What is Goldsmiths really like??

Thank you for the reply. Yeah that's what people have told me. I am going to view a house in deptford soon (didn't realise it was there til I looked up the address after I said I'd go!) , even if the house is nice and the people are cool should I not bother?

Thank you for the reply. Yeah that's what people have told me. I am going to view a house in deptford soon (didn't realise it was there til I looked up the address after I said I'd go!) , even if the house is nice and the people are cool should I not bother?

Goldsmiths does have a very diverse student population and quite a few mature students, most of my friends at university are mature students and strangely enough I found that they were lot more interesting and fun to have a conversation with then those who aren't. Also there are a few foreign students but you will mainly see them in halls I don't have any in my lectures or seminars. I guess it depends on the course.

If anyone has any questions about life at Goldsmiths then feel free to ask away

I've firmed goldsmiths, really scared that I'm not going to get my grades though

Anyone studying media and communications in September or are there any current students who can voice their opinions on the course/uni etc?

I know I'm rather a bit late but I've got a few questions

1. What do you do in your spare time at goldsmiths?
2. What is the nightlife like? Are there many pubs and clubs and bars around?
3. Is it lively (don't want to be somewhere boring!) and are there things to do if you don't want to go clubbing?
4. What's the sense of community like there? Are people quite friendly and can you get on easily with the students?
5. Do you get good support from the teachers and lecturers?

Thankyou very much

I know I'm rather a bit late but I've got a few questions

1. What do you do in your spare time at goldsmiths?
2. What is the nightlife like? Are there many pubs and clubs and bars around?
3. Is it lively (don't want to be somewhere boring!) and are there things to do if you don't want to go clubbing?
4. What's the sense of community like there? Are people quite friendly and can you get on easily with the students?
5. Do you get good support from the teachers and lecturers?

Thankyou very much

1) Me personally, I'm in band so I dedicate a lot of my spare time to that.
2) New Cross nightlife? Well it's a strange one I think. The thing about New Cross (and Goldsmiths) is that there are a lot of strong political ideologies present. What I mean is, there are very few brands in the area.
Anyway, if you like the club experience, there's the Amersham Arms, Students Union and a club called Venue, I think that's it in the immediate vicinity, obviously, there are endless places further away. Pub wise, there's a lot. New Cross Inn (good for live bands), Amersham Arms doubles as a bar and club and is also good for live music, Hobgoblin, Marquis, New Cross House and more. A lot of pubs in the area for you to visit, that all have there fair share of students and locals.
3) Lively? I'd probably say so yeah. You'll probably be in halls first year which is great for parties and meeting new people. I would say the majority of Goldsmiths students are not there so they can go clubbing a lot. Obviously, you're in London so you can always engage in that kind of activity frequently if you want, but if you don't enjoy clubbing then there are likely to be other people with the same mindset. If you do end up going to Goldsmiths, post on a freshers page that you'd like like to try out some other things, I think you'd be surprised at the number of responses you get.
4) Not sure community wise to be fair. You're not going to get a hello and a wave from everybody you walk past, but I wouldn't say there is a particularly bad attitude. In first year especially, everybody is in the same boat and it's fairly easy to make friends. You've just got to remember that and pull your own weight when starting friendships as well.
5) I'm a music student, and I'd say yes. Every subject is different though, and every lecturer is different. You're bound to come across several different teaching styles and personalities with lectures. Some you will like, love, be indifferent towards and dislike.

A music student yay!

I hope to study on the Popular Music degree! I have a few questions for you (and anyone else who can answer) hopefully you won't mind answering them.

Are you studying Music or Popular Music ?
What was your audition/interview like to get in?
How are the teachers/lectures?
Does New Cross have a good music scene? I'm a North Londoner and rarely venture into New Cross.
What are the facilities like? (Classrooms, practice rooms, studios, macs, instruments etc.)
Why did you choose goldsmiths?
What would you change about the course?
What's the best part of the course so far?

Thanks in advance x




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Are you studying Music or Popular Music ?
I study music, however there are modules which are shared by the two programmes.

What was your audition/interview like to get in?
I found it quite formal, almost rigorous. It was an academic interview, meaning we spoke quite heavily about the subject. In my interview we talked a lot about opera as that was what I was studying in A level music. Despite doing the more classical based course, my main instrument is the electric guitar and for the audition part I played a Led Zeppelin style piece from my grade 8 repertoire.

How are the teachers/lectures?
I think the staff in the music department are great. Everyone has their own teaching style and you have to adapt from lecture to lecture but I haven't had any issues.

Does New Cross have a good music scene? I'm a North Londoner and rarely venture into New Cross.
There's always plenty going on in New Cross. Lots of live music at places such as the Amersham Arms and New Cross Inn.

What are the facilities like? (Classrooms, practice rooms, studios, macs, instruments etc.)
All good I'd say. Classrooms vary in size but I believe all have the basics like a white board, TV/projector and music playing facilities. Practice rooms come with a piano and music stand. You can borrow things like amps and even instruments from the tech office. I haven't used the studios much really but they're all decent. There's a brand new one just opened and it's incredible. The techs that run and maintain the studios are generally quite helpful and will engage with you when working. The music department computer rooms are all macs I think, they're all fairly new iMac's with Logic, Protools and Sibelius software. In the library they have Mac Pro's and Windows computers, as well as iMac's. I believe Protools and Logic (and probably sibelius come to think of it) are only on the Mac computers though. Instruments, well the practice room pianos are okay, nothing special. In the bigger rooms they have nicer ones, which you can book if there isn't a lesson on. The guitar's they have are fairly good. Obviously you won't be getting a Gibson or Fender to borrow but the instruments are half decent.

Why did you choose goldsmiths?
Truth be told, it was the best place I got an offer from, so I didn't have a lot of choice. Having said that, I wouldn't change it. I'm enjoying my time here and I'm glad I'm here to study. Putting it on my application was a bit of a stab in the dark. I didn't think I'd get an offer. However, I'm glad I did and it was a good decision.

What would you change about the course?
I don't particularly like overly avant garde types of music, y'know, people preaching that every little noise is music and music that just makes you wanna tear your ears off, but that's just me.

What's the best part of the course so far?
Difficult question. I'm really struggling to pick a part out. I think the first week was really enjoyable. The music department has a 'music week' where you rehearse all week and perform at the end of it. It's really great for meeting new people and helps you settle in great.

Wow really, really helpful thanks!

I wasn't expecting the audition to be that formal, But it's a good warning.

'Good times Bad Times' was one of my exam pieces last year (I'm a singer so it was interesting to say the least but the guitarists were having a ball!)

hahaha totally agree about the avant garde stuff, there's definitely a limit.

It all sounds great! I really hope I get in!

Thanks again.

No problem at all!

Regarding the interview, just make sure you're well rehearsed and don't try and talk about things you're not 100% sure on or comfortable with.

Ahh yeah that's a good song.

Have you been to Goldsmiths/are you coming on a candidates day?

Good luck!

I know this is an old Forum but if anyone has any advice, concerns, likes and dislikes about Goldsmiths, the people, and the location, as I am looking at firming it for Design, that would be extremely helpful!