Original post by gagaslilmonsterukOK as a current finalist student - prepare for answers
We have a Morrisons in Llanbardan Fawr (small village right next to Aber), 2 small spars, 1 big 24 hour spar, and the recently opened (on TUESDAY!) Tesco extra (yes, the one with that cash machine outside with the dodgy translation!). More convenient is CKs, where everyone goes. Big Spar on Great Darkgate Street is only 24 hour shop.
- Just added my answers to yours, sorry.
You tend not to see many of the locals in term time. The night life is OK, but it's nothing on the scale of the bigger cities; if you like nightclubs then Aber really is NOT the place for you. We do have 2 nightclubs with cheap entry and cheap enough alcohol, but there really isn't the competition you get in places like Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Portsmouth etc. Students make up about 50-70% I believe. The accommodation - NEVER go private for second year. ALWAYS apply for uni accommodation. I have not heard many good things at all about the private sector here, and have always been fortunate enough to live on campus. For campus choices I would heavily (and biasedly) say Pentre Jane Morgan before anywhere else. It has such a community feeling and is by far the best campus accommodation. I would advise against Brynderw in town; spent some of my time there in first year, and honestly, I'd be here all night if I was to tell you what I found problematic about it - if you live on the top floor, I sympathise for you as that's where I was. No elevator to take you up with your shopping, nor laundromat facilities in the building - best of luck with that bro!
First thing's first; what is your subject choice? Second of all you never really notice the isolation ... until you return home ... unless that's isolated, then by comparison Aber will be the equivalent of London. The nearest major town is Shrewsbury, which is 1 hour 50 minutes by train, otherwise Aber is the nearest major settlement for miles - and we're only a population of about 25,000. So yeah, if you're from Manchester, it will be a massive shock to the system, unless you're a regular visitor to the Pennines and/or the Dales, which will give you some sort of accurate image. The nightlife is ok - better for pubs, but not a club place at all. We have 2 cinemas, but only 1 screen in each and the releases are about 6 weeks behind the rest of the UK, BUT half the price of a standard odeon ticket - £4.50, which tbh is pretty good. To see someone on tour, you either need to return home to Manchester or head directly to Birmingham Airport where the NEC is (only direct train from Aber, which takes 3 hours 16 minutes to get to). CDs there is Andy's records, and a small selection in Morrisons, but other than that order online. DVDs are much more Order online. It's friendly but if you fall out with someone, there's no avoiding them really, it is a small town. Everyone knows everyone. There is an LGBT society which often runs events and socials - I've been to the events myself, they're pretty good and cheap to get into, the socials, I can't comment on because I've never been. I would say dating apps could be the best way forward when you get into Aber, if you struggle to find someone after first term, say.
Oh and you never get sunsets like you do in Aber. Everyone has a whole Facebook album full of them. And avoid the seagulls - they WILL take your food! And avoid Liplicking Chicken after a drunken night out ... Everyone gets dominoes or McDonalds anyway, but just making the point ...