The Student Room Group
St Salvators Quad, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews

Scroll to see replies

Reply 320
Original post by Milk <3
whats the ratio of yahs to non yahs? is it true most of them are in st salvadors? how does that work if you cant choose your accomo :s-smilie:

dont get me wrong im sure theyve lovely people, but i dont know if, as an upper-working class lad ill fit in!



It's a stereotype and from the people I meet it's usually true. I'm from the middle to upper working class (typical Northern family) and I find that the "economic pyramid" of St Andrews' student population bulges in the middle - loads of middle class southerners and Americans, quite a few working class southerners and northerners tucked away in the further-away halls and only a few at either end - very few super-rich (they're usually in the KK so you avoid them, ooh, controversial) and very few people who could say they came from a very poor upbringing.
St Salvators Quad, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
I can't believe its actually been a year since I started this thread...glad to see its still engendering some discussion- heres one thing I want to point out as well, I don't think I got this across clearly enough in my original post- its not just about the lack of shopping centres or nightclubs, its the general culture of the place and the attitudes of its people that bothers me, above everything else-

i The lack of openness amongst people to others-

People here rarely mix and mostly stick to whatever social groups they've cultivated. As a result, a lot of people, I think, come here and can feel extremely lonely and dissatisfied because of how stagnant things are socially-the lack of new people to meet, the anticlimactic social events and the general sense of things constantly being the same, week on week. Its draining experiencing a bit of what student life should be in places like Edinburgh, Bristol and Southampton where my friends go, and seeing how people mix and socialise and talk to oen and other freely and openly on nights out and coming back to St Andrews where people shoot each other disdainful looks and spend balls and social events pouting with their arms crossed amongst their groups of girlfriends. Its a place where despite how small it is, even people who elsewhere would have a great time can feel completely on their own or otherwise trapped in a stagnant social circle....

ii 'High School' mentalitites.

My friends at Bristol and Southampton were confused when I mentioned cliques, as they commented that at their institutions, everyone essentially socialises with each other- the architect students plan huge trips and nights out together, and a lot of people know each other and pretty much become friends by accident and via knowing others. Here, its very socially rigid in my experience- people limit themselves to people whom they percieve to be 'good enough' to hang out with and theres very little comradeship amongst fellow students to be witnessed- the atmosphere, even in tutorials, in my experience, is generally intense and competetive where it should be fun and bonding.

iii Atmosphere on campus

A lot of posturing and showing off goes on, the whole place can feel like a giant catwalk/pageant at times- for instance the majority of female students are almost indistinguishable from one and other because in desperation to fit in, so many of them wear the EXACT same outfit: black tights, wellies, a jacket and a (preferably desginer) handbag. I'm not kidding, I almost buckled to the pressure of trying it, because almost every female looks/dresses this way! The hemogeny of it can feel extremely alienating. In a regular university, the odd few dress up in Topshop to go to lectures but equally a lot of people are comfortable to wear hoodies and jeans on campus, here, girls get dressed up in designer gear and expensive outfits to go to Tescos.

iv Snobbery

Its been stated before, but there are a lot of upper middle class [and above] people- this is not ALL by any means, but certainly some- at the University who behave as though they own it, which if you're just an ordinary person from lower middle class or working class background, as I think most people in Britain are generally, it can make it difficult to find people whom you relate to. This snobbery is something I experienced last year in Halls in Andrew Melville, where people openly made rude comments about me as I was walking past- [American students whom I'd never spoken to], and others who used to, for instance, stretch themselves out in the middle of the corridor and refuse to move when someone approached, because they expected the person to merely step over their outstretched legs. Other common behvaiour included a designated clique occupying every seat in the public kitchens during mealtimes, and then proceeding to shoot suspicious glances at anyone else who entered.

Anger at this sort of behaviour in particular is what partly led me to start this thread, its not just the lack of city-like attractions, its the arrongance and disdain that permeates the behaviour of quite a few people I've met here towards others here that can have you in tears. When I'm back home or in a city, I'm myself again because I'm surrounded by people who like myself, are open-minded and don;t feel the need to prove something I came here knowing it was small and not like a city, but was expecting a far better social atmosphere, thats my main complaint.
I just want to quickly add St Andrews always scores highly in student satisfaction (best in UK? or maybe I'm making that bit up). But evidently it cannot please all...
Reply 323
I like a peaceful town!

but then again that's just me :embarrassed:
OP, if you wanted an ancient university North of the Border you should have gone to Glasgow :gthumb:.

Starts sales pitch/
It has the nice scenery (sans beach, but also sans the biting cold winds for most of term time), the prestige of being the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world, the Russell Group membership, and the teaching isn't too shabby, and the examination standards are high (effectively 82% for a first). In fact, the only complaint that some people make is that they don't spend enough money on students, or that contact hours are low, but let's face it, employers expect people to be doing some self-study at university, spoon feeding belongs in school.
/Ends sales pitch.

Awaits negs :biggrin:
Mate, i'm from newcastle, sometimes you really cant be arsed to get mortz in town (10 mins from my house) sure i understand thats different if you've NEVER got any clubs to go too, but i think its all about the company you're in personally


(STOP RUINING MY VIEW OF ST ANDREWS I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THERE IN 3 WEEKS MAN)

PLZ :h:
Original post by MickJB1989
OP, if you wanted an ancient university North of the Border you should have gone to Glasgow :gthumb:.

Starts sales pitch/
It has the nice scenery (sans beach, but also sans the biting cold winds for most of term time), the prestige of being the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world, the Russell Group membership, and the teaching isn't too shabby, and the examination standards are high (effectively 82% for a first). In fact, the only complaint that some people make is that they don't spend enough money on students, or that contact hours are low, but let's face it, employers expect people to be doing some self-study at university, spoon feeding belongs in school.
/Ends sales pitch.

Awaits negs :biggrin:

3rd oldest :wink:


Original post by laurenl93
Mate, i'm from newcastle, sometimes you really cant be arsed to get mortz in town (10 mins from my house) sure i understand thats different if you've NEVER got any clubs to go too, but i think its all about the company you're in personally


(STOP RUINING MY VIEW OF ST ANDREWS I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THERE IN 3 WEEKS MAN)

PLZ :h:


Don't worry, that's only 1 persons experience. I'm sure that over the 600 years the university has been around, there are much much much MUCH more who had an amazing experience rather than a bad experience.
Original post by Ecosse_14
3rd oldest :wink:


Fourth oldest, created by Papal Bull in 1451, preceded by Oxford circa 1096, Cambridge 1209 and St. Andrews 1413 :tongue:
(edited 13 years ago)
Original post by MickJB1989
Fourth oldest, created by Papal Bull in 1451, preceded by Oxford, Cambridge and St. Andrews :tongue:


After reading your post again, I see you were talking about Glasgow :rolleyes:
Original post by Ecosse_14
After reading your post again, I see you were talking about Glasgow :rolleyes:


Lol, no worries :cool:
Interesting, I guess it shows the different cultures between universities.

I'm only posting on here because my "friend" is in herfirst year at university and seemed utterly shocked about the fact I came home from a night out at 4am once. It didn't even seem horrifically unusual to me. Just makes sense now, that's all :p:
Reply 331
Haha no, no. Most St Andreans I find are quite relaxed people who you get on with just fine and the town environment adds to it even more. I have no problem chatting on to people I don't know in the queue at Tescos or on the bus in the morning. Just cos they're a bit snobbish sometimes (and they're not really, I have a broad Geordie dialect and wear football shorts to lectures, and I get on well with most people) doesn't mean that they don't accept people for who they are. Once you see the way some people dress here you'll get a lot more confidence that you're the sane one. :wink:
Reply 332
Original post by Milk <3
whats the ratio of yahs to non yahs? is it true most of them are in st salvadors? how does that work if you cant choose your accomo :s-smilie:

dont get me wrong im sure theyve lovely people, but i dont know if, as an upper-working class lad ill fit in!


Well I live in Sallies atm. There are a few posh yahs, but to be honest most of the people we call the yahs in Sallies are actually more like american jocks who behave like drunken retards most the time. But its probably about 50/50 to 40/60 yahs/jocks to the more normal people.

If you end up in Sallies don't worry about it. The people that look and dress really posh are actually really nice approachable people just for some reason they like to wear 3 piece suits most days.
Reply 333
i think you are just doing it wrong... im a 2nd year as well.
Original post by Umiisadorable

MTFU or FTFO
man the **** up or **** the **** off

I think :biggrin:
I think if you are that unhappy you really should leave, there is no shame on leaving a university you don't enjoy. You have written quite an essay here, it is clear you should not be in St Andrews. However bear in mind how your experience may be completely different to another student's from St Andrews. I could easily write an article of equal length on how much I love St Andrews. If you don't enjoy studying, living or partying in St Andrews then leave! Some experiences are not for everyone. Is there nothing you like?
Reply 337
Original post by abudhabidalethorpe
Is there nothing you like?


No, there is nothing that I like. And believe me, OP and I have tried our best to leave. However unlike you local students, we pay A HUGE SUM to attend university and cannot leave at whim. Also, it is very difficult to transfer schools in the UK without having to repeat a year due to the system here. Considering these factors, it makes more sense to stay in this school and wait it out - much as we absolutely dislike it.
Reply 338
For no apparent reason in my absence I'm getting repped for my slightly bitchy, trite comment about St. Andrews University. Well, I suppose the new system is probably different and so on. Anyway, what I should have actually said is this:

Original post by Umiisadorable

Its like a tiny, picturesque little prison with no clubs, and a very limited amount of shops and NO SHOPPING CENTRE whatsoever.


You vacuous cow. You materialistic, moronic, spoiled brat. 'NO SHOPPING CENTRE'? Nothing instills a more mundane and depressing feeling than a bloody shopping centre, but besides that you're talking about a tiny town which spends half the year half empty. If you're so bloody smart then why can't you grasp the most elementary principles of supply and demand? Jesus ****ing Christ.
(edited 13 years ago)
You all know from a few pages back that I, myself, spent two years at St Andrews before leaving for personal and academic reasons. It's interesting to see that this thread is still limping along after such an extensive period and the bitching bandwagon rolls steadily onwards with the OP getting summarily pwnt at every turn. I personally feel that most of your criticism of the OP is fair, and she hasn't fully embraced or understood St Andrews or its student life and biased, insidious and jaded ranting never helped anyone.

However, there's one glaring point which I feel needs to be addressed and that some of you have been very unfair to the OP about: the Careers Service. The OP may be wrong or biased about many things, but that most definitely wasn't one of them - it was a total joke and I absolutely agree with her.

At the University of Dundee (where I moved to), you sign up with the Careers Service and something called "The Placement Basement" and I was getting literally about 3-4 e-mails a week from them with job adverts, not to mention I regularly got e-mails from our School Secretary forwarded on from outside employers which basically said "We've got this role going, could you pass this onto your students in case some of them might be interested please?". In peak periods (e.g. close to graduation), this ballooned to a total of about 8-9 e-mails a week just about jobs and placements with near immediate availability.

In contrast, St Andrews Careers Service was a bit of a joke, especially considering how much they crow about their graduates' prospects and employability due to the prestige of the university itself. The staff were dismissive and flippant, the place was poorly organised with inconvenient opening hours and access to information was desperately poor with the information itself being somewhat out of date. Try as you might, you can't argue with her about that unless they've given it an epic overhaul since 2007, which I highly doubt - although I do try to avoid wanton dogma where possible and I'm open to be told I'm wrong, providing valid proof is presented :smile:

Original post by Umiisadorable
I can't believe its actually been a year since I started this thread...glad to see its still engendering some discussion- heres one thing I want to point out as well, I don't think I got this across clearly enough in my original post- its not just about the lack of shopping centres or nightclubs, its the general culture of the place and the attitudes of its people that bothers me, above everything else ... snip ...


That's fine, because you don't really need shopping centres or nightclubs and they should be considered a nice bonus. I have easy access to both of those in Dundee and rarely use either; in terms of nights out, I prefer local pubs/bars and the two student unions because they're reasonably priced and not half as scummy as the "proper" clubs, which have prices amounting to theft.

I don't agree about the snobbery part, to be honest. One of my course mates was from a dirt poor background and had grant money and scholarships coming out of his ears, but he still mixed with us no problem. For the record, I'm from an upper-middle class private school background and I don't look down on people like that at all. As for the idiots in halls, if they're causing you hassle by blocking corridors etc. chances are they're causing others hassle as well so they're bound to take some flak for it at some point, and they're probably lucky that you're being so reasonable about it. Again, ignore and move on. Their fault for being immature meat heads and you're the bigger and better person for not rising to it - failing that, accidentally trip on them and injure them in the process.

There is definitely a lot of posing and snobbery going on, but I'll happily wager that it's because it comes part and parcel with the age group, the clientele and the sort of student experience St Andrews offers. Like it or lump it, there's no way around it and I learned very quickly to ignore it and wasn't ever terribly bothered. You get posing at every university, with my advice being to file them under T for "tosser" and moving on.

When you're studying and living somewhere, it's a good bit more difficult to paint an objective picture of it and bias/personal opinion definitely comes into play. Looking at St Andrews from the outside and no longer living and studying there, I have to say that it's different in many ways to everywhere else and I don't consider that a major issue; in fact, that in itself could be commendable if it weren't for the fact that there are a small number of obviously negative points:


I can relate to the arrogant cliqueyness, and it is quite sad that such a small number of people in such a small town will bunch into tiny groups and refuse to integrate with each other, this being true in halls as well. I was surprised when my school friend visiting from Edinburgh (both of us are from there, and he studied there too) actually came out and said this as if it was screamingly obvious - looking back, it actually was! :colonhash: I've not seen that sort of thing anywhere since. That said, why should you care unless it's actually bothering you? If it is, then chances are you've got issues - learn to let these things go



It is a very small town with little opportunities post-graduation, not like bigger cities e.g. Edinburgh and Manchester where there are, mostly, jobs-a-plenty and you don't necessarily need to relocate in order to grab them - you would only live in St Andrews permanently if you got a role within the university and in my experience many of the lecturers and university staff lived outside of the town in the likes of Crail and Strathkinness anyway, so the point is moot. Chances are you'll be there for just four calendar years with time spent at home and away from the university for the holidays, so the lack of opportunities really shouldn't affect you too much at all. Therefore, you're forgiven for not considering this a disadvantage - in fact, put the correct spin on it and it actually becomes a good thing



What does St Andrews have beyond The Scores and the three main streets? Not much to be honest, although it has 80% of what every normal person would need - for everything else, there's Dundee or even catch a connection to Edinburgh/Glasgow and, failing that, St Andrews is marked on the map and online deliveries can reach you :smile: The local parts of St Andrews down towards Scooniehill Road etc. leave a lot to be desired and too many of the locals are hardly university material and outright despise the students. However what it does have it does with absolute aplomb and the students love it for a reason, but it is definitely the sort of place where you need to make your own entertainment instead of going to crappy Dundee clubs or the dreaded Casino (on the corner of Hawkhill and the Marketgait in Dundee, for those who know the area). I had a grand old time just drinking in halls, or going to The Gin House, The Central, Aikman's/The Cellar (when they were still there), The Whey Pat (loved it), Greyfriars or even the union. The union, despite its flaws, serves its purpose well and it doesn't need to be on the same league as others because it's targeting a different market. There were a number of nice house parties as well.



The KK and Lumsden Clubs - vile, ghastly, cliquey cults which the University deliberately and obviously distance themselves from and quite rightly so. Even when I was still enjoying St Andrews before things went wrong, I looked on those groups with disdain and I remember a group of 10 of us in halls trying desperately to talk a friend out of applying. Luckily, we succeeded :party:


St Andrews is very much a "love it or hate it" environment and it is definitely not for everyone. 99.9% of people I knew there absolutely loved every waking minute and I enjoyed it for the time I was there, with this unwavering until things started to unravel. I was genuinely gutted and apprehensive about leaving (although the exact mechanics behind this are highly complex and highly personal), but the grass was most definitely greener on the other side and I picked myself up and moved on. Turned out to be a fantastic decision and my life improved leaps and bounds afterwards.

Looking back on it now and compared with my original response to this thread last year at some stage, I have to come to this conclusion: as much as I enjoyed my time in St Andrews, it definitely has its flaws and isn't for everyone. In fact, it has some quite alarming negative points. However, find me a place that doesn't and plenty of people love St Andrews in its current form and it is definitely different to, but not necessarily better than, other places.

Good luck to all of you in whatever you choose in life and whatever you end up doing :smile: