what's st andrews really like?

[Guest]

I've just got an offer for french and management starting 2005 and was wondering if anyone can give me some info about the course (if anyone does french or management), social life (do people go out a lot? - this would be a good thing!) and does it ever feel claustraphobic living in a small town? Any good or bad points about the uni would be appreciated!
Thanks

[md25]

Expensive and you keep meeting the same people. May or may not be your thing.

[JM]

Management is a complete doddle - a complete skive but quite fun. first semester is to do with PESTLE & SWOT (am i allowed to tell people this?)

Dunno about french - but as mentioned above, save your pennies cos you wont have them for long.

[firewire]

St Andrews is great if you like a close community where you cant walk down a street without meeting somebody you know. Because of the town's size it can seem rather smothering, but at the same time you never feel alone because there's so many people you know all around.

The other thing is that you feel kind of important when you're here, we get alot of press coverage for such a small town (though that may decrease a bit in 2005 when a certain student leaves!) and there's always the dunhill golf on in september when the celebrities are out drinking in the pubs right next to you.

If you do choose to come here it's really important to get in the right hall; your whole uni career will be decided by where you get put and consequently the people you meet. Getting into John Burnett or Sallys would be a good start cause there's a real sense of hall community spirit but its not easy to get into them. At all costs avoid gatty or fife park, and even though DRH has been done up this year it's still miles away (in st andrews terms!) from anything.

I've loved my 4 years here and would recommend it to anyone. Just be prepared though, because it's impossible to do anything in st andrews without the whole town knowing. Great for those who love gossip, but bad for those who make stupid drunken errors of judgement, only to find that the whole town knows before 12pm the next day!

[rae]

Isn't there a section on the sinner guide entitled exactly that?

at least there was last time I looked...

[hr]In America they think 100 years is old and in Britain they think 100 miles is far.

[the-enemy]

[s]rae wrote on 22:24, 3rd Feb 2005:
Isn't there a section on the sinner guide entitled exactly that?

at least there was last time I looked...

[hr]In America they think 100 years is old and in Britain they think 100 miles is far.




and about a hundred old threads all about the same thing...

[Steveo]

[s]firewire wrote on 21:49, 3rd Feb 2005:
If you do choose to come here it's really important to get in the right hall; your whole uni career will be decided by where you get put and consequently the people you meet. Getting into John Burnett or Sallys would be a good start cause there's a real sense of hall community spirit but its not easy to get into them. At all costs avoid gatty or fife park, and even though DRH has been done up this year it's still miles away (in st andrews terms!) from anything.


Melvilel has by far the greatest sense of hall community, it's nto all that nice on the eyes, but it's not a bad place to live.

[hr]
[s]Strangers passing in the street....by chance two seperate glances meet[/s]

[md25]

Almost everyone says that their hall has the best atmosphere. Just goes to show how strong hall atmospheres in general are in St Andrews.

[oddly familiar]

[s]md25 wrote on 23:57, 3rd Feb 2005:
Almost everyone says that their hall has the best atmosphere. Just goes to show how strong hall atmospheres in general are in St Andrews.


Having been in DRH in first year, Im not totally convinced that DRA has as much atmosphere or opportunities to meet people as the old place did. And if you live in Albany park (and probably fife too) then you meet bugger all people.

[hr]
And the last one out of the circus has to lock up everything,
Or the elephants will get out and forget you.

[Fully Collapsed]

I live in DRA + oddly enough know loads of people in Albany Park so it's not true that you don't meet people in these places - maybe if your completely anti-social - also there is far more freedom in these places from my experience and so they can be infinitely more fun - just to make any first years (next year) who end up in these places feel better about things

[Guest]

I live in DRA + oddly enough know loads of people in Albany Park so it's not true that you don't meet people in these places - maybe if your completely anti-social - also there is far more freedom in these places from my experience and so they can be infinitely more fun - just to make any first years (next year) who end up in these places feel better about things

[flarewearer]

argh! my wurdz has been removeled!

[Si]

Albany Park is nowhere near as bad as it is said to be. You have to make a bit more effort to get to know people here but after a few weeks it's alright really.

It's also really cheap compared with other halls.

[tintin]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 20:30, 3rd Feb 2005:
I've just got an offer for french and management starting 2005 and was wondering if anyone can give me some info about the course (if anyone does french or management), social life (do people go out a lot? - this would be a good thing!) and does it ever feel claustraphobic living in a small town? Any good or bad points about the uni would be appreciated!
Thanks


The French department in my opinion is rather nice in that they seem to have resisted technological change and remain circa 1980 - just look at their "regularly updated" website! Flippancy aside, there are some very good courses and tutors on offer whatever your interest: make the most of your first year to find out exactly what you want to do later on - there is quite a scope for a diverse range of interests for such a small department. You can now even do Linguistics and student numbers in that are expanding (after cut-backs a few years ago with the departure of Corpus Linguistics specialists).

In terms of claustrophobia it really isn't that bad (although one does start to wonder about student politics after a while when there's a whole world out there - though this much the same in an University) as you can easily go to Dundee on the bus or Edinburgh if you want. There is plenty of wonderful countryside to play in and it is all quite literally on the doorstep.

It is a great place to go to University and I could not recommend it highly enough. Hope you accept the place.

[Admin]

Whichever hall you live in, if you make the most of it, you'll love it.

Living in Gatty or Fife Park doesn't mean that you won't meet people - go next door and befriend your neighbours! Get involved in the hall committee, and you can help increase the feeling of hall spirit!

DRA is one mile away from the centre of town. ONE MILE IS NOT FAR.
If you have friends in DRA and you can't be bothered to walk for 15 minutes to see them, shame on you.


St Andrews is a great place, and if you look at the following page, you'll see that there are plenty of other people who feel the same way:
http://www.thesinner.net/article/426

[Guest]

Hey! I'm first year and I can honestly say that I made the right decision coming here. Hall life is excellent as it allows you to make a group of friends really quickly. To be honest I don't really think it matters which hall you're in - if you make an effort, you'll feel part of any hall. The social life here is also good if you enjoy pubs - there are no clubs What I've found is that there is always something going on in hall when pubs close, so it's not boring. I do French and I must say that the course last semester disappointed me. It's not awful - I just didn't find it as interesting as my other modules. Overall, though, St Andrews excellent!

[Guest]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 05:30, 4th Feb 2005:
It's a shithole.

Avoid coming here at all costs.

You have been warned..



Agree!!

[Guest]

[s]flarewearer wrote on 14:29, 5th Feb 2005:
[s]Unregisted User wrote on 05:30, 4th Feb 2005:[i]
It's a shithole.

Avoid coming here at all costs.

You have been warned..


yeah, incase you meet this fucktard
[/i]



Yeah, say that to my face and I will most certainly make a 'fucktard' little pussyass out of you, you lame punk.

[Mr Comedy]

St. Andrews is an excellent place to come and study, and I have very much enjoyed my four years here.
Because of the size of St. Andrews, there is a high integration between the town and the 'gown' sides, with both living in close contact, and working side by side.
Add to this that it is a truly 'non-campus' university, and you have the stage set for a very enjoyable time here.

Because of St. Andrews size, there is a small problem that the town does not provide as much in the way of amenities over other towns, but most people do not find this a major problem, with plenty in nearby Dundee, or Edinburgh, which is probably a day-trip.
And there is always lots of things happening around the University, with sports clubs, a myriad of societies, and an opportunity to get involved in everything from the running of the Students' Union to being on a hall committee.

Halls will also form a large part of your life, at least in first year, as every Bejant/Bejantine student is guaranteed a place in a hall of residence, and this is probably where you will meet some of your first friends here. I am still good friends with a number of people who I was in hall with in 1st year.
Bear in mind however, that you will also make friends from classes, societies and random pub experiences as well.

Finally, St. Andrews is a University with a fine academic foothold, and although we may moan about departments from time to time (which University doesn't?), a degree from St. Andrews will provide an excellent start to graduate life.

Best of luck in making your descision.

[novium]

[s]md25 wrote on 23:57, 3rd Feb 2005:
Almost everyone says that their hall has the best atmosphere. Just goes to show how strong hall atmospheres in general are in St Andrews.




except for DRA. It totally lacks atmosphere.