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University of York

York

[York Uni] Catered or Self Catered?

Okay, I'm off to the University of York in October and I honestly can't make my mind up about going catered or self-catered. The money isn't an issue, I personally don't think it's really much cheaper to go self-catered and when I've priced in the cost of my time (Economist :rolleyes:

) I'd say they were equal in monetary terms.

So, can anyone give me some really convinced arguments specific to this university to help me out please? :smile:

Would really like to hear from current or past students too :smile:

Thanks!

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Reply 1

AKA_Katie

I'm starting at York this year too and I'm going self catered. :smile:

I also had a hard time deciding. When I asked around people said that both ways are really social and fun, but if you do lots of activities and want to be flexible on when you eat, then having to stick to cafeteria hours can get annoying. On the other hand, cooking takes time. I don't know what the food's like at York though.

It depends on your personal preferences and the college your in. I think only Derwent and Langwith offer catered accomodation. In the rest of the colleges you can go for a meals in advance deal, but if you're in new goodricke that means you'll have to walk to campus for food :frown:

If you go self catered you can still buy food, but if you go catered and don't like it then you're stuck with it.

University of York

York

Reply 2

Meadows14

This is the first year they have catered halls so no past students would really know! Good luck guinea pigs!

Reply 3

-WhySoSerious?

GingerApple

) I'd say they were equal in monetary terms.

So, can anyone give me some really convinced arguments specific to this university to help me out please? :smile:

Would really like to hear from current or past students too :smile:

Thanks!

Life skills? Socialising? Experimentation? Freedom?

Personally, I can't see how anyone would want to have to stick to a schedule of food they might not want to eat, along with making the effort to actually go somewhere to get it. Of course, there is no actual cooking or washing up so a slight advantage there, but in general making dinner can be the time when everyone is around to chat/cook.

Reply 4

ally05108

GingerApple

) I'd say they were equal in monetary terms.

So, can anyone give me some really convinced arguments specific to this university to help me out please? :smile:

Would really like to hear from current or past students too :smile:

Thanks!

Hi,

In my first year i was self catered. I found that this was the most practical and convenient way to go. You have Freedom to cook when you want and exactly what you want. It is also a great time to socialise and get to know the people you are living with. Besides it is a good life skill!

Also bare in mind which college you are living in. I was in Goodricke last year and there was no eating facilities on the new heslington campus. Therefore people who were on the MAD scheme had to go all the way to main campus every time meal time.

Reply 5

GingerApple

I applied a little bit late for accommodation as I went out for a celebratory lunch with friends on results day, so I only got the choice of catered in the end :frown:

Reply 6

ally05108

GingerApple

I applied a little bit late for accommodation as I went out for a celebratory lunch with friends on results day, so I only got the choice of catered in the end :frown:

Well not to despair, as far as i am aware even though Derwent and Langwith now offer catered accommodation there is still a fully functional kitchen with each flat. This should be useful and gives you the option if you even need to cook yourself.

Reply 7

Wolle

I'm also wondering atm if I should go catered or self-catered.
Can one of you brave guinea pigs tell me what the food is like in York?

All the best.

Reply 8

laser

I'd go self-catered. The food is okay, but learning to cook for yourself, as well as the cost, and the flexibility self-catering gives you is so much better imo

Reply 9

ally05108

I personally would go self catered every time. So much more freedom, so much more flexibility and a brilliant social opportunity.

Reply 10

VictoriaH

I'm in Derwent catered atm and my sister is in Vanbrugh self-catered there are definitely pros and cons to bot of them! Like people above have said there is more flexibility and you can save money on some areas.

My experience of catered is that it's a lot more social than self-catered because you (normally) arrange to go down with a group from your block and you end up meeting everyone from different blocks. It also gives you an incentive to get up in the morning because breakfast finishes at 10. The food itself isn't amazing... but it's fine. The time you save cooking and going out and buying the food is always good, especially if you have a lot of contact hours! Also you get to learn to cook for yourself at the weekend because no one is catered then.

I know a lot of people on my course who wish they were catered and I don't think anyone in my block would change to self-catered

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 11

vickidougal

Original post by VictoriaH

helllooo

this may sound really random, but i am thinking of aplying to derwent for catered. are you glad you are in derwent ? is it like a fun place to be? ecttt..

Reply 12

VictoriaH

Original post by vickidougal

helllooo

this may sound really random, but i am thinking of aplying to derwent for catered. are you glad you are in derwent ? is it like a fun place to be? ecttt..

Heeey! Yes I'm so glad I'm in Derwent, it's so much fun! All the people are lovely and there is always a group who wants to go out. It's NEVER boring!

Derwent also has the best events out of all the colleges and it is also closest to The Charles, The Deramore (both have supercheap drinks) and Browns sandwich shop (the best sandwiches ever) which you will definitely be thankful for.

The catering to be honest isn't amazing... it's pretty standard mass catering food so it was never going to be impressive. But it is so good when you have a day of lectures and then not have to think about cooking when you get back. And breakfast is really good... if you manage to get up in time!

I would definitely recommend applying to derwent, it is (in my opinion) the best college, with the best people and the most fun! If you have any more questions feel free to ask! :smile:

Reply 13

imhiya

Original post by GingerApple

) I'd say they were equal in monetary terms.

So, can anyone give me some really convinced arguments specific to this university to help me out please? :smile:

Would really like to hear from current or past students too :smile:

Thanks!

Go self catered, the majority of the time you socialise will be in the kitchen.

Reply 14

zar91

To be fair although I was self-catered my college (Langwith) is now entirely catered apart from two blocks. I think it's a bit of a myth that's it's "more sociable" to go self-catered (often said by people who came to York before catering was an option). Yes, you'll spend a lot of time in your kitchen either way, but the fully equipped kitchen is still there if you go catered, so there's a social space. Not to mention you eat at the same time as people MORE in catered halls. Plus parties in the kitchen/lunchtime/weekends are all the same (as there's only 10 meals a week on the catered option anyway).

I understand the freedom point, but it really depends on your personality and needs. If you think a bite to eat in the morning might help you to get out of bed before 10am, go for it.

Oh, and I'm vegetarian and by all accounts that's all a-okay as well, they have a few options most days (although it's quite tomato-based).

Reply 15

OBAG09L

I was in catered accomodation last year and think it was a really good decision. I would say it has saved money in general and also has been a great socialising opportunity. From the very beginning large groups of friends would go to dinner together and this is always a chance to catchup with everyone after a day in lectures.
I found the food to be of a really good standard and with enough variety.
I also enjoyed having a pudding with custard every night and a full english any morning i bothered to wake up after a night out. Going down to a fry up while still drunk is a real treat.

Reply 16

kuroshokora

I'm going self catered. I can't cook beyond Pot Noodles, heating up soup, making toast and scrambling eggs, but I reckon I'll be able to learn. I want to be able to eat what I want when I want. Being a vegetarian, restriction of choice is a bit of an issue. I'm also a bit of a fussy eater, so I prefer the flexibility when it comes to food.

Reply 17

vickidougal

Thankyou so much for replying to me! i was wondering whether the self catered blocks which i think are E and F are isolated from the main derwent nucleus? i would prefer to go self catered but dont want to be in isolated blocks. thankyouu again

Original post by VictoriaH

Reply 18

VictoriaH

Original post by vickidougal

Haha no problem!

They are across the road from the main nucleus but I wouldn't say it's more isolated than the catered blocks but I think eden's court is isolated though!

I think being in E & F blocks will be good I know a few people who transferred from the catered to self-catered blocks (they had allergies and limited the food they could eat in catered- big mistake) and they liked them equally as much! It is honestly up to you! :smile:

Reply 19

vickidougal