University...

Did i say 1965? obviously i ment 1995

 

That's what I thought about cambridge, and just walking about Durham you see a few stuck up students. Maybe Edinburgh's the way to go for me, big in foreign languages, decent city, 2 hour train trip from home... But of course would mean giving up going to toon matches for a few years :|

 

I think they give preference to students from outside of the local area, but you can still apply for the accommodation and have as much of a chance of getting into private accommodation.

 

Cheers, one of the things putting me off Newcastle was this and that you could only move into houses with other students, but the area was a bit **** and I don't like the idea of been stuck with people i've never met for a year when they could turn out to be arseholes :\

 

I think we're all in the same boat there to be honest. You can always swap the accommodation though.

 

True... got a few years to think about it. Open days may settle any doubts about places.
Cheers (y)

 

I moved over the water to Northern Ireland and I can honestly tell you, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. All of us have different motivations, my own personal reasoning for choosing Queen's was based on a) it's standing in UK Uni's and b) my extended family being predominantly based in N/I! I'll try and suggest the positives and negative I've experienced:

Positives:
1) New people...A lot of my mates who've stayed closer to home lived and knocked around with the same lads from school. I now have 2 sets of mates (uni and home mates) they all get on well together when they meet and it always means both enjoying coming to visit (either at uni or at home).

2) New experiences...I've had to deal with bills, tv licenses, money management, cleaning, cooking etc. Granted these aren't major skills, but until you do them they can be a little intimidating! Staying at home could mean you never do it 'cause you don't need to.

3) New cultures...Irish culture is very different to back home and even different to how I expected it to be. I'm glad I came here and expanded my horizons, I never knew how narrow minded I was!

4) Independence...Uni life can literally be the easiest, most party-orientated experiences going! In first year I reckon I went out on average of 4 times a week. It was amazing. Hedonistic as **** but something I'll be able to look back on in years to come and know that I did it as hard as I could!

NEGATIVE

1) Travel....I have to take a taxi, a bus and a flight (before someone picks me up from the airport OR I get the metro then train then taxi back home).

2) Homesickness...To be honest, this has pretty much disappeared and I go home for the holidays out of necessity!

3) Money...It is expensive but again, most of my mates who stayed closer to home are in a similar amount of debt as me - they spend what they have and live within their overdrafts, I do the same.

4) Weekends...It might be different for other people in other places but I find weekends are a bit gash...While working I lived for the weekends but other than watching Newcastle on the internet, not a huge amount goes on during the weekend. Also, most of the locals go home and so where I live (a mainly studenty area) is a ghost town come Friday afternoon!

 

Also:

Accommodation - I lived with some absolute ****s (wouldn't even acknoledge them, they are genuinely ****e human beings) but also met some people who I know I'll be friends with for the rest of my life!

 

In the same situation next year, hoping to go away though!

 

Honestly Durham has it good points but working in the City centre the students have bad rep as lacking in common sense, and thinking they are better than everyone else

 

Gave something away there ThrillerinAsprilla!

 

Wherever you go you'll be with like minded people, don't worry about it, life will be great!

 

Thanks lads, there's been some very helpful advice posted here and I'll be sure to bear it in mind when I make my final choice.

To whoever asked, I'll be studying Accounting & Financial Management, which I imagine will be pretty useful when I'm trying to manage my money with bills and stuff thankfully.

And also, in agreement with the guy who went to Cambridge, I know a few people who went to Oxford and they experienced the same thing.One guy a few years older got the piss taken out of him at Oxford for being 'common' even though he's probably the cleverest person to ever come out of our school. I couldn't stand that crowd, although it'd be mint to say you went to one of those two universities.

 

Got a niece in Sheffield and a nephew in Leeds, they're both enjoying it.

The niece could have gone to Oxford and was advised to by her teachers ( and me ) but preferred Sheffield for some reason.

Hope it all goes well for you wherever you go! Good luck!

 

Oh Cally if you go to Oxford dont shout Howay in the middle of the street the looks i got shouting that at my ex Gf

 

I stayed at home and life couldn't be better. My friends at Uni(I have made loads by the way) are well into their overdraft and are really struggling, even when they get their student loan they struggle to pay for things. Nights out are the thing to do at the start of uni but slow down quite a bit in your second year, as I am at the moment.

I meet loads of people away from my course, and I am the one with the most money. I am up £3000 by saving money(I have a part time job and do get my student loan as well)and can afford a season ticket, all the away games, and a holiday away with the girlfriend. All I am saying is, many recommend going away which is understandable as it is something new. But life is all about money for me, I want as much as possible, work hard play hard is my moto, and money I have(for a student anyway).

 

Agree with this, why give them free 'Larn yesel Geordie' lessons? Make them pay for them!

 

Do any of the lads on here from newcastle go for a night out

 

Ayee

 

She was window shopping and I shouted Haway at here they looked at me as if i was pissed