What you wish you were told about the uni of manchester before coming

However, there are a lot of private school kids. A lot. It's renowned among boarding school circuits it seems and the catered, close proximity thing seems to appeal to them. I never really realised how many boarding schools there were, and they all seem to be in the tower! The 'hipster' is the most common. There was one guy, never went to lectures, always high as a kite, tattoos and rebel without a cause swagger. Turns out he was from harrow and wore a smart jumper when his parents came... Public schoolers tend to stick together too, so I think I was the one state school mate a lot of them had! That can get a bit difficult at times, and I realised in my 2nd year we weren't thought of as highly as the tower itself seems to be here!

Hey, just wondering if you're doing engineering at Manchester? (Educated guess from your post)
Manchester is my first choice and I'm planning on doing engineering as well, wondering what it's like if you can tell me anything about it? Any info is greatly appreciated

Yeah, I'm doing Civil.
Ask me anything dude and I'll try and answer as best I can.

Well I've applied for Mechatronic, but do you know any of the professors/tutors, what they're like etc.? What's the work load like? Are the lab facilities good? Also just out of curiosity what were your GCSEs/A levels like so I can have a vague idea of what other people there will be like in terms of academics thanks a lot

Err I'm not sure if my lecturers cross over to Mechatronic or not.. What school is that run in, do you know?

My lecturers are all fairly decent. Some better than others (obviously) but not had real problems to the point I don't think I'm being given enough. The library has all the information in it anyway.
I get quite a high work load + courseworks. & so far, the labs I've been in have been really good too! As I say I haven't been disappointed with anything (apart from the performance of myself in Mechanics exam today).

I had average grades.
GCSE: AAAAABBCC
A Level: ABB
Though I am a lot more dedicated now to studying and a lot more committed than I was back in College.

But on my course it ranges from ABB-A*A*A*, from people who have done IB etc.. Massive differences in ability...

Anything else mate?

All that is encouraging lol. EEE runs Mechatronics. I know this question might seem a bit stupid, but are most engineering students Asian? Presumably there's a significant lack of girls as well in engineering? You say your work load is fairly heavy, but you still have a social life, right? I have a couple of friends who went to Imperial and say they don't have much of a life outside of academics, and I don't really want that lol.

I'm in a different school so it's different lecturers completely. Although I have seen the facilities and as far as I am aware they seem good.

It's around 50/50.. There are noticeably more than you would probably be used to seeing, but I personally don't see it as a problem?

& yeah there is a distinct lack of females on the course but again, I don't see it as a problem. There are still plenty around and plus, you'll have a lot of lectures (if not all) in the Sackville building which is used by Engineers and Fashion/Textiles students.

Yeah I'd say I have a fair decent social life. If you plan your time well you can have a really good one. The latest you finish is 5, say you stayed in library until 7 doing your work, go home, food, shower and can easily go out 2-3 nights a week but there will be some weeks (CW deadlines weeks) which you won't be able to go out at all... but that's just expected.

It all comes down the personal ability, time management and well, whether you can get up at 8 for a 9am lecture and still be able to take everything in whilst being hungover.

A huge percentage of them fail their course from the first year.

Haha, I'm actually multiracial, so it doesn't bother me. I was just curious, same with the girls thing lol. My current Maths class has 37 guys and 4 girls :P

Thanks for all the answers! Really looking forward to coming this September if I get an offer, *fingers crossed*. Though...just one last question lol, would your recommend uni' accommodation or renting a flat or something? I have no problem living with other people, but I'm a bit particular about things sometimes, the lads at boarding school thought I had OCD. I'd like to have people and friends etc. around, but again I wouldn't like someone to steal my underwear (this actually has happened before -.-) I have no idea what uni' accommodation is like, do you think I'd have enough privacy?

I got a conditional offer to Manchester for Law. Any recommendations for a good place to study but not too quiet? My social life is pretty non-existent but I plan to change that in uni Though, I don't think my heart can take Fallowfield judging by the way you guys describe it.

Also, what's the best time to apply for accommodation? Should I apply for it early even if Manchester is my insurance choice?

You can only apply for accommodation if you firm Manchester. If you put it as your insurance you apply for accommodation after results day.

I would say live in victoria park, fallowfield is a very lively student community and if you dont get a particularly nice hall and room then you wont enjoy it as much.

Uni accommodation definitely for the first year and I'd recommend Fallowfield although I don't know what you're like. Have a read through some of the Manchester threads, there's is PLENTY of info on the different types of accommodation.

Alright, as promised that was the last question lol, thanks a lot man!

Heyy, I'm hoping to study psychology at Manchester Uni in september. Does anyone know where I can find pictures of the rooms, particularly at Oak House, Richmond Park and Sheavyn House (basically any self-catered UG accommodation in Fallowfield)? Or could anyone post some or direct me to a good thread?

Here's my Oak House (Sycamore court - nonbasin) room:






The rooms in Oak House seem to vary and I have the smallest room in the flat.

I've added the image of when I first arrived to show the difference that a little bit of decoration can add.

And for laughs, here's a picture I just found of the kitchen above mine on fire :3

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind!

You can only apply for accommodation if you firm Manchester. If you put it as your insurance you apply for accommodation after results day.
.

I have an unconditional offer from manchester to study law with politics and I'm considering putting it as my first choice. I live just outside manchester but want to go in halls but I have no idea what kind of campus to look at for accommodation. Like someone said at the beginning of the thread I've always kind of snubbed fallowfield but it seems like a lot of the accommodation is based here. Is this the best place to be in your first year ?

I want to be somewhere sociable but somewhere I can work too which seems to be what everyone on here is looking for !

Is there also anyone who has done/ is doing this course who can tell me a bit more about it. And are you glad you chose manchester over your other choices ? My other offers are from reading and another from sheffield and in terms of sheffield and manchester I'm still unsure which one would be best. Thank you