Feedback of students and families
Google review of United Boys Hostel by Arun Kumar★★★★☆ "It is one of the best hostels, available in the area, considering the facilities they provide. For all the students, at FAST, I will definitely recommend them to check out this place.
Pros:
1) No Electricity issues (Though there are electricity issues in the area but there is no such issues at the hostel as they have sound back-up systems)
2) Clean (There is designated staff available for dusting and cleaning rooms)
3) Availability of clean water
4) Good infrastructure
5) Availability of cook (Whenever a cook leaves for any reason, they instantly arrange another cook so students' don't get affected)
6) Technicians (There are technicians available all the time, so if there is any issue such as if a bulb or light stops working, it gets fixed,instantly)
7) Nice Furniture
8) CCTV Cameras(There are CCTV cameras installed everywhere in the hostel but as the area is not safe itself, students have got mugged several times, but the owner has tried best to provide security)
9) Internet Availability
Special Mention: If there is any medical emergency, the owner provides special care for the students by arranging special food for them or connecting them with a doctor.
Cons:
1) Mess Availability (if the university starts in the middle or in the last week of the month, the mess doesn't start due to unavailability of cook or any other reason. So students have to manage by themselves).
2) Number of students In a Room (If there is no space for a new student in the hostel, they sometimes get adjusted with others making the room congested. Also if the room has a attach bathroom, there remains no reason to pay a premium if the room has more than the adequate number of students.)
3) Food (Food is good but the menu is limited).
4) No Facility In Summers(If the students are taking any course in summer, there is no mess available. For other things such as electricity, internet, and water kindly consult the owner that are these things available in the summers or not).
Note: I will appreciate the owner for how they look after students from other religious backgrounds as they provide vegetarian food for the Hindu students.
My only recommendation to the owner will be to not invest anymore on the infrastructure of the hostel but on the food and mess. There should be regular meetings with the students(twice a month) to discuss their preferences in the menu. From all the 3 meals, I feel the breakfast needs to change as for students who choose vegetarian meal there is no option for them in the breakfast. Try to keep 2 menus and follow both alternatively(one menu for one week and the other for the next week and then continue to follow this sequence). For summers, I would request to add drinks(Lassi) in the menu, though it might not be possible, considering the business value, it will generate but for the students it will be really beneficial and they need this more than good infrastructure.
Another thing I will suggest the owner to do is to keep a fridge and an oven on every floor as there is no oven in the hostel and only 1 fridge which is always loaded with kitchen accessories. Providing oven and fridge will enable students to keep food they bring from home or order from outside and heat it at their convenience.
For Ramzan, they do provide sehri, iftari, and dinner but again the menu is very limited. Also I will request the owner to make some arrangements for those who don't keep fast.
Overall, it is a great place to live in, do consider it.
Thanks" 