Hi, I am doing this without my son knowing, but can anyone tell me if this is normal proceedure? My son has a place at Newcastle (his insurance)- Good news! We set about doing huge amounts of accommodation research and apply at 1500 on results day. We wait and we wait - we hear friends get their places - we cheer - we wait some more. A week goes by and we call them to be told everyone will hear by Sept 1st. However, I am advised that given the lateness the chances of him getting any of his 6 choices is unlikely. All I can see on this website and the Facebook roomswap page are students looking to swap - many with catered places wanting self-catered? How can this be right ?- we are desperate for a catered place but it seems Newcastle only have one catered hall so we used 4 choices on this one hall. How can student be looking for SC and get catered if the computer is doing its job properly? I am so disillusioned with the whole system? I am sad for him as we do not feel we can relax and celebrate, we are just in limbo - he got ABB in Maths Ecomonics and Chemistry - we haven't even opened a bottle yet to celebrate, until we know where he will be living - we live 5 hours away and don't know the area at all. I feel as though he is being punished for making Newcastle his insurance and not his firm when he was torn for the outset which order to put them in. Now I am wondering if we should suggest he takes a GAP year to guarantee him better crack at the accommodation in 2017. If the policy is to create balanced environments and mixed groups across all halls why allow the roomswap scheme to take place - since that suggests it can just create an imbalance? If the deadline for accepting the place is 14 days after the insurance offer is made - is it fair to leave students waiting to hear about accommodation on or after that deadline? Are there any other students in the same boat? Can anyone put my mind at rest? Many thanks.