Housing podcast

Bringing you episode 1 of Singsoc chat time! Through this podcast series, we aim to share our York experiences in the hopes of shedding some light on our topics. May it be the things we wish we knew, advice, and what went right or wrong. 

In this episode, we discuss housing. Within our committee we’ve had such varied experiences when it comes to accommodation in York, having taken many routes after dorms in first year. We will touch on on-campus living, private student accommodation, and private accommodation. We discuss our first-year York college experience - security, roommates, as well as culture and lifestyle adjustments. 

We then talked about the options available for accommodation come second year, and why we each took the route that we did. Why did some choose to leave uni accommodation and why did some stay? How accessible are the other options and how does rent differ? These are some of the questions we answer in today’s chat! 

In the end, we can all agree that you’ll never be left homeless and you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to student living! There are loads of options available that suit every individuals needs and lifestyles. 

Before you arrive

Bringing you episode 2 of Singsoc chat time! Through this podcast series, we aim to share our York experiences in the hopes of shedding some light on our topics. May it be the things we wish we knew, advice, and what went right or wrong. 

In this episode, we discuss what to expect before you arrive in York. We touch on what to bring (mementos from home, stationary, things you can’t find in York), adjustments to the English weather (cold!!!), and the actual journey to York from Singapore (flights and trains). We also talk about the ins & outs of adulting – opening bank accounts, mobile telcos, and student benefits. 

We understand how overwhelming this can be all at once! Hopefully we’ve been able to make adulting a little less daunting ;) 

What to bring What to buy 

Bringing you episode 3 of Singsoc chat time! Through this podcast series, we aim to share our York experiences in the hopes of shedding some light on our topics. May it be the things we wish we knew, advice, and what went right or wrong. 

In this episode, we discuss what to bring and what not to bring to York. What were the things we were glad to have on-hand from home? What could we have gone without? What were some of the things we needed to get straightaway when arriving? These are some of the questions we asked ourselves when we started out at York, and hopefully you can learn from our experiences! 

We also discuss the everyday necessities that aren’t possible to bring in your luggage (eg. bedding, pillows, blankets, kitchen utensils and pots) – buying them straight from town or making use of uni kits? For skincare & toiletries, we touch on the differences we’ve noticed (no more humidity!!!) 

Cooking

From cafes to bars to restaurants and everything in between, York has a great scene. But what about eating in? In this episode, we discuss our cooking skills before and after uni (being a chef is hard work!), the kitchens in dorms and other, and grocery shopping. 

Don’t fret if your specialised dish is maggi mee at the moment, we’ve been there! And it does get better :’)

Things we wish we knew (academic)

This episode is the first of a two-part series regarding what we wish we knew before coming to university. In this episode, we discuss academia and how it differed from what we were used to. We touch on the workload, teaching styles, and the role of supervisors. We also address the famous statement – that first year doesn’t count! We agree that York encourages students to take their own initiative when it comes to furthering your own education, however the resources provided by the university are there as and when you need them. 

Yes, our primary focus is to get an education – but this time is also all about trying new things! Remember to get out there and broaden your horizons as much as you can ;)

Things we wish we knew (social)

This episode is the last of a two-part series regarding what we wish we knew before coming to university. In this episode, we discuss freshers week and the social aspect of university. We touch on freshers events, night-life culture, and integrating to a new environment! We also share what it was like to move in to university dorms - and our experiences vary quite a bit! 
This is our take on some of our firsts - we hope you find it helpful and eases the nerves a bit! It’s important to remember that everyone you meet is in the same boat as you, and remember to have fun!

Eating out

It is a well-known fact that as Singaporeans, we all love food. In this episode, we discuss our favourite restaurants, cafes and bars. Whether on or off campus, York has great & affordable options for all your cravings. We touch on the bar & café culture, and the independent scene that makes up a big part of York’s food scene!