The 'Do you miss Uni'? Thread.

[Guest Col city fan]

I woke up this morning and God only knows why, started to daydream about my Uni days.

Don't be stupid, I thought, I'm now 45 and finished what... 20 odd years ago?

However, every so often, I still think back to mi Student times.

I was an 'Oxbridge Reject', having unsuccessfully applied to both Cambridge and Oxford. Being from a Comprehensive School background didn't help, neither did being as nervous as fook at interview.

So I went to 'Castle College' Durham... Reading Sociology/Psychology. To me it was an extension of a public school. Very tight knit, 'supper' taken in the Great Hall of the Castle and all that pretentious gubbins. Will Carling had just finished at Durham the year before.

But it was great fun... I was Captain of the College footy team (not the Uni first team, I wasn't good enough) and used to co-write a report of every game, taking the piss of certain players and bigging-up others.

I recall that the college had a 'Gentleman's club' where membership could only be sought if the Student personally owned a certain acreage of land! Or had a certain amount in Savings! They then used to meet up, once every month and wine and dine themselves in Durham City.... The pompous asses .

One of the best times was the Winter of 1989. There was lots of snow on 'Palace Green' (which separates Durham Cathedral from the Castle) and we decided to have a snowball fight with 'Hatfield College' (our arch rivals). It was clear that Hatfield were advancing over the Green, so we had to retreat back into the Castle and shut the Castle gates, which must have been 50 ft high.. The defences held out and Hatfield, knowing that there was no way in, retreated and probably went off to get pissed..

Good times really... Long gone now but the 'Yearbooks' and photo's remind me of some of the students I was with. I remember finding some frustrating, some very very funny and some inspiring..

Anyway, enough Nostalgia.. Who else did a stint at Uni, where did you go? Are you still there now?Have you any stories to tell? If so, let us know, if you want to...

[foxfanazer]

That sounds like no Uni I've ever heard of Col

Never went Uni myself. One of my biggest regrets

[Rincewind]

university of life for me

[Finnegan]

Yeah, it's because you went to a comp you didn't get in to Oxbridge.

If you say so, Col.

[Ford Super Sunday]

Matt will be along soon to remind us that he didn't go to university and that he thinks everyone that did is a tax-dodging tosser. (He hates Arsenal too, don't you know)

[indierich06]

I did three years of Journalism at Staffs University at the Stoke-on-Tent campus. Gave me a whole new appreciation for Leicester, I tell you! Stoke is, without a doubt, the biggest shithole of a town I've ever lived in.

 

The best year of my life was when I was 18, away from home for the first time, loads of great mates, loads of good times... I was just thinking the other day it'd be nice to go back in time and relive one of my old uni nights back then, but I don't think I could hack it anymore when I think about some of the stuff me and my mates got up to.

 

Still really good mates with a lot of the people I met at university - in fact, I'm meeting up with one of them on Saturday to have a few beers and watch some footy. He's a Forest fan, so it should be interesting...

[Renart]

I was an 'Oxbridge Reject', having unsuccessfully applied to both Cambridge and Oxford. Being from a Comprehensive School background didn't help, neither did being as nervous as fook at interview.

 

 

Col, hmmm. Did you know that you cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford in the same admissions round (itk)? You have to choose. Applications where this is not observed tend to be put in the bin. May explain why you didn't get in? Durham is a great Uni.

 

Edit. I am not an Oxbridge undergrad but I did study at Cambridge post-grad and have taught there.

[Fox92]

Uni is literally going so fast... this time next year, my time will be over

 

Seriously though, I love living in Manchester. Place is brilliant, vibrant and always brings something different everyday.

[Guest Col city fan]

Col, hmmm. Did you know that you cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford in the same admissions round (itk)? You have to choose. Applications where this is not observed tend to be put in the bin. May explain why you didn't get in? Durham is a great Uni.

Edit. I am not an Oxbridge undergrad but I did study at Cambridge post-grad and have taught there.

Cambridge one year, Oxford the next, buddy..

IndieRich.... Good story pal.

[Bellend Sebastian]

I think about it so little that I genuinely forget on occasions that I actually went.

 

I don't think there's a period of my life about which I have so many regrets so I'm sure I'm subconsciously blanking it out.  It wasn't really for me.  What more can I say?

[Renart]

Cambridge one year, Oxford the next, buddy..

 

 

That would explain it. Their loss! Sounds like you had a great time.

[foxfanazer]

I think about it so little that I genuinely forget on occasions that I actually went.

I don't think there's a period of my life about which I have so many regrets so I'm sure I'm subconsciously blanking it out. It wasn't really for me. What more can I say?

Interesting. I've never spoken to somebody that has been to uni and hasn't loved it. What in particular did you not enjoy?

[Bellend Sebastian]

Interesting. I've never spoken to somebody that has been to uni and hasn't loved it. What in particular did you not enjoy?

 

I felt like a fish out of water pretty much from the word go.  I'd had this vague and romantic picture in my head that it would be full of bohemian radical types but on arrival it was all tucked in checked shirts and wet look hair (it was 1993, in fairness), and night after night of terrible lowest common denominator club nights and permanent drinking.

 

Like a twat I also said I wouldn't mind sharing a room, and it's very difficult to lock yourself away from everything that horrifies you if you end up doing that.

 

I didn't like the course - it was far too much like hard work, having not found my A levels especially taxing, and it was painfully obvious that the staff were far, far more interested in their own academic work than they were in the students.

 

I should have packed it in, but due to some strange sense of duty I stuck it out, at terrible cost to my mental health, but at the same time friendships were made that have endured, so it wasn't all bad.  Of course, everyone else had a lovely time (except the girl that went mad after a few weeks and was taken away in an ambulance never to return) so don't anyone let me put them off

[ousefox]

I went to Newcastle last year but transferred to do my second year at Sheffield. I was stuck in accommodation with the most unsociable people ever. A bunch of rich kids who were the weirdest people I've met and international students who basically refused to talk to anybody that wasn't from their country. I had a Chinese guy in the room next to me that I saw about 3 times... and some of the teaching was shocking. Phd students doing seminars didn't have a clue unfortunately. Moved to Sheffield and it's the complete opposite. Having such a good time and the teaching is so much better.

 

I have a slight regret in turning down Durham to go to Newcastle - because I thought it would be more sociable, and not applying for Oxbridge when my grades were easily good enough. Happy how it's turned out now though and can always apply to do post-grad there.

[ousefox]

 

 

I didn't like the course - it was far too much like hard work, having not found my A levels especially taxing, and it was painfully obvious that the staff were far, far more interested in their own academic work than they were in the students.

 

 

This is what I noticed the most at Newcastle, and is apparently very common at Russell Group uni's. The teaching was absolutely dreadful from most lecturers. We had to have somebody come in from Teeside University to give lectures as our previous one left halfway through the year and he was a breath of fresh air. My Dad is a professor and says it is often the case that at the other universities and old poly's the teaching is so much better.

[Fox92]

I went to Newcastle last year but transferred to do my second year at Sheffield. I was stuck in accommodation with the most unsociable people ever. A bunch of rich kids who were the weirdest people I've met and international students who basically refused to talk to anybody that wasn't from their country. I had a Chinese guy in the room next to me that I saw about 3 times... and some of the teaching was shocking. Phd students doing seminars didn't have a clue unfortunately. Moved to Sheffield and it's the complete opposite. Having such a good time and the teaching is so much better.

 

I have a slight regret in turning down Durham to go to Newcastle - because I thought it would be more sociable, and not applying for Oxbridge when my grades were easily good enough. Happy how it's turned out now though and can always apply to do post-grad there.

 

I wondered why your location had changed to Sheffield... I don't get why unsociable people apply for halls, surely they know what it's going to be like? I mean, I lived in halls last year during my first year obviously, ten of us, and two of the girls never really came out with the rest. Not got anything against them, they were nice girls who I got along with, but there is no point in complaining about noise levels etc because of the reputation of halls. We were all told beforehand on the open day how loud they are.

 

Got into an house this year though, six of us which is split three and three. The girls we never lived with last year so it's obviously a slight change but nothing massive because, again, all three of them I get along with just fine and have done ever since meeting them. It is quieter now, easier to sleep, but I do miss halls. The fact that I could pop round next door and go out with them if I wanted to, now we're all split up, it's a bus journey to whoever's house.

 

As I said above though, Manchester is amazing. I'm only from a small town, so moving to a massive City was a big change. Didn't used to rate Manchester very high, but since living there, I do love it.

[Adster]

I'm in my second year and I decided to step out my comfort zone and live in Coventry with some mates this year instead of commuting. It's a fooking shithole and I won't be doing it next year.

Love the Uni and my course, but my god the suburbs are total shite. I'd rather live at home to be honest.

My friends are nothing like me, and these are friends I've known since GCSE's. I don't drink much, I love a night out don't get me wrong but they want to go out and get plastered 3 times a week and that's not really me at all. So I'm the perceived "killjoy".

[Corky]

I woke up this morning and God only knows why, started to daydream about my Uni days.

Don't be stupid, I thought, I'm now 45 and finished what... 20 odd years ago?

However, every so often, I still think back to mi Student times.

I was an 'Oxbridge Reject', having unsuccessfully applied to both Cambridge and Oxford. Being from a Comprehensive School background didn't help, neither did being as nervous as fook at interview.

So I went to 'Castle College' Durham... Reading Sociology/Psychology. To me it was an extension of a public school. Very tight knit, 'supper' taken in the Great Hall of the Castle and all that pretentious gubbins. Will Carling had just finished at Durham the year before.

But it was great fun... I was Captain of the College footy team (not the Uni first team, I wasn't good enough) and used to co-write a report of every game, taking the piss of certain players and bigging-up others.

I recall that the college had a 'Gentleman's club' where membership could only be sought if the Student personally owned a certain acreage of land! Or had a certain amount in Savings! They then used to meet up, once every month and wine and dine themselves in Durham City.... The pompous asses .

One of the best times was the Winter of 1989. There was lots of snow on 'Palace Green' (which separates Durham Cathedral from the Castle) and we decided to have a snowball fight with 'Hatfield College' (our arch rivals). It was clear that Hatfield were advancing over the Green, so we had to retreat back into the Castle and shut the Castle gates, which must have been 50 ft high.. The defences held out and Hatfield, knowing that there was no way in, retreated and probably went off to get pissed..

Good times really... Long gone now but the 'Yearbooks' and photo's remind me of some of the students I was with. I remember finding some frustrating, some very very funny and some inspiring..

Anyway, enough Nostalgia.. Who else did a stint at Uni, where did you go? Are you still there now?Have you any stories to tell? If so, let us know, if you want to...

 

Surely a potential Oxbridge student should be able to work that out, Col?

 

Did you play Defensive Midfield for the college team?

[Guest MattP]

I lasted a couple of months at De Mont, was bored. Thank god I didn't move away to go, I'd have probably had to stick it out.

 

Didn't like the course, preferred drinking with own mates to the student types (who are in general know it all wankers).

 

If you had a better time at Uni than you do now you need to evaluate what you are doing and start putting a bit more effort into your social life.

[Guest Col city fan]

Surely a potential Oxbridge student should be able to work that out, Col?

Did you play Defensive Midfield for the college team?

I was always shite at maths mate and yes, I did..

[Freeman's Wharfer]

I lasted a couple of months at De Mont, was bored. Thank god I didn't move away to go, I'd have probably had to stick it out.

 

Didn't like the course, preferred drinking with own mates to the student types (who are in general know it all wankers).

 

If you had a better time at Uni than you do now you need to evaluate what you are doing and start putting a bit more effort into your social life.

 

I reckon you'd have probably found that had you done so your experience would have been much different.

[ADK]

Uni is as good as what you put into it. If you think all students are wankers and only go out with your pre-uni mates then you'll probably not enjoy uni.

[21st Century Fox]

This has been in my mind lately, I went back to my old uni for a work meeting last Friday. I do miss it but I would probably do it differently were I able to redo my time again. I really didn't take full advantage of how good the place was.

[StanSP]

Definitely miss it every now and then. Miss the flexibility of time and independence. I miss the alcohol-fuelled days as opposed to slogging it out in an office these days! I miss the regular 2-3 evenings of football. I miss just having a good time!

[pSinatra]

I felt like a fish out of water pretty much from the word go.  I'd had this vague and romantic picture in my head that it would be full of bohemian radical types but on arrival it was all tucked in checked shirts and wet look hair (it was 1993, in fairness), and night after night of terrible lowest common denominator club nights and permanent drinking.

 

Like a twat I also said I wouldn't mind sharing a room, and it's very difficult to lock yourself away from everything that horrifies you if you end up doing that.

 

I didn't like the course - it was far too much like hard work, having not found my A levels especially taxing, and it was painfully obvious that the staff were far, far more interested in their own academic work than they were in the students.

 

I should have packed it in, but due to some strange sense of duty I stuck it out, at terrible cost to my mental health, but at the same time friendships were made that have endured, so it wasn't all bad.  Of course, everyone else had a lovely time (except the girl that went mad after a few weeks and was taken away in an ambulance never to return) so don't anyone let me put them off

 

It weren't Sheffield was it?  You could have written that for me.

 

I did History at Sheffield University & I'll never know how I managed to finish 3 years with any sort of qualification?  I had sort of pinned my hopes on doing Sociology at Nottingham & had it not been for the worst interview ever, things may have been different for me.

 

Sheffield is a great city & I have nothing but good things to say about the place.  I would say that the university itself is fairly decent, not being able to compare it to many others.  It's just that university life was not for me.  Definitely a 'fish out of water'.  It was like hanging around with 15 year olds, let out after dark for the first time.

 

The course was dull & as others have said, the lecturers were paying the bills whilst they did their own thing.  The only good lecturer I remember was an eccentric, Communist Party member who used to sing Don Maclean songs at us........but he was mental.  He reminded me of Brian Blessed.  I had 9 hours a week of lectures (5 hrs a week in the 3rd) & I barely managed many of them.   Essays were always last-minute, rush jobs.  I went to one of those tutorial/study group things & never bothered again.  I applied myself the bare minimum.  I had a darts board in my room & became quite an accomplished darts player though.

 

I enjoy working life ten times more than university life.  I made some good friends & I have some very good memories.  I sometimes feel ashamed that I was given an opportunity that many others will never get & I pissed it up the wall. That I could have been happier & more productive with my time......like work & learning something useful.  But I'm happy with where I am now & it's part of how I got here.