Getting in to the uni halls you want can be harder than it looks. You’ve been to the show flats, read the brochures and sent off your application back in April. Yet for some reason when August comes around you’ve been put in an off campus, off radar, off grid hellhole which isn’t even that cheap! Or if you applied late or through clearing you might find yourself with no halls at all and have to find a house for yourself! When you’re starting uni this is definitely a bit of a nightmare- how will you make friends now? You feel disadvantaged but there’s nothing you can do- so it’s time to make the most of it.

 

Firstly I’m a firm believer in the claim ‘it’s not where you are, it’s who you’re with’. You could be in a shed with an outside toilet but if you’ve got a solid group of mates with you, it’s not so bad.  Lots of other people will be in your situation so don’t be fooled into thinking the only people in your off campus, cheap seat halls will be unsociable weirdos. That being said if you don’t get on with your housemates or anyone around you, smaller or off campus halls may mean that you’ll have to try harder to make friends elsewhere. Make extra effort with course mates or join a sports team or society. If you really struggle meet up with any friends you know from home, particularly if they live in the main halls. Read our handy housemate guide here.

 

Secondly make the most of the space you have. Okay you’re off campus but your room can always be spruced up, try these tips. If your kitchen is old fashioned and the size of a shoebox then try and keep it tidy! That will always create more space.

 

Finally try and look for the perks, there are always pros to the cons. Okay so you’re off campus, but maybe your closer to town so you can walk home from nights out! You’re in crappy, cheapo halls but you’re saving money that can be spent on a nice second year pad. You didn’t get into halls but you have all the knowledge about living in your own house that your other first year friends don’t.

 

If you really can’t see past the halls issue remember your only there for 42 weeks, less than a year. The first few months may seem like the end of the world but you’ll soon adjust. There’s literally no point wishing you were put in one halls rather than the other because you weren’t. If you do really, really hate it, there may be opportunities to move from other people dropping out so keep an eye out.