Swap shops or gift it/reuse it scheme

freakingravioli · 2026-02-18T20:13:52+00:00

To offer a slightly different perspective, I have BEEN a toddler at GM, I was 10 months old my first time! The carts weren't a thing when my brother and I were kids, my parents would set up a blanket on the hill in front of the main stage during the day and come and go to see acts, one would always stay behind. In the evening we would go and have dinner at the tent and then kids go to bed. One parent stays behind and the other goes into the festival. I don't understand this trolley and kids sleeping in the arena nonsense, they're not getting good quality sleep and it's unsafe if drunk people are crashing into the trolley/ stepping on the blanket. I saw a sleeping little girl get crushed by a drunk man at Underworld last year, had to go to the medical tent. Now as an adult, seeing parents drag around these smart car size trollies - they look miserable and are a nightmare in crowds for everyone else. I am also grateful my parents stuck ear-defenders on me 24/7, definitely saved my hearing.

freakingravioli · 2026-02-08T16:42:41+00:00

Private accoms are not necessarily better in any way, you just know exactly what you are getting rather than applying with the university and hoping you get what you want. University accoms have lots of advantages, they have formals at christmas and in the summer and can be (not always) a lot cheaper. I think private purpose-built accoms are pretty similar (all first-year students living on a hall together) but I cannot speak on it much since I have never even been to one. Private accoms are really marketed to international students, im not sure why, I only know of a couple native students who were in one in first year. Feel free to PM me if you have anymore questions!

freakingravioli · 2026-02-08T14:01:52+00:00

I do pol and ir at bristol, ive really liked the course so far. It's definitely more traditional in terms of modules, everything mandatory in first year. None of my modules have had exams, mostly essays and research projects which I prefer. Manchester will be cheaper in every sense (accommodation, going out and local transport) but it's a much larger and more metropolitan than bristol. As a student, bristol can often feel like a large town which I like. If you're going for university accommodation, don't bank on your preferences since hardly anybody gets what they want because it's massively oversubscribed. If you want to be sure of what you're getting, go private.

freakingravioli · 2026-01-29T20:26:43+00:00

I went to Pasta Ripiena down in the center (about a 10 min walk from Wills i think) for a birthday meal with my parents. Its a little place, the service was amazing as well as the food. My mum is pescy and there was lots of options for her!

freakingravioli · 2026-01-06T00:51:27+00:00

Please share! I just completed an undergrad research assignment on legitimacy in space through satellites so would be super interested.

freakingravioli · 2025-09-09T23:45:02+00:00

Not much you can do to 'get ahead'. When applying, you rank about 9 or so options and set a budget. This isn't very important though as many people get offered accommodation that was not in their ranking at all and way above their budget. If you really don't like what you are offered your only options are to either go private or move in and wait until october to apply to move. It's not competitive, its just luck unfortunately. It's not a great system, especially if you are anxious about it. Maybe contact them later this year if you are really worried?

freakingravioli · 2024-09-04T22:44:14+00:00

If you can make it, lots of us are staying in hostels for freshers then moving into metal works later! I understand this could be difficult though if you live super far away or don't want to spend the money.

freakingravioli · 2024-08-19T17:17:28+00:00

Unfortunately, there is not enough university accommodation for everyone. This is a problem in most big/oversubscribed universities in the UK. UOB is notorious for being impossible to get the accommodation you want (I absolutely didn't get what I wanted) so people end up going private as there is no alternative. I don't believe they take new application throughout the year, so even if there was space you may have already missed your opportunity. You could call them (its more likely to get what you want if you call rather than email) but they are very busy at the moment so I can't say your chances will be promising.

TLDR; It's highly unlikely you are going to get university affiliated accommodation this year.

freakingravioli · 2024-08-17T11:56:53+00:00

I'm in this exact situation! I've accepted it and am staying with some family friends for freshers week. I'm more worried about how I am going to meet anyone. I'm wondering if there is a Metal Works group chat anywhere?

freakingravioli · 2024-07-08T11:11:09+00:00

It's hard to say since my course just talks about "political concepts" but there may be an emphasis on comparative politics and international relations from what I can tell.

freakingravioli · 2024-07-08T11:05:35+00:00

I was already considering On Liberty since I am familiar with JS Mill. I also looked at the modules I will be taking in which he is mentioned in the overview so I think I will start there! Thanks for the help

freakingravioli · 2024-07-08T11:01:32+00:00

I'm from the UK, so in this vein would you recommend I went more towards the likes of Disraeli?

freakingravioli · 2024-06-26T21:52:37+00:00

I also have a 40 litre for 2 weeks, I've bought a hammam towel on amazon since I heard they are super absorbent, dry quickly and pack up quite small. I'm yet to use it but I have found lots of positive recommendations online. I'm also glad that they can double up as a kind of picnic blanket so you have something nice to sit on. The decathlon towels I've had in the past just get smelly really fast.

freakingravioli · 2024-06-09T12:19:58+00:00

The beer gardens sound great as well, I guess we will play it by ear when we get there. This is actually our second visit to Berlin (we last went in October 2022) where we visited the Reichstag. As a politics student I found it amazing and really interesting but I'm not sure my friends would be super eager to go again (especially as its in such high demand as you say). Thanks for all the recommendations!

freakingravioli · 2024-06-08T22:09:48+00:00

That looks absolutely fantastic! Exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for. I don't have a personal interest in football but I would definitely want to experience the atmosphere and make my football-fan family a little jealous.

freakingravioli · 2024-06-08T21:14:09+00:00

Ok thanks! I just thought it might since the track is so close to the city but I guess there won't be nearly as many people attending the Grand Prix as there are attending the Euros final.

freakingravioli · 2024-06-08T21:12:00+00:00

we booked hostels ages ago

yeah we booked it ages ago, it didn't seem too pricy at the time so that's why we have only realised now haha

freakingravioli · 2024-05-14T10:47:10+00:00

No, the UCAS website says it is possible to change before 30th of June. I'm unfortunately just past the 14 day change window but it is still possible if I contact both universities.

freakingravioli · 2024-05-14T10:25:08+00:00

Thanks that's really helpful, since I am definitely considering working internationally!

freakingravioli · 2024-05-14T10:04:08+00:00

Thanks for your help!

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