First and foremost, R and R provided a wide variety of exciting opportunities that I took full advantage of. There were a plethora of social events on offer, and the simple fact of being in a hall of 178 close-knit individuals made these that much more enjoyable.

R and R also provided great academic, sporting and cultural activities that were certainly a great change from lectures! Furthermore R and R gave me the freedom to explore my own goals and interests outside of hall life, and Stephen was always highly supportive. I'm not sure how I could have managed to be a competitive rower and a focused academic without the culmination of all the things that I've now come to appreciate - prepared meals and a warm room.

For any prospective university student, I'd definitely encourage them to stay in a Hall of Residence for their first year. The reasons are obvious; you get considerably more social opportunities through being surrounded by your peers than you would if you were living at home, which allows you to establish long-lasting friendships and connections.

Rochester and Rutherford Hall allows you to get to know each individual, and you don't get lost in the crowd. The facilities themselves are excellent and the Principal Stephen respects your maturity which allows you to develop as your own person.