Living in Carrick View
02 August 2023
This piece was written by Illustration BA(Hons) student Natalie about studying at Falmouth and living in Carrick View student accommodation.
When I moved into Carrick View for my first year at university, I found the experience to be very smooth-sailing and straightforward.
I was given a 1-hour slot where I could unload, collect my key fob for my flat and soon-to-be room for the year and finally, or at least in my case, wave goodbye to my family as they drove off back home. I realised in that moment, that I had thrown myself in the deep end and felt way out of my depth once it hit me that this was going to be my home for the next year!
Luckily, I managed to survive, gained new experiences and met amazing people (who I went on to now live with in private rentals!) and I’m now here to help spread information & tips about the area and student accommodation, I wish I had known beforehand.
First off, moving into any new place is never going to be easy and there will always be an adjustment period, which varies in length depending on the individual. The downside? Feeling like this will suck, and sometimes the homesickness can really take a hit to your morale. The upside? You and everyone else you live with are all going through this adjustment period together.
Carrick View is comprised of blocks of flats, which can hold up to 8 people per flat (mine held 8 people including me), and some self-contained studios on the top floors. All rooms come with en-suites so the only communal place you’ll need to share will be the kitchen.
Top tip? Have a scout of the kitchen, check out the cupboards and fridge/freezer and don’t be afraid to stake a claim on a spot that you think would work for you. Also, never underestimate the usefulness of food-shop deliveries, especially when you’re on a budget! Most supermarkets do home deliveries apart from Lidl, which you can get to by either a 10-minute bus ride, or a 25/30-minute walk if you want to get your steps in.
I remember when I first moved in, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. In hindsight, let me share with you that some things will naturally fall into place and, as hard as it is, try not to overthink your situation and instead allow yourself time to process. I would suggest keeping to a simple routine so as not to overwhelm yourself and, most crucially, utilise the first couple of days to introduce yourself and get to know your new flatmates – the conversation will come naturally, trust me!
I hadn’t realised how tense I was until I had sparked conversation with a few flatmates and, before I knew it, we ended the day chatting, getting to know each other and sighing in relief when we shared the worries and fears we had before moving in. Taking the first step is always the hardest, but the pay-off is worth it – and remember, everyone is in the same (effectively clueless) boat.
Speaking of, Freshers’ Week is also an amazing time to socialise with others on your course and generally to meet new people and get free taster sessions for societies. Many new students tend to underestimate fresher’s flu, so just a word of advice that it is always good to have a basic kit for health & wellbeing and, most importantly, to register with a local GP. Carrick View is in a good spot, as it is a walkable distance from most places and has a Pharmacy and a GP right next door.
It is about a 15/20-minute walk to most important places, including the Falmouth Campus, local mini Tesco, Penmere Station, Town and Gylly Beach. For students based at the Penryn Campus, there is also a local bus stop just down the road, where the ‘U’ buses, which travel between the two campuses, stop frequently. Downloading the First bus app was a huge help, as it calculates the journey for you!
I hope that you find these tips helpful and that this has helped you better envision moving into Carrick View and, by extension, Falmouth. There are loads of places to visit and quirky groups to join here, but most of all, just remember to pace yourself!
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