Some advice for freshers next year...

Hey guys, just thought I'd share a few thoughts just based on what I've experienced so far and what I wish I'd done differently.

Firstly, DON'T whatever you do apply for en-suite.

I applied for en-suite last year as I really thought sharing a bathroom with a few other people wouldn't be great fun. Yet in reality there are two main halls for en-suite: Ancaster and Cavendish, both of which are far worse than many of the other halls for facilities, bedroom size and various other things I'll get onto later, yet cost the most out of all of the rooms on campus.

In reality, you're getting some of the worst rooms out of any catered hall, with a closet of a bathroom which has a really weak, old shower - often with an old shower curtain - that you'll have to duck in to use if you're over about 5'11. What's worse is that there is no width in the showers, meaning you've got little room to wash yourself. The sink is also absolutely tiny, and not good for washing your face / doing washing up etc. Cavendish and Ancaster are both like this, and both rooms are the same size and have the same furnishings: pretty small relative to most other rooms on campus and a combination of yellow and blue which just looks cheap and aids to the room feeling very depressing and boring. Furthermore, most people seem to have a single bed in these rooms, when other halls seem to have 3/4s or doubles.

In addition to this the halls themselves aren't great for layout / facilities, and really not as friendly as some of my friends halls. An example: if you miss meals because of sport in other halls you can have food held back. In ours I was told 'sorry we all go home and we're not allowed to leave you food wrapped up, it's against health and safety'. Basically translated into 'sorry it's too much effort for me to leave you food out'.

Basically the bathroom isn't enough to warrant the extra £1000 on the room type I'd suggest: a large single study.

These rooms are usually in far nicer halls with better furnishings, wider corridors, double beds and, in most cases, better facilities. My friends who have these rooms types are honestly having a laugh. Having spent far less than me they have a room around 50-75% larger than mine, larger windows, a large sink in the corner of the room, a built in wardrobe, larger, more comfortable beds, generally nicer buildings, and their 'shared' bathrooms are basically big rooms a few metres down the corridor with multiple larger, more powerful, showers, a bath (or two), and 3 toilets. Practically anyone you talk to in an en-suite feels conned by what we've been given, so here's your warning - don't get one!

Another point is gym membership on campus. I'd personally avoid it at all costs, if you're just planning on using it for weight training. They rope you in for an initial £200 fee (which you can't get out of), but then you're subjected to overcrowding to the point where you can't really work out without waiting around between every exercise for the equipment. The main reason for this is that the uni gym seems to allow members of the public to use it, and seems to have no membership limit, which results in utter carnage. There are better local options for less money.

Anyway, hope this helps somewhat.

So what's the best room type to get in your opinion?

I would say it's a lot down to personal preferences: do you want to cook or not? do you want an ensuite or not? go and have a look around, I would say most of the accomodation on UP is really pretty and actually our accomodation is really good

When can you look around the accommodation before applying?
When I had a tour, we only had the option of looking at one studio room in Broadgate Park and I've already seen large single rooms in Willoughby and Nightingale halls about 2 years ago, but that's all.

When I applied, we only had a tour around campus halls and so I chose SPC off the back of what I didn't want

I'm not sure if you have an option of going around all the halls or that you can ask to be taken around them. But there are photos/tour things of all the rooms (I think) on the accommodation part of the Nottingham website.

Have a look here:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation/accommodationoptions/accommodationoptions.aspx

Hey guys, just thought I'd share a few thoughts just based on what I've experienced so far and what I wish I'd done differently.

Firstly, DON'T whatever you do apply for en-suite.

I applied for en-suite last year as I really thought sharing a bathroom with a few other people wouldn't be great fun. Yet in reality there are two main halls for en-suite: Ancaster and Cavendish, both of which are far worse than many of the other halls for facilities, bedroom size and various other things I'll get onto later, yet cost the most out of all of the rooms on campus.

In reality, you're getting some of the worst rooms out of any catered hall, with a closet of a bathroom which has a really weak, old shower - often with an old shower curtain - that you'll have to duck in to use if you're over about 5'11. What's worse is that there is no width in the showers, meaning you've got little room to wash yourself. The sink is also absolutely tiny, and not good for washing your face / doing washing up etc. Cavendish and Ancaster are both like this, and both rooms are the same size and have the same furnishings: pretty small relative to most other rooms on campus and a combination of yellow and blue which just looks cheap and aids to the room feeling very depressing and boring. Furthermore, most people seem to have a single bed in these rooms, when other halls seem to have 3/4s or doubles.

In addition to this the halls themselves aren't great for layout / facilities, and really not as friendly as some of my friends halls. An example: if you miss meals because of sport in other halls you can have food held back. In ours I was told 'sorry we all go home and we're not allowed to leave you food wrapped up, it's against health and safety'. Basically translated into 'sorry it's too much effort for me to leave you food out'.

Basically the bathroom isn't enough to warrant the extra £1000 on the room type I'd suggest: a large single study.

These rooms are usually in far nicer halls with better furnishings, wider corridors, double beds and, in most cases, better facilities. My friends who have these rooms types are honestly having a laugh. Having spent far less than me they have a room around 50-75% larger than mine, larger windows, a large sink in the corner of the room, a built in wardrobe, larger, more comfortable beds, generally nicer buildings, and their 'shared' bathrooms are basically big rooms a few metres down the corridor with multiple larger, more powerful, showers, a bath (or two), and 3 toilets. Practically anyone you talk to in an en-suite feels conned by what we've been given, so here's your warning - don't get one!

Another point is gym membership on campus. I'd personally avoid it at all costs, if you're just planning on using it for weight training. They rope you in for an initial £200 fee (which you can't get out of), but then you're subjected to overcrowding to the point where you can't really work out without waiting around between every exercise for the equipment. The main reason for this is that the uni gym seems to allow members of the public to use it, and seems to have no membership limit, which results in utter carnage. There are better local options for less money.

Anyway, hope this helps somewhat.

Last question
After firming Notts, do they send out information on applying for accommodation?
Thanks.

Yes, they do, I think. Keep checking on the website as well though. I think the applications open soon, it was first come, first served last year.

Hey guys, just thought I'd share a few thoughts just based on what I've experienced so far and what I wish I'd done differently.

Firstly, DON'T whatever you do apply for en-suite.

I applied for en-suite last year as I really thought sharing a bathroom with a few other people wouldn't be great fun. Yet in reality there are two main halls for en-suite: Ancaster and Cavendish, both of which are far worse than many of the other halls for facilities, bedroom size and various other things I'll get onto later, yet cost the most out of all of the rooms on campus.

In reality, you're getting some of the worst rooms out of any catered hall, with a closet of a bathroom which has a really weak, old shower - often with an old shower curtain - that you'll have to duck in to use if you're over about 5'11. What's worse is that there is no width in the showers, meaning you've got little room to wash yourself. The sink is also absolutely tiny, and not good for washing your face / doing washing up etc. Cavendish and Ancaster are both like this, and both rooms are the same size and have the same furnishings: pretty small relative to most other rooms on campus and a combination of yellow and blue which just looks cheap and aids to the room feeling very depressing and boring. Furthermore, most people seem to have a single bed in these rooms, when other halls seem to have 3/4s or doubles.

In addition to this the halls themselves aren't great for layout / facilities, and really not as friendly as some of my friends halls. An example: if you miss meals because of sport in other halls you can have food held back. In ours I was told 'sorry we all go home and we're not allowed to leave you food wrapped up, it's against health and safety'. Basically translated into 'sorry it's too much effort for me to leave you food out'.

Basically the bathroom isn't enough to warrant the extra £1000 on the room type I'd suggest: a large single study.

These rooms are usually in far nicer halls with better furnishings, wider corridors, double beds and, in most cases, better facilities. My friends who have these rooms types are honestly having a laugh. Having spent far less than me they have a room around 50-75% larger than mine, larger windows, a large sink in the corner of the room, a built in wardrobe, larger, more comfortable beds, generally nicer buildings, and their 'shared' bathrooms are basically big rooms a few metres down the corridor with multiple larger, more powerful, showers, a bath (or two), and 3 toilets. Practically anyone you talk to in an en-suite feels conned by what we've been given, so here's your warning - don't get one!

Another point is gym membership on campus. I'd personally avoid it at all costs, if you're just planning on using it for weight training. They rope you in for an initial £200 fee (which you can't get out of), but then you're subjected to overcrowding to the point where you can't really work out without waiting around between every exercise for the equipment. The main reason for this is that the uni gym seems to allow members of the public to use it, and seems to have no membership limit, which results in utter carnage. There are better local options for less money.

Anyway, hope this helps somewhat.

the only thing that will put me off from Nottingham is the accomidation! unless your going to broadgate park, the rest is all old !

im in Cripps Hall and personally i think it has the best rooms, it might be an old hall but my room is huge and i pay for a single study but i get a large single study size.

Don't be put of by old halls, they actually are quite nice.

hi there! just had an interview/open day and i think i went to lenton and wartely. i loved it infact! definetly firming it for pharmacy if i get an offer!

Interview went well I imagine?