Otago Halls of Residence

[frootloop]

Hi, does anyone know what city college is like? Would it be good option for someone doing first year health sciences? Many thanks!

I've heard a lot of people bag it, but I had a mate there (who was doing HSFY) last year, and he enjoyed it/I thought it looked pretty nice when I went and visited. It's a pretty modern place, and I gather the food is pretty good. It's not the closest hall to uni, but it's nowhere near as far away as Knox/Aquinas.
Conclusion: Yep, I'd reckon it's a pretty good hall, health-sci or not.

 

[mossimo]

cheers for your answer! ! I probably will accept the offer but if I were to decline the offer and since I have already declined an offer from salmond, do you think I would get another offer since theres not that many people on the waitlist this year or would they factor in the fact that I have already declined two offers and not offer me another one? Many thanks for your time!

 

[frootloop]

cheers for your answer! ! I probably will accept the offer but if I were to decline the offer and since I have already declined an offer from salmond, do you think I would get another offer since theres not that many people on the waitlist this year or would they factor in the fact that I have already declined two offers and not offer me another one? Many thanks for your time!

What makes you think that? I wouldn't imagine there are less people on the waiting list this year than any other year (I could be wrong, but unless someone can provide evidence to the contrary, it's a pretty safe assumption that the wait-list would be about the same size as it has been the last few years).
Hrm, I don't know. I would imagine (read: Speculation) that declining a GWL offer puts you back in at the bottom of the GWL, which could be a little risky. I wouldn't advise it (Not that any of you lot listen to me anyway ).

 

[mossimo]

What makes you think that? I wouldn't imagine there are less people on the waiting list this year than any other year (I could be wrong, but unless someone can provide evidence to the contrary, it's a pretty safe assumption that the wait-list would be about the same size as it has been the last few years).
Hrm, I don't know. I would imagine (read: Speculation) that declining a GWL offer puts you back in at the bottom of the GWL, which could be a little risky. I wouldn't advise it (Not that any of you lot listen to me anyway ).

haha apparently earlier in the thread, someone said there was only 300 on the waitlist this year. Probably will accept the offer. Does anyone know if they will match me with other health year sci's or would they chuck me with polytech students and mix it up? Sounds like a decent hall. Many thanks frootloop for your answers! very insightful!

 

[gowerle]

There are currently 100 people on the waitlist one of the smallest in years. City College looks really nice. I'm not sure if you decline that you'll go to the "bottom" I'm not sure there is a bottom just a pool of men and a pool of women. As i said before it looks pretty nice, I'd take it if I was you.

 

[frootloop]

There are currently 100 people on the waitlist one of the smallest in years. I'm not sure if you decline that you'll go to the "bottom" I'm not sure there is a bottom just a pool of men and a pool of women

Where are you getting this information? I'm assuming you're getting the waitlist numbers from the uni because you're on the waitlist? But I somehow doubt there are separate waitlists for guys and gals. Also, if you decline two offers, why shouldn't you be put lower on the waitlist than some poor person who is yet to receive any offers? (ie: Why wouldn't you get sent to the bottom?).

 

[gowerle]

Where are you getting this information? I'm assuming you're getting the waitlist numbers from the uni because you're on the waitlist? But I somehow doubt there are separate waitlists for guys and gals. Also, if you decline two offers, why shouldn't you be put lower on the waitlist than some poor person who is yet to receive any offers? (ie: Why wouldn't you get sent to the bottom?).

Conversations with the accommodation office. After the original offers were made there were roughly 300 and as of last week there were about a 100. Though this could have changed by now. They split it by gender apparenly to maintain to a roughly equal gender spread across the colleges. So if a girl was to drop out of unicol then another girl (most likely) would be selected from the waiting list. I'm unsure of how they rank people on the waiting list but i assume first and foremost it would be based on academic results and then from there other factors (such as declining of colleges) would be considered. Just wanna clarify that this isn't from personal or first hand experience. This is what I have been told and the last comment regarding waitlist rankings is pure speculation.

 

[mcclucken]

Just a general warning about Knox, the balance of work and social life is a fine one which I wasn't able to master. I spent alot of time studying in the first semester and regretted it in the second, but hey I got A+s. It was really hard to get as most of the residents found out with those 60 health scis whittled down to less than 10 with a chance of getting in . I imagine this was a universal problem at halls but it was very severe here

 

[frootloop]

Just a general warning about Knox, the balance of work and social life is a fine one which I wasn't able to master. I spent alot of time studying in the first semester and regretted it in the second, but hey I got A+s. It was really hard to get as most of the residents found out with those 60 health scis whittled down to less than 10 with a chance of getting in . I imagine this was a universal problem at halls but it was very severe here

You think 10/60 is 'very severe'? Try UniCol I'm pretty sure we started the year with something like 200 HSFYs last year.... There are a grand total of 5 UniCol kids in my med class haha (and admittedly two or three in dentistry).
You're right, though. A work-life balance can be pretty hard to maintain in HSFY (especially with Dunedin's alcohol-friendly environment), and Halls can help (ie: Stress-relief), or hinder (too much stress-relief ).

 

[mcclucken]

Well it was at least a big shock after to see so many to fall after the first set of hurdles.


Well apart from the english diagnostics test WHICH BY THE WAY I DIDN'T PASS THE FIRST TIME but was successful in the the second.

[OFFTOPIC]Since newbies will see this, the test is hard to fail........(Ironic coming from me) if you focus on your responses. O-week was a little hard on me but I passed the second time.


Advice would be to give it your all the first time round even if think it will be easy it saves alot of stress and time until the second attempt comes along. People seem to think that it catches only those with english as a second language and thus don't try at all. Believe me this is such a wrong statement, I know a person who obtained a scholarship in English who failed it. Focus on what we take for granted, correct apostrophe use, full stops for full sentences etc, as thats what they look at.


[/OFFTOPIC]

 

[Ruth]

Focus on what we take for granted, correct apostrophe use, full stops for full sentences etc, as thats what they look at.

[offtopic]This, a friend of mine failed only because she didn't use capital letters and full stops for the SAQs. Every time, they deduct like half a mark or so which can result in you failing that section and so the whole test.[/offtopic]

 

[toilet]

[offtopic]this, a friend of mine failed only because she didn't use capital letters and full stops for the saqs. Every time, they deduct like half a mark or so which can result in you failing that section and so the whole test.[/offtopic]

[offtopic]damn it rurururururururururururth[/offtopic]

 

[Zion]

Hi guys,

My hall will be opened for the first dinner on Saturday 16/02. What day should I come down to Dunedin and which way is the cheapest way for me to get to the hall (which is Knox btw) from the airport because I don't want to waste money on taxi?

 

[Wongtong]

Hi guys,

My hall will be opened for the first dinner on Saturday 16/02. What day should I come down to Dunedin and which way is the cheapest way for me to get to the hall (which is Knox btw) from the airport because I don't want to waste money on taxi?

About the transport from the airport - look for shuttles online from the airport (not allowed to name companies I don't think, sorry). This is the cheapest way of getting to your hostel, around $20 or so.

 

[stevo140]

Definitely come down on the Saturday if possible, that's when 75% of residents move into the Colleges. I have spent 3 years in different residential colleges as a student and RA and find that being there on the Saturday (16th this year) is really beneficial.

I'd also like to say that there is no Health Science advantage being in any particular College. I've been in 3 of them myself, had friends in all of them, and the only reason that St Mags or Carrington have better success is because they select the top students (or the top students select them).

Most the Colleges have excellent academic support and a studious environment. It's up to you as to whether you get into Med, not the College!

 

[Hueyen22]

To everybody that he been to Salmond College, what was the condition in Macalister Wing like? Because I just got a letter from Salmond College today, and it mention the fact that rooms from Macalister Wing are available at a higher cost. And each rooms have their own bathroom (oh thank God ) but I am still unsure about what the condition is like, such as room size etc. :blink: do those rooms worth the extra money that I have to pay? (if I got one)

 

[Jaficionado]

The rooms in Mac Wing are quite nice actually . I believe they're newly build? The rooms are a decent size I reckon. You guys also have access to a massive common room + cooking area etc so it's very convenient. [MENTION=12630]epikness[/MENTION] stayed there so he might be able to help you with other questions .

 

[nightstar]

Hello, I would like to ask about Cumberland Court and Cumberland College. Does Cumberland Court have single bedrooms or shared bedrooms? I understand that both are fully catered. The location of the Court is very convenient, but I am thinking that the College might have a better hall life? Thanks!

 

[Bluerock]

Hello, I would like to ask about Cumberland Court and Cumberland College. Does Cumberland Court have single bedrooms or shared bedrooms? I understand that both are fully catered. The location of the Court is very convenient, but I am thinking that the College might have a better hall life? Thanks!

I lived in Cumberland College this year. The Courts are essentially flats, so 3-4 rooms with a common area in the middle. The Courts kids come to Cumberland College for lunches only, and dinners weren't too far away on the uni campus.
Essentially the Health Sci Courts residents have to walk the same distance as the College residents. If you plan your day right you can usually get away with one or two walks to campus from the college, where if you live at the courts you have a definite walk to the college for lunch every day (including weekends). Oh, and some courts houses ended up with two people living in them, and I think one actually only had one person living in it. So it's a bit risky.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there is an additional startup fee living at the courts for the internet - I can't remember how much it is, but every bit counts when you've only just moved to Dunedin. Personally I'd go for College. If you sign up for it as a health sci, you're likely to be in the older part of the college just cause there's so many of you, but the facilities are all the same and the rooms aren't all too different. And if you're on third or fourth floor you get access to a sweet balcony.

If you have any more questions about Cumby, just tag me in a post and I'm more than happy to answer them for ya.

 

[musica209]

Is it possible to go to a hall only for the first semester?