{"id":1327,"date":"2017-02-27T12:34:23","date_gmt":"2017-02-27T12:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copyright.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/?p=1327"},"modified":"2017-02-27T12:50:53","modified_gmt":"2017-02-27T12:50:53","slug":"deciding-to-live-in-halls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/social-sciences\/deciding-to-live-in-halls\/","title":{"rendered":"Deciding to live in halls"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u2018Loughborough University Halls Experience\u2019 is something which is hard to explain to those who have never experienced it. Even my friends at other universities, who live in private inner-city accommodation, just can\u2019t get their head around how \u2018hall life\u2019 works here at Loughborough. It is better than I could have ever imagined.<\/p>\n

I can very clearly remember that for me personally, while considering my university choices and options, the accommodation on offer was something I was very keen to get right. It sounds silly and probably even materialistic but it was something I was being picky about \u2013 and I\u2019m sure a lot of you reading this can also relate to this \u2013 It\u2019s where you are going to be every day of your university life; sleeping, eating, socialising, chilling, even sometimes working haha! So it\u2019s somewhere you want to feel safe and comfortable.<\/p>\n

I had repeatedly analysed every aspect of all the accommodation options on the Loughborough University accommodation website<\/a>. I had made a list of my top three choices and had even shown the likes of my grandparents where I was going to be living \u2013 I had my head very set and didn\u2019t really consider any other options.<\/p>\n

However, Loughborough University halls are very popular; with both freshers and returning second and third years (for good reason too!) And as much as the accommodation centre try their upmost to accommodate applicant\u2019s wishes, sometimes alternative options will be suggested.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So, as you can imagine, when I logged onto the accommodation website to select my room and the name \u2018Faraday, Catered Hall, Single Bed, En-Suite<\/a>\u2019 popped up on my screen as my only selection option \u2013 this was not what I wanted, so I went into panic mode \u2013 I wanted a double bed and also to be self catered, so this was almost the complete opposite of what I had in my head.\u00a0 However, when calling the help line organised by the university to help with any accommodation issues, the man on the phone was very reassuring and calming and suggested this was a highly sought after room and suggested I accept this offer \u2013 so I did.<\/p>\n

And all I can say is I am SO SO SO glad that I did. Faraday really is an amazing place. I now look back and think how narrow minded I was to exclude this from my favourite accommodation options list, purely based on the fact that the images online from the outside, show the buildings to be somewhat lacking in the modern aspect. As if I thought this would affect my halls experience\u2026 how far from the truth could I be!<\/p>\n

As I mentioned, Faraday is one of 7 catered<\/a> halls on campus. I am a fussy eater so this was a concern of mine \u2013 what if I didn\u2019t like the food? What if I didn\u2019t make it to dinner? Is there a kitchen in case I ever need to cook for myself? All big worries to someone who is really in the dark, unknowing of what to expect. However, the dining hall has a wide selection of options<\/a> with choices to cater to all.<\/p>\n

The meal times are also extended: I always can make dinner and lunch. And if you need to miss lunch or dinner for whatever reason there is always the option to get a packed lunch or your food to take away with you. With full fry ups, croissants and fresh fruit (and more) available every morning \u2013 guarantee if you were shopping for yourself this would not be the case!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The other aspect of living in a big university hall is the social aspect. Throughout the year there is numerous \u2018high tables\u2019, (fancy dinners where we all get dressed up), social events, well being activities<\/a>, IMS sport<\/a>\u00a0 – the social possibilities are literally right on your doorstep! There are\u00a0endless ways to make new friends, meet new people and allow yourself to grow as a person too.<\/p>\n

Another major bonus of living in halls is the location \u2013 I have very often rolled out of bed at 8:50AM and made it on time for my 9AM lecture \u2013 trust me, you need all the extra sleep you can get when you\u2019re a uni student!<\/p>\n

I arrived in University halls for the first time, late September 2015\u2026 and I am still sat here now writing this blog to you all. (I have moved from my room in this time just to confirm haha!) But I guess what I\u2019m trying to say is this place really has become my home \u2013 something I would recommend to all to experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u2018Loughborough University Halls Experience\u2019 is something which is hard to explain to those who have never experienced it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":439,"featured_media":1330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"lboro_blog_alternative_thumbnail_image":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-sciences"],"yoast_head":"\nDeciding to live in halls - Student Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Niamh describes her experiences with signing up for accommodation, and how living in halls positively impacted her time at university.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/social-sciences\/deciding-to-live-in-halls\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Deciding to live in halls - 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