DS off to uni - what does he need

[Pamelaaa]

So as the title says DS is off in the middle of September after successful results today. He has got a room in halls with a shared kitchen etc. So I am now trying to think about what he will need to take. Can anyone offer any advice with the list? Please include the basic and the obvious as am not sure where to start.

Also is there anything we need to find out about with regards the accommodation and what is covered?

Thanks everyone.

I asked DS about it as I’d read on here that it was a thing. He wondered why anyone would want randoms wandering into their room when they could go to the pub or a party and meet people in the normal way!*

I think that attitude is a bit strange.

It isn’t random people, it is people you are living in a flat with!

You don’t spend all your time at pubs and parties, lots of time is spent watching Netflix in your room with friends!

MenACWY vaccine if they didn't get it at school.

This!

I think this may be the last cohort who didn’t have it offered at school.

Placemarking.

Not buying anything until I know where she will be living.

From DS who went last year.

Memory foam mattress topper
Pillows
Fold up storage boxes
Drying rail for radiator
Fold up airer
Extension cables
Popcorn maker for movies in room
George Foreman grill - had to cater at weekends
Rice cooker / agsin for weekends
Storage trolly thing for shower room
After lots of broken bowls, melanine are good
Check cooker if there is one - DS flat had an induction one and we had to buy a second set of pans
Thermal coffee cup for taking coffee to lectures

My DD took just her clothes with her. She got everything else she needed when she got there.

DSs bed was a “small double” so you do need to check before buying bedding.

Don’t buy white or pale bedding - we went with grey sheets as that’s the colour they were likely to end up!

They had to buy a toaster as no one bought one - turns out you can make toast In a dry frying pan if you have to!

Aldi had a set of cheap pans where the handle came off for easy storage. I think DS had 2 saucepans and a frying pan. I also sent a Poundland pizza tray.

I also had to buy him a hairdryer.

Suburban Maybe because they’re not ‘randoms’, they’re the people that they’re going to be sharing a living area with for the next 9 months?

Probably worded that wrong - he meant he didn’t like the idea of people wandering into his room randomly. They all got on well in the flat - he’s sharing with two of them in September - but they tended to socialise in the communal kitchen. DS preferred having his room as somewhere he could choose to have people in or not.

Worth checking - some universities won’t allow toasters etc in halls which is bizarre as they’re fine for people to have hair straighteners!

Burned toast is notorious for setting of fire alarms.

For my niece, quite a few years ago now, I made her a 'bag of requirement' stolen from the 'room of requirement' in Harry Potter.

flip flops - for the bathroom and possibly the kitchen depending on how clean he/his flatmates are.
spare mobile phone
hat and gloves - they go to uni in warm weather but don't come home until it's freezing
tin opener
corkscrew
emergency chocolate
sanpro (yes I know not needed for a boy)
prepaid tesco card
toilet roll
picture frame
blue tack
drawing pins
oven gloves
It was all packed in a weekend bag

One tip I have heard is to get crockery and cutlery from a charity shop. All the ikea stuff looks the same so goes missing or is used and not washed. Old fashioned granny flowery plates are easy to spot.

New duvet, pillows and bed linen. Include a couple of cushions that can be used to sit on.

List of names and addresses of family if he is going to send birthday cards/buy presents.

List of vaccines, medical records etc, he will be signing up with a new Dr and dentist, knowing medical history can be important.

A lamp, there is usually one in halls but you really need one for the desk and one for the bedside table.

DS had a 4ft bed in halls so we had to buy 4ft fitted sheets, which are not easy to come by.

Learn to do hospital corners, they stay on the mattress better than fitted sheets and you can use large sheets on a small bed.

m.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391

This is a Facebook group called What I wish I knew about uni which has loads of these type of questions on, really helpful and friendly.

Learn to do hospital corners, they stay on the mattress better than fitted sheets and you can use large sheets on a small bed.

Great idea - but I would have had to buy flat sheets for that so I just bought 4ft fitted sheets online instead.

but I would have had to buy flat sheets for that so I just bought 4ft fitted sheets online instead.

Flat sheets are available everywhere though.

Dunelm do a 4ft mattress protector though - I learnt that from MN last year!

Definitely a mattress topper!

Flat sheets are available everywhere though.

Where’s “everywhere”?

We have a Tesco that takes up half our small town but the only flat sheets they sell are nasty thin polyester/cotton ones.

I bought 100% cotton 4ft fitted sheets online from The Linen Cupboard and I didn’t even have to leave the sofa

To whoever said a medical box - this x100. I sent both the DDs off with one as I was fairly certain they'd get fresher flu (and they did, along with their entire flat) so it was hugely appreciated. I loaded it up really well with things like tyrozette as well as painkillers and cough medicine, plasters (for inevitable blisters from shoes that they have thankfully stopped wearing, all clubbing now takes place in trainers!) soft tithes (the aloe vera ones) etc etc and when they all got the bug they all sat around in the living room, wrapped in duvets and not having to go out to get supplies. Both of them were heroes amongst their flatmates

Re. doorstop - it's easier to see if someone's in their room if the doors open, rather than knocking every time. Helps to make friends in halls when everyone's new and no one knows you. Just looking up and saying hi, seeing someone via the open door and inviting them to wander round campus/student union/pub/gym/share pizza etc is a great icebreaker and wouldn't happen with a closed door.

bagel

As I said in response to people thinking wedging your bedroom door open is a good way to make friends, DS found the communal kitchen was a great place to socialise, and meant his bedroom could stay as his own space.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/freshers/what-to-take-to-university-checklist

Apologies if already posted.

If hes in a city centre or near shops, money. Let him buy what he needs during freshers. And not buy stuff he doesnt need.

Meningitis jab
A note book with important phone numbers in case phone is lost or stole

Let him buy what he needs during freshers

Surely it’s better to be out enjoying themselves during Freshers, not out doing dull chores.