Otago Halls of Residence

[Squirrel]

Don't apply for Knox. Knox will suck next year.

What's the reason for Knox not being as good as previous years?


Also, I was just wondering what the major difference between alcohol and non alcohol buildings are, in terms of loudness and pros and cons of both?
When they say non-alcohol building, is that referring to zero alcohol allowed in the building or no drinking and partying in those buildings?

My 3 choices for halls are Carrington, Arana/Knox, Unicol, so if anyone has any info on these specific halls with alcohol, that would be much appreciated.

 

[rustyedges]

What's the reason for Knox not being as good as previous years?


Also, I was just wondering what the major difference between alcohol and non alcohol buildings are, in terms of loudness and pros and cons of both?
When they say non-alcohol building, is that referring to zero alcohol allowed in the building or no drinking and partying in those buildings?

My 3 choices for halls are Carrington, Arana/Knox, Unicol, so if anyone has any info on these specific halls with alcohol, that would be much appreciated.

At Knox next year there will be some big changes, mainly stricter alcohol regulation, removing the formal dress code on weekdays (surprisingly the most contentious change), more "quiet hours", and sterilisation of a lot of traditions unique to Knox. But I'm still optimistic next year will be good.

I think the non-alcohol building just means no open vessels, and I'm sure you could store it in your room there if need be.

The non-alcohol part is generally quieter, but I imagine it would still get a lot of the noise from the rest of the college. And everywhere is pretty quiet, with the exception of drinking nights (Thursday and Saturday). To be honest, I think that I enjoy being in the alcohol building more so than I would the alcohol free, but the choice is entirely yours.

I can only speak for Knox and at the moment the only rules on alcohol are that there is none in the alcohol free building, no spirits, and obviously nothing outside the law. Next year however there is potentially going to be a limit of 6 standard drinks. Also Sunday through to Wednesday will be alcohol free, but this doesn't really affect anyone.

Hope some of that helps.

 

[1Pro8]

Hi there! I am currently applying for residential college for Otago for the year 2014. My choices are 1. Arana 2. Hayward 3. Aquinas. What do you guys reckon? I have a really bad academic score as I do IB, but it's only because I started speaking English 2 years ago, do residential colleges see this as a factor that affects my IB score?

 

[musica209]

Hi there! I am currently applying for residential college for Otago for the year 2014. My choices are 1. Arana 2. Hayward 3. Aquinas. What do you guys reckon? I have a really bad academic score as I do IB, but it's only because I started speaking English 2 years ago, do residential colleges see this as a factor that affects my IB score?

I don't think they look at your results and be like "hey, this person's international so their 'poorer' results are okay" :/ unfortunately, there are a lot of international students that would be applying to residential colleges as well, and they would be doing really well, so it would probably be unfair to give you leeway, if you know that I mean :/

 

[1Pro8]

How does the first round and second round offers work? When you get offered a place in the first round, and you decline the offer, does this mean you don't have to try applying for the second round?

 

[musica209]

How does the first round and second round offers work? When you get offered a place in the first round, and you decline the offer, does this mean you don't have to try applying for the second round?

No, you don't have to re-apply for second round You get re-considered automatically!

I don't know how second round quite works, but I think you get told that you got accepted into --- insert this particular hall --- and so you can assume you got rejected from the options that you put above this particular hall...

 

[1Pro8]

Which residential halls are better for musicians? I heard there are some halls that will consider athletes higher than other students, which halls are better for a student who's got a lot of music co-curricular?

 

[samboinchch]

Wondering what colleges I should apply for. Male, Would be doing HSFY. Not good at sci though. would study quite a bit. drink every now and then. pretty sporty

 

[musica209]

Which residential halls are better for musicians? I heard there are some halls that will consider athletes higher than other students, which halls are better for a student who's got a lot of music co-curricular?

I don't know if there are any halls which are particularly better for musicians. I don't think any hall really accommodates much for musicians (speaking from a musician point of view...). What are you looking for in terms of 'better'? As in they're more likely to take you in?

All halls will consider you more highly if you are outstanding in your field/some kind of extra-curricular, e.g. sports, music. St. Marg's is apparently more inclined to look at students who do a lot of community service type work. If you do something that sets you apart from other people, and you are particularly good at it, chances are, the halls will do a double-take and have a look at you more closely you don't want to be just another ordinary bugger applying for their hall when they have so many other people to choose from.

Wondering what colleges I should apply for. Male, Would be doing HSFY. Not good at sci though. would study quite a bit. drink every now and then. pretty sporty

If you work hard, you'll get there
Are you a regional representative of any particular sport?

 

[frootloop]

Wondering what colleges I should apply for. Male, Would be doing HSFY. Not good at sci though. would study quite a bit. drink every now and then. pretty sporty

To stereotype you into a college based on your pretty brief self-summary, I'd go (in no particular order) : Arana, UniCol, Cumberland.

 

[Zion]

Which residential halls are better for musicians? I heard there are some halls that will consider athletes higher than other students, which halls are better for a student who's got a lot of music co-curricular?

Knox is pretty good for musicians. We have big choir and small choir that sing in chapel and take part in the Neville Cup against Selwyn, which also includes instruments and band competition as well. We have musical performances during formal dinner, which we have one every Sunday. We also have Stairwell Showcase (which is like a small concert) in semester 2 which sounds like a lot of fun (we have it this Sunday). Also we have a piano in the dining hall which anyone can play during the day because it's always great to walk past the hall and hear the music. So yeah, music is a big part of Knox and there are many opportunities to show your musical talent, so consider us. (One of my friends is in NZ Youth Choir and he absolutely loves it here).

 

[1Pro8]

I do sing in a choir, and many other musical curicculars but my strong point is that I do scottish drumming, I know it sounds really uncool or weird of me doing scottish drumming, but I ahve been doing it competitively for the last 3 years, and have represented my college in contests.
I guess what I am looking for is what halls are more likely to take me in due to my music curricular, as that's my strong point. Is Arana more inclined to take musicians in? I will be visiting the halls on the 30th of August! SO excited!

 

[Zion]

I do sing in a choir, and many other musical curicculars but my strong point is that I do scottish drumming, I know it sounds really uncool or weird of me doing scottish drumming, but I ahve been doing it competitively for the last 3 years, and have represented my college in contests.
I guess what I am looking for is what halls are more likely to take me in due to my music curricular, as that's my strong point. Is Arana more inclined to take musicians in? I will be visiting the halls on the 30th of August! SO excited!

Haha Welcome to Knox then. At Knox, we even have a group of people who can play Highland Bagpipe and they usually play at sport events we have against Selwyn. The first ball we had, they had to wear kilts and play pipe at the ball, it was very funny. Book a time to come see Knox and you know what I'm talking about.

 

[musica209]

I do sing in a choir, and many other musical curicculars but my strong point is that I do scottish drumming, I know it sounds really uncool or weird of me doing scottish drumming, but I ahve been doing it competitively for the last 3 years, and have represented my college in contests.
I guess what I am looking for is what halls are more likely to take me in due to my music curricular, as that's my strong point. Is Arana more inclined to take musicians in? I will be visiting the halls on the 30th of August! SO excited!

If you're good at music and you've been in orchestras, or won scholarships/competitions, you're likely to get accepted into any hall you apply for, provided your academics are pretty high too. No particular hall would be like "ooh, music, music trumps sport!" or vice versa. If you're good at something, they'll want you more than the average person

Haha Welcome to Knox then. At Knox, we even have a group of people who can play Highland Bagpipe and they usually play at sport events we have against Selwyn. The first ball we had, they had to wear kilts and play pipe at the ball, it was very funny. Book a time to come see Knox and you know what I'm talking about.

Zion, I really really doubt that Knox is any more musical than any other hall, or more inclined to take musicians in than any other hall...

 

[frootloop]

Zion, I really really doubt that Knox is any more musical than any other hall, or more inclined to take musicians in than any other hall...

Up till now, I actually wouldn't be that surprised if that was the case, Knox have always been a bit odd in their selections. I think their new warden is a bit different though, it sounds like he's trying to 'normalise' Knox a little (which I think in a way is a little sad).

 

[musica209]

Up till now, I actually wouldn't be that surprised if that was the case, Knox have always been a bit odd in their selections. I think their new warden is a bit different though, it sounds like he's trying to 'normalise' Knox a little (which I think in a way is a little sad).

Isn't the current master of Knox the warden of Arana as well or something?
Cumby and Carrington have the same warden at the moment.

 

[stevo140]

Isn't the current master of Knox the warden of Arana as well or something?
Cumby and Carrington have the same warden at the moment.

Jamie, the Warden of Arana, was the Warden at Knox in 2012, while they went through the transition of leadership/structure. Selwyn Yeoman is the new Head of Knox, he's an ex-Minister, seems a nice enough guy. He didn't do the 2013 selections for Knox so I'd expect a much more subdued lot at Knox in 2014

 

[stevo140]

Isn't the current master of Knox the warden of Arana as well or something?
Cumby and Carrington have the same warden at the moment.

Cumby has a new Head now, Nick Bates. Peter Walker is doing just Carrington at the mo, but you're right he was doing both for a couple of months there.

 

[musica209]

Jamie, the Warden of Arana, was the Warden at Knox in 2012, while they went through the transition of leadership/structure. Selwyn Yeoman is the new Head of Knox, he's an ex-Minister, seems a nice enough guy. He didn't do the 2013 selections for Knox so I'd expect a much more subdued lot at Knox in 2014

Cumby has a new Head now, Nick Bates. Peter Walker is doing just Carrington at the mo, but you're right he was doing both for a couple of months there.

Is there usually this much shifting around in wardens? Oh well, either way, looks like Knox acceptances won't be quite as similar as the previous years?

 

[stevo140]

Is there usually this much shifting around in wardens? Oh well, either way, looks like Knox acceptances won't be quite as similar as the previous years?

Yeah I'd agree with that, times are a changing at Knox. Whether it's for the better remains to be seen.
I don't think the wardens move around that much, but often when there's one change you'll see a ripple effect.