Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Things to think about &/or take to shared accommodation?

36 replies

KatyMac · 26/05/2014 11:41

I'm stressing about DD going away; I respond to stress by over planning. I know this isn't very productive but it helps me......so indulge me

What do I need to remember to ask about shared housing?

What do I need to remember to remind DD to pack?

& I know the "if she is old enough to leave home she is old enough to do it herself" thing - but this isn't about her, it's about me!

I know I'm a nightmare

OP posts:
EduCated · 26/05/2014 14:32

First things first, do you know what is provided in terms of kitchen/bedroom? Ie does she need to take pans and crockery, or is it provided? Ditto bedding etc.

Things everyone forgot in halls when I lived there:
Drawing pins
Coat hangers
Blankets (crap heating)
Extension leads/multi socket adapters
Door wedge

rightsaidfrederickII · 26/05/2014 16:28

Is this halls of residence or a houseshare? If it's the former it will be well heated, if it's the latter, less so!

There's a very exhaustive list here though www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/What_To_Take_To_University

KatyMac · 26/05/2014 17:52

Oh thanks rightsaidfrederickII I'll have a look

She is provided with quilt, bedding if she wants but can bring her own.
Needs towels

Drawing pins - umm no, I don't think so....a notice board maybe or a white board
Coat hangers - great idea......I bought some fancy ones for her a few weeks ago!
Blankets (crap heating) - good idea
Extension leads/multi socket adapters bought this today Blush & a surge protector
Door wedge - good idea

It's a house with a landlady who will be there some of the time but won't provide meals - she will have to cook but the kitchen looked pretty well equiped

OP posts:
Cardinal · 26/05/2014 17:53

Which uni is it?

KatyMac · 26/05/2014 18:02

It's a performing arts college just outside London

I met the landlady yesterday & it's all sorted (& less than I expected)

OP posts:
Cardinal · 26/05/2014 18:03

Oh sounds so exciting!

Make sure she's got a bottle opener and a corkscrew. Vital for freshers week!

KatyMac · 26/05/2014 18:07

No chance, she is 16

It is getting exciting, now I can 'see' where she will be living

OP posts:
KatyMac · 26/05/2014 20:22

Love, love, love that list

Very anal comprehensive!

OP posts:
KatyMac · 26/05/2014 21:41

Got about 8 pages of 'stuff' to take with one line of "Gym & sports clothes"; when in fact that is going to be 3/4 of what she takes Wink

OP posts:
EduCated · 26/05/2014 23:32

Cheese grater. It's a well known fact that grated cheese vastly improves all student cooking.

Mirror if there isn't one in the room.

Alarm clock.

Little homey bits - cushion, lamp, photos etc

KatyMac · 27/05/2014 09:00

Must get photos of room, so I know what there is......

Grated Cheese - if she has learnt anything from me - it's buy large bags of grated cheese & freeze!!

Apparently an alarm clock is no longer necessary - she has her phone unless the battery dies or she forgets to charge it

OP posts:
Isthiscorrect · 27/05/2014 18:32

If she has a docking station for her phone she will get her alarm and charge it and not lose it in a heap of shite.

ThatBloodyWoman · 27/05/2014 18:35

Smoke alarm.
CO alarm.

ThatBloodyWoman · 27/05/2014 18:36

Her own tea towels.

Ime tea towels in shared houses always stink ad no one takes responsibility for washing them.

KatyMac · 27/05/2014 18:58

I'll get some more teatowels

Docking station is good (can you get one for non iPod thingies - I think DD has an HTC Desire?)

Smoke alarm & Co2 Alarm are in place and regularly checked

OP posts:
KatyMac · 27/05/2014 20:56

DD has packed 6 tins of custard Hmm

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 27/05/2014 21:03

It's not the one with the KT post code is it by any chance? I seem to remember she was down auditioning?

If so, I can PM you our details as we are very close in case of emergency.

KatyMac · 27/05/2014 21:04

That's really kind but no she will be in Essex! with custard

OP posts:
FamiliesShareGerms · 27/05/2014 21:15

Tin opener

Sharp knife

Book end

KatyMac · 27/05/2014 21:32

Love your name Families - I guess Shared houses do too (so I better pack immodium, paracetamol & honey&lemon cough medicine)

Book ends - I never thought of that!

OP posts:
FamiliesShareGerms · 27/05/2014 21:43

Ha ha Katy, good point! A small first aid kit (plasters, savlon, bonjela, paracetamol, lemsip) would be a good idea

Two pairs of scissors (one small, one large) plus Sellotape would be useful too

KatyMac · 27/05/2014 21:45

Yes - scissors!

She probably won't need much stationery tho' we are still negotiating about laptop & printer - I think yes to print out scores if nothing else - she thinks no, the college will give her scores and if they don't she can print out at the weekend - Hmm

She thinks her Hudl will be enough

OP posts:
voodoochimp · 27/05/2014 21:48

Earplugs!

RoseMore · 27/05/2014 21:49

Serial numbers of mobile phone, lap top, camera etc. to be recorded and left at home.

KatyMac · 27/05/2014 21:56

Ear-plugs - hmm not sure how she sleeps as it's always quiet here; mind you she only has landlady plus yr 2 student so between the 3 of them they might be OK

Serial nos - great idea

OP posts: