ocd at uni?

i’m meant to be starting uni in september. i plan to apply for the cheapest accom as i genuinely can’t afford any others but this means sharing a bathroom&kitchen with around 10 people. i am terrified. i’ve seen all the tiktok posts about how disgusting it gets. has anyone else with ocd went through this and how was it because it’s genuinely making me want to withdraw my ucas

Reply 1

PinkMobilePhone

Chat Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

22

My daughter is sharing bathroom and kitchen. Yeah she says it's a bit grim but better than not being able to go to uni at all. She is putting up with it.

At the end of the day, if you're serious about wanting your degree then your choices are:
a) do an online course
b) commute if you can
c) just put up with the shared bathroom and kitchen - after all it's not forever and you'll be home a lot for holidays

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 2

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

11

Original post

by Anonymous

i’m meant to be starting uni in september. i plan to apply for the cheapest accom as i genuinely can’t afford any others but this means sharing a bathroom&kitchen with around 10 people. i am terrified. i’ve seen all the tiktok posts about how disgusting it gets. has anyone else with ocd went through this and how was it because it’s genuinely making me want to withdraw my ucas

Hi there,
Living in shared accommodation is a big adjustment especially when you are use to have your own space at home. It will always be a hit and miss as you can't choose who you live with in halls 🥲 That said it is also a learning opportunity and a great way of meeting new people from all walks of life. Stay positive, it is easy to imagine the worst case scenario, you may end up making wonder friends who you would like to live with in the 2nd year 🤗

If the time comes when your living condition is unbearable, speak to your accommodation team or wellbeing support services as they might be able to offer some guidance or solutions 🙂 Making a chore chart early on and assigning cleaning responsibilities early on is a great way of keeping everyone accountable, it may not always work out but it is worth a shot 😉

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 3

ARU Graduate

Official Rep

7

Original post

by Anonymous

i’m meant to be starting uni in september. i plan to apply for the cheapest accom as i genuinely can’t afford any others but this means sharing a bathroom&kitchen with around 10 people. i am terrified. i’ve seen all the tiktok posts about how disgusting it gets. has anyone else with ocd went through this and how was it because it’s genuinely making me want to withdraw my ucas

Hey!

Honestly I really get why this is stressing you out. I haven’t had an OCD diagnosis so I can’t fully relate on that level, but I am a proper clean freak and this would 100% worry me too…. shared kitchens and bathrooms with loads of people would send me a bit 😭 so you’re not being dramatic at all.

If I was in that situation, I’d definitely keep my own cutlery, plates, mugs, maybe even a pan or two in my room. That way you can wash them yourself, know they’re actually clean, and then keep them out of reach of people who don’t really care about hygiene…. which there will be some of. It just gives you a bit of control and peace of mind.

I’d also 100% get flip flops or sliders just for the shower. It sounds small but it really helps mentally as well as practically. Same with having your own cleaning stuff in your room so you know what you’re using and that it hasn’t been left gross by someone else.

You could suggest a cleaning rota when you move in… sometimes people are actually up for it, especially at the start. Even if not everyone sticks to it perfectly, it at least sets a standard. That said, I’ll be honest, I’d probably still end up cleaning more than my share because I just couldn’t live in squalor…. sometimes it’s easier to just wipe something down than sit there feeling stressed about it.

Also try to remember TikTok massively exaggerates because no one posts the “yeah it was fine” flats. Some places are grim, yeah, but plenty are just average student messy, not total horror shows. And first year accom isn’t forever… second year you usually have way more choice and control.

The fact this is making you want to withdraw UCAS just shows how anxious it’s making you, not that uni is the wrong choice. It’s a big change and it’s okay to be worried about it. You’re not weird or overreacting for caring about cleanliness.

If you can, it might be worth speaking to uni wellbeing or accommodation once you have an offer… they can sometimes be more helpful than you’d expect.
You’re definitely not alone in feeling like this, and you can get through it, even if it’s not perfect at first!

Good luck with everything! Sophie 🙂

Reply 4

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Anonymous

i’m meant to be starting uni in september. i plan to apply for the cheapest accom as i genuinely can’t afford any others but this means sharing a bathroom&kitchen with around 10 people. i am terrified. i’ve seen all the tiktok posts about how disgusting it gets. has anyone else with ocd went through this and how was it because it’s genuinely making me want to withdraw my ucas

Hey @Anonymous , I hope you are doing great!! Honestly, this is so valid and although I do not have OCD, I do get where you are coming from as someone who does live in student accommodation.

The first thing I want to say is please do not withdraw your UCAS over this yet. What you are feeling is understandable, especially if you have OCD, but it does not mean uni is impossible for you.

The TikTok effect:
I have come to learn that TikTok often shows:

•

Horror stories

•

One gross toilets

•

The worst flats

All because that is what gets the most views. Don't get me wrong, yes they do exist but sometimes it tends to be exaggerated. What you don't see is:

•

That many flats are fine

•

The people quietly cleaning up after themselves

•

The fact that most accommodation is well taken care of

About sharing with 10 people
Sharing with that many people can feel overwhelming especially with OCS, but it is not automatically a nightmare.

What usually happens:

•

Not everyone uses the kitchen equally

•

People are on different schedules

•

You naturally end up sharing space with maybe 3-4 regular users not all 10 constantly

•

Bathrooms are much less chaotic than social media suggests

•

Used less than you would expect

Something I would suggest from what I have heard would be:

•

Wiping surfaces before use

•

Use sliders/flip-flops for shared bathrooms

•

Store your own plates/cutlery in your room

•

Go to the kitchen at quieter times (early morning or later evening)

•

Keep a small personal cleaning caddy in your room

This creates a sense of control regarding cleanliness.

And remember you are not absolutely stuck:

•

You can always ask about reasonable adjustments

•

Some unis quietly move students after the first few weeks

•

You can speak to your roommates about your concerns

It does not have to feel like a life sentence. And some of the other responses have great advice as well to follow!

Of course, it is all up to you and I would also advise you to speak to student accommodation services, ask about cleanliness, ask about support for students with OCD before you make any official decision.

You absolutely deserve to make this decision with facts and not just what you have seen over on social media. I really hope this was helpful and helps you regarding making a decision. I wish you all the best 🙂

Ru
BCU student rep.

ocd at uni?

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