[DellaLouise]

This is a thread for all us UoB freshers arriving in September

[Avvy]

I got my unconditional for English with Creative Writing and firmed it right away. It was my only choice... my UCAS looked pretty sad with just the one uni on it =P

[DellaLouise]

(Original post by Avvy)
I got my unconditional for English with Creative Writing and firmed it right away. It was my only choice... my UCAS looked pretty sad with just the one uni on it =P

Birmingham was my only choice too After dropping out of my previous university, I knew it was where I wanted to go. You're right though, my UCAS looked very empty with only one choice on it

[Avvy]

(Original post by DellaLouise)
Birmingham was my only choice too After dropping out of my previous university, I knew it was where I wanted to go. You're right though, my UCAS looked very empty with only one choice on it

Ah, what was your other university?

I was at Greenwich, and to begin with I liked it (when it was just socialising and partying) but as I settled into the course more I realised that I really, really didn't like the actual course structure or seminar content. Then I didn't like my accommodation much either (I'm not a studio flat kinda person, but the student village had loads of them so I got put in one) and after visiting friends in Birmingham a few times over the first term and realising that they did a course that sounded much better suited to me, I decided I'd go for it.

[n_naomi]

great to see people in my position doing psychology at Birmingham, was so happy to get a place! Went to Keele uni with joint English & Psych but didn't really enjoy the English side (no offense Avvy :P) & the place was in the middle of nowhere!
Birmingham looks awesome though!

[Crab13]

Is there a facebook group for Freshers 2012??

[panda1093]

(Original post by Crab13)
Is there a facebook group for Freshers 2012??

yeah, I was wondering the same

[DellaLouise]

(Original post by Crab13)
Is there a facebook group for Freshers 2012??

(Original post by panda1093)
yeah, I was wondering the same

I've just had a look and there appears to be one page and one group that are very empty. There is no official one yet, that will probably be set up nearer the A level results day

[Hatterfan]

There are actually a couple of groups that have been made that consist of less than 50 members - one is made by a current keeno third year and one I cannot work out who / why it has been made.

These groups don't tend to actually get many members until closer to a-level results day since most students don't know which University they will be attending until then. Possibly more so this year as I doubt many would have deferred last year to have to pay the increased fees.

As we get nearer to the time, even more groups will appear created normally by various club promoters who create groups 'for you to meet each other' - only to constantly spam you about their club nights.

Beware of these groups - not just because they spam you about events - but they have a habit of trying to con students by pretending to sell Fresher tickets or 'official' bar crawls etc that in fact have nothing to do with the University or Guild.

There will be just ONE official group made by the Guild of Students / University that I would most recommend as this will have the majority of new students on and with people at the University to answer questions. You will also be able to find official Hall of Residence pages from here. However this will not be corrected for a few months yet.

[SshLaura]

I'm starting Sociology in September. Do any of you know where you're living yet?

[DellaLouise]

(Original post by SshLaura)
I'm starting Sociology in September. Do any of you know where you're living yet?

Not yet
The accommodation services twitter page has said they're giving out accommodation offers for unconditionals etc in late July. It doesn't stop me checking my email all the time though

[kk.creare]

guys please help to choose between Atiken , Opal One and Victoria Hall.. My preferences are:
1.) Distance
2.) Social Life
3.) Ensuite
4.) Cost
5.) Students of same university ( i am not sure is it a matter to worry)
6.) Post graduate Student community( i am not sure is it a matter to worry)

I am joining psychology dept for Mres course
and also let me tell pros/cons currently i feel for victoria, opal, atiken ..

Victoria Hall:
Pros:
Very Near
Accommodation in ensuite and quite good

Cons:
From this year its only for Under grads allotted by university but i could book privately but don know how many post grads would be there.. i don wanna be odd man out

Opal One:
Pros:
Ensuite and nice accommodation
Fees also pretty good
On site gym/pool
Students from aston and city uni too (not sure this pros or cons )

Cons:
Its in between city centre and university ..so neither uni life nor city life .. and need travel for both..
Since mixed with other uni students not sure how well it goes..

Atiken:

Pros:
Its in vale and hence more events
Green environment
Atiken B and Atiken C reserverd for only Post grads (but i also feel would i miss undergrads )

Cons:
Accommodation is not so good and no ensuite(any better insight on atiken welcome )
Distance is quite far compared to victoria hall
If want to use gym/sports facilities then no near by ones

Please help me guys...

And please tell me in general - what difference it makes(pros/cons) living with undergrads and post grads.. i feel its more to fun to be with undergrads

And please tell me in general - what difference it makes (pros/cons)living with students of other unis?

[KopCat]

(Original post by SshLaura)
I'm starting Sociology in September. Do any of you know where you're living yet?

Mason Flat 111 One of my good friends just finished Sociology at Bham and is gonna be 2nd year next year, she loved it!

[KopCat]

(Original post by kk.creare)
guys please help to choose between Atiken , Opal One and Victoria Hall.. My preferences are:
1.) Distance
2.) Social Life
3.) Ensuite
4.) Cost
5.) Students of same university ( i am not sure is it a matter to worry)
6.) Post graduate Student community( i am not sure is it a matter to worry)

I am joining psychology dept for Mres course
and also let me tell pros/cons currently i feel for victoria, opal, atiken ..

Victoria Hall:
Pros:
Very Near
Accommodation in ensuite and quite good

Cons:
From this year its only for Under grads allotted by university but i could book privately but don know how many post grads would be there.. i don wanna be odd man out

Opal One:
Pros:
Ensuite and nice accommodation
Fees also pretty good
On site gym/pool
Students from aston and city uni too (not sure this pros or cons )

Cons:
Its in between city centre and university ..so neither uni life nor city life .. and need travel for both..
Since mixed with other uni students not sure how well it goes..

Atiken:

Pros:
Its in vale and hence more events
Green environment
Atiken B and Atiken C reserverd for only Post grads (but i also feel would i miss undergrads )

Cons:
Accommodation is not so good and no ensuite(any better insight on atiken welcome )
Distance is quite far compared to victoria hall
If want to use gym/sports facilities then no near by ones

Please help me guys...

And please tell me in general - what difference it makes(pros/cons) living with undergrads and post grads.. i feel its more to fun to be with undergrads

And please tell me in general - what difference it makes (pros/cons)living with students of other unis?

Definitely not Opal one, it's such a trek away from the Uni. one of my good friends lived there last year said it was ok but really wish he lived on the Vale and someone got stabbed outside there at like 1am about 2 months ago apparently

[kk.creare]

(Original post by KopCat)
Definitely not Opal one, it's such a trek away from the Uni. one of my good friends lived there last year said it was ok but really wish he lived on the Vale and someone got stabbed outside there at like 1am about 2 months ago apparently

thanks for the reply is the distance a major drawback ?? how about social life there ... and other stuffs apart from long walk ... even i too feel distance is the major drawback there.. but even vale is almost same distance as opal one right ??

[uob]

(Original post by kk.creare)
thanks for the reply is the distance a major drawback ?? how about social life there ... and other stuffs apart from long walk ... even i too feel distance is the major drawback there.. but even vale is almost same distance as opal one right ??

It might well be a drawback. From the Vale it takes about 20 minutes to get to campus depending on where you're going. From Opal 1, it's about 40 minutes. You may not enjoy the relatively longer journey, although there are public buses that run from Opal 1 that go past the university. It comes down to how much you think you'd value the shorter walk in that respect.

Social life is likely to to be a bit fragmented compared to the Vale, as everyone in the latter goes to the University of Birmingham, so you'll more likely find yourself in similar societies or going to the same club nights if you do so. You may find yourself in a social group which is largely centred around the main campus, meaning you spend time travelling for those reasons too.
Despite that, there is the Freshers Off Campus Society (FOCSOC) which runs social events for students who don't live in one of the university halls, which Opal 1 comes under.

[KopCat]

(Original post by kk.creare)
thanks for the reply is the distance a major drawback ?? how about social life there ... and other stuffs apart from long walk ... even i too feel distance is the major drawback there.. but even vale is almost same distance as opal one right ??

Yeah definitely a major drawback, living so far away sometimes you can't even be bothered to walk to lectures my friend said and he lived with BCU and Aston kids and said he spent most of his time on the Vale with his course mates.

[kk.creare]

(Original post by uob)
It might well be a drawback. From the Vale it takes about 20 minutes to get to campus depending on where you're going. From Opal 1, it's about 40 minutes. You may not enjoy the relatively longer journey, although there are public buses that run from Opal 1 that go past the university. It comes down to how much you think you'd value the shorter walk in that respect.

Social life is likely to to be a bit fragmented compared to the Vale, as everyone in the latter goes to the University of Birmingham, so you'll more likely find yourself in similar societies or going to the same club nights if you do so. You may find yourself in a social group which is largely centred around the main campus, meaning you spend time travelling for those reasons too.
Despite that, there is the Freshers Off Campus Society (FOCSOC) which runs social events for students who don't live in one of the university halls, which Opal 1 comes under.

My department is psychology and computer science and i think they are situated in frankland and hills building... and atiken would be the accommodation in vale .. so how far you think it is ?? and is that one who staying in private halls cant attend the events happening in vale ?? is it so even with uni accommodation halls like vale and prihcatts park ?? I thought i could attend events any where and taste all ;-p

[kk.creare]

(Original post by KopCat)
Yeah definitely a major drawback, living so far away sometimes you can't even be bothered to walk to lectures my friend said and he lived with BCU and Aston kids and said he spent most of his time on the Vale with his course mates.

haha .. i don want to be with kids ..i am in an age where i would like to give birth to kids
any idea how much time it takes from vale to uni if i have a bike .. is there any shortcuts or need take main road ??

[uob]

(Original post by kk.creare)
My department is psychology and computer science and i think they are situated in frankland and hills building... and atiken would be the accommodation in vale .. so how far you think it is ?? and is that one who staying in private halls cant attend the events happening in vale ?? is it so even with uni accommodation halls like vale and prihcatts park ?? I thought i could attend events any where and taste all ;-p

Possibly add 5 minutes to both of the times I previously said, as those buildings are on the further side of campus to all the halls you've mentioned.
And it's not that you can't attend the events at any other hall, but the Residents' Associations who put on events in individual halls do so for their particular residents. You wouldn't go unless you were living in that hall.
There are of course large scale events open to all, as well as society events open to students or their members, but my point was that Opal 1 doesn't have a dedicated Residents' Association, so your hall-specific events would be run along with the other halls without one, under FOCSOC.