Otago Halls of Residence

[Cathay]

I just had a talk to one of the advisers at Otago, he said that Toroa is pretty good with an academic focus and lots of HSFY students get in because of the small size and good academic help. I think I will be fine with going there.

I wonder what he actually meant by "get in"...

I mean, I re-emphasise that getting into your desired professional programme is entirely dependent on the quantity and quality of your studying, with your hall being more like a "room and board" service, but I do question the validity of what that adviser said (unless of course he means "lots of HSFY students go there").

I'm not sure those advisers give the most informed opinions when it comes to professional programme entry, and the things I've heard on MSO in the past haven't helped. Those advisers' jobs are to promote the university, and they don't have much information on what actually happens on the ground (it's not like they would bother, or be allowed, to ring up the admission office and say "Hi I'm one of the advisers, could I get a spreadsheet of med entrants by residential college attended?"), and yet highschoolers often take their word for the truth.

EDIT: Oh, and please excuse the cynicism

 

[madimolly]

This is my first post.
Did anyone get into Te Rangi Hiroa?
Is there any good for HSFY?
Thanks

I did! From what I understand It doesn't really have that kind of reputation yet as this year was its first ever year opened, but I went on a tour there and all the facilities were great, they seemed to have a good tutorial program so I guess it's all down to what we do with it
See you there next year!

 

[Axwe8]

Knox emails are finally sent! Here is the email sent with 5 attachments hopefully everyone who got into Knox received an email And yes it was delayed i asked them.

Hi <<myName.pdf>> <<2015 Knox Residents Handbook Final.pdf>> <<Common agreement for admission 2015 - Knox First Yrs.pdf>> <<2015 Fees Schedule.pdf>> <<Knox Non Acceptance Form.pdf>>
Please find attached paperwork to be completed and returned by email. The hard copy of the documentation was posted on the 7[SUP]th[/SUP] of October, this will still need to be completed and returned as we require original signatures.
Looking forward to meeting your next year.
Kind regards

[Removed]
Administration Officer

 

[frootloop]

[offtopic]

Oh, and please excuse the cynicism

We've gotten so bad over the last year or so haha, look at our happy posts from three years ago, then look at us now [/offtopic]

 

[Futurefaileddoctor]

I wonder what he actually meant by "get in"...

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]He said lots of students in there the get into med, and that the academic support is great as there is a smaller group of students

That is what he said, and in context there isn't much room for interpretation.
But if it is down to my level of study more than the prestige of the hall I don't think going to a hall that I didn't expect to go to will hinder me much. As long as I can have a space to focus and study. If I muck up and don't get in to second year, it isn't the end of the world I can always do something else.
[/FONT]

 

[frootloop]

If I muck up and don't get in to second year, it isn't the end of the world I can always do something else.

Aaaand I dub thee the most reasonable/realistic HSFY in MSO history haha. Good to see someone who realises that medicine isn't the only career path worth following.

 

[stevo140]

He said lots of students in there the get into med, and that the academic support is great as there is a smaller group of students

They do have good academic support at Toroa, but the comment about lots of them getting into Med is total bollocks. I would probably say they and the Courts are the lowest. But that statistic is pointless as if they got 400 first choice residents like Carrington does, then Toroa would have the same success as Carrington.

 

[Futurefaileddoctor]

They do have good academic support at Toroa, but the comment about lots of them getting into Med is total bollocks. I would probably say they and the Courts are the lowest. But that statistic is pointless as if they got 400 first choice residents like Carrington does, then Toroa would have the same success as Carrington.

I better work hard then, work with what I'm given use the small size to my advantage and not screw up too badly. No point complaining about not getting into my first choice when there is nothing I can do about it. I suppose most people who have their sights set on being a doctor generally get into the more illustrious halls.

 

[Axwe8]

I suppose most people who have their sights set on being a doctor generally get into the more illustrious halls.

Be happy about the hall you got into I think everyone at any hall has an equal chance of getting in med/dent. It depends on how hard you study from what i've read through this thread, depends on the student. However i kind of agree that the company (friends) you make will at different halls makes an impact on how hard you will be willing to study.

See ya next year! and nice username

 

[reelin]

I have a question about the wifi/internet access throughout all the halls. Most of the halls say they have wifi in common areas, or in some cases all areas of the college, but no one has mentioned anything about the quality of the wifi reception or the University computer network.
I'm suspecting that it won't be 'luxurious' since so many people are tapping into these sources.

 

[sweetangel99]

Hey Guys! Remember me? I just wanted to let you guys know I got into St Margaret's! They sent me their handbook to read.....didn't expect them to be so particular about things although people have said its a 'strict' college. Anyway my new question is who else got into St Margaret's college for 2015? And if you've been there before, did you like it? - Any tips?
-nervous yet excited!

 

[Futurefaileddoctor]

I have a question about the wifi/internet access throughout all the halls. QUOTE]
I have more questions about the internet. What kind of data cap is there? Will I be able to listen to music or watch videos? Or will it be only for study and facebook?

 

[frootloop]

The internet is pretty slow, but not dreadful (depends largely on the time of day). Certain halls have wireless, others give you an ethernet cable, reasonably certain they all give you internet.

The data cap is like 20-30 gigs or something, I watched TV shows/movies most nights and never got a warning letter, in my experience it's usually only the gamers who run into problems with it (but even then, they're pretty lenient, I know one guy who racked up 65 gigs in a month and just got a 'please use less next month' letter).

As for what you can do, you can essentially do anything except torrent and watch pronz. And if you have some fairly basic computer skills you can get around the uni's crappy attempts to prevent you doing the latter, so don't worry, quality fapping is still possible.

 

[Axwe8]

LOL

 

[CityLights]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on here (although I have been creeping on here for a long time). I also got into Te Rangi Hiroa!
Also, I am a Year 12 student this year, so I'll be going having only done AS. Does anyone know if actually completing full A levels in Bio and Chem makes a huge difference?

 

[stevo140]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on here (although I have been creeping on here for a long time). I also got into Te Rangi Hiroa!
Also, I am a Year 12 student this year, so I'll be going having only done AS. Does anyone know if actually completing full A levels in Bio and Chem makes a huge difference?

A bit off topic...but...full A Levels in Chem and Physics will be most beneficial. Biology doesn't matter too much. Have you done any Physics?

 

[CityLights]

A bit off topic...but...full A Levels in Chem and Physics will be most beneficial. Biology doesn't matter too much. Have you done any Physics?

I did IGCSE Physics last year, but ended up dropping it as I hadn't originally planned on doing HSFY at the beginning of this year.

 

[HansKrebs]

Hey guys,

Does study link give us a loan for accommodation??

 

[Axwe8]

Hey guys,

Does study link give us a loan for accommodation??

"If you will have accommodation costs while you study next yerar you may be entitled to the Accommodation Supplement assistance. You can find out more about the Accommodation Supplement here: Accommodation Supplement - StudyLink" - literally straight out of the email i Emailed them (studyLink)

 

[stevo140]

Hey guys,

Does study link give us a loan for accommodation??

Just bear in mind, however, that studylink will not pay the upfront payments. They'll give you ~$160 per week for student loan. Most Colleges will have an option to pay an upfront payment of ~$7000 and then ~$175 weekly payments. This is probably the best option if you're on student loan. Just bear in mind that the $7K will be due around February 1st and studylink will not pay it. If you don't pay on time then you could lose your place in the College.