Accommodation - current medics

[lu-x]

Hey there,

I received a letter from Leicester today giving me some info on accommodation prices. I was thinking of going catered in Oadby village, with en suite. Can any current medics give me advice on which Hall to go for? I'm worried about going to a really popular hall because I hate being disturbed when I'm asleep, especially if I have to get up for lectures in the morning. I'd rather be near sports facilities too. Also, is there a 39 week option for catered or is it only for 30 weeks? I don't fancy moving out all my gear over the holidays. Would you say catered is worth the price, are the meals decent, etc? And what is parking like at the halls? Thanks in advance

Lucy

[alex MD]

Is Oadby village the accomodation thats likes in the woods? The new circular buildings?

[Shehan]

New Hall in Oadby, its dead there, ul definately get a good nights sleep. Its very near the gym/sports courts and the food is probably the best there as well. You can get ensuite catered there and the rooms are like hotel quality. And its where the bus first stops in the morning before going to other halls (which it is usually full by the time it gets to), but like I said, its dead, no social life there.

[alex MD]

Which are the halls with the best social life Shehan? Has Leicester got good nightlife; when I came down for my interview it seemed mint, just wondering what its like from a students perspective?

[lu-x]

Originally Posted by Shehan

I said, its dead, no social life there.

Is it really that bad? Where has a nice social atmosphere but is fairly quiet at night?

[Shehan]

Beaumont Hall has the best social atmosphere. But the rooms are, well, student rooms. Yeah me and hash have posted some stuff on nightlife on a thread here, its amazing, your gonna love it mate.

[alex MD]

I propa cannot wait ! Is dissection in the 2nd semester? How's the workload, is it a massive increase or okay?

[Preston 1990]

Do u think that its really worth going for catered, correct me if im wrong, i havent got the price thing in the post yet but i think its like £800 extra compared to non catered for ensuite rooms. Also which is the best non catered hall in terms of all factors, including proximety and quality of rooms.
thnx a lot

[Shehan]

Originally Posted by alex MD

I propa cannot wait ! Is dissection in the 2nd semester? How's the workload, is it a massive increase or okay?

Dissection is in the 2nd semester when u start anatomy, yeah its definately the most fun part of the course so far for me....

Originally Posted by lu-x

Is it really that bad? Where has a nice social atmosphere but is fairly quiet at night?

I think the majority of medics probably live there tbh, and they have a good social life, but u have to use your key about 3, 4 times to get to your room, whereas in halls like Beaumont, all these doors are pretty much open and people are always wondering in and out, the only door locked would be your own room door i.e. a lot more social atmosphere as opposed 2 a maximum security hotel room.

Originally Posted by Preston 1990

Do u think that its really worth going for catered, correct me if im wrong, i havent got the price thing in the post yet but i think its like £800 extra compared to non catered for ensuite rooms. Also which is the best non catered hall in terms of all factors, including proximety and quality of rooms.
thnx a lot

I personally live in Beaumont, dont have ensuite and am catered, I personally wanted this cos Im not 2 fussed about sharing a bathroom or with food either (don't want to be spending time cooking as well). Saying that though, a lot of my friends would hate 2 live in Beaumont, they need their ensuite and are pretty fussy with food. If you want self-catered ensuite I recommend Bowder Court in Oadby.

In general Oadby is the place to be for freshers, catered, self-catered, ensuite, shared bathroom is personal preference.

[mod_for_life]

Originally Posted by lu-x

Hey there,

Can any current medics give me advice on which Hall to go for? I'm worried about going to a really popular hall because I hate being disturbed when I'm asleep, especially if I have to get up for lectures in the morning. I'd rather be near sports facilities too.

Everything you’ve requested just screams out John Foster hall (or New Hall as it’s sometimes called). It is easily the least sociable out of the 4 main halls in Oadby, but I personally can’t see why you’d want that for your 1st year – 1st year’s for enjoying yourself! The Oadby sports centre is literally just opposite it, but to be fair all the major 4 halls are pretty close to each other anyway. With regards to being woken up at night, being disturbed late at night will unfortunately be a regular occurrence, whichever hall you may choose to live in, whether it be catered or self-catered.

Originally Posted by lu-x

Also, is there a 39 week option for catered or is it only for 30 weeks? I don't fancy moving out all my gear over the holidays. Would you say catered is worth the price, are the meals decent, etc? And what is parking like at the halls?

The 39 week contract applies only to self-catered accommodation. As long as clearing out your room for the Christmas and Easter holidays isn’t too much of a hassle for you, then yes it is DEFINITELY worth the extra cost. Dinner time is always a very sociable gathering and you will learn to love it, no matter how bland and repetitive the food might get. Another thing that most people don’t realise until they start living there is that all catered en-suite rooms (including the bathroom) are cleaned every fortnight.

Originally Posted by lu-x

And what is parking like at the halls?

A permit covering parking anywhere in the village for the entire year costs £50.

Originally Posted by Shehan

Beaumont Hall has the best social atmosphere.

Please bear in mind that Shehan lives in Beaumont Hall and so there is always going to be an element of bias in all of his responses. I think all halls except JF in Oadby are about the same when it comes to sociability…but don’t be fooled, JF is nowhere near as bad as Shehan is making it out to be. Also remember that a lot of medics choose to live in JF so if you want to be living amongst loads of medics then JF might well be for you.

All the best.

Hash.