What to do next for uni - what to organise, what to buy, how to cope!

[Janus]

Just that really! We’ve all got our results now so what’s the next step.
I ask as my dd is first in family to uni so we are pretty clueless!
Someone on another thread mentioned to sort out your finance if you’ve switched from preferred uni to insurance or clearing. We don’t need to do that but I wouldn’t have known that.
So any tips? What to buy rather than shoving in the kitchen sink too?!
Thank you.

There should be info on the university website re what is provided / what is not allowed in rooms (mainly on safety grounds, mini-fridges and plug-In fairy lights being almost universally proscribed).

Even in catered accommodation, some personal crockery and cutlery will be required.

Check the size of the bed! Most are just normal singles or '3/4' (4ft) doubles (John Lewis do sheets for 4ft beds, as do Ponden Home, I think), but some universities seem to have invested in some very odd sizes, not easily accommodated by your 'normal' fitted sheet.

Oh fab, dd has 3/4 bed and was wondering today where to get sheets. Uni donhave a website I must go through but just looking for little tips by people who maybe went through this last year or who are more organised than me (not hard!!).
Thanks for the sheets too from
John Lewis Marching.

There is an excellent FB site called www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=what%20i%20wish%20i%20knew%20about%20university that initially was started for people going to uni, but is now mainly parents. It is worth going on there for lots of information plus it is really supportive of each other for when your children leave home.

Seems much more complicated nowadays.I just sent a cabin trunk in advance (by British Rail) and conveyed myself by train. We took our children by car with a box of food and left them.

They should be able to set up their bank account as soon as they have proof of their place. If she wants to do it in person, rather than online, she might need to make an appointment. Once that is set up the finance need to know about that.

Dunelm Mill do 4 foot sheets as well, although I would advise just using regular sheets in case the mattresses are deep and tucked in an alcove. Much easier to make the bed if you aren't stretching a sheet over a difficult to get at corner!
Lots of lists on IKEA website, the student room etc. They also have shops in university towns . IKEA will be mobbed out for the next couple of weeks.

Open a student bank account.
Update student finance with new bank details.

Find out if the accommodation includes contents insurance (or if your home policy covers them).
See if they need to book a slot for arriving.

Some universities ask students to start the registration process online before they go. Then when they get there they have to show passport or birth certificate.

Get MenACWY vaccine if they didn't get it at school. Then register with a GP when they get there.

I've just been looking at a list of what they need.

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

i'll not be packing the kitchen sink, there are shops there and DS can buy sticky tape if he needs it.

Can I suggest using vacuum bags from dunelm etc for packing duvets, pillows, towels etc..... huge space saver.

Is her accommodation catered or self catered? That will make quite a difference to what she needs, but even catered, she will need some basic crockery/cutlery and cooking utensils/implements. Argos do some good, cheap sets and Wilko is also really cheap for basics. Don't get anything fancy as communal kitchens are not known for being careful with other peoples things! A couple of tupperware boxes are handy for storing left overs or taking lunch into uni.
Apart from all the obvious personal items, take some washing liquid or tabs, a cheap big bag (Ikea blue bag type) for laundry as she may have to walk across campus to a laundry.
If you have a spare one take a bedside/desk lamp. Often there is only the ceiling light and a desk lamp.
Take a few photos etc to personalise the room.
Slippers or some flip flops are handy as the communal floors may be less than clean.
Depending on how fussy she is, I sent DS with some dettol wipes for the loo seat/kitchen and a couple of cloths. Oh and some loo roll!
Basic food - tea bags, coffee. A few treats, bottle of wine can be great ice breakers.
But don't worry. Most places have shops these days and the internet can always be used to send Red Cross parcels from home!

Extension lead
Spare phone charger
Good strong rucksack - even if you've got a DD who's usually a handbag type, that often soon changes! I've got a Herschel and it's very pretty but functional.

Forgot. The mattresses are often a bit ropey. Not dirty but saggy. Well worth taking a comfy mattress topper. It was a life saver for DS.

Check whether extension leads are allowed - some halls have a 'one item per socket' policy for safety reasons.

Thank you for all the handy tips.
We are actually away for another 10 days so will get onto student account when get home. She has an existing hsbc account so I will go with them. Someone mentioned an amazon voucher does anyone know about that?!
Will leave Ikea until September as hopefully will be quieter then!
Mattress topper is good idea if I can find one for a 3/4 bed.
One of her roommates has already got the kettle and toaster as she wanted it to be matching!
We are moving her in a day early for a very small fee to avoid the hoards on moving in day, roommate is doing the same so they will have each other. They haven’t actually met but seen best friends already which is a huge relief for me!

HSBC do the Amazon voucher. DD had to chase hers up, I believe. Dunelm also do 4 foot mattress toppers & so do Amazon (tip: arrange for pick up at local Dunelm or Amazon delivery to save room in the car. A gentle reminder that someone you feel is a best friend on line might not be such fun in person & it can be difficult to disentangle. DD bonded with her flatmates but after 6 weeks in never had anything to do with them again!

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

That list is great, but there is no way all that stuff would fit into "One large suitcase of clothes, a couple of boxes of other stuff and a bin-liner of bedding".

A lot of these lists advise students to pack light and only take the minimum, and at the same time suggest a whole load of stuff to take 'just in case'.

DS1 is going to be less than 100 miles away, so he'll take what he needs the first few weeks.

He can leave a pile of extra stuff at home (winter clothes etc) and then we'll bring that when we visit him in late October; and probably bring a load of stuff back with us that it turned out he didn't need.

DS has converted his HSBC account over to a student one, he booked an appointment, took in his passport and I think he logged on to UCAS from the branch. The Amazon voucher comes later.

I always have the same advice.

Take a loo roll you can grab quick (in your glove box/hand bag)

If you're travelling you can whip it out quick as there probably won't be one there already :)

Is that meant for this thread Hannah? I've been puzzling about loo roll emergencies since you posted it

It is! When I moved to uni (several hours away) I was bursting. Keeping a loo roll handy when you get there to pee is essential. My room didn't have any in the ensuite 😂😂

Vital bit of organisation is that!😂😂

Best buy for my ds was a Breville Sandwich Toaster. Used it all the time especially after late nights drinking - made him quite popular in halls as well as people would knock on his door to borrow it 😂.

They won't need half the stuff you think they do.
We bought it all with us, and lids came home unused...
Plates and cutlery. Plastic cups for now.
Buy things that are in packs, dry food that needs milk or water. To make a meal.
My DD took to buying ready meals...
NO cooking but good value... Yours will be excited to choose their own meals. So remind them to buy the pans and frying pans as needed, no point buying if it will never be used.
Teach them to make pancakes and fried eggs....
Bedding, we went out and collected from ASDA, pillows. We got a few. And a double duvet, even on a single bed, they turn the heating off every 30 mins, you had to push to restart it, DD said it was great to not have cold feet.

Can I just ask: why are you fretting? I just delegated all responsibility to daughter and told her to sort it: there are plenty of forums etc and info on the internet, and told her she could ask me if there was anything she wasn't sure of, and if there was anything needed paying.

They've a whole month to sort it.

Splendid tip then Hannah!!!