Thread for accommodation questions for 09/10 entry - READ & POST HERE FIRST :o)

If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

I realize that this is a really stupid question, particularly given the word 'offer' and the fact that it may not be what you asked for, but it obviously has fairly serious financial implications, so I want to make quite sure.

If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

You can turn it down but accommodation services aren't obliged to make you another offer (when I was applying they said that they would not make a second offer - and I don't think the wording has changed)

Are they all definitely non smoking, or can you get away with it?

Also, your flatmates/friends aren't gonna be too impressed if your room stinks when you could just go and stand outside like everyone else!

It won't just their room; it'll be the whole flat. One of my flatmates insisted on smoking indoors and the smell was everywhere. We hated him. Do you want to be hated arpeggiarpeggi?

Mate, it's university. Doesn't everyone take up smoking at university?

I'm going to Edinburgh for a second visit late march so I'll be applying after that, good thing it's not first come first serve .

So... how do they assign rooms to people?

Following Ed Uni website applications for accommodations 2009 can start 16 February not 1st as is says on the first post.

I'm going to Edinburgh for a second visit late march so I'll be applying after that, good thing it's not first come first serve .

So... how do they assign rooms to people?

Randomly by taking into account your preferences and anything else relevant such as age (so a mature student aged 25 wouldn't be with a load of 17 year olds) and probably where you're coming from (as in if you're an international student or not) so that there aren't 5 exchange students in one flat.

People with unconditional offers get given rooms in July time as they are definitley coming, and then everyone else is dealt with at the end of August after the SQA and A level results days when numbers are confirmed.

Two question pop up in my head following this. How big is the usual range of age that they take into consideration? I'll be 23 in September but I wouldn't want to live only with people my age or older, I don't mind a few 17-18 years old, the more variation the better .

Also, if you, as me, will be able to receive an unconditional earlier, will I also get accommodation replies earlier? My only condition for my offer is an EOTFL test score and I'll be taking the test in a few of weeks so I'm guessing I'll be sitting with a Firm Unconditional in March already.

If you're happy living with the 'younger' students then its fine, but sometimes people want to contact the university and request NOT to live with 17 year olds and then if they're cool with that, then they don't do anything. I'd assume. As you're older they might put you with gap year students, or people coming on exchange from abroad who tend to be older (21-23 sort of age) than the British students who are coming straight out of school. Remember that if you go for self catering flats (which I'm assuming you will) you will get all of the 'older' seeming people anyway. This is obviously a huge generalisation but I found the younger seeming people with little life experience went for Pollock where it was catered and safe. The people in flats were more independent so it didn't matter how old they were.

With regards to your status, I would assume you would do yes as they deal with the people whos offers are unconditional in July (or early August as they tend to be really slow!) as it makes sense to get everyone out of the way before all of the exam results days. You would be treated the same as all of the other unconditional offer holders. They won't even have finished giving out offers by March anyway.

In other words, when it comes to handing out accommodation they basically do it in two batches, one in July (or early August) with all Unconditionals and gap-years applications and one after Results Day whenever that is (late August isn't it?).

Mate, it's university. Doesn't everyone take up smoking at university?

If I apply for accommodation, and get an offer (which I should do, according to their guaranteed eligibility criteria, even if it's not what I requested), am I able to turn that offer down?

I realize that this is a really stupid question, particularly given the word 'offer' and the fact that it may not be what you asked for, but it obviously has fairly serious financial implications, so I want to make quite sure.

They do lots of small batches starting in June and going through to the beginning of September. You would hope to be offered something before the August results days, but that wouldn't necessarily be the case - 2 of my flatmates in first year didn't get accommodation offers until the couple of weeks before coming despite having been on unconditional offers, and they aren't alone in the experience. The important thing is that the university will offer you something before you arrive.

for a start, students on the whole cant afford to pay £10 a week for 40 cigarettes, the money would be better spent on drink.

secondly, you have to go outside to smoke in scotland and this means it is freezing if you fancy a smoke at 11pm and i would hope that would put people off starting to smoke

thirdly, we're not 12 anymore, smoking isn't seen as 'cool' or 'rebellious'