Otago Halls of Residence

[rustyedges]

When does the residential colleges open each year? When can students start living there?

Most people usually move in on the Friday and Saturday before O-week.

 

[torilemon]

When does the residential colleges open each year? When can students start living there?

Most students move in Saturday/Sunday the week before O-week, but as for when students can move in, I don't know for sure - but I imagine it's no earlier than this unless you have some pre-arranged move in date. It's probably different for each hall.
Some halls allow students to come a week or so before hand and their parents can stay too. It costs a few hundred dollars and from what I hear it's a really good week and it's hugely beneficial to some students to have that transition from home-with-parents to away-without-parents.

 

[Cereal Killer]

When does the residential colleges open each year? When can students start living there?

I read that the Colleges open so students can move in the Saturday before orientation week (which would be Saturday 18th of February in 2017). Keep in mind that this is referring to information I received from my college so I am unclear whether it applies across the board.

 

[livmac]

Hey, I am planning on doing HSFY next year (2018) and I was wondering what the atmosphere of the halls are like? I think my top two right now are Carrington and Cumberland. Knox looks really nice but isn't it named after the founder of the presbyterian church? does that mean it is religious? also, I read that some of the colleges only pick you if they are your first pick?
If someone could tell me what the halls are like in regards to studying and community feel/friendliness, that would be great.
Thanks!

 

[dooni]

Hey, I am planning on doing HSFY next year (2018) and I was wondering what the atmosphere of the halls are like? I think my top two right now are Carrington and Cumberland. Knox looks really nice but isn't it named after the founder of the presbyterian church? does that mean it is religious? also, I read that some of the colleges only pick you if they are your first pick?
If someone could tell me what the halls are like in regards to studying and community feel/friendliness, that would be great.
Thanks!

If you have the opportunity, you should come down during orientation week and have a tour of each of the halls
I think that in terms of atmosphere, Carrington would be the most study orientated which a huge proportion of their students doing health sci and Cumberland probably the least. However at Cumberland they put you on a floor with students studying the same thing as you, so I think it would vary largely by what floor you are on... I was at Knox this year - it is privately owned by the Presbyterian Church and our Master is a minister of the church, but it isn't really religious apart from in a traditional sense. There is a Chapel you can attend on Sunday if you wish. I wrote that I was an atheist on my application and they still accepted me so don't have to be Christian or anything lol. Knox is really cool, has a good extracurricular and drinking culture but still is academically focused. There is definitely a sense of community. It is quite different to the other halls with second year students and many traditions. You should definitely come and suss them out for yourself

Carrington is a hall that will only accept you if it is your first choice (they will stress that when you go to look at it). Knox you can probably get away with as a second choice. And I think Cumberland is quite often used as a backup second/third choice.

 

[Ruth]

If you have the opportunity, you should come down during orientation week and have a tour of each of the halls

Isn't there usually a uni open day in May for Y13s?

 

[dooni]

Isn't there usually a uni open day in May for Y13s?

Oops, that's what I meant

 

[Stuart]

[offtopic]
I am just curious if anyone has read/is willing to read all 87 pages of posts on this thread




If you happened to have read it all, could you tell me if there is a point where it becomes no longer relevant/useful?
[/offtopic]

 

[rustyedges]

I am just curious if anyone has read/is willing to read all 87 pages of posts on this thread

If you happened to have read it all, could you tell me if there is a point where it becomes no longer relevant/useful?

Ah, there's probably useful stuff on nearly every page, as well as the option to search the thread. Halls make changes over time, and new people will have different questions that might not have been asked yet.

 

[Stuart]

[offtopic]
The thread is nearly seven years old. I bet at least 800 messages are not informative/no longer relevant. I am too scared to even check. Haha.
I wonder if I would be able to claim an award/prize if I ever get to read it all. Mind you, it better be something big and/cool.
[/offtopic]

 

[hushh]

Hey,
I am going to pack my stuff in a few days time, just wondering does anyone have any suggestions about the things that are useful/essential for college?

 

[Sassysep]

Hey,
I am going to pack my stuff in a few days time, just wondering does anyone have any suggestions about the things that are useful/essential for college?

Maybe grab a white sheet for the toga stuff during freshers as it can be a bit of a mission once you get there. I think Warehouse does some for like $10

 

[dooni]

Hey,
I am going to pack my stuff in a few days time, just wondering does anyone have any suggestions about the things that are useful/essential for college?

Earplugs! For them rowdy Thursday nights when you have 8ams the next morning

 

[frootloop]

A fan heater. Dunedin is cold, and you're not paying the hall's electricity bill so you may as well keep yourself warm at their expense

 

[hushh]

A fan heater. Dunedin is cold, and you're not paying the hall's electricity bill so you may as well keep yourself warm at their expense

Surprised to hear this, thought the heaters are provided by the college?
BTW, is it necessary to purchase an air conditioner as well?

 

[hushh]

Maybe grab a white sheet for the toga stuff during freshers as it can be a bit of a mission once you get there. I think Warehouse does some for like $10

Just read some of the news about the Toga Party/Parade, tbh I am shocked.
Is the egg throwing, pissing, and faeces thing true?? A bit intimidated about the event atm

 

[hushh]

Earplugs! For them rowdy Thursday nights when you have 8ams the next morning

Thanks a lot!
lol at the same time I am worrying about not being able to hear my alarm the next morning, the struggle is real.

 

[Sassysep]

Just read some of the news about the Toga Party/Parade, tbh I am shocked.
Is the egg throwing, pissing, and faeces thing true?? A bit intimidated about the event atm

I've only heard about the egging...... Our college was really nice because the returners went with us and tried to take us a different route to avoid the egging, but still got egged. Its all fun and games tho. Not sure about the pissing and faeces thing tho

 

[frootloop]

Surprised to hear this, thought the heaters are provided by the college?
BTW, is it necessary to purchase an air conditioner as well?

Sure, but those heaters aren't always that great. And halls charge so much money that any chance to drain them is worth taking haha

 

[hushh]

I've only heard about the egging...... Our college was really nice because the returners went with us and tried to take us a different route to avoid the egging, but still got egged. Its all fun and games tho. Not sure about the pissing and faeces thing tho

If you don't mind, can you tell me which college you went to?
Is this event compulsory?

Sure, but those heaters aren't always that great. And halls charge so much money that any chance to drain them is worth taking haha

So, it means the college heaters only work when the temperature is below certain degrees? Or are residents allowed to turn them on and off manually?