going out clubbing, partying etc. it is not new to me, and as much as I feel like a ***** for saying it, I really have done it to death. That is not to say that I do not intend to go out at University, I of course do - But the thought of a load of 18 year olds getting their first taste of freedom and crap drugs fills me with a feeling of dread.

I have two options, firstly the obvious move in to halls and risk the above. Or, secondly I have been offered a spot in a house with 3 other guys from Brighton (only 1 of which I know) all of which are moving up to start their first year in Bristol in September also.

My first feeling was that I should grab the chance of moving in to the house. However, I now cant help but think Ill be some how missing out if I dont move in to halls. So, I guess my questions are - Will it really effect my uni experience that much either way (my gf is also moving up to Bristol in September, she will be living in halls)? Are all the people in halls the 18 year olds I dread, or are most actually fairly sound? Has anyone moved in to halls from a similar kind of situation as myself?

Nitefly · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:36

MotherMayI said:
(my gf is also moving up to Bristol in September, she will be living in halls)?

Fail.

But seriously, halls is an experience which is excellent, but you WILL find most first years very immature at your age. They will have never have been to cheese nights (yes, you will be dragged to beirkellar 'wedge'), they will club happily for 5 days on the trot and will generally act like 8 year olds when their parents have left the house (ie, sliding down the stairs on a matress).

I loved halls, but at 25 it might be a bit much. Your best bet is to go into smaller university accomadation or houses. This will give a university experience which will suit you much better.

Antar Bolaeisk · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:41

The only thing with halls is that they can tend to be a bit stirct and having lived on your own for a while you may resent the powers that be interfering with how you live in halls.

jesta · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:41

If you dread the thought with living with 18 year old I would go for a house. I lived in halls and although I also was 18 I found my housemates quite immature and found it was hard to click with them so I mostly was round a mates student houses or I would be in my room.

MotherMayI · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:47

Nitefly said:
Fail.

But seriously, halls is an experience which is excellent, but you WILL find most first years very immature at your age. They will have never have been to cheese nights (yes, you will be dragged to beirkellar 'wedge'), they will club happily for 5 days on the trot and will generally act like 8 year olds when their parents have left the house (ie, sliding down the stairs on a matress).

I loved halls, but at 25 it might be a bit much. Your best bet is to go into smaller university accomadation or houses. This will give a university experience which will suit you much better.

Heh, yeah - I'm not too optimistic about how the whole gf thing will turn out. Still, we've been together a year down here and it was by pure chance we were applying to the same Uni (although, saying that - I did turn down a better offer in London to go to Bristol..). Its been good so far, maybe well last a few months at least at uni.. I can hope

But cheers guys, you've pretty much just confirmed my fears.

The problem with university let houses is the fact they're in the middle of nowhere. I love living right in the middle of a city, not in the borders. However, seeing as I don't know most of the guys I'll be moving in with and its all of our first years in Bristol, I imagine the experience will be much the same.

Im 21 btw, not 25

[TW]Fox · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:50

Do the house. Seriously. The Halls thing is so bloody annoying if you are not in the mood.

Lysander · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:50

Get a house. Those first year girls can get very exciteable.

I would sometimes be able to hear them screaming in their kitchen through THREE doors. Sometimes I walked out of halls. I didn't know where I was going, I just had to get out.

Having said that it was an excellent, excellent year. But if you're not in the same place mentally it could be awful.

Thunderbolt · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:51

I was at UWE this year, can tell you anything you wanna know. I didn't stay on campus, but have friends that did, I stayed in the city centre in Favel house, which is a unite building. I stayed in a one bed shared flat with my gf, and i would say it was pretty much close to hell for us. As we both hate the student attitude and immaturity. We're only 19 but did the whole clubbing drinking and drugs thing when we were about 16/17 and got bored of it then, so was a bit dejavu at first. However, if you're a bit more tolerant than we were then stay at Favel, its a great building, and being cheap £65ish, attracts more mature people. Downside is thats its far away from the uni, however the uLink bus service (£160 for a year) is generally really good. Need any more help just ask.

Nitefly · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:52

MotherMayI said:
The problem with university let houses is the fact they're in the middle of nowhere. I love living right in the middle of a city, not in the borders. However, seeing as I don't know most of the guys I'll be moving in with and its all of our first years in Bristol, I imagine the experience will be much the same.

Which areas of Bristol were you looking to live in or do you have no idea? UWE really is in the sticks and out of the way of the centre (Like Oxford Brookes Wheatley campus.. perhaps further). I could give you some advise on what area might be best for you. Will you be taking a car? At 25 I assume you have a car.

Blanket · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:52

If you move into a house straight away you lose a lot of your friend making horizons, when compared to halls.

You have a point about the immaturity thing, but its entirely up to you who you hang out with, there's always mature 18yr olds and other 20, 21, 22 year olds in halls too - you certainly won't be alone!

I've just finished my first year at UWE, lived in the Marketgate halls in the city center. If it was possible, i'd have chosen to live here a second year but its a first years only accomodation.

I was 20 in January and to be honest, some people seemed a bit immature, but a lot of people didn't.

[TW]Fox · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:53

Blanket said:
You have a point about the immaturity thing, but its entirely up to you who you hang out with

But its not entirely up to you who runs up and down your corridor shouting at 4am when you've got a test in the morning.

Nitefly · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:54

[TW]Fox;12039344 said:
But its not entirely up to you who runs up and down your corridor shouting at 4am when you've got a test in the morning.

As a scientist amongst art students once upon a time, I know that feeling.

semi-pro waster · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:55

Halls can be great (they were for me) but I'm not sure I'd want to do them all over again, as said they must be an absolute nightmare if you are older or simply not mentally in the same place as most of the first years will be.

It isn't always a problem but there is a distinct chance that you will end up looking after your flatmates while they try to find their limits and you are already more aware of what yours are.

MotherMayI · 7 Jul 2008 at 10:59

AdamDaniels88 said:
I was at UWE this year, can tell you anything you wanna know. I didn't stay on campus, but have friends that did, I stayed in the city centre in Favel house, which is a unite building. I stayed in a one bed shared flat with my gf, and i would say it was pretty much close to hell for us. As we both hate the student attitude and immaturity. We're only 19 but did the whole clubbing drinking and drugs thing when we were about 16/17 and got bored of it then, so was a bit dejavu at first. However, if you're a bit more tolerant than we were then stay at Favel, its a great building, and being cheap £65ish, attracts more mature people. Downside is thats its far away from the uni, however the uLink bus service (£160 for a year) is generally really good. Need any more help just ask.

I actually applied to halls before the house proposal came up, and am keeping my application in the system just in case it all goes **** up, and I'm fairly sure I applied to a unite building myself. I can't remember which one it was, Market something maybe? It was in the city center (but not a direct uLink stop I don't think), and was all en suite (I have the money, and I felt it would help me avoid irritating tossers as long as possible if need be). You did just bring up something else I was wondering about though - If I sort out my own accommodation, can I still take advantage of the uLink service by paying an additional fee?

Nitefly said:
Which areas of Bristol were you looking to live in or do you have no idea? UWE really is in the sticks and out of the way of the centre (Like Oxford Brookes Wheatley campus.. perhaps further). I could give you some advise on what area might be best for you. Will you be taking a car? At 25 I assume you have a car.

I honestly have no idea. One of the people, the only one I know, that I will be moving in with knows the area a whole lot better than me. I want to be very, very central but with easy transport links to Frenchay campus (the one that is out in the sticks), as that is where my lectures will be (Psychology). I don't have a car, although I do have a license, I just have no need for one living in the centre of Brighton it would be more a burden than anything else (there is no free street parking within 4-5 miles of my house). Any recommendations on areas to look out for etc., would be great. And again, im 21 - Not 25

Not that it really makes any difference

MotherMayI · 7 Jul 2008 at 11:03

Blanket said:
If you move into a house straight away you lose a lot of your friend making horizons, when compared to halls.

You have a point about the immaturity thing, but its entirely up to you who you hang out with, there's always mature 18yr olds and other 20, 21, 22 year olds in halls too - you certainly won't be alone!

I've just finished my first year at UWE, lived in the Marketgate halls in the city center. If it was possible, i'd have chosen to live here a second year but its a first years only accomodation.

I was 20 in January and to be honest, some people seemed a bit immature, but a lot of people didn't.

Sounds like your in a very similar situation to myself - Even applied to the same building

Where did you move to Bristol from out of interest?

As for the friend making horizons, I don't really know if thats the case. I will be moving in with 3 people all starting new courses the same time of me, 2 of which I don't know. We will all no doubt mingle with each others acquaintances and so on. Same goes for my girlfriend, and the 5 or so people I already know up in Bristol from Brighton also. And of course, I imagine I will make my own friends.

Nitefly · 7 Jul 2008 at 11:06

MotherMayI said:
I honestly have no idea. One of the people, the only one I know, that I will be moving in with knows the area a whole lot better than me. I want to be very, very central but with easy transport links to Frenchay campus (the one that is out in the sticks), as that is where my lectures will be (Psychology). I don't have a car, although I do have a license, I just have no need for one living in the centre of Brighton it would be more a burden than anything else (there is no free street parking within 4-5 miles of my house). Any recommendations on areas to look out for etc., would be great.

Realistically, the Gloucester Road / Stokescroft area will fit your criteria at a reasonable price. There are quite a few members on here which live there, or at least did last year. There are many bus stops which will take you to UWE. However, it remains the slimey area of Bristol. If you are the kind of person who likes Banksy and casual drug abuse you will probably love it. If you are like me and prefer safer, "classier" areas then it might not be your cup of tea. But then again you wont have to walk up that ******* hill *shakes fist*

Still, I enjoyed my year there. Other areas including Redland, Hotwell and Clifton are out of the way but much nicer in my opinion.

And again, im 21 - Not 25 Not that it really makes any difference

Sorry, that was my poor attempt at humour

J.B · 7 Jul 2008 at 11:08

21 isnt old, Im 21 and would give anything to do my final year of Uni in halls, not that fussed about going clubbing or the drugs, but its the comradery, always people about, always someone to chat to.

I know what Id do!

Thunderbolt · 7 Jul 2008 at 11:08

MotherMayI said:
can I still take advantage of the uLink service by paying an additional fee?

Yeah you can, thats not a problem, also i had a look at pheonix for this year (next to marketgate), as they do a nice ensuit, with built in kitchen. Didn't like pheonix though, as it ended up at being £180 a week for me and my gf, so we're now looking for a one bed flat :s Oh, and the uLink busses stop at all the major student accom buildings.

MotherMayI · 7 Jul 2008 at 11:10

Nitefly said:
Realistically, the Gloucester Road / Stokescroft area will fit your criteria at a reasonable price. There are quite a few members on here which live there, or at least did last year. There are many bus stops which will take you to UWE. However, it remains the slimey area of Bristol. If you are the kind of person who likes Banksy and casual drug abuse you will probably love it. If you are like me and prefer safer, "classier" areas then it might not be your cup of tea. But then again you wont have to walk up that ******* hill *shakes fist*

Heh, cheers - Ill have a look, it sounds spot on - Although I despise 99% of anything Banksy related

Sorry, that was my poor attempt at humour

Lol, I wasn't sure if it was or not - Guess I was wrong

Blanket · 7 Jul 2008 at 11:10

I moved to Bristol from Swindon, just down the road really but 24857.45 times better.

I suppose if you're good at getting yourself out there then the kinda 'automatic' friends from halls wont make a difference to you.

Oh, about the ULink stop, Marketgate is probably the best situated in the entire city centre for ULink busses. The U4 bus which goes straight up the M32 and gets to campus in about 11mins stops right across the road, all the other ULink busses stop there too.

University Halls

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