Are they many of you that have persuaded your dc to go to local universities and stay living at home

[EleanorReally]

i am sure i heard this was a thing now, due to expense.

[SleepyKat]

I wouldn’t go as far as saying I persuaded her at all. But dd goes to the local uni and lives at home. She couldn’t decide between 2 courses, one at the home uni, one a couple of hours away. She really liked both, had a better gut feeling about the one further away but on paper the stats of the home uni were better. She decided on the home uni and I know that saving money was a consideration in her decision.

[Decorhate]

Not personally but some of the pupils at the school I work at, who could have gone to more prestigious unis, stayed local - probably a combination of keeping expenses down & wanting to stay at home for longer for other reasons.

I also have friends who encouraged their dc to stay local because they had ongoing mental health issues & wanted to keep an eye on them, be near to support them in a crisis.

[Ragwort]

My friend’s DD is living at home and just started at the local uni, she is finding it quite difficult to make friends and settle in because she is always worried about getting home (poor travel links where we live).

I understand that it saves huge amounts of money but for me, most of the ‘uni experience’ was about living away from home, becoming more independent, establishing ‘my own’ life etc. Someone else I know bitterly regrets going to a local uni, in fact she’s never left home, now in her third year of full time (professional, well paid job) but still lives at home .... it is not something I would have encouraged my DS to do, but do appreciate the financial difficulties going away to uni can cause.

[57Varieties]

It’s always been more common up here (Scotland) I’d prefer it if my son stayed home mainly for financial reasons and we live in Glasgow where he should be able to study what he wants as there are so many places to study but if he wants to go away or needs to for his course I’ll support him.

I’m not sure bringing forward a few years of independence is worth all the debt moving away just for the sake of it will bring. They all move out eventually anyway!

[Faircastle]

We have encouraged them to look for the course they liked, at the best universities they could get into with their predicted grades; research-based universities with a strong reputation. Our local university is OK but not in that league.

Our family income means that we need to top up the student loan, but we have prepared for this. They also have part-time jobs.

[scrunchSE18]

Living in London there’s a big choice in terms of ‘local’ unis. My niece commuted from home for her first year then did house share after that. My DS hopes to do the same for a number of reasons. At his uni 50% are commuter students I believe. No persuasion needed but I am glad I can keep an eye on him during his first year at least.

[Onceuponatimethen]

My dc are younger at the moment but I plan to encourage them to go to the local uni

[EleanorReally]

oh yes, I heard that about Scotland, interesting that it is more common to stay at home

[nitgel]

My son goes local. I didn't persuade him to go there. I left the choice completely for him to make.

[EleanorReally]

Back in the 80s it was absolutely the thing to do, leave home, but due to so much expense some things have got to change.

[Etino]

As a pp said, in London, so at lest they’ve gone to good unis. I think it’s a proper cultural capital/ soft skills situation that they’re missing out on though. I know of 2 kids- straight A’s, first class degrees from london Russell groups who have failed to get into grad schemes. They’re gorgeous kids but very young.
Mine and other friends ds who went far away have done ‘better’ in terms of vacation travel and opportunities, employment after uni etc.

[AuntieMarys]

No mine went about an hour and a half away. Close enough to get home if necessary but far enough to be independent.

[EleanorReally]

so it is confidence building?

[MaybeDoctor]

I think I would definitely advise against a long or complicated journey to university. Two hours seems fine to me: far enough for independence, but close enough for an easy journey home for the weekend or for parents to provide help in an emergency.

I think schools have to take some responsibility in not encouraging mad, far-flung choices. Train fares and petrol costs can be prohibitive these days.

[beela]

My dc have decided to stay local and continue living at home. They are currently 8 and 5, so may change their minds nearer the time.

[EleanorReally]

good point maybe doctor.

[EleanorReally]

at 8 @beela my dd never wanted to leave home, ever

[TheCanterburyWhales]

I've noticed that about half of my final year kids are now staying local. I'd guage (knowing them fairly well) that for every one who does it for financial constraint reasons, there are another 2 or 3 doing it because they see it as the easy option, all the home comforts waiting for you, your ready made group of friends, your social life, most probably your boyfriend or girlfriend close by etc etc)

I was at university in the 80s and on my course of 60 there was one boy who was local- I remember him particularly because we just didn't know him apart from his name and that he lived in Manchester. He dropped out after the first year .

DD is 16 and doesn't even want to go to university in this country! It will absolutely be her choice, and obviously, I'll miss her like mad when she goes..but if she opts for the local one, yes, I'll be disappointed.

[Parker231]

We live in London but DT’s are both at Uni’s a good distance away. We encouraged them to go where the best course for them was regardless of where it was.

[TheCanterburyWhales]

What is yours doing/planning OP?

[imip]

I’m also in London. I have 2 ASD dc and 2 NT. I think I will encourage ASD kids to try locally, maybe even at some point arranging them to live on campus even though we are close. Ultimately it will depend on which university supports them well also. Some are better than others. The other two can choose what they want, but I like the idea of being local with perhaps doing an exchange year at some point.

I come from Australia, and it’s common to live at home at uni if you live in a capital city. I moved out of home at 21.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

I have 2 currently at uni, ds1 is in 2nd year of a 5 year course and living at home and travelling. Door to door he is under an hour, the train takes between 30 and 40 minutes usually. It was his choice as he doesn't feel ready to live away yet. I'm happy to pay to accommodation for him when and if he wants to.

DS2 is in his 1st year of 4, he is living away in a city approx 2.5 hour drive away. The train takes just over 2 hours but he's not been home yet so not sure how long it will take to get to the station. This was also his choice and he tells me he is loving it. I'm looking forward to seeing him to judge for myself.

[Babdoc]

Mine both lived away from home for uni. One 50 miles away, one 380 miles away. They visited several uni’s that were well regarded for their chosen courses, and picked the best. Fortunately, the far away one had excellent pastoral care and a college system, so the students were all in a small group in each college and well supported by tutors and staff who knew them personally.
Both DDs came home for the holidays, and we kept in touch during term time by phone and social media.
It was very expensive, particularly as I’m widowed and had to support three households on one income, but I wanted them to have the full uni experience, and the freedom to be adults.

[Propertyfaux]

DS at one point had the local university as a strong option. But still would of lived in halls for the first year. He still wanted the university experience even if it was 10 miles away.

[EleanorReally]

oh mine is 4 hours away, and the older dd, now graduated, 1.5 hours away.
but i think 4 hours must the furthest i would be happy with, otoh, she can come home by coach/train