The Life of a St Andrews Student

As I'm heading into my third year, I finally feel qualified to comment on the life of an English student at the University of St Andrews! It's been a long journey, but I'm having some of the best years of my life and it's been totally worth it!

Before I applied to any universities, I sat down with my parents and attempted to begin the long process of narrowing down my choices to the final five that I would end up applying to.

At the time, I had three criteria:

• No more than 2 hours away from home (South West England)

• A campus university

• Somewhere where I could study Philosophy & Politics

Now, those of you who are more astute may have realised that I am currently studying English Literature at a non-campus uni, around 8 hours drive from home; in fact in an entirely different country! Not exactly what I had first imagined... but St Andrews has something special that I've never seen any other university offer.

Not only does it sit right on the seafront, offering spectacular views from every side of the town, but it presents its students with a history of traditions that are passed down through years of bejants (A name given to first year students at Scottish universities).

The striking symbolic gowns, unique to St Andrews, quite literally paint the town red every Sunday at noon as the traditional pier walk takes place. I can honestly say that my first pier walk was one of the most terrifying things I have done, as I strode down the pier, climbed up a ladder to a higher ledge, and proceeded to return back towards the shore amongst a parade of staff and students. Despite this, it's one of the traditions that truly makes you feel like a St Andrian, and is definitely a custom that all students should immerse themselves in.

The academic family system is another unique convention that makes the university special. First years are 'adopted' by third year parents who act as mentors as well as friends and lead them in family activities including Raisin Weekend; a mad series of challenges set as a scavenger hunt through the streets of the town, cumulating in a foam fight on the St Salvator's lawn.

Finally, the dreaded PH symbol cast in stone outside Sallies Quad is known as cursed around the town, and those who step on it are doomed to bad luck in their end of year exams. The only way to save yourself from this destiny, is to cleanse yourself in the North Sea in a ritual known as May Dip. Quite why this has to be at 5am, I don't know. But come dawn on the 1st May each year, the entire university heads down to the beach and runs into the sea. Mad, I know, but it's yet another practice that makes St Andrews such as special place to be.

Overall, despite the lack of campus and gruelling eight hour drive from home, I can safely say that choosing to study English at the University of St Andrews was one of the best decisions I've made. I can't wait to finish my final two years there and see where life takes me!

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Zizz x