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Ballots/Post-First-Year Accomodation

I was wondering about the balloting and accomodation systems employed by other colleges for second/third year accomodation. Does your college put everybody on even footing, or do those who get firsts get preferential treatment, for example?

Also, what kind of choices of accomodation do you get? I'm really excited because my ballot group got a great choice of rooms in a house near Jesus Green. Do other colleges offer the choice of individual houses around the town, or is it all in various halls and courtyards? Might you end up miles away? (A couple of Sidney's houses are up Huntingdon Road...)

Like most of my questions, this is out of curiosity more than anything, I'm just interested in the situation at other colleges.

Reply 1

musicbloke

17

At Robinson it's pretty good. All first years live in the main college building. Most will share a bathroom between two, some will be en suite, and very few will share a bathroom between three. After the first year it's a simple invertible ballot with no preferencial treatment for scholars. For those at the bottom of the second year ballot (or if for some reason you want to live miles away) there are houses about 3 miles away at the other end of Mill Road. Some people really like this, but it's not my sort of thing. There's also the option of living in the big lovely houses along Adams Road. My house for next year looks like this.

not to mention that it's the biggest room in the house.

MB

Reply 2

oldthrashbarg

7

Rik_Rock

I was wondering about the balloting and accomodation systems employed by other colleges for second/third year accomodation. Does your college put everybody on even footing, or do those who get firsts get preferential treatment, for example?

Also, what kind of choices of accomodation do you get? I'm really excited because my ballot group got a great choice of rooms in a house near Jesus Green. Do other colleges offer the choice of individual houses around the town, or is it all in various halls and courtyards? Might you end up miles away? (A couple of Sidney's houses are up Huntingdon Road...)

Like most of my questions, this is out of curiosity more than anything, I'm just interested in the situation at other colleges.

In St. John's all first year undergraduates are put in the Cripps building in which you get a big room, sharing kitchen and bathroom with three other people. For the second and third year, there is a ballot each year (ie. it isn't reversed for the third year) with no preferential treatment of scholars.

Second year undergraduates choose after the third years and live mostly in New Court (the big Neo-gothic building on the backs), with a few in hostels or North Court, and possibly Second or Third Court. These rooms tend to be large en-suite sets shared between two people.

Third years, who choose first, simply live wherever the best rooms are, mostly in first, second and third court (the oldest courts), and the largest new court sets. Just under half, I think, choose to share.

Reply 3

Adhsur

15

Trinity College second year accommodation is spread out over New Court, Blue Boar and Whewell's Court within the college. The rest are in Burrell's field a 10-15min walk away, which are the more modern rooms. Third years the same except for the addition of the possibility of living in Great Court.

I think I'm right in saying that Scholar's get pushed to the top of the ballot for third year but I may be wrong.

Reply 4

puppy

Adhsur

Trinity College second year accommodation is spread out over New Court, Blue Boar and Whewell's Court within the college. The rest are in Burrell's field a 10-15min walk away, which are the more modern rooms. Third years the same except for the addition of the possibility of living in Great Court.

I think I'm right in saying that Scholar's get pushed to the top of the ballot for third year but I may be wrong.

Yep, junior scholars ballot first so they get the Great Court rooms (don't think there were any left this year for us mere mortals). Third years can live just about anywhere (I'll be living mostly with 1st years where I am next year). Students are balloted in their second year and then the order is reversed for the third year. Not entirely sure what happens to 4th years but I should probably find out!

Reply 5

apd35

9

puppy

Yep, junior scholars ballot first so they get the Great Court rooms (don't think there were any left this year for us mere mortals). Third years can live just about anywhere (I'll be living mostly with 1st years where I am next year). Students are balloted in their second year and then the order is reversed for the third year. Not entirely sure what happens to 4th years but I should probably find out!

I know the people going into fourth year chose rooms just before the people going in to second year did, I would assumme that there is a fresh ballot.

Reply 6

DrCube

I was going to explain all this for Caius but it's easier just to link to the housing guide. Hope that explains everything. Personally I'll be living in Rose Crescent next year (yay Gardies).

Reply 7

CamSPSer

At jesus you ballot as a group or by yourself, then they make a ballot list which is then reversed for your third year. Third years get first choice then 4th years then the second years.

To be honest I wouldn't be massively keen on getting bumped to the front of the ballot for being a scholar because I'd rather ballot with my friends and get a house with them than move in somewhere and find other people moving in

Reply 8

Helenia

20

At Clare you get given a random ballot number for 2nd year, which is reversed for 3rd year. Almost all 2nd years live at the Colony; there are about 40 rooms in Old Court which nearly always go to 3rd years, and the rest live at the Colony. There is some group accommodation which you can apply for, and they take the average of your group's ballot number and allocate it to those with the best average. Everyone else goes for singles. There are no scholars' privileges like being able to pick first or anything.

College only provides accommodation for some 4th years - medics get it, natscis doing MScis don't, for example.

Reply 9

Mr. Jim

DrCube

I was going to explain all this for Caius but it's easier just to link to the housing guide. Hope that explains everything. Personally I'll be living in Rose Crescent next year (yay Gardies).

ta! :

Reply 10

Adhsur

15

puppy

Yep, junior scholars ballot first so they get the Great Court rooms (don't think there were any left this year for us mere mortals). Third years can live just about anywhere (I'll be living mostly with 1st years where I am next year). Students are balloted in their second year and then the order is reversed for the third year. Not entirely sure what happens to 4th years but I should probably find out!

You know what, I really don't see the appeal of Great Court rooms. Is the view really to die for? Is it worth the oldness of the rooms, the high rent, and the trek to the shower? I'd choose a Burrell's field or Blue Boar room over one of those any day. :confused:

Reply 11

minimo

15

Um, what's a Scholar? More importantly how do I become a Scholar?? :biggrin:

Reply 12

musicbloke

17

minimo

Um, what's a Scholar? More importantly how do I become a Scholar?? :biggrin:

get a first.

MB

Reply 13

MadNatSci

12

Helenia

College only provides accommodation for some 4th years - medics get it, natscis doing MScis don't, for example.

That seems really random to me: medics are technically grads, whereas 4th year natscis are still undergrads... Unless the medics just get grad accommodation?

Reply 14

Reema

14

For Girton it's in college, Wolfson Court (annexe closer to town) and houses. Wolfie is a bit grim to be honest, but it's closer at least. I'm going there next year (albeit a little reluctantly).

Rooms in Girton are really nice, particularly if you get to pick in 2nd/3rd year - they're well maintained, but they have the oldness (especially the Sets) or modernity if you really (Pear Trees). Besides Girton itself is beautiful; I wasn't really complaining this year even though I got a fairly crappy room and still got the bottom of my section on the ballot....(which is why I'm dubious about Wolfie. Oh well, we'll see if loss of distance will compensate).

Reply 15

Epipsychidion

In Peterhouse, it's a random second year ballot, and a points system for third and fourth year based on contributions to college and university life (starting at 20 points for being JCR president, and going down). Second and third year rooms are all very close to college, the furthest being the William Stone building behind the first-year accommodation in St. Peter's Terrace (about three minutes away through the college gardens), except Parkside, which is on the other side of Parker's piece (10 minutes away on foot). The tradeoff is that the four houses of Parkside generally have awesome kitchens (a freezer, two fridges, many hobs and an oven between six or less people), a communal area and cheaper rooms than those in or closer to college (that's where I've ended up next year despite being high on the ballot ... it was unpopular this year, but I'm with really good friends, so it should be great :smile:

).

Maybe it'd be better to be consistent (reversing the random ballot for third year or having a points system for both years), but third years are pretty much guaranteed in-college accommodation and most second years seem to have done ok for themselves this year. :smile:

Reply 16

JHutcher

11

Back in college next year... balcony ensuite..... yay

Reply 17

visesh

17

Epipsychidion

In Peterhouse, it's a random second year ballot, and a points system for third and fourth year based on contributions to college and university life (starting at 20 points for being JCR president, and going down). Second and third year rooms are all very close to college, the furthest being the William Stone building behind the first-year accommodation in St. Peter's Terrace (about three minutes away through the college gardens), except Parkside, which is on the other side of Parker's piece (10 minutes away on foot). The tradeoff is that the four houses of Parkside generally have awesome kitchens (a freezer, two fridges, many hobs and an oven between six or less people), a communal area and cheaper rooms than those in or closer to college (that's where I've ended up next year despite being high on the ballot ... it was unpopular this year, but I'm with really good friends, so it should be great :smile:

).

Maybe it'd be better to be consistent (reversing the random ballot for third year or having a points system for both years), but third years are pretty much guaranteed in-college accommodation and most second years seem to have done ok for themselves this year. :smile:

the whole room-points system at PHouse is rather interesting IMO...

I was top of the ballot at King's this year, and chose a nice balcony ensuite with a view of the Fellows' garden! I had the choise of a slightly slammle more expensive room just over the river, but went for New Garden instead :smile: