On campus accommodation (1st year)

niallfullback

Hi there, hope to be going to UCD in september and am just looking for peoples opinions on on campus accommodation. Any advice on which is best to apply for? Basically just looking for first hand information about it all:)

IrishKnight

There is lots about this already on boards, use the search f(x)...

beautifulmeath

Where do you live? It's allocated based in location, except if you get 540+, in which case you're guaranteed a place PROVIDING you apply for it

Costs about 4,000 per year, though I've heard that's about to go up

Merville and Belgrove are OK but fairly ancient, Roebuck is beautiful but 1,000 dearer

Raemie

I lived in roebuck last year, it was nice enough (having my own bathroom was brilliant) but its very expensive, and they really seem to be cracking down on parties, guests etc. Good and bad in that, maybe it'll be quieter but its a pain having to show your ID just to get home. Being close to UCD is great and it helps make friends when there are so many other 1st years around so i would recommend on-campus accomidation to 1st years.

IxM

Merville is great. Was in it this year and excellent way to meet people at the start of the college year.
Pro's:
It is the closest to the shop on campus and near enough Spar just off campus (handy when ya run out of booze before heading out for the ole Buckfast ) And near the laundrette in Glenomena.
It's a bit bigger than Belgrove apartments.
Its Got 2 Bathrooms.
Con's:
The Carpet Throughout the place is a f****** Nightmare for getting stains on from drink,really messing with yer deposit.
The electricity is card operated(in fairness i never found this bad, a tenner once every 4 weeks if ya split it with the roommates, but some people seem to hate it)
Heating also sucks sometimes.

In general though i had no real problems, i loved the place, craic was brill :D

niallfullback

Im from Roscommon so would I be fairly safe?
Im thinking of Roebuck at the moment but wouldnt like to sacrifice some of the craic, would there be a any fear of that or am I worrying over nothing?:)

IrishKnight

niallfullback wrote: »

Im from Roscommon so would I be fairly safe?

Yes, yes you would be fairly safe

33% God

niallfullback wrote: »

Im from Roscommon so would I be fairly safe?
Im thinking of Roebuck at the moment but wouldnt like to sacrifice some of the craic, would there be a any fear of that or am I worrying over nothing?:)

I wouldn't worry about having to sacrifice craic. I lived in Merville last year but we often went up to Roebuck for parties.
If the gate system comes in this year it's going to severely reduce the craic anyway.

niallfullback

Whats this gate system you speak of?:)

IrishKnight

niallfullback wrote: »

Whats this gate system you speak of?:)

It is a hinged device which is normally made from a material known as metal. When open, it provides a method to enter an area. When closed it prevents access to an area. Most gates are a two way system.

ice_cream

When ur applying for accommodation in ucd is thre anyway to request you be housed with a friend?

damselnat

ice_cream wrote: »

When ur applying for accommodation in ucd is thre anyway to request you be housed with a friend?

Don't think so, usually done in alphabetical order using your surname. If you apply to the same place with your mates you'll be fine, you probably won't be in the same apartment with them but be in the same complex, it's easy enough to walk out and visit!

IrishKnight

ice_cream wrote: »

When ur applying for accommodation in ucd is thre anyway to request you be housed with a friend?

When I was applying, I think you could but the chance of you getting it is slim...but like damaelnat said if you apply to the same res, you'll end up close enough to each other.

fillefatale

IrishKnight wrote: »

There is lots about this already on boards, use the search f(x)...

everytime i see a post like this i think the same thing.

fillefatale

IrishKnight wrote: »

It is a hinged device which is normally made from a material known as metal. When open, it provides a method to enter an area. When closed it prevents access to an area. Most gates are a two way system.

here here!

they are putting gates on all residences now and will be checking IDs for access. Harder to sneak mates in who don't live on campus.

Jev/N

fillefatale wrote: »

they are putting gates on all residences now and will be checking IDs for access. Harder to sneak mates in who don't live on campus.

The gates are already there AFAIK, they're just not using them

TDOie

fillefatale wrote: »

here here!

they are putting gates on all residences now and will be checking IDs for access. Harder to sneak mates in who don't live on campus.

I'd be quite surprised if they where checking ID's 24/7.

muffinman

beautifulmeath wrote: »

Where do you live? It's allocated based in location, except if you get 540+, in which case you're guaranteed a place PROVIDING you apply for it

Is this true?

beautifulmeath wrote: »

Costs about 4,000 per year, though I've heard that's about to go up

Merville and Belgrove are OK but fairly ancient, Roebuck is beautiful but 1,000 dearer

Bear in mind that electricity is included in the cost of Roebuck and when that's taken into account the difference in cost is significantly less.

IrishKnight

muffinman wrote: »

Is this true?

It is part of the scholarship or something...

Jev/N

muffinman wrote: »

Is this true?

I never heard of this when I was in 1st year and applying for campus. I got over those points and I got campus but I think it was due to where I lived as this was never mentioned??

Scholars get campus I know, but I can't imagine everyone who gets over 540 would

muffinman

Jev/N wrote: »

I never heard of this when I was in 1st year and applying for campus. I got over those points and I got campus but I think it was due to where I lived as this was never mentioned??

Scholars get campus I know, but I can't imagine everyone who gets over 540 would

I got campus last year and got over 540 but was never told anything about a guaranteed place due to points.. Received a "high achievers award" (previously known as entrance exhibition), but I always thought space was only reserved for actual scholarship recipients (like the 590+ people or w/e)

bythewoods

I'm just after getting Medicine in UCD, what are the chances I'll get campus for first year?
I live in Wexford like. But the 3-hours-from-Dublin part as opposed to like.. Idunno.. Gorey or somesuch.

Will I be more likely to get offered a place just because I got higher points? That seems just a tad unfar...
(But if it's true I'm not complainin')

IrishKnight

If you get above like 540 or something you'll get a scholarship methinks that might include on campus res but iff you apply for it. So apply anyway and see what happens!

But you might want to keep an eye out on daft.ie...

Raphael

bythewoods wrote: »

I'm just after getting Medicine in UCD, what are the chances I'll get campus for first year?
I live in Wexford like. But the 3-hours-from-Dublin part as opposed to like.. Idunno.. Gorey or somesuch.

Will I be more likely to get offered a place just because I got higher points? That seems just a tad unfar...
(But if it's true I'm not complainin')

Where in Wexford? I'm from New Ross and was just shy of getting it when I was in First year, so base your opinion on that.

bythewoods

Raphael wrote: »

Where in Wexford? I'm from New Ross and was just shy of getting it when I was in First year, so base your opinion on that.

Dagnamit, also New Ross.
Sure I'll try anyway, and if I don't get it I'll work something else out...

holadivaldfe

when can we start applying?

from one source i heard wed, and another told me to apply NOW! :eek:

if the answer is now, then how?

thanks!

Raphael

bythewoods wrote: »

Dagnamit, also New Ross.
Sure I'll try anyway, and if I don't get it I'll work something else out...

You've got a chance, people from Ross got it in my year (just not me), and I got a place from the cancellation list right after the 2nd round offers.

bythewoods

Raphael wrote: »

You've got a chance, people from Ross got it in my year (just not me), and I got a place from the cancellation list right after the 2nd round offers.

Hmmmm, I'll give it a shot anyway.

Is it true that if I put my address as "New Ross, Co. Kilkenny" I'll have a better chance?
Because, if so... I can see myself doing it...

Fad

bythewoods wrote: »

Hmmmm, I'll give it a shot anyway.

Is it true that if I put my address as "New Ross, Co. Kilkenny" I'll have a better chance?
Because, if so... I can see myself doing it...

Put down New Ross, Co.Monaghan, it'll work I swear.

cHaTbOx

The accommodation is ok but very expensive for what you get , think its averaged around 430 a week in belgrove and you had to pay electricity bills every two month that were extortionate because or the non double glazed windows and gaps under doors a dodgey heating.
Wouldn't do it again.

I would rather get together with five strangers and find a place as you are thrown in with strangers anyway.

33% God

IrishKnight wrote: »

If you get above like 540 or something you'll get a scholarship methinks that might include on campus res but iff you apply for it. So apply anyway and see what happens!

Over 540 just gets you the High Achievers award, which is nice but doesn't actually include anything other than a speech about how awesome you are and a sheet to say the same.
To get the Scholarship you have to get the highest points on your programme, which is usually over 560 at least, depending on your course.

Jev/N

33% God wrote: »

Over 540 just gets you the High Achievers award, which is nice but doesn't actually include anything other than a speech about how awesome you are and a sheet to say the same.
To get the Scholarship you have to get the highest points on your programme, which is usually over 560 at least, depending on your course.

Never got that award, looking around on the net it seems it's only going since 2007!

parker kent

TDOie wrote: »

I'd be quite surprised if they where checking ID's 24/7.

They had times that the gates would be closed, I think it was 11pm to 7am, something like that. They put them in last year midway through the college year and there was uproar over them so they didn't actually used them (other than last day of term). I think they couldn't operate them because they didn't include them in our licences to reside. The guest thing is a load of huff and puff on their part. I always had people over and nobody even knew, so unless one of them burns the place down you will be grand.