University of Reading 2012 Applicants

At the beginning I was attracted to Stenton, Mackinder and the new Child's hall but after reading what a lot of people have wrote I'm really tempted to choose Wessex as my number one, as having a much better social life is more important than having all the nice facilities, especially in the first year. I live in a modern house where everything is all shiny and new and it hard for me to imagine living somewhere not like that, as I don't know if it would feel 'homely' to me, but apart from that I love the idea that everyone knows each other and that the corridors are open for going to see friends

I'm not too fussed on luxuries either. Whichever has the best social life will do me. I cannot apply until May so i'll worry about the halls nearer the time.

You guys have the right idea!

Yeah its great, before coming to uni i thought a flat would be better but it really isn't, a corridor is so much better socially. When our entire group gets together for nights out or other events it is massive, there are around 20 of us. Of those, 1 of them is from my kitchen. Obviously i am closer to some of them than others, but we all get along. Then i've got the people from my kitchen on top of that, i don't know a lot of them that well but they are all friendly. Would i have had the chance to get to know this many people if we were all in flats? No chance.

The facilities here aren't that bad either. Of course they're nothing in comparison to the expensive halls, but the kitchens are fairly modern and the rooms are a decent size. Very good deal for the price you are paying.

Just found this on youtube of wessex hall, made me laugh! Pretty obvious that its made by the lads football team...

Just found this on youtube of wessex hall, made me laugh! Pretty obvious that its made by the lads football team...

Sounds awesome thats exactly what I want, the full uni social experience! I think that's the main reason I want to go to uni, and feel that if I stayed in a flat rather than a corridor I'd be missing out on meeting so many people. Sure on paper its easy to say you could go flat to flat to talk to people but from what I have heard that doesn't really happen that much in reality, and you wouldn't just bump into friends whenever. I think all that is so much more important than having a modern place to stay Really hoping I can get a look round somewhere wessex on my visit day, or there are some photos the uni could show me of the place, as theres only one on the website! How would you compare wessex to wantage? That's the only hall I had time to check out apart from mackinder on my open day so will try and get a picture in my head of wessex

Looking forward to my visit day tomorrow!, anyone else going?

I'm visiting for the Biomedical science course, however my sat nav doesn't recognise the postcode the university has given. Where abouts should I be heading once I get into Reading? (i'm thinking of going by car a apposed to train atm) Is the university sign posted? or are there multiple buildings through the city?

I went in the summer and got lost. I spent 20 minutes in a suburb about 8 miles away wondering why I was driving up a dead end of an industrial estate. Turned out I made a slight typo on the postcode. Missed the first hour of the tour but managed to find everyone in the end.

Can't help you with directions, but make sure you get the right entrance as it's a big place. I drove down the wrong one and had to do a U-turn and head a mile or so further up the road.

So, yeah, made a complete hash of getting there.

Sounds awesome thats exactly what I want, the full uni social experience! I think that's the main reason I want to go to uni, and feel that if I stayed in a flat rather than a corridor I'd be missing out on meeting so many people. Sure on paper its easy to say you could go flat to flat to talk to people but from what I have heard that doesn't really happen that much in reality, and you wouldn't just bump into friends whenever. I think all that is so much more important than having a modern place to stay Really hoping I can get a look round somewhere wessex on my visit day, or there are some photos the uni could show me of the place, as theres only one on the website! How would you compare wessex to wantage? That's the only hall I had time to check out apart from mackinder on my open day so will try and get a picture in my head of wessex

My bf currently lives in Sherfield so I've spent quite a lot of time there in the last few months, it seems like the sort of place I'd like to live but it's £120 a week Which sounds like quite a lot of money to be leaving your bank account on a weekly basis.

Hey this may sound really stupid but I have my offer and I've firmed it through ucas and got all my confirmation letters etc. but I don't know how to apply for accommodation? There's no links or anything? Do you just wait until they send you something in the post or is it just that applications for halls don't open until May or something for undergrads? Really confused

Help would be appreciated!! So excited to go and I'm considering those new Townhouses they're opening?

does anyone know what the area of Reading is like and if the nightlife is any good? Can't decide between here and Manchester!

Congrats I firmed Reading in Jan, but as it's a conditional offer I have to wait until May to apply for accommodation (if you were lucky enough to get an unconditional offer you can apply in March). I don't believe you get anything sent through in the post. It's just a case of waiting for the time to come and then applying via your Reading student access log in.

Can't give you any info on the accommodation itself as i'm not there yet lol. Depends what you are looking for. Halls are best for socialising though.

I live in Manchester now and go out in the centre most weekends and I have to say I can't see Reading having as wider range of places of Manchester. Manchester has a massive array of places for everyone and I love the centre (especially at Christmas). There's the Factory (a personal fave of mine), Tiger Tiger, Birdcage is AMAZING Vodka Revs, Bar Baa, Buddha and about 1000 other clubs, pubs and bars. I've been out in a lot of places and Manchester is awesome. I went out in Reading when I stayed there overnight before my interview and it was also really good I had an amazing night. There aren't as many clubs in Reading and it's not as big but I really really liked it (as well as the uni and the course being perfect for me). There does seem to be a lot going on and there were loads of students around. I'm sorry I can't be more help about specific places in Reading but coming from Manchester I am still really looking forward to going out in Reading and all the mainstream shopping is just as good as Manchester!!

Also for the second year do people tend to live together in houses with the people they lived with in the halls.