Uni Newbie-education Needed.

Tout Seul

Tout Seul

Senior Jockey
Joined
May 2, 2003
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Number one son will be doing history at York. Some general questions which some can answer and anyone who is or was recently at York could add a lot to.

Is it generally better to go self catering or take advantage of subsidised catering (5 day package for term =50 dinners + 50 breakfasts =£350.)?

Where is the best/easiest place to go (no car) to watch a decent level of football?

Reduced entry cost to York Races?
 
Having paid for meals at University in halls of residence, I would not recommend it. Some (Most) of the time, eldest will still be in bed nursing a hangover so brekkie is pointless. Evening meals are better but again, it requires you to be in the same place every day, which is unlikely in first year University!
 
Originally posted by Tout Seul@Aug 17 2006, 06:44 PM
Where is the best/easiest place to go (no car) to watch a decent level of football?
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Given the proximity to Elland Road. I'd have to nominate the television :o
 
I had paid for meals at University as well. Food were not great and breakfast are normally missed however there are always good banter on the table and queing up.

In addition, he will be catering himself for the next 2 or 3 yrs anyway. It saves a bit of hassle having catering - really depends what your son perfers.
 
Anti Aircraft Artillery :o

Bloody hell, a few passes were enough in my day, they really are getting demanding
 
(1) Self catering - for all the reasons given plus it teaches him how to budget. (In reality it probably teaches him how to eat well for a month then survive on beans).

(2) You won't thank me for this one - when Mum and Dad visit either Meltons or The Blue Bicycle. Normally you don't have to book on weekdays (though you will next week, we're already in). For these venues he will manage to find four or five friends also so you'll need to have a winner or two.
 
The self catering/catered halls debate is always a tricky one. It depends on your son but it is good to have everything cooked for you in your first year, leaving you to find your feet and get settled in to the city and accommodation as well as the course. In addition to this there is lots of drinking and pulling women to be getting on with and cooking food is behind these two activities on most students list. :lol:

On the other side of the coin, self catering is good as it gives you much more independence and he'll probably have to go self catering after the first year. It really does depend on your sons preference to be honest. However, I'd doubt if many breakfasts will be attended (50 breakfasts in a term is a big ask!) and the food at Sheffield was pretty poor but I imagine all Unis differ.

Don't believe York does student discount, only course I've come across is Nottingham.
 
I'll pass on your compliments, Ardross.He had to get AAB but got AAA. Worked bloody hard for them too.
 
The only student discount at York racecourse would you believe is for Grandstand tickets at the Ebor meeting! £27 a day instead of £49 a day.
 
Tight Yorkshire stereotypes!
He's the one in the family that loves racing as I do and shares my passion for the Spurs. It looks like he have to miss out on both as there is only one Premier team in Yorkshire.

The point made on the social aspect of uni dining is a good one and maybe he will opt for first term only. Mind you I would see self catering ending up as beer and pizzas and us sending food parcels.

Got a very useful PM on one aspect of uni which may prove valuable to the lad and is fine example of the help one can get on here.
 
Tout,
He could always go and watch the mighty TIGERS, its just down the road. Besides York, Beverley is only 1/2 hour away.
 
Congratulations to your son TS.

As Gamla_Stan says eating healthily is probably the main reason for returning home at the end of each semester. Most supermarkets do various discounts which appeal to students so he'll do just fine as long as he knows what a microwave is.

Regarding the whole catering situation it differs from university to university. I was in catered halls for the first year, the breakfasts weren't too bad and some of the evening meals were good too (nobody went in on a Wednesday as it was an afternoon of sport and rubbish cooking in the canteen). Not sure how it's done at York but ours were on cards, with a £1.56 value and a £3.36 value on each card.

The food was pretty expensive but we found a way to maximise and realign food values (using aftershave/deoderant and tissue paper or by "losing" your card). They were charging £1 for a bottle of coke and 40p for a roll and about £1.70 for soup.


How far away is Newcastle? It's on the same trainline IIRC so a train a bus out and you're at St. James' Park (will be easier than getting to Sheffield I think, though Bramall Lane is walkable from the train station).
 
Originally posted by Irish Stamp@Aug 18 2006, 09:53 AM
How far away is Newcastle? It's on the same trainline IIRC so a train a bus out and you're at St. James' Park (will be easier than getting to Sheffield I think, though Bramall Lane is walkable from the train station).
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I have a suspicion Premiership football might not be a long-term thing at Bramhall Lane though!

Another point to be made about catered halls is that they are usually much bigger than self catering accommodation and I know the ones at Sheffield all had their own bars which was excellent for sociailising and meeting new people. York uni's website will probably have a list of all the accommodation with details about each site.
 
I would be a firm advocate of the self-catering option. He'll probably come back 2 stone lighter, but it will give him a better grounding for "life", whatever that is.
 
Tout Seul, definitely does have a son, Phil! I have met him, and what a charming young man he is too. Well, he was a couple of years ago anyway and I am sure he still is!
 
Originally posted by Kathy@Aug 18 2006, 01:04 PM
Tout Seul, definitely does have a son, Phil! I have met him, and what a charming young man he is too. Well, he was a couple of years ago anyway and I am sure he still is!
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Hands off, you toyboy snatching granny.
 
Well done to the young man. On Monday at Southwell he was clearly hopeful but still on tenterhooks.

For football it's his big chance to go and watch the real thing in the lower leagues.
 
Definitely agree with Stan again, Sheffield Uni halls have a great bar and it's great for meeting new people and "socialising" :D
 
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