University of St Andrews
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Bad things about St Andrews
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University of St Andrews
The widespread dispair ( Myself included ) about a lack of M & S on this thread just reinforces St Andrews image of a middle class haven. Seriously though, how am I going to survive without my Raspberry Royales and percy pigs?! 
It gets a bit boring during the autumn and spring months, when it's raining and a bit crap. Other than that, there's a slight lack of shops - and not even for girly things. Also, doesn't the town kebab shop close ludicrously early?
I've never actually 'lived' in St Andrews for more than a few days on the trot (I went out with a girl who attended there), so I'm not necessarily the most illuminated person, but I feel I know the town reasonably well.
I've never actually 'lived' in St Andrews for more than a few days on the trot (I went out with a girl who attended there), so I'm not necessarily the most illuminated person, but I feel I know the town reasonably well.
The Highlander
The widespread dispair ( Myself included ) about a lack of M & S on this thread just reinforces St Andrews image of a middle class haven. Seriously though, how am I going to survive without my Raspberry Royales and percy pigs?!
My friend regularly goes to Dundee, so I get my Percy Pigs from there. I don't enjoy clubbing that much so M&S is pretty much the only reason to go there.
Bad things:
-The people, some of the yah can be real prats (but the small minority that are make themselves known)
-The library, most of the ancient books are still younger than the library
-As someone said before, the odd exam timings
-Again as someone said before the cold wind
That said though pick St Andrews over Edinburgh, most of those are only minor comments. Life here really is great!
The bad things in St Andrews according to me.
-The posh posers. There are LOADS of girls who walk around with sunglasses bigger than their arses, all wearing the exact same fashion. You eventually get sick of them all with their white coats and fashion handbags, sucking up to all the posh boys. The boys who wear jumpers and try to act all proper, then get really drunk and run about halls at night shouting in their posh accents also annoy me. These are the same people who call out during lectures questioning things and you want to hit them because they are talking a load of rubbish.
- The shops. The shops are ****. That's about it really. The only shop worth going to is Tesco. Anything else you need you will have to order online or go elsewhere. You will find that shopping becomes a thing of the past when you come to St. Andrews.
- The prices. The prices here are terrible. The cheapest beer on a regular night (ie excluding special offers) is in the union, tennents at £1.90 (and it will probably be increased by next year, it was £1.60 2 years ago). Compare that to somewhere like Glasgow, where you can get pints for £1 very easily. A normal beer in a pub in the town here will cost about £2.70. As well as drinks, everything else is stupidly expensive. A bag of chips with curry sauce and couple of battered sausages (a typical takeaway for someone) would cost about £5. That would cost £1.90/2 at home. Disgraceful.
- The nightlife. Related to the price of drinks. The nightlife is pretty much terrible. Really because everywhere closes at about 1am, apart from the union on a Friday night which closes at a staggering 2am (holy ****!). Most bars are very small, there are no clubs so don't expect much of a lively scene apart from the usual trying to find a table amongst hundreds and hundreds of other students also trying to find a table. A typical Friday night will have a realistic waiting time at the union bar of 10-15 minutes (and it seems a hell of a lot longer).
- The library. This hasn't really affected me, as I never use libraries, I use the Internet. But when you want to use it, it's crap. Apparently it's being renovated which is a good thing, as at the moment it's a run down dump with the dullest carpets and dark rooms, and an impossible layout of bookshelves.
-The societies. A complete load of rubbish. Take rocksoc for example. Apparently one of the largest societies at the uni (or maybe THE largest). Full of a load of morons who host the most boring events who argue online about who is going to DJ what. Bitch fights galore. Almost every society is poorly run and completely amateur. I was at the Benelux society BBQ recently and it was the worst thing I ever attended, with the BBQ falling over, people standing about doing nothing, just a complete lack of everything. Do not get excited about the societies. They try to draw you in during freshers week. But to be honest they are a load of rubbish.
Apart from that, most things here are pretty good! It's just like any uni really. The transport is actually very good, as buses go practically everywhere from the bus station, I just get a bus to glasgow or edinburgh and fly home. There are a lot more normal people to make up for the frustration from the moronic posh ones taking International Relations and driving about in their Morgan custom made cars, and it's generally a nice place to live. As for the weather, it's just the same as anywhere in the UK. You get the usual dull days, not as much rain as some other places, winter can bring in a little bit of snow, summer has some great sunny spells. And there are millions of rabbits everywhere you go. Just walking on the footpath in front of you. Crazy.
-The posh posers. There are LOADS of girls who walk around with sunglasses bigger than their arses, all wearing the exact same fashion. You eventually get sick of them all with their white coats and fashion handbags, sucking up to all the posh boys. The boys who wear jumpers and try to act all proper, then get really drunk and run about halls at night shouting in their posh accents also annoy me. These are the same people who call out during lectures questioning things and you want to hit them because they are talking a load of rubbish.
- The shops. The shops are ****. That's about it really. The only shop worth going to is Tesco. Anything else you need you will have to order online or go elsewhere. You will find that shopping becomes a thing of the past when you come to St. Andrews.
- The prices. The prices here are terrible. The cheapest beer on a regular night (ie excluding special offers) is in the union, tennents at £1.90 (and it will probably be increased by next year, it was £1.60 2 years ago). Compare that to somewhere like Glasgow, where you can get pints for £1 very easily. A normal beer in a pub in the town here will cost about £2.70. As well as drinks, everything else is stupidly expensive. A bag of chips with curry sauce and couple of battered sausages (a typical takeaway for someone) would cost about £5. That would cost £1.90/2 at home. Disgraceful.
- The nightlife. Related to the price of drinks. The nightlife is pretty much terrible. Really because everywhere closes at about 1am, apart from the union on a Friday night which closes at a staggering 2am (holy ****!). Most bars are very small, there are no clubs so don't expect much of a lively scene apart from the usual trying to find a table amongst hundreds and hundreds of other students also trying to find a table. A typical Friday night will have a realistic waiting time at the union bar of 10-15 minutes (and it seems a hell of a lot longer).
- The library. This hasn't really affected me, as I never use libraries, I use the Internet. But when you want to use it, it's crap. Apparently it's being renovated which is a good thing, as at the moment it's a run down dump with the dullest carpets and dark rooms, and an impossible layout of bookshelves.
-The societies. A complete load of rubbish. Take rocksoc for example. Apparently one of the largest societies at the uni (or maybe THE largest). Full of a load of morons who host the most boring events who argue online about who is going to DJ what. Bitch fights galore. Almost every society is poorly run and completely amateur. I was at the Benelux society BBQ recently and it was the worst thing I ever attended, with the BBQ falling over, people standing about doing nothing, just a complete lack of everything. Do not get excited about the societies. They try to draw you in during freshers week. But to be honest they are a load of rubbish.
Apart from that, most things here are pretty good! It's just like any uni really. The transport is actually very good, as buses go practically everywhere from the bus station, I just get a bus to glasgow or edinburgh and fly home. There are a lot more normal people to make up for the frustration from the moronic posh ones taking International Relations and driving about in their Morgan custom made cars, and it's generally a nice place to live. As for the weather, it's just the same as anywhere in the UK. You get the usual dull days, not as much rain as some other places, winter can bring in a little bit of snow, summer has some great sunny spells. And there are millions of rabbits everywhere you go. Just walking on the footpath in front of you. Crazy.
Skeve
Apart from that, most things here are pretty good!
Apart from that, most things here are pretty good!
Haha, love it - you totally just slaughtered our precious uni
Nah but I agree with you. It's probably not the best thing to say here where we're supposed to get people to choose StA, but I am only here because it's the best uni in Scotland (no fees for me). I think I'd much rather be at a uni located in a big city..
Skeve, you don't have revision you're trying to avoid, by any chance? Or am I the only one who ends up on here because it's nicer than learning stuff?
At least I can laugh and think of that description every time I see them now.
I agree that there's a lack of shops, but if you want to go and buy something weird, it's not too bad [there is a shop devoted to small chunks of pretty rocks, and I once bought a golf ball christmas tree decoration.]. I wonder if there's space for a list of shops on the TSR wiki?... [well, there's certainly space, but I don't know if that's what they want on it].
I don't know that I totally agree with the societies comment - there's a lot of work to be done in a lot of the running of societies, but I'm hoping they'll get a clearer structure for that. I like socities which meet regularly with a clear aim/activity in mind - I think the swingdance society is quite popular, because they get together often and give people the chance to dance and learn new stuff.
There are LOADS of girls who walk around with sunglasses bigger than their arses
At least I can laugh and think of that description every time I see them now.I agree that there's a lack of shops, but if you want to go and buy something weird, it's not too bad [there is a shop devoted to small chunks of pretty rocks, and I once bought a golf ball christmas tree decoration.]. I wonder if there's space for a list of shops on the TSR wiki?... [well, there's certainly space, but I don't know if that's what they want on it].
I don't know that I totally agree with the societies comment - there's a lot of work to be done in a lot of the running of societies, but I'm hoping they'll get a clearer structure for that. I like socities which meet regularly with a clear aim/activity in mind - I think the swingdance society is quite popular, because they get together often and give people the chance to dance and learn new stuff.
*is not avoiding revision either*
The societies that only have occasional events are a bit rubbish, because you don't really get to know people that well. Like ImperceptibleNinja said, ones that meet regularly are pretty good, as are the sports clubs.
The thing about shopping is spot on - I very rarely go into places other than Tesco, and when I do go elsewhere, I can never find what I want! I was looking for a sieve the other month, which I thought was a pretty standard item - couldn't find one anywhere!
I suppose every uni has them, but the people that call out in lectures really get on my tits.
The societies that only have occasional events are a bit rubbish, because you don't really get to know people that well. Like ImperceptibleNinja said, ones that meet regularly are pretty good, as are the sports clubs.
The thing about shopping is spot on - I very rarely go into places other than Tesco, and when I do go elsewhere, I can never find what I want! I was looking for a sieve the other month, which I thought was a pretty standard item - couldn't find one anywhere!
I suppose every uni has them, but the people that call out in lectures really get on my tits.
My summary of the worst point about St Andrews, Idiotic people (usually toffs, and I love skeves description, its prefect) The fact that EVERYWHERE shuts at 1am and the locals still complain, the union which could be so much better if someone got of their arse and did something about it (which apparently they are doing.... in 2012ish!), the library which isnt that bad apart from it was built when the uni was MUCH smaller so struggles to meet demand but they are supposed to be extending it (.... in 2012ish again!), everything is expensive, I've heard somewhere we have the 2nd most expensive Tesco in Scotland and Morrisons is'nt much better, in a recent survey we came in the top 20 most expensive universities for students, above some London Unis!
Its not all bad though, on the upside the weather is good for Scotland, the area is beautiful, its a small community so you make really good lifelong friends fast, Transport to Dundee / Edinburgh is regular and not that badly priced if you want a temporary return to normality also not forgetting that this is also a fantastic university. Overall I think the pros probably outweigh the cons!
Its not all bad though, on the upside the weather is good for Scotland, the area is beautiful, its a small community so you make really good lifelong friends fast, Transport to Dundee / Edinburgh is regular and not that badly priced if you want a temporary return to normality also not forgetting that this is also a fantastic university. Overall I think the pros probably outweigh the cons!
God...now I'm scared....
Maybe StAs isn't as good as I thought it was going to be...
Not really bothered about the cost, one of the pros of being teetotal, and the shopping doesn't bother me too much, I live in the middle of nowhere so I'm used to having no shops, and hey don't you have a Starbucks? That makes it like New York in my experience...plus leaves more money to spend on sport and pool tables....(and the obscene amount we have to shell out for accommodation...)
I'm more bothered about the societies though....I was planning on joining a load of sport clubs...are they really that bad???
Are there really that many posh people, or is it just a case of them sticking out more, therefore noticing them more?!
You guys already gave an answer to most of this...I'm just looking for reassurance that I haven't made a big mistake....!
Maybe StAs isn't as good as I thought it was going to be...
Not really bothered about the cost, one of the pros of being teetotal, and the shopping doesn't bother me too much, I live in the middle of nowhere so I'm used to having no shops, and hey don't you have a Starbucks? That makes it like New York in my experience...plus leaves more money to spend on sport and pool tables....(and the obscene amount we have to shell out for accommodation...)
I'm more bothered about the societies though....I was planning on joining a load of sport clubs...are they really that bad???
Are there really that many posh people, or is it just a case of them sticking out more, therefore noticing them more?!
You guys already gave an answer to most of this...I'm just looking for reassurance that I haven't made a big mistake....!
The sports clubs are great - the fact that there's regular training and most have a weekly social means you get to know a bunch of people really well (at least that's my experience with the sports clubs I or people I know have been involved in). And it's just some societies that are a bit **** - like Pirate soc - it sounds like a great idea, but they only have 1 or 2 events a semester which isn't really conducive to meeting people. Other things like SSAGO and Swing Dance meet every week and are really good.
It seems like there are loads of posh people here, but I'm from an area where there are pretty much no posh people (just scummy working class and farmers), so they probably stick out to me. That said, none of my friends really fit into the yah category, so there must be some non-posh people!
It seems like there are loads of posh people here, but I'm from an area where there are pretty much no posh people (just scummy working class and farmers
), so they probably stick out to me. That said, none of my friends really fit into the yah category, so there must be some non-posh people!TheNorth
I second that.
and i third it.. er lol...
I'm hopefully going catered (i no i no) so wnt have to worry 'cept for the odd sarnie. I live right near stansted airport, but the 'rents have kindly said they would either drive me, or i drive my car, they drive theres, up. Bless em!
Think may have asked this before, but bit nearer the time now, so ney1 else taking a car/got a car up there?
Oh No! Will I be considered a yah!? I've applied for standard catered accomodation so likely to be in one of the central halls and I am doing International Relations!
Even though I'm from the country and have a reet proper derbyshire accent, its meant to be quite posh where I'm from...all the horsey people from Yorkshire just above us and Chatsworth helps that....so maybe I won't notice it that much...
If anything maybe I can befriend them and get a free horse out of it, or good business contacts for later in life lol! The Americans should be good as well, maybe a few trips to California might be on the cards...
I should be so lucky!
If anything maybe I can befriend them and get a free horse out of it, or good business contacts for later in life lol! The Americans should be good as well, maybe a few trips to California might be on the cards...
I should be so lucky!
The Highlander
Oh No! Will I be considered a yah!? I've applied for standard catered accomodation so likely to be in one of the central halls and I am doing International Relations!
So long as you don't want to marry your bodywarmer, you're in safe territory.
Being percieved as a yah seems to depend on fashion tastes and the volume and topics of your conversations. I don't let myself get bothered by the whole thing. It's a bit like neds back home, except yahs won't smash your face in just for the fun of it. You can choose how much you coincide with a social stereotype, and how much you interact with people who fit that stereotype.
And Wasps, I wouldn't worry. This is an inherently negative thread... there are good socities out there, which are great fun to be in.
Haw man wit ye own aboot?! A pyure mad mantahl eat babeez! Am pyure mad mentahlllll!!!11!!1oneoneone!!!1!
Sorry - once you mentioned neds I just couldn't resist.
It is a negative thread - dont worry - its all good fun up here.
Sorry - once you mentioned neds I just couldn't resist.
It is a negative thread - dont worry - its all good fun up here.
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