Moving to Edmonton...

[Traditional_Ale]

Moving to Edmonton for an education....

Seems a lot like getting a "Participant" ribbon...

[Titan]

for what it is worth, if I had to do it again I would definately live in Res for the first year. I did my first year at home and then rented apts. I never did feel a part of the "university experience" Plus after a year you know people, know where to live and where to look for places etc.

Go for it.

[Brewmaster]

Repeating what the other replies have said, Lister Hall is a great place to meet people and party. I have a large group of friends at the U of A that are almost all from living in residence for two years.
On the downside, the place gets pretty gross sometimes and the food isn't good. If you're going up in the summer time you'll have a completely different experience than the fall or winter semesters. From what I've heard, Lister is pretty much dead during the summer.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Titan

for what it is worth, if I had to do it again I would definately live in Res for the first year. I did my first year at home and then rented apts. I never did feel a part of the "university experience" Plus after a year you know people, know where to live and where to look for places etc.

Go for it.

Completely agreed, especially when you're going to school out of town, so you dont have a bunch of buddies going to the school from HS. I'm in that boat right now. My cousin's just starting out college in BC and I told him he should definitely do the Rez route, which he is. I'm jealous. I think it's an important step in branching out away from the parents and meeting a ton of people, especially at that age. I've been to a couple shakers in Rez and I get jealous of the people living there every time. Looks like a sweet setup.

[ghouston]

Well I have never lived in Lister, and it seems I am the only one who is happy I didn't. I have many friends who have lived and live there and I can say I am not fond of that place. I live in residence, Newton Place, it's apparments and the rent is cheep ($850 for one bedroom). First years wont get in but if you go the lister route the first year try and get in at Newton after, its just nicer.

U of A is a great school, no matter how you live in Edmonton you will enjoy your time here. Good luck!

[Sly]

Haha thanks for your replies... I might actually try the dorm route since my parents aren't loaded.. so I guess its the only choice.

[Berger_4_]

Do it man! I'm in rez at U of C (anybody here lived on 5K?) and it's an absolute blast. Even if your parents bought you a house, screw it dude. Live in rez for a year. The friends that I've made are unreal and the parties are legen...wait for it...dary! I've spent way too much money on booze haha. Get ready to never have enough sleep, always be sick, and always be pissed off at someone for something. But trust me it's worth it. Like I said, you'll make a bunch of friends and always have something (or someone haha) to do. Sure, you might not get a lot of work done, and you might just about fail some courses but screw it, it's only first year.

If you do wanna study, there's always the library or ack lounges to go to...and beware of falling into the trap that is not keeping up on your readings and instead deciding to play video games all day with everyone.

I have a buddy from home who goes to Calgary as well (he's first year ENGG) who lives just off campus, and he isn't a huge fan of it. He's a little choked that he didn't really meet anyone, instead he just goes to class then goes home, or comes and gets loaded or games or whatever with us.

Oh and I'd have to say go for a double. Split a room with another person you've never met before. Of course, I'm saying this cause I completely lucked out and got pretty much the best roommate I could've. If you're the party type and super giving though, take one for the team. Get a single, and turn it into the party room. Actually that's a lie. Every room can be a party room. Or be like my other ENGG buddy (Good Lord I have too many ENGG friends haha) who smuggled a reclining leather couch into his room. Now we've got a solid chill room as well.

Anyways, enough rambling for now, and good luck with school!

[3 Justin 3]

Better start growing the old mullet:


You want to fit in right?

[mrdeeds]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

Get ready to never have enough sleep, always be sick, and always be pissed off at someone for something. But trust me it's worth it. Like I said, you'll make a bunch of friends and always have something (or someone haha) to do. Sure, you might not get a lot of work done, and you might just about fail some courses but screw it, it's only first year.

Beware the Dean's Vacation my friends, it could stunt your academic career. Seriously though, if you think you can handle it, go for Rez, but mind your limits.

[Shaner]

I went to the U of A between 2004 and 2007. I was lucky enough to run into a little bit of money and put a downpayment on a one bedroom condo in South Edmonton. It was perfect for me as it was 15 minutes from the University (with good traffic) and 2 minutes to the QEII. However, because I got a condo, I definitely gave up some good times at Lister. Two of my buddies lived in Lister so I joined most of the parties on the weekends, but never really felt like I knew anyone all that well. A previous poster mentioned that you will meet 50 people in the first week if you live in a dorm as opposed to somewhere else off of campus, and that is very true. The day I graduated, I still felt as if I didn't really obtain any great/true friendships with anyone except for the guys/gals I knew from Calgary who attended the U of A. Shoot for Lister in your first year forsure!

A little OT, but something to think about, I was getting my BA and my buddies were all in Engineering of some sort. I found that the Engineering students were much more closely knit. I believe Engineering students usually take the same courses at the same time, where a BA you have more freedom and flexibility of courses that you take, and when you take them. So it was a bit of a double whammy for me, I lived off campus and didn't see too many familiar faces in all of my classes.

[Phanuthier]

^ Yeah I did engineering at UofA, and all you take pretty much exactly all the same classes as your classmates. By the time we all reached 4th year, I knew everyone in my program in my year (electrical engineering, 120 students) and at least 20% of every other program (mechanical, chemical, civil, etc). Being in engineering (or business I hear) really helps off-campus folk because they do so much together and there are so many clubs to get involved with, but I can see it being tough for a science or a arts to meet close friends outside of res.

But, if you live off campus and you are in a science or arts, you arn't SOL either. There are tons of clubs and stuff you can get involved with to get out there and meet people. I did orientation for a few years at UofA as well, and I was pretty active in a few clubs (mostly engineering) and I met alot of friends through that as well.

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by mrdeeds

Beware the Dean's Vacation my friends, it could stunt your academic career. Seriously though, if you think you can handle it, go for Rez, but mind your limits.

Haha well fortunately I didn't fail any of my classes. So far anyways, I still need to get my marks back from a HTST class. Stupid teacher seemed to be very against posting anything online. Interesting class though.

Shaner...you sound exactly like my buddy. Lived off campus but came to all the parties (actually he was there so much that people thought he lived on the floor for the first couple weeks haha) but he's a little choked that he hasn't really gotten to know anybody, other than the little he sees everyone else when we're partying.

Also, you're right on the ENGG kids being very close knit. They've got chants and cheers and drinking events, whereas my stupid COMS degree has nothing (at least that I'm aware of). I guess they kinda have to be though because from what I can tell, their workload is absolutely killer.