#student roost

[studentroost-blog]

11 excuses used by university students to miss a lecture

You’ve prepared everything the night before, and you’re going to turn up nice and early for your class. Except the universe has other plans and suddenly your washing machine has exploded / your toilet’s blocked / your room’s been hit by a meteor and you’re going to have to miss your lecture.

OK, so maybe the last one was a bit of an exaggeration, but when it comes to excuses, university lecturers have heard them all – and luckily for you, we’re sharing them with you:

1.      “My key snapped in my front door and I got locked in.” Interesting spin on the classic “I got locked out of my house” line.

2.      “I put my shoes on but it was only when I left the house I realised they were mismatched.” Because naturally, you have to be fashion-conscious in order to study.

3.      “I went to leave the house but halfway down the street my cat was following me so I had to take her home.” What’s more surprising about this excuse is the fact they’re allowed pets in their student accommodation!  

4.      “My snooze button jammed so my alarm didn’t go off.” Despite how advanced technology is, there’s always some fault at large.

5.      “I got lost trying to find the lecture hall but couldn’t find it so went home.” If that’s what’s holding you back from getting your degree wait until you get a job!

6.      “My bus didn’t arrive on time and the next wasn’t due for almost an hour.” Public transport can be so fickle at times.

7.      “I got my days mixed up – I thought the lecture was for tomorrow!” Nice try, but next time? Try harder.

8.      “I’m already way ahead of my classmates, so I could afford to give this a miss.” Not sure if this is brave of just…stupid.

9.      “I think I’m coming down with freshers’ flu.” Or maybe last night’s antics caught up with you sooner than you had hoped for.

10.      “I was going to be really late but that would have been too embarrassing so I decided not to turn up at all.” That’s…not even a legitimate excuse.

11.      “I heard noises in my house last night and thought it was a ghost but I was too scared to go to sleep and ended up being too tired to attend class.” Just when you think you’ve heard them all, there’s one excuse that tops them all. 

These have definitely given us a laugh here at Student Roost, but we strongly advise not to use these excuses for yourself – you may end up getting caught out!

[studentroost-blog]

6 common arguments and how to resolve them

Moving into student accommodation signals two very exciting changes: one, independence as you move away from home and two, the chance to make new friends. 

However, making friends is one thing while living with them is another – so to avoid making enemies instead, we’ve come up with a list of the most common student arguments and how to work them out:

1.      Keeping it clean. While no one expects student accommodation to look absolutely spotless, no one expects to live in a dump either. In terms of mess, the kitchen is the most likely culprit – with food-covered plates going unwashed for days. A simple way to resolve this is to wash your plates up after you’ve eaten, or test out a kitchen rota.

2.      Noise levels. Different study schedules mean different sleeping patterns, and for every morning person there’s always a night owl. So to avoid conflicting sleeping times (as well as conflicts) set down some ground rules such as no noise from midnight until 7am, as well as being mindful in communal areas and keeping the TV on a low volume.  

3.      Plus one. Someone’s got their partner / friend bunking over for a few nights, and that’s tolerable. But suddenly a few nights has extended into a few weeks, and they’ve overstayed their welcome. It can feel as though they’re invading your personal space, so to claim that back, explain to them that there should be a limit of at least three visits a week, and during times of exams no visits should be allowed.   

4.      Shower hog. There’s three minute showers, then there’s what feels like spa days as you wait for your turn for the bathroom. If a few of you all need to get ready at around the same time, set allocated slots so people can get ready in plenty of time.

5.      Fridge thieves. You just bought a pint of milk for tomorrow’s breakfast but as soon as you go to drink it…it’s gone. Make sure you label your food and drink, and claim individual fridge and storage space so everyone knows whose is whose.

6.      Party animals. Going out can be quite an expensive hobby, so having the occasional house party can be a great way of keeping costs down. Only problem is, it’s not the best way to keep noise levels down – if this happens on a regular basis talk to them about taking it in turns to host. And when they do party, make sure they know what time they need to keep the noise down – so the party can still keep going and you can still get your beauty sleep.

Have you had any of these experiences? Tell us how it worked out – or not – on our Facebook page today!   

[studentroost-blog]

The weirdest student requests revealed

With going to university being the first time many young people have moved away from home, it can be quite a shock to find that simple comforts – such as en-suite bathrooms – are not included as standard in their university accommodation.

But while some people might forgive this small oversight, spare a thought for the accommodation agents receiving requests ranging from the downright ridiculous to the, well, genuinely baffling:

1.      Can you remove the kitchen from my studio so my rent will be cheaper? It’s one thing being a student and saving money – but it’s something else entirely when your accommodation has to be completely renovated just so you can save a few pennies!

2.      Can I bring my pet rat from Argentina? Unfortunately many student accommodation providers prohibit pets, but at least this student had the courtesy to ask.

3.      Is there enough space in the room for my grand piano? This might not be a good idea if you’re living in shared accommodation - the issue isn’t really the space, but more about how bad/loud the piano playing might be.

4.      I need a room filled with mirrors so I can dance. What’s interesting isn’t so much the request, but the reason.

5.      Do you know if my flight to Leeds will land at my halls or the airport? If the student really had to ask this question, perhaps going to university isn’t the right educational choice for them right now.

6.      I don’t need a flat with a washing machine, I’ve got one in the back of my Nissan Micra. Some students plan for now, and some students plan for the future – the jury’s out for if this student has any plans at all!   

While we can’t promise you a mirror-filled room, we can however guarantee quality student accommodation. From Edinburgh to Birmingham, check out our range of locations today!