Accomodation for Matures/Grads?

**Walice** · 26-04-2005, 03:32 AM

Hi people!

I have a place on the med course (GPEP) to start this september. I'm a 22 year old graduate and a bit confused about different options for accomodation.

I currently live in Sheffield and considered moving in with old friends in London, but I'm now thinking that the best place to make new friends and really integrate into college life would be in some kind of college/ULU accomodation.

I'm a bit worried, however, that if I choose this, I will be put in a hall with a cluster of very noisy, somewhat unfocussed 18-year olds! (Apologies for stereotyping). Is there any current mature students who can offer insight into the best college accomodation to live in that will have a reasonable number of other matures (that is also relatively near to the college and Guy's hospital)?

thank you !!

**Pip** · 26-04-2005, 04:08 AM

I think living in college accommodation does help you meet people, but it's difficult for graduates to share kitchens and bathrooms with 18 years olds away from home for the first time - I'm agonizing over it myself! I think the best option is to go for the halls with ensuite bathrooms and try and share a set of rooms (sharing kitchen) with other graduates - you can request things like that on the application forms I think.

Pip

**Walice** · 26-04-2005, 08:33 PM

Thanks Pip. Do you have any particular accomodation block in mind at the moment?

Does any other mature student out there have thoughts on this?

**Frank's mum** · 27-04-2005, 12:20 AM

There are quite a few matures in my year living in the apartments at Great Dover Street (and med students get priority here) or at Wolfson House. Having visited them, try to get Great Dover Street. Both are spitting distance to Guys, where you will be based.
Alison

**Walice** · 27-04-2005, 02:23 AM

thanks Alison. I was considering Great Dover Street so if I do go to Kings, I think I will make that my first choice

**jamiewallis** · 27-04-2005, 03:58 AM

I'm a first year grad on the 5 year course and 23 years young. I've lived in GDS this year and had absolutely no problems with noise.. it helped that I asked to be put in a flat with other mature students. It turns out I'm sharing with a third year medic who transferred from Cambridge, a second year grad physio, 3 French final year exchange students and a grad first year physio. I'm going for senior student next year and I'm looking to be in a matures flat again. My advice - if you want something specifically, ask for it on the form. The powers that be here at GDS are very good at matching people to what they want, so I've heard

Hope that helps. If you've any more questions feel free to PM me.

Jamie

**Pip** · 27-04-2005, 07:12 PM

Heh, other people have beaten me back here. What they said

I was just put off by the shared kitchens at Great Dover Street when I visited friends there. Then again, it was shared by weeny undergrads who hadn't learnt how long meat can be kept before it goes off, and that emptying bins containing out of date meat is a good idea. I'll just ask to share with mature vegans! It is nice though, and there's a little Sainsburys nearby that does the basics. There's a Tescos too if you can bear the walk through Elephant and Castle (tip - walking under the railway bridge after dark is not good if you prefer not to get mugged or the like).

Pip

**sharli** · 28-04-2005, 02:06 AM

I Posted this on another thread so thought id put it here as well with a few additions:

i did my BSc at guys and i lived at wolfson house for 2 years,
its not as bad as u may think, for a start its literally 2mins walk from guys and if u go through the hospital its 1min! u have to share a kitchen 3 toilets and 2 showers usually with about 14 ppl, but to be honest ive never had to wait for use of these, the fire drills are probably the worst bit as sometimes they go off at 3am! and u wait outside until the fire brigade check all 15 floors! theres cleaners who empty room bins, bathrooms and kitchen.. all in all i liked wolfson house,
the good thing about dover st is u get an en suite, but ure room is smaller and its an extra 5mins from campus... because i lived in halls in my 3rd year too i was a bit mature-ish, and i still found it to be fine, they usually put a good mix of ppl in there so you wont be alone.. plus we had some graduates on our floors too and most seemed to mix in really well.
Intercollegiate halls ..these are closer to UCL in Euston than anywhere else and I think you would be better off closer because the northern line is not the most reliable! but i had friends there who said it was a really good mix of ages and nationalities

if u have any other questions about kings accomodation or otherwise.. just ask

**rhuiri** · 07-05-2005, 06:38 PM

Also, if you go into College accommodation and don't like it, you can just let them know and leave at Xmas. Think you have to let them know the month after you arrive - but it might buy you some deciding time.