The Warwick Accommodation Thread (+Guide in Post#1)

The poster is most likely a Postgraduate. If you are an first year undergraduate, applications haven't opened yet (this page will change when they do). Applications are not done on a first come, first served basis. If you apply before the deadline there will be ballots and computers will decide the halls you will be put in. Find about more about this on the Principles of Allocation page. The posts at the front will help you make a decision :smile:

Thanks so much, panic over!

Reply 3521

ttoby

15

Original post by TheTallOne

... and a laundrette in the building. Not that Rootes laundrette is that far away :colonhash:

To be fair, Westwood has pretty much the same system - washer/dryer in each building plus a 'Westwood launderette' that anyone can use. It was certainly helpful if you wanted to do your washing and someone else was using the machine.

Reply 3522

alexx :)

I really liked the look of Bluebell but I really don't think it is worth that money. That is crazy! That is a good bit more than a lot of my friends I know that live in catered halls at other universities!

Reply 3523

ttoby

15

Original post by alexx :)

[QUOTE=alexx [excludedFace]smile[/excludedFace];30273780]I really liked the look of Bluebell but I really don't think it is worth that money. That is crazy! That is a good bit more than a lot of my friends I know that live in catered halls at other universities!

That's probably a good thing - since Bluebell will be new, I wouldn't be surprised if it was hugely oversubscribed so it's pretty unlikely that you would be allocated there anyway.

Reply 3524

username219321

14

Original post by ttoby

That's probably a good thing - since Bluebell will be new, I wouldn't be surprised if it was hugely oversubscribed so it's pretty unlikely that you would be allocated there anyway.

I don't think it will be really oversubscribed purely due to the price - but I think enough people will apply to be there for them not to end up putting people who don't want to be there.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 3525

alexx :)

Original post by ttoby

That's probably a good thing - since Bluebell will be new, I wouldn't be surprised if it was hugely oversubscribed so it's pretty unlikely that you would be allocated there anyway.

I guess so, but I need a 39 week let so it narrows down my options a little! Looking at Tocil at the minute, although with a flat there is always the fear of not really making friends with your flat mates I guess.

Reply 3526

username219321

14

Original post by alexx :)

I guess so, but I need a 39 week let so it narrows down my options a little! Looking at Tocil at the minute, although with a flat there is always the fear of not really making friends with your flat mates I guess.

I had a look at your profile and see you are doing MORSE - if you don't mind being far away from the SU, Westwood is 39 week, one of the closest to the Maths/stats building due to the gate at the back of Milburn House being open, and it's corridors rather than flats :smile:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 3527

ttoby

15

Original post by alexx :)

[QUOTE=alexx [excludedFace]smile[/excludedFace];30287302]I guess so, but I need a 39 week let so it narrows down my options a little! Looking at Tocil at the minute, although with a flat there is always the fear of not really making friends with your flat mates I guess.

I went in Tocil once. It seemed like a nice atmosphere. I couldn't really say how much effect the locked doors had on social groups etc. However, it would give you the advantage that if you leave your door unlocked temporarily you wouldn't need to worry about people stealing your stuff.

Other options are Heronbank/Lakeside and Westwood. If cost is an issue for you then Heronbank/Lakeside are quite pricey. I lived in Westwood last year in that hall, there are about 26 people to a kitchen. There will be even more people at the start of the year as some people have to share rooms temporarily. However I don't know how likely this is to happen given that Bluebell will provide plenty of extra rooms. What this does mean is that there are plenty of other people to get to know, plus the people on the other two floors as you'll have access to the whole of one of the buildings.

All three of those halls are a bit further away from central campus but that isn't really a problem. A 10/15 minute walk to lectures isn't that bad.

Reply 3528

TheTallOne

OP

18

The presence of a 39 week en suite in central campus might draw many international students to Bluebell. Perhaps the dynamic of certain halls will change as a result - perhaps fewer international students in Rootes and Jack Martin. It will also really depend on what happens to the other halls, namely HB/LS and Claycroft, and if these undergraduates will disappear from some of these rooms.

Reply 3529

december2

Anyone have any experience with how easy it is to get an extension on a 39-week let? The warwick accom site says that for postgrads an extension may be possible for Tocil, but you need prior permission. I've e-mailed the accommodation address twice about it but still no response. If that doesn't work out, I decided I will probably just do off-campus in Earlsdon (even though people have said on campus is much better), as I will save nearly 2,200 pounds in comparison with staying at Heronbank.

Reply 3530

ttoby

15

Original post by december2

Anyone have any experience with how easy it is to get an extension on a 39-week let? The warwick accom site says that for postgrads an extension may be possible for Tocil, but you need prior permission. I've e-mailed the accommodation address twice about it but still no response. If that doesn't work out, I decided I will probably just do off-campus in Earlsdon (even though people have said on campus is much better), as I will save nearly 2,200 pounds in comparison with staying at Heronbank.

According to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/general/#Campus%20Accommodation it's possible to get vacation accommodation (at an extra charge) but this would be in a different room to where you live normally.

Reply 3531

surina_xxx

if you want rootes as your accomodation what kinda stuff do u write on your personal statement?

Reply 3532

ttoby

15

Original post by surina_xxx

if you want rootes as your accomodation what kinda stuff do u write on your personal statement?

The most important thing is that you put Rootes as your top choice. The personal statement doesn't determine which halls you're put in, so if too many people apply for Rootes this year then it will just be a random chance as to whether you get in. The personal statement is used for arranging people within each hall so that you can be put with people of similar personalities.

So basically, you just need to be really honest about yourself and your personality.

Reply 3533

alexx :)

Original post by matt2k8

I had a look at your profile and see you are doing MORSE - if you don't mind being far away from the SU, Westwood is 39 week, one of the closest to the Maths/stats building due to the gate at the back of Milburn House being open, and it's corridors rather than flats :smile:

Thanks for the info - although I was told on the open day that any of the accomodation is ok but stay away from the 2 beginning with w - so westwood and whitefields?! What is it that people don't like about Westwood apart from the distance from main campus? Is it just the loads to a kitchen / bathroom? That's the only thing that would put me off.

Also,if I decided to put down Tocil is there any way of making sure I am able to be in a mixed flat? I heard they have a few all girls / all boys and I think I would prefer a mixture.

Reply 3534

ttoby

15

Original post by alexx :)

[QUOTE=alexx [excludedFace]smile[/excludedFace];30320538]Thanks for the info - although I was told on the open day that any of the accomodation is ok but stay away from the 2 beginning with w - so westwood and whitefields?! What is it that people don't like about Westwood apart from the distance from main campus? Is it just the loads to a kitchen / bathroom? That's the only thing that would put me off.

Also,if I decided to put down Tocil is there any way of making sure I am able to be in a mixed flat? I heard they have a few all girls / all boys and I think I would prefer a mixture.

I lived in Westwood last year and it wasn't too bad being a bit further from main campus - it was still just a 10/15 minute walk to lectures. Having loads of people to a bathroom was never a problem. If there was ever anything wrong with one of the toilets then there were always plenty of others available to use. In the unlikely event that all the toilets/showers are in use, you could always use the facilities on another floor.

However it was a bit of an issue having loads of people to a kitchen. Despite it being cleaned 3 times a week and being much bigger than in other halls, the surfaces did get dirty very quickly since we never cleaned anything ourselves because of there being a cleaner. Also, some people had to share rooms temporarily at the start of the year so the kitchen was a bit overcrowded at that time. I don't know if that will happen with your year though due to the new accommodation being built.

However, an advantage of having many people to a kitchen is that you can easily get to know loads of people, which was really enjoyable. There's a washer&dryer in each individual building plus a Westwood launderette. You're also close to Tesco and the learning grid, both of which are open 24 hours (although Tesco closes at 4pm on sundays). Have a look through the start of this thread for more info on Westwood.

What I put on the form is that I preferred mixed-sex accommodation, and that I would not accept single-sex accommodation. So hopefully if you do the same then you'll get a mixed-sex area. I haven't heard of many people being put in single-sex areas who didn't want to be there.

Reply 3535

TheTallOne

OP

18

Original post by alexx :)

Thanks for the info - although I was told on the open day that any of the accomodation is ok but stay away from the 2 beginning with w - so westwood and whitefields?! What is it that people don't like about Westwood apart from the distance from main campus? Is it just the loads to a kitchen / bathroom? That's the only thing that would put me off.

Also,if I decided to put down Tocil is there any way of making sure I am able to be in a mixed flat? I heard they have a few all girls / all boys and I think I would prefer a mixture.

Check out the guide at the start of this thread if you want some reviews about halls, and some more info about location and facilities.

Westwood: Not the worst placed halls, if you have lectures near the north of campus it is fine, and Tesco is near. But if you do Biology, think about the long trek you have to make to the opposite side of campus. It really depends. I'd say Heronbank and Lakeside as a worse location because it is further away from Tesco and about the same distance from main campus. They recently added some double glazing last summer and it's a pretty social halls.

Whitefields: Flat structure in stand alone buildings, there is a chance that you could end up in a 'bad' flat, depending on what you look for. But good location, right next to the kitchen, some thoughts on Flats vs Corridors in the guide would be a good read.

Tocil: There are some single sex flats in Tocil, but the majority of them are mixed :smile:

Just click I prefer a mixed flat on the application form and they will try and accommodate your preference.

Reply 3536

TheTallOne

OP

18

Quick update on Bluebell:
According to minutes of the Steering committee last month, due to adverse weather conditions one of the four blocks of Bluebell is 'at risk of non-completion in time for the start of term in October 2011'. If such a situation occurs then those affected will probably be living in hotels at the start of the year, perhaps for a few weeks.

Reply 3537

username219321

14

Original post by alexx :)

Thanks for the info - although I was told on the open day that any of the accomodation is ok but stay away from the 2 beginning with w - so westwood and whitefields?! What is it that people don't like about Westwood apart from the distance from main campus? Is it just the loads to a kitchen / bathroom? That's the only thing that would put me off.

Also,if I decided to put down Tocil is there any way of making sure I am able to be in a mixed flat? I heard they have a few all girls / all boys and I think I would prefer a mixture.

There is only 2 times in the whole of the 2 terms I've been here that all 3 showers on my floor have been in use, and both times there was a shower on another floor free, and the toilets are fine - somehow the lots of people to a bathroom thing works out fine.

The loads to a kitchen thing can be a bit of a problem sometimes and it can get fairly messy, but usually everyone cooks at different enough times to never have to wait to use the cooker etc.

If you put down on your application form you don't want a single gender flat, it is very unlikely you'd end up in one.