Otago Halls of Residence

[musica209]

Yea, exactly what i was thinking! What do you think the likelihood of me declining this and then getting an offer from the likes of Unicol or something of the sort?

Thanks for your time!

Slightly offtopic.

[offtopic]
My sister got into unicol literally a week or two before class started. And unicol sometimes even sends out emails saying there's free spaces a few weeks beforehand. It's so strange how people aren't getting into unicol this year! (aside from you, cripwalker) Have the rules changed about unicol not being allowed to decline people? [/offtopic]

 

[cripwalker]

Slightly offtopic.

[offtopic]
My sister got into unicol literally a week or two before class started. And unicol sometimes even sends out emails saying there's free spaces a few weeks beforehand. It's so strange how people aren't getting into unicol this year! (aside from you, cripwalker) Have the rules changed about unicol not being allowed to decline people? [/offtopic]

I think it may be different! I had Unicol as my first choice and didn't get in. I sat AS level exams and accumulated 140 points (not a lot i know) but still not too bad. And i know of people just passing NCEA level 2 with around 86 credits and getting into Unicol with there second choice! Im so lost on how people were chosen this year. Although it may not have anything to do with academic scores, i thought i would have fit the 'Unicol criteria'.

 

[musica209]

I think it may be different! I had Unicol as my first choice and didn't get in. I sat AS level exams and accumulated 140 points (not a lot i know) but still not too bad. And i know of people just passing NCEA level 2 with around 86 credits and getting into Unicol with there second choice! Im so lost on how people were chosen this year. Although it may not have anything to do with academic scores, i thought i would have fit the 'Unicol criteria'.

[offtopic]
I had no idea unicol were rejecting people this year. I didn't think it ever happened (not in the previous years I've known people to go into first year uni anyway...) And with my sister's case, what kind of hall rejects first-options but accepts people a week before semester starts? :huh:

I don't think the hall is worth going if it doesn't provide food! *gasp*

But nah, seriously, if the food thing doesn't bother you, I'm sure Toroa can't be absolutely balls... Is it, guys?

[MENTION=10716]frootloop[/MENTION] any ideas of 'unicol criteria'?

[/offtopic]

 

[Cathay]

Yea, exactly what i was thinking! What do you think the likelihood of me declining this and then getting an offer from the likes of Unicol or something of the sort?

Thanks for your time!

Well since you're after the likes of unicol (rather than the likes of St Margs, Carrington, Knox, Arana, Selwyn etc), the chances aren't so bad. Do note that you're not guaranteed an offer though, and I have no idea how likely it is that you'll get an offer.

If you do get an offer, I'm under the impression all the ones you can get offers from are at least of similar calibre to unicol? I mean, other than the popular ones named above, I'm under this weird impression that all the colleges are basically alike (minus Toroa)...

 

[Hueyen22]

When is everybody going down to Otago? ^_^

 

[musica209]

When is everybody going down to Otago? ^_^

Probably around the date of course confirmation... Slash whenever the halls open during O-week.

 

[Cathay]

I don't even know if Toroa feeds you? (And if it does, I think it costs extra or something).

@cripwalker
So, froot and I observed a little clipboard labelled "Cumberland and Toroa Meal Plan" while getting food from the University Union Foodcourt (yes, link provided so you can check it out), confirming my vague recollection that they have meal plans with them - so yes, Toroa will feed you (at extra cost), but you'll have to eat at the Union building (attached to the Central Library) which is about as far from St David (main health sci lecture theatre) as Toroa itself, about as far as Castle/Archway (the other health sci lecture theatres). I guess the upside is that you'll get to conveniently go study in central library afterwards?

(And no, Cumberland college itself is catered, Cumberland Courts though, is not, but they're closer to the union building than Toroa. I think the conclusion here is that Cumberland courts is a bit like Toroa except even closer to the health sci region of the campus.)

A little history: Toroa used to be the international student place, and although it is now open to all students, my observation from tutoring there is that there's still plenty of international students; if your reasoning for choosing unicol is the, uhhh, shall we say 'social atmosphere', I'm under the impression that you'll find Toroa a bit disappointing.

EDIT: By 'social atmosphere' I mean 'rowdiness', I was being PC, but froot said 'rowdiness' is an accepted term among most unicol kids (such as himself).

 

[Kidnapincolour]

I'm planning to go down around the 16th... although the fact that I've seen an increase in the cost of flights on the day makes me think that I'll be going on a different day, haha.

Just curious, if we have preferential entry already at Otago, does that just mean that we need UE in order to get into HSFY? Because that would mean a little bit of pressure off me for the exams!

 

[musica209]

I'm planning to go down around the 16th... although the fact that I've seen an increase in the cost of flights on the day makes me think that I'll be going on a different day, haha.

Just curious, if we have preferential entry already at Otago, does that just mean that we need UE in order to get into HSFY? Because that would mean a little bit of pressure off me for the exams!

You need UE to get into University. Period.

On a side note, you don't need to pass level 3 NCEA to get UE if you already have preferential entry, I hardly think getting UE is going to be much of a struggle.

 

[frootloop]

Just curious, if we have preferential entry already at Otago, does that just mean that we need UE in order to get into HSFY? Because that would mean a little bit of pressure off me for the exams!

Getting UE is hardly 'pressure', lol. But yes, you need UE (it stands for 'University Entrance' ).

 

[Kidnapincolour]

Haha, woops I totally knew that! I was just meaning if we meet that benchmark, we're guaranteed in to HSFY. Right?

 

[frootloop]

Haha, woops I totally knew that! I was just meaning if we meet that benchmark, we're guaranteed in to HSFY. Right?

Yep

 

[musica209]

Haha, woops I totally knew that! I was just meaning if we meet that benchmark, we're guaranteed in to HSFY. Right?

Correct

 

[Kidnapincolour]

Sweet, thanks for that!

 

[gowerle]

hi, quick question to anyone to those have gone through the halls of residence process i was just wondering if anyone here who was on the general waiting list and didnt get into a hall? Im not particually worried about which hall i get into as they're all very similar and it's only for one year but it justs makes me anxious not knowing my accomodation status for next year. I have pretty good grades/ extra curricular. Any thoughts on the waiting list and chances of at least recieving an offer? And when the most common time for offers are made? Apologies for the long drawn post and any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[frootloop]

[MENTION=16508]gowerle[/MENTION]:
I was under the impression that most people on the GWL ended up with an offer.
On the other hand (and I don't mean to incite panic here, this might just be me), there seems to be an oddly high number of people on MSO who were unhappy with their college allocation/ended up on the GWL.

 

[gowerle]

[MENTION=10716]frootloop[/MENTION]
hmm I noticed that to reading through the 80 or so pages in this thread. It's a little bit annoying to be honest reading people declining multiple halls (especially the more popular ones) over minor things such as "this hall garuntees me a better chance for medicine" or even if their college has ball. But hey i guess that would open up these places to people alraedy on the waitlist? When i got my career advisor to ring up the accommodation office she informed him that the waitlist has 300 people this year, one of the smallest in recent years. I don't know, it is just frustrating not knowing your accommodation status for next. The system as a whole seems rather mysterious and the choose 3 college system seems kinda redundant, Considering a fair few of the colleges are first choice. But basically if anyone has any knowledge on when the offers are generally made it would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Zion]

@frootloop
hmm I noticed that to reading through the 80 or so pages in this thread. It's a little bit annoying to be honest reading people declining multiple halls (especially the more popular ones) over minor things such as "this hall garuntees me a better chance for medicine" or even if their college has ball.

I agree that people should not be freaked out if they get accepted into Halls that do not have a history of getting people into med. But I disagree with you about having balls is a minor thing. Not that I'm saying it should be a huge deal but isn't it one of the things that people should consider when they choose their Hall, along with food, bedroom, distance etc. Like me, I love balls, and I really don't want to get into a Hall with no balls (not sure if there's any Hall like that though).

 

[Ning]

I agree with you [MENTION=15105]Zion[/MENTION]. It can be pretty disappointing when you don't get the halls that you wish/dream/fantasized about! I do hope you get into a decent hall @gowerle ^_^

 

[frootloop]

I love balls, and I really don't want to get into a Hall with no balls (not sure if there's any Hall like that though).

*Immature laugh*