Anyone regret Royal Holloway?

OP

DisgruntledMoth

I think that's fairly common sort of thing at most universities.

I went to stay with a friend in the Founders building for a weekend, and she seemed to love it there. She'd made friends with other people in the corridors, and definitely was having a brilliant time. The toilets and shower facilities were a bit naff and badly maintained, but you can always go to a different floor.

Wish I'd applied there, actually.

They have stopped that as well now :s-smilie:

. About 5 or 6 months ago. If you're caught going to a floor other than your own to use the facilities then 'disciplinary action' will follow, apparently. It's because they've had trouble with boys using the girls bathrooms, etc.

Reply 22

OP

shessolovely

I visited RUHL a couple of weeks ago, when i asked a couple of students about the nightlife they started laughing :s-smilie:

Not a good sign.

I tend not to bother here. You do learn after a short time. If you wanted to go out while you're here, you'd be better off travelling closer to London.

Reply 23

robocop1andahalf

18

Touched With Fire

Many students I've talked to regret it. As for Founders ('the castle', as you call it), it's unhygenic, high noise levels for much of the time, alot of theft goes on pretty much everyday and the security team there are a shambles.
Btw, not 'all' students under Royal Holloway live in Founders.

Cannot be worse than Opal Leicester.

Reply 24

bamsmybaby

god me ive never felt so uncomfortable anywhere in my life
all the people that go there appear to be from a 5 miles radius around the campus, and theyre all miserable sods who showed me around :frown:

and i didnt see the accomodation, but you dont live in the castle unless youre loaded!

Well that's BS. There are students from over 100 countries, i've met people from the other parts of the uK and even the students from nearby aren't from a 5 mile radius...maybe surrounding counties but not 5 miles (although obviously some are)
And as for having to be "loaded" to live in founders....its one of the cheaper halls actually.

Reply 25

DisgruntledMoth

14

*Freddy*

You still can, a lot of it's courses are in Extra. I got an offer for not that long ago, (which I'm not going to firm or insure) and I don't have brilliant grades or anything. :top:

I applied to my choices last year, I'm currently on a deferred with a place at a different uni. Thanks, anyway.

Reply 26

pugnacitas

15

Touched With Fire

There are racially-motivated attacks, sexually-motivated attacks and alot of theft, actually. A year ago, a student was attacked in the laundrette that belongs to Founders because of their ethnic background. And quite a number of female students in the past year have been sexually assaulted in the area during nights-out.

What kind of attacks? and which races are targeted?

Reply 27

Sweyn Forkbeard

19

Touched With Fire

They have stopped that as well now :s-smilie:

. About 5 or 6 months ago. If you're caught going to a floor other than your own to use the facilities then 'disciplinary action' will follow, apparently. It's because they've had trouble with boys using the girls bathrooms, etc.

As you well know from Founders' security staff, this policy of not allowing people to use facilities elsewhere in the building will not be enforced. Who is going to enforce it?

I lived in Founders for my first year and I loved it. I was good friends with my neighbours and I didn't have any real problems with noise (I do most of my work in the library anyway). I never stored anything in the pantry fridges so I didn't have anything stolen - I took my meals in the dining hall. Ultimately, the building has its problems as a hall of residence, but it is ideal for first years in my opinion, because its rules are relaxed and I thought it had a great vibe.

I can cope with the occasional poor state of the facilities (like pubes all over the showers or puke in the sinks), because there are always 'secret' bathrooms you can use which are unknown to most people. You just have to explore a bit - we even found an unlocked door leading down to the Staff Common Room, with an orange juice dispenser we used after nights out. Unfortunately people took liberties with it on one occasion and the door was fixed the next day. :rolleyes:

I agree with apotoftea that the library facilities are exceptionally poor for humanities in particular. I also dislike the atmosphere in the redesigned library - it's not conducive to study at all. Overall I don't regret having gone to RHUL but I do regret some things which happened while I've been here (which I suppose brings down the experience), however they weren't anything to do with the uni.

Reply 28

pugnacitas

What kind of attacks? and which races are targeted?

Don't listen to touchedby fire. Egham is one of the lowest crime towns in one of the lowest crime counties in the UK. Of course there are incidents - nowhere is crime free. I've never actually heard of any racist incidents (so they can't be that common or serious).

Reply 29

OP

pugnacitas

What kind of attacks? and which races are targeted?

We were not told. But one of the chaplains (who is a very kind, admirable man - and that's from an atheist, so I'm not biased), tells me the laundrette incident involved a physical assault attack on a student who was targeted because 'their appearance indicated that they were not local'. And there have been attacks on students belonging to the college who were of Middle-Eastern background (but that was outside campus, but still close).
I myself have also had some comments because I'm Welsh. I don't get it often, but have had it :frown:

Reply 30

Sweyn Forkbeard

19

gm15

Don't listen to touchedby fire. Egham is one of the lowest crime towns in one of the lowest crime counties in the UK. Of course there are incidents - nowhere is crime free. I've never actually heard of any racist incidents (so they can't be that common or serious).

I'm sure you've heard the name given to the alley down the side of the graveyard, and the one between Larksfield and Ilex Close? Hammer Alley and Rape Alley, respectively.

Good thing the hammer guy got caught (he was four years ago iirc) - but there have been a few sexual assaults in the area. As you say though, it's no worse than other student areas, and the town is very quiet (too quiet, tbh). There are some racists in Egham and there are always rumours about certain pubs not exactly being welcoming to 'non-local people', but most of them are just that, rumours. Egham is a very 'white' town if you don't count the student population though, so don't be surprised if some people act like they've never seen a black person before (happens where I work sometimes, lol).

Reply 31

OP

gm15

Don't listen to touchedby fire. Egham is one of the lowest crime towns in one of the lowest crime counties in the UK. Of course there are incidents - nowhere is crime free. I've never actually heard of any racist incidents (so they can't be that common or serious).

And, to go on top of what Sweyn Forkbeard just said - which is true - where were you last Winter when there were dozens of police cars chasing and cornering off the gunman near the Kingswood buildings? That was when Rape Alley had to be guarded and taped off and students were prevented from leaving for a short time.

Reply 32

Sweyn Forkbeard

19

Touched With Fire

And, to go on top of what Sweyn Forkbeard just said - which is true - where were you last Winter when there were dozens of police cars chasing and cornering off the gunman near the Kingswood buildings? That was when Rape Alley had to be guarded and taped off and students were prevented from leaving for a short time.

Rape Alley was closed off? I lived in Ilex Close and didn't notice anything.

I must have missed this whole incident. You have to stress that it is the exception rather than the norm however; it's not like every day you have gunmen and rapists rampaging around the local area. I'm sorry that you've had a bad experience here but what has really depressed you about studying at RHUL?

Reply 33

Sweyn Forkbeard

I'm sure you've heard the name given to the alley down the side of the graveyard, and the one between Larksfield and Ilex Close? Hammer Alley and Rape Alley, respectively.

Good thing the hammer guy got caught (he was four years ago iirc) - but there have been a few sexual assaults in the area. As you say though, it's no worse than other student areas, and the town is very quiet (too quiet, tbh). There are some racists in Egham and there are always rumours about certain pubs not exactly being welcoming to 'non-local people', but most of them are just that, rumours. Egham is a very 'white' town if you don't count the student population though, so don't be surprised if some people act like they've never seen a black person before (happens where I work sometimes, lol).

Hammer guy was caught. Has anyone actually heard of rapes in either of the rape alleys or are they just called that for being dark?
Those non-friendly pubs are non-friendly to students in general - although i'm sure they have some racist customers.

You can't ssume locals haven't seen a black person just because the majority of locals are white.

I'm not saying there is no crime just that egham has low crime rates.

Reply 34

SuperStaah

12

I absolutely love going to RHUL (especially this term, which as been amazing!).
I live in Founder's building and apart from the fact that I have to share a room (which I still hate!!) I have nothing to complain about. I've made quite a few friends on the corridors and I spend some lunch times sitting out in the corridor eating and having a laugh.
I think the university experience all depends on what you make of it. People complain about not having a night life at RHUL, but there is actually a pretty decent night life here, imo.

To tell you the truth, when I visited RHUL on the open day I didn't like it at all but I put it down as my insurance, anyway. I ended up coming here and I'm so glad I did. I have no regrets whatsoever.

Reply 35

Touched With Fire

And, to go on top of what Sweyn Forkbeard just said - which is true - where were you last Winter when there were dozens of police cars chasing and cornering off the gunman near the Kingswood buildings? That was when Rape Alley had to be guarded and taped off and students were prevented from leaving for a short time.

The gunman tried to commit suicide he wasn't trying to hurt anyone else. I wa sin kingswood when it happened. Rpae alley was only taped off as the man was in an emotional mess.

He was one rich man who had lost everything in the recession - its not like there are armed crazy people swarming hte place

Reply 36

OP

gm15

The gunman tried to commit suicide he wasn't trying to hurt anyone else. I wa sin kingswood when it happened. Rpae alley was only taped off as the man was in an emotional mess.

So, as long as someone is *only* trying to commit suicide, it's fine for them to be walking around public streets and alleys with a loaded gun in mental turmoil, is it?

Reply 37

Daya

2

Ok, I didn't even apply but I loved the look of it from my research and was really looking forward to the open day and then was so dissapointed when I turned up. Everything about it was aweful, not the kind of place I'd want to be at all.

Reply 38