Otago Halls of Residence

[Wongtong]

Hey! I've received an offer to the courts next year. But, still deciding whether to accept or not. What are the differences between the courts and college?

If I'm correct, Cumberland courts are pretty much like living in a flat, whereas the college is like any other hostel.

(Nice name btw)

 

[rustyedges]

Hey! I've received an offer to the courts next year. But, still deciding whether to accept or not. What are the differences between the courts and college?

Hey, welcome to MSO

I have a few friends at Cumberland, and Cumberland court is more like a flat setup, living in a house, rather than the dorm style of the College. It's obviously a bit quieter than the rest of the college, and more independent too. I would accept if I were you.

 

[Wonton]

Hey, welcome to MSO

I have a few friends at Cumberland, and Cumberland court is more like a flat setup, living in a house, rather than the dorm style of the College. It's obviously a bit quieter than the rest of the college, and more independent too. I would accept if I were you.

Do you know the living conditions of the courts? The pictures on the website seem rather ghetto and 'run-down'. AFAIK, I am the only one at my school who has been offered a place at the courts. How easy is it to make friends there? Also, according to the Cumberland website, each floor is allocated to students doing the same degree. Is this the same for the courts?

 

[Sam]

Do you know the living conditions of the courts? The pictures on the website seem rather ghetto and 'run-down'. AFAIK, I am the only one at my school who has been offered a place at the courts. How easy is it to make friends there? Also, according to the Cumberland website, each floor is allocated to students doing the same degree. Is this the same for the courts?

I've walked through the courts, from the outside the houses look a bit old, but they're solid. And because they're uni run I would expect them to be in tip-top shape in regards to the inside and if anything went wrong they would fix it quick. I think they tend to put a few of the international students there (lots of Africans I think), but there are still heaps of locals as well.

Like any college you'll make friends fast as long as you put in a bit of effort at the start. Plus it's absurdly close to all of your lectures (literally across the road), so that's neat. To me the independence of having your own flat/unit thing is pretty cool, however I guess if you stuck with someone you don't like it could be awkward, same goes for any college though I suppose.

No clue as to how they bring people together depending on their course. I wouldn't worry too much, there are an absurd number of health sci's in all the halls so you'll always have people close to you doing the same stuff!

 

[silverfalcon]

Do you know the living conditions of the courts? The pictures on the website seem rather ghetto and 'run-down'. AFAIK, I am the only one at my school who has been offered a place at the courts. How easy is it to make friends there? Also, according to the Cumberland website, each floor is allocated to students doing the same degree. Is this the same for the courts?

My flatmate's brother is at the courts this year and my friend was there last year so I've spent a wee bit of time there. The insides are really nice. You get your own kitchenette setup in the flat which is nice and also get meals done for you just like anywhere else. Neither of them had any trouble at all making friends - I'm sure you'd be fine!

 

[Dorky]

FIRST OF ALL= Hayward is the best, and if you got into Hayward, i'll see you there next year
Secondly, Do the hall's elect presidents of the hall? I know some of the Auckland ones do? Might be fun to stand!

 

[Kamari]

FIRST OF ALL= Hayward is the best, and if you got into Hayward, i'll see you there next year
Secondly, Do the hall's elect presidents of the hall? I know some of the Auckland ones do? Might be fun to stand!

I don't know how it works at Hayward but I can imagine most of the halls are pretty much the same as here. The president of Carrington is actually a second year who applies at the end of the year for the job in the following year. Best thing you can do is to be join your student council and be active in your hall. Presidents are actually paid jobs and quite a bit of behind the scenes work.

 

[musica209]

I don't know how it works at Hayward but I can imagine most of the halls are pretty much the same as here. The president of Carrington is actually a second year who applies at the end of the year for the job in the following year. Best thing you can do is to be join your student council and be active in your hall. Presidents are actually paid jobs and quite a bit of behind the scenes work.

Nope. Presidents of Carringtons don't apply... Previous years have been voted for, and only this year have they changed it to being chosen purely by the warden/deputy warden.

 

[Raro]

I submitted my app late (on the day acceptance letters came out).

It says that it's been at Carrington for the past 3-4 days, is that normal?
(Carrington -> Knox -> Studholme)

I know of at least two students doing HSFY from my school who have already been accepted into Carrington.
Then apparently heaps of people applied for Knox in first but I only know of one making it through so far.

Edit:
Also, and ideas on how acceptance works? I had a friend who put down Te Rangi Hiroa as his 2nd choice, but didn't get any of his preferences (it's possible he had a bad app though). Meanwhile, another friend was accepted there and didn't have it down as any of her choices?

 

[easymoneysniper]

Hey there make sure you join the HSFY study group for 2014. What is the application status? I got an email from Arana saying that I was accepted and my current status is offered position and the application is at Arana.

 

[silverfalcon]

I know of at least two students doing HSFY from my school who have already been accepted into Carrington.

Just wanted to point out that at Carrington at least, it doesn't matter how many people from your school apply - they don't take a certain number of people from each school. I talked to one of the head people about that last year and they said that it's just on merit and who they think would fit in well with the college.

 

[Raro]

Oh, sweet. That's reassuring, thanks!

 

[Zion]

I submitted my app late (on the day acceptance letters came out).

It says that it's been at Carrington for the past 3-4 days, is that normal?
(Carrington -> Knox -> Studholme)

I know of at least two students doing HSFY from my school who have already been accepted into Carrington.
Then apparently heaps of people applied for Knox in first but I only know of one making it through so far.

If you're from Auckland, are you by any chance from King's College?

 

[easymoneysniper]

[MENTION=18913]Raro[/MENTION] if you submitted your hostel application after the deadline for first round offers you might have a hard time gettin into Carrington since it is so popular. [MENTION=15105]Zion[/MENTION] did you go to WC?

 

[Zion]

@Zion did you go to WC?

Yes I did haha. Good guess.

 

[Raro]

[MENTION=17734]Jrue[/MENTION], thanks for the heads up. Honestly not expecting too much, but will see how things play out!

[MENTION=15105]Zion[/MENTION] Yes...
Sorry, just had a quick stalk of your profile - you're in Knox?
Know about three who were selected now, although one declined.

 

[Zion]

Apparently there were at least 11 people from King's College applied for Knox but for some "unknown reasons" only 1 or 2 got in, even though all of them put Knox as their first choice. That's how I deduced you're from King's.

 

[Raro]

Oh, so it's common knowledge around there?
There were a few people who had older siblings pass through who weren't accepted. Apparently it may have something to do with past students?

Anyway, it was mentioned by out headmaster today (he named Knox), and apparently they're looking into it / finding out what went wrong...

 

[Combat Wombat]

Anyway, it was mentioned by out headmaster today (he named Knox), and apparently they're looking into it / finding out what went wrong...

Lol, 'what went wrong'... Halls accepting students will always be a subjective process, the system worked as it should have.

 

[rustyedges]

Oh, so it's common knowledge around there?
There were a few people who had older siblings pass through who weren't accepted. Apparently it may have something to do with past students?

Anyway, it was mentioned by out headmaster today (he named Knox), and apparently they're looking into it / finding out what went wrong...

Two King's boys were kicked out this year. Nothing 'went wrong', Knox college has every right to choose who it offers a place to and who it doesn't.

Having said that, I have it on reasonable authority that Knox has historically only had residents from a small percentage of high schools, and the university has since compelled the college to let in people from all secondary schools, giving more people a chance to get in.

And to be honest, there should be no reason for any complaints, considering those turned down by Knox aren't denied living in another hall altogether. After all, Knox is just another hall.