The red gown is more than a piece of clothing; it’s a social filter. It instantly identifies you as part of the community, which is fantastic, but it also means there’s virtually no distinction between the university and the town. Everything is St Andrews. The downside? Administrative staff can be overwhelmed and hard to reach because the ratio of high-achieving students to general support infrastructure feels skewed. You’ll need to be self-reliant and persistent, despite the warm collegiate feeling.