Worries about coming to Bristol 2010!

[Dr Lu]

Hi,
I'm currently on my gap year and I'm coming to Bristol in Sept/October 2010 to do Medicine. Truth be told, I was happy to get into a Medical school, especially Bristol but I had my heart set on Manchester but I didn't get in.

My main worries about Bristol are whether its not enough of a city in its own right, seemed really small and not much going on?

Also as a State school student I'm worried about meeting 'down-to-earth' people and what halls to go to?

The biggest question though, and I do know I'm being demanding now but I need help in deciding whether to catered or self-catered.

From what I've seen when I went down there, Badock and Hiatt Baker are the most down to earth halls but their both catered, self-catered, I would imagine would be more ideal but the only real option seems like Goldney Halls which looks a bit posh?

Any help anyone could give would be really great.

Thanks alot.

[Soph1310]

Hi,

I'm currently a final year Anatomist at Bristol (applied to GEP Medicine). Bristol may seem small, but there's a lot going on and the University has lots going on all year round! Especially as there's two Uni's in the city, so plenty of clubs etc. You will certainly find something to do, so I wouldn't worry. Plus the Medics have really good societies and organise plenty of socials.

I'm a state school pupil and lived in Goldney during my first year, it's great and would really recommend it. However, don't overlook Manor Hall as the rooms are massive, location's great and it's cheaper than Goldney. I wouldn't necessarily judge the halls based on their appearance, but give the clifton halls some thought! It's really a personal choice whether you go catered or self-catered, just have to think with a busy timetable it might be easier to go catered so you can eat whenever and you won't be restricted by meal times (although might be easier to not cook!). I think wherever you live you will find a decent group of people to socialise with, irrelevant what background!

Hope this helps slightly...!

[ayotab]

Hello.

You definitely don't know Bristol well. There are millions of things going on in fact Bristol has to be one of the most sociable university cities. The last 3 years I've been here is the most exciting period of my life and this is coming from a Londoner. Galenicals (medics society) is a very active society with loads of events organised all year round. There are sports societies within Galenicals as well and that will be great for you to meet new people if you're a sporty person.

I wouldn't worry about your background. I know posh people are over represented at the uni but the situation is not as bad as people make it out to be. You get nasty people from every background. Maybe stay out of Will's and Churchill if you're worried, the other ones are fine. Just like Soph said, consider the clifton ones. I was in Manor and had an amazing time. I don't think Goldney has a posh reputation so go for it if you like it. There's CHH in Clifton as well but that's catered. Durdham in Stoke bishop is pretty and self catered, it's also a good one.

Good luck and trust me on this you're not going to regret coming here.

[dotvicky]

Didn't know S-Hiatt Bunker was catered now. Thought I remember it being self-catered when I was a kid. Long long ago, I was in Badock - was great back then, much more down to earth than Churchill and Wills. Back in the day, we had a special bell in the bar that we rang when posh people came over from Wills and ordered a Pimms and Lemonade. Was also used when someone tried to pay with a Coutts cheque...

Bristol is great - I too am a Londoner and assumed that nowhere would match it but Bristol has lots and lots going on - you won't run out of stuff, I promise!

Cheers
Vicky

[hestheblade]

I lived in Manchester & worked in the city centre for quite a while before coming to do medicine in Bristol. Although I love Manchester (it is home after all) I can't say I've been disappointed by Bristol - if anything its just the right size in that theres plenty of places to go out, drink, eat etc. but its not so big you feel overwhelmed! I'm in third year now, I still discover new things/places all the time and I'm definitely tempted to stay down here when I graduate!

I was in Manor hall as well, its self-catered and being in Clifton its really close to the uni, I came from a state Grammar school and I have to say Manor was great in that there was a really good mix of people Goldney and CHH are other good options as well as the others have said!

[Omer]

Mate, Bristol is a pretty big city with loads and loads going on. Im from Brighton, and I think Bristol is probably the only otther city i've been to which is as cool as Brighton and which has the same vibe. In terms of down to earth people, there are loads in Bristol espeacially on the medicine course so don't worry about that. Hallwise i stayed in University Hall which is the cheapest of the cheap as far as halls go, its a bit of a trek away in stoke bishop but really really nice and you save loads of money in comparison to say goldney which is about a grand and a bit more plus if your looking for more state school people (which you shouldn't really worry about) University hall will have loads/mostly state school.

[CluelessJones]

Hey Lu, I'm also on a gap year and going to Bristol in October. Having been out on a medic's birthday bash in the Brizzle, I can say it's definitely not boring or small! That said, I live in a village of about 50 people so any collection of sentient beings other than sheep seems busy to me!

[Dr Lu]

Thanks alot soph thats really helpful and makes me feel alot better! I didnt consider manor before but ill def check it out now. I did hear that Stoke bishop was more social between halls though? But i think you might be right about the sefl catered thing.
Cheers!

[Dr Lu]

Ha ha! I hope the bells still there? My mates in badock and when i went up i do remember seeing a bell, dunno if they still use it for the same reason though?
Thanks alot, makes me feel alot better.Was it tough with lectures being in Stoke bishop though?
Lu

[Dr Lu]

Thanks everyone for the advice it really helped. So I think my choices are now goldney, manor, badock or university?Do you get four choices? Where are you gonna go four clueless jones? Hope your having a nang time travelling!
Thanks again everyone, cant wait to come to bristol now! Specially since you liked it compared to manchester hestheblade, that was one of my main worries not going to manchester.
Cheers
Lu