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How bad is having housemates? Not sure if I want that situation.
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I want to go to Cambridge, if I don't get in then I want to go to Imperial or UCL and live at home, as I live in London. I've read all sorts of things on here about how bad having housemates is, like they're loud, inconsiderate, messy, use your things without permission, steal your food, don't wash-up or clean common areas, etc. I know it's a part of 'the university experience', but it's something I don't see myself enjoying. I'm a very clean and tidy person and it really puts me off to imagine living with people who aren't.
When I've been in the halls and student houses of people I know, they've mostly been very messy and people make a lot of noise. Even when they're not drinking or partying there can still be noise in the kitchen or their rooms from moving things about or doing whatever, I really don't like noise like that. If I move away from home I think I'd have to either live on my own or only live with one guy from my school who's applying to the same universities as me (he'd be happy to do this). Is it that bad having housemates?
When I've been in the halls and student houses of people I know, they've mostly been very messy and people make a lot of noise. Even when they're not drinking or partying there can still be noise in the kitchen or their rooms from moving things about or doing whatever, I really don't like noise like that. If I move away from home I think I'd have to either live on my own or only live with one guy from my school who's applying to the same universities as me (he'd be happy to do this). Is it that bad having housemates?
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#2
I mean, my housemates can be messy and loud and wake me up in the middle of the night when they come back from a night out, but they're also my two favourite people in the whole world (one of them is my girlfriend) who I might never have got to know if I hadn't lived with them. One of them I've lived with since first year when we were put in halls together.
The thing is, if you're living with people you don't really know it's very hit and miss, and even living with people you do know can reveal a previously unseen side to them (like, it turns out they never clean the kitchen after they've cooked and used all the pans available or something).
It really depends how open you are to taking that risk. Within two weeks of living in halls I'd decided there was no way I was ever going to move back in with my parents, and I still feel that way. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy living alone either.
The thing is, if you're living with people you don't really know it's very hit and miss, and even living with people you do know can reveal a previously unseen side to them (like, it turns out they never clean the kitchen after they've cooked and used all the pans available or something).
It really depends how open you are to taking that risk. Within two weeks of living in halls I'd decided there was no way I was ever going to move back in with my parents, and I still feel that way. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy living alone either.
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(Original post by CharAU95)
I mean, my housemates can be messy and loud and wake me up in the middle of the night when they come back from a night out, but they're also my two favourite people in the whole world (one of them is my girlfriend) who I might never have got to know if I hadn't lived with them. One of them I've lived with since first year when we were put in halls together.
The thing is, if you're living with people you don't really know it's very hit and miss, and even living with people you do know can reveal a previously unseen side to them (like, it turns out they never clean the kitchen after they've cooked and used all the pans available or something).
It really depends how open you are to taking that risk. Within two weeks of living in halls I'd decided there was no way I was ever going to move back in with my parents, and I still feel that way. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy living alone either.
I mean, my housemates can be messy and loud and wake me up in the middle of the night when they come back from a night out, but they're also my two favourite people in the whole world (one of them is my girlfriend) who I might never have got to know if I hadn't lived with them. One of them I've lived with since first year when we were put in halls together.
The thing is, if you're living with people you don't really know it's very hit and miss, and even living with people you do know can reveal a previously unseen side to them (like, it turns out they never clean the kitchen after they've cooked and used all the pans available or something).
It really depends how open you are to taking that risk. Within two weeks of living in halls I'd decided there was no way I was ever going to move back in with my parents, and I still feel that way. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy living alone either.
I'm quite close to the guy at my school who said he'll live with me if I want, I know what he's like so I could live with just him, or own my own.
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#4
At Cambridge pretty much everyone lives in halls, I would definitely not advise living in a houseshare unless you have to. All the halls that I've seen have cleaners that clean the kitchens and bin anything that people leave lying around so they're pretty tidy. As for noise if people are being loud you can porter them, meaning a porter comes along and kicks them out / stops them making noise. I've never had to since it's very quiet.
If you are going to share with someone lay out some rules right at the beginning otherwise it gets very awkward. Don't share food and make that very clear at the start. You also need to sort out a rota for bins, cleaning and buying general crap like toilet paper too.
If you are going to share with someone lay out some rules right at the beginning otherwise it gets very awkward. Don't share food and make that very clear at the start. You also need to sort out a rota for bins, cleaning and buying general crap like toilet paper too.
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(Original post by D3LLI5)
At Cambridge pretty much everyone lives in halls, I would definitely not advise living in a houseshare unless you have to. All the halls that I've seen have cleaners that clean the kitchens and bin anything that people leave lying around so they're pretty tidy. As for noise if people are being loud you can porter them, meaning a porter comes along and kicks them out / stops them making noise. I've never had to since it's very quiet.
If you are going to share with someone lay out some rules right at the beginning otherwise it gets very awkward. Don't share food and make that very clear at the start. You also need to sort out a rota for bins, cleaning and buying general crap like toilet paper too.
At Cambridge pretty much everyone lives in halls, I would definitely not advise living in a houseshare unless you have to. All the halls that I've seen have cleaners that clean the kitchens and bin anything that people leave lying around so they're pretty tidy. As for noise if people are being loud you can porter them, meaning a porter comes along and kicks them out / stops them making noise. I've never had to since it's very quiet.
If you are going to share with someone lay out some rules right at the beginning otherwise it gets very awkward. Don't share food and make that very clear at the start. You also need to sort out a rota for bins, cleaning and buying general crap like toilet paper too.
If I'm going to share with my friend from school then we'd both agree to rules and rotas. I don't want people in halls to steal my food and other things, even if I lay down rules.
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#6
(Original post by Glassapple)
Wouldn't everyone hate me if I portered them though? Surely people are always making noise in halls drinking, partying and/or having friends in the common areas or their rooms?
If I'm going to share with my friend from school then we'd both agree to rules and rotas. I don't want people in halls to steal my food and other things, even if I lay down rules.
Wouldn't everyone hate me if I portered them though? Surely people are always making noise in halls drinking, partying and/or having friends in the common areas or their rooms?
If I'm going to share with my friend from school then we'd both agree to rules and rotas. I don't want people in halls to steal my food and other things, even if I lay down rules.
With the Cambridge workload people are basically working during the week. On the weekends people might have predrinks somewhere but then go out to a club for the actual partying.
People stealing food in halls is very rare, I think it's a different situation than when people are sharing a house and are used to taking what they want like at home.
If you're dead set on sharing a house / apartment then go for it, but bear in mind Cambridge is not like a London uni. The collegiate system is a big thing, in terms of socialising, events, societies, and even education. Living in college is part of the experience.
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#8
Ucl or imperial will be best for you
Even if you get your way they will end up hating you because students tend to be messy and they are quiet relaxed
If you go to cambridge you will have to live in halls. I would say stay in London you will be happier and you wont be frustrated with problems you will face whilst living with people.
What subject?
Hope this helps
Even if you get your way they will end up hating you because students tend to be messy and they are quiet relaxed
If you go to cambridge you will have to live in halls. I would say stay in London you will be happier and you wont be frustrated with problems you will face whilst living with people.
What subject?
Hope this helps
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(Original post by seconda1)
Ucl or imperial will be best for you
Even if you get your way they will end up hating you because students tend to be messy and they are quiet relaxed
If you go to cambridge you will have to live in halls. I would say stay in London you will be happier and you wont be frustrated with problems you will face whilst living with people.
What subject?
Hope this helps
Ucl or imperial will be best for you
Even if you get your way they will end up hating you because students tend to be messy and they are quiet relaxed
If you go to cambridge you will have to live in halls. I would say stay in London you will be happier and you wont be frustrated with problems you will face whilst living with people.
What subject?
Hope this helps
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#10
(Original post by Glassapple)
I want to study maths. Couldn't I find somewhere to live in Cambridge and commute to the university? If I lived in London I'd just live at home where I'd get my way all the time as I do now. I don't want to live with people who are relaxed about mess, is this the case for most students?
I want to study maths. Couldn't I find somewhere to live in Cambridge and commute to the university? If I lived in London I'd just live at home where I'd get my way all the time as I do now. I don't want to live with people who are relaxed about mess, is this the case for most students?
You can but hardly anybody does that
Many students dont care about being extra tidy because they are trying to have the 'university experience' and their cares include meeting new people/forming friendships and and partying. A lot of students also miss lectures (lol) because they are too busy having fun
If you stay in London you will be happy at a pretigious institution and a happy home/social life you wont have to chase up and be disappointed with house mates who fail to follow by your rules. An endless cycle of frustration.
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#11
(Original post by Glassapple)
Don't you get angry at them when they wake you up in the middle of the night? I'd be super mad and would tell them the next day that it was unacceptable. Do your housemates use your things without permission or steal your food?
I'm quite close to the guy at my school who said he'll live with me if I want, I know what he's like so I could live with just him, or own my own.
Don't you get angry at them when they wake you up in the middle of the night? I'd be super mad and would tell them the next day that it was unacceptable. Do your housemates use your things without permission or steal your food?
I'm quite close to the guy at my school who said he'll live with me if I want, I know what he's like so I could live with just him, or own my own.
We share most of our food anyway. I have had housemates who threw away a few bits of my food once because they decided they were past it but they were actually perfectly good. Still, overall I don't regret any of it.
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(Original post by seconda1)
Maths at the institutions you have listed is great.
You can but hardly anybody does that
Many students dont care about being extra tidy because they are trying to have the 'university experience' and their cares include meeting new people/forming friendships and and partying. A lot of students also miss lectures (lol) because they are too busy having fun
If you stay in London you will be happy at a pretigious institution and a happy home/social life you wont have to chase up and be disappointed with house mates who fail to follow by your rules. An endless cycle of frustration.
Maths at the institutions you have listed is great.
You can but hardly anybody does that
Many students dont care about being extra tidy because they are trying to have the 'university experience' and their cares include meeting new people/forming friendships and and partying. A lot of students also miss lectures (lol) because they are too busy having fun
If you stay in London you will be happy at a pretigious institution and a happy home/social life you wont have to chase up and be disappointed with house mates who fail to follow by your rules. An endless cycle of frustration.
(Original post by CharAU95)
I get annoyed sometimes but like I said they're my best friends and I moan at them but at the end of the day my friendship with them is more important.
We share most of our food anyway. I have had housemates who threw away a few bits of my food once because they decided they were past it but they were actually perfectly good. Still, overall I don't regret any of it.
I get annoyed sometimes but like I said they're my best friends and I moan at them but at the end of the day my friendship with them is more important.
We share most of our food anyway. I have had housemates who threw away a few bits of my food once because they decided they were past it but they were actually perfectly good. Still, overall I don't regret any of it.
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#13
You're going to have to accept that there will be some amount of noise when living with other people as it's only natural, even people just walking around etc. If you're that bothered about them using your stuff, the only solution would be to put a lock on your cupboard or store things in your room. Flatmates tend to borrow basic things like a drop of milk for their cup of tea which obviously isn't a big deal at all but it's expected that you'd be able to do the same back to them. The minority who steal other people's food are just *****.
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#15
Depends if your housemates are nice or not.
There will always be mess, you've just got to get over it. I was forever cleaning up after people in halls.
There will always be mess, you've just got to get over it. I was forever cleaning up after people in halls.
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