Otago Halls of Residence

[Ramza]

Just out of curiousity, going back to Knox, does anyone know what proportion does usually get in to med and how many HSFYs there are?

Knox is very similar to st margarets, where proportion of the college are returners/ post grads/ phedders/ BAs. while there is a lot of hsfy, I am uncertain as to how many made it through to med in my year, but i can say that amongst the Biomeds/Bsc's there are a lot of the knox people as there is carrington, st margs, and all other halls.

 

[greenglacier]

My figures might be slightly off, but in my med class there are something like 19 Knox students, out of the 45 or so HSFYers they had.

Knox really doesn't take in many students because they've got a ridiculously high returners rate (easily the highest of all the halls).

 

[frootloop]

My figures might be slightly off, but in my med class there are something like 19 Knox students, out of the 45 or so HSFYers they had.

[offtopic]That'd almost put me off Knox, lol. It'd be almost expected that you'd be dominating HSFY, at least at UniCol people gave me looks of awe when they found out I was on an A average [/offtopic]

 

[Crucible]

Hey guys

What are the chances of my friend, she's just applied for residential colleges even though I told her to do it during term 3, getting accepted into a residential college??
-just any of them since she doesn't mind.......but I'm worried because she put down independent colleges (not sure which ones maybe Salmond) and I heard those ones are really pedantic about getting your application in on time??

 

[mighty]

What are the chances of my friend, she's just applied for residential colleges even though I told her to do it during term 3, getting accepted into a residential college??
-just any of them since she doesn't mind.......but I'm worried because she put down independent colleges (not sure which ones maybe Salmond) and I heard those ones are really pedantic about getting your application in on time??

She probably has a decent chance of getting in (don't take my word for it though). But the sooner the better, so make sure she applies and gets all the forms (including school reference forms) in absolutely ASAP.

Btw, independent colleges are not that anal about getting your forms in on time. I applied late and I still got an offer from Salmond. Colleges will keep offering spots until they're at full capacity because.. well.. they wants moneyz.

She probably won't get a college offer from somewhere on her preference list though.

Good luck.

 

[Crucible]

That's awesome news!!!!!!!!!!
Ahaha I'm at Salmond next year (it was my 2nd choice)- I wouldn't be surprised if they accepted her since I didn't fill out their form (I didn't knowe there was a form!!) and they still accepted me =S

True that- it's always about the money D:

Are you at Salmond next year too???

 

[mighty]

Ahaha I'm at Salmond next year (it was my 2nd choice)- I wouldn't be surprised if they accepted her since I didn't fill out their form (I didn't knowe there was a form!!) and they still accepted me =S

Are you at Salmond next year too???

Sorry, I probably wasn't being very clear. By forms I was just referring to the online application - I didn't mean that there were separate forms to fill out for Salmond.

[offtopic]I'm actually Australian, so whether I end up going to NZ or not depends on whether I get an offer here. If I do end up going to NZ to do HSFY, then I'll most definitely be staying at Salmond. [/offtopic]

 

[Crucible]

Sorry, I probably wasn't being very clear. By forms I was just referring to the online application - I didn't mean that there were separate forms to fill out for Salmond.

[offtopic]I'm actually Australian, so whether I end up going to NZ or not depends on whether I get an offer here. If I do end up going to NZ to do HSFY, then I'll most definitely be staying at Salmond. [/offtopic]

No, it's okay!
Ahaha, apparently there was an extra form to fill out but since we've been accepted it's not that big a deal anymore

[offtopic]Oh, Yayyy!!! D Hopefully I'll see you next year!! If I end up going to Otago =S It's so hard to choose unis

[/offtopic]

 

[mighty]

No, it's okay!
Ahaha, apparently there was an extra form to fill out but since we've been accepted it's not that big a deal anymore
[offtopic]Oh, Yayyy!!! D Hopefully I'll see you next year!! If I end up going to Otago =S It's so hard to choose unis
[/offtopic]

Oh, okay. I was totally unaware of the extra form. Seeing as I didn't even put Salmond down on my preference list it makes sense I guess..
[offtopic]Haha well I'm hoping to be able to stay in Australia to study so I'll hopefully not have to go to Otago! Ah well, good luck with everything and maybe I'll see you next year. ^_^[/offtopic]

 

[Crucible]

Oh, okay. I was totally unaware of the extra form. Seeing as I didn't even put Salmond down on my preference list it makes sense I guess..
[offtopic]Haha well I'm hoping to be able to stay in Australia to study so I'll hopefully not have to go to Otago! Ah well, good luck with everything and maybe I'll see you next year. ^_^[/offtopic]

Good luck with it all!!

Awww, oh well.
[offtopic]Have a good time in Aus and I hope you get into the course you want!!! I miss it..'cept it was wayy hot there haha.[/offtopic]

 

[bryanma93]

Alternate Accommodation for Otago 2012 (Not Residential College)

I applied for a few colleges and got an offer for Salmond... but then at that (early) time I was 90% going to Auckland ('cause it's where I live) so I did not accept it (I think you have to pay money when you accept). Then later I finally decided to go to Otago and then called them to see my status for accommodation - they said I declined two colleges and I'm on the waitlist, which was weird :blink:. I probably won't get another offer then... so what are the alternate choices of accommodation?

 

[frootloop]

Well there's flatting... And there are *plenty* of flats floating round, although some may be a little dodgy. Personally I'd sit on the waitlist and hope for now, in my opinion being in a hall in first year would be quite a bit easier than flatting.
Edit: Oh, and I've moved your post here, as pretty much all of the issues you've raised are covered in this thread

 

[Voldemort]

Hey Bryanma, Here is the site you will probs be wanting:
Rental Accommodation, University of Otago, New Zealand

I got to know someone from here who gave me a sweet deal. She might have more places left. I can send you her contact details if you want... just PM me if interested...

 

[bryanma93]

[MENTION=9501]netpat2[/MENTION] Yeah I'm interested in the details.. ty. (Can't PM cuz I don't have 5 posts which is apparently needed).

 

[mango101]

Since you have to pretty much vacate your hall of residence soon after your last exam, when do people sort out a flat for the following year? I'm guessing you have to sort it all out somehow before you go home for the summer ?

 

[OtagoLol]

Since you have to pretty much vacate your hall of residence soon after your last exam, when do people sort out a flat for the following year? I'm guessing you have to sort it all out somehow before you go home for the summer ?

Its best to find a place to stay before you leave, yes. Best time to start looking would be just after semester 2 starts. Youd be more likely to get a good flat then, but this definitely isnt always the case. My group found a great flat after about 3 days of solid looking and this was during the mid 2nd semester break. However so many good flats were taken already when we were looking. Btw you dont have to leave staright after exams. I dont know about other halls but i was at cumberland and I was allowed to leave on the 8th of Nov rather than 'within 24 hours of your last exam.

 

[bobby190]

[MENTION=10140]bryanma93[/MENTION] there are some hostels that are not affiliated with otago but is really close to campus. I think there might be one castle street. Its a really good idea to go to a hostel to establish a network in ur first year. so try the private hostels as a back up

 

[Cathay]

Since you have to pretty much vacate your hall of residence soon after your last exam, when do people sort out a flat for the following year? I'm guessing you have to sort it all out somehow before you go home for the summer ?

First off I'd recommend going to the Flatting Information Evenings put on by the Accommodation Office in July, they give you information about what is a good flat, and flatting (the lifestyle) in general, and will also have guest speakers (professional landlords etc). Also I'd like to mention that finding flats early on in second semester is a stereotypical fresher thing to do, and can be frowned upon as it only puts unnecessary strain on the availability of the best flats.

The official line is that you shouldn't rush into any arrangements until you're absolutely certain that you'll be coming back to Otago the following year - there are always plenty of flats here, and even people who arrive 2 days before class without any flatting arrangements are looked after by the Accommodation Office with temporary accommodation and help in sorting out flats, which generally doesn't take long.

So essentially wait for the Information Evening in July before you start looking (lest you be tricked into a crappy flat), but do be prepared to look right after that. And yes, most people have it all sorted out before they go home for the summer.

PS: I am given to understand that there can be flexibility in terms of staying at your college beyond 24 hours after your last exam, but obviously you should discuss this with the master/warden/boss and come to arrangements beforehand.

 

[Lexar]

If intending to flat instead of staying in a residential college, around what time should you start hunting for a flat and still manage to obtain one of the better flats?

 

[bobby190]

[MENTION=13517]Lexar[/MENTION] Well people are divided on this. Some people say get in earlier the better and sign up for the flats well in advance of others , say at the very start of second semester (june-july) to stay in the following year.But others wait till the year begins and wait till end of january to save on a months worth of rent.
I picked up a flatting magazine from OUSA and they mentioned the best flats infact do not go early and being patient pays off ( this I believe is true because the land lords frequently ask the current tenants if they would like to stay and sometimes they take aaaaaaaages to reply or pull out last minute)