Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

She's off to uni in a few weeks - what does she really need to take?

163 replies

oldenoughtowearpurple · 19/08/2011 08:52

So DD is off to self-catered uni accommodation for her first year. The accommodation is downright palatial - ensuite, new-build flats for 4-6 mixed sex sharers (not like it was in MY day, I can tell you).

What does she really need to take with her? all hints and tips gratefully received.

OP posts:
Ponders · 01/09/2011 19:47

you don't need a TV licence if you watch TV live on your laptop as long as it's not plugged in

mad but true

see \link{http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/students-aud1/?WT.mc_id=r107\here}

"You need a TV Licence if...
You watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV - online, on a TV, or on any device (even a laptop)
This is the case whatever device you use ? whether a laptop, PC, mobile phone, games console, digital box, VHS/DVD recorder or anything else. It also includes programmes you watch online at the same time as they?re being shown on TV, for example live sport. (However, if your mobile device isn?t plugged in, you?ll still be covered by your parents? licence )"

I am amazed they haven't plugged this loophole

EduStudent · 01/09/2011 20:23

Actually, Ponders, it's nigh on impossible, assuming that the internet is wired in/is coming from wireless internet that is wired into the building. Bit of an urban myth that did the rounds last year. Unless it is utterly wireless and you could watch it standing in the middle of a field, then you do.

Ponders · 01/09/2011 20:50

well the licensing website also says:

'You don?t need a TV Licence if...all of these are true:
Your out-of-term address is covered by a TV Licence
AND you only use TV receiving equipment that is powered solely by its own internal batteries
AND you have not connected it to an aerial or plugged it into the mains'

by "aerial" do they mean wireless internet in the building? If so they should say so. As they don't say that, I'd be happy to challenge that in court!

EduStudent · 01/09/2011 20:52

Ha, possibly. We were told it just wasn't worth bothering and to make do with iPlayer Wink

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 06/09/2011 21:23

Todays purchases for DS:
PG tips
Nurofen
Lemsip

DS getting very excited now. He had an email today asking him to choose what time he wants to arrive. Apparently we have a 20 minute window to park outside his building!

webwiz · 06/09/2011 21:28

We have done hardly anything yet as DD2 is on holiday with friends (her flight gets in at 3am so I think tomorrow may be a write off!) She doesn't even know what accomodation she is in yet but I'm hoping an email about it has arrived while she's been away.

Ponders · 06/09/2011 21:35

20 minutes???? blimey. We have an hour, though apparently there were 3-hour windows, but they'd all gone.

Anyway I asked DS2 today to ring & check if we need to request a parking permit for dropping-off purposes (we had to for DS1 at Newcastle) & he was indignant at the very idea. (I do want to smack him sometimes HmmGrin)

we have a shopping trip to Staples & TKMaxx tomorrow - I hope that will be the end of it pretty much (esp after buying new laptop, all-in-one printer & MP3-dock-clock-radio!)

jenniec79 · 06/09/2011 21:37

Sure all the basics have been covered (not read all 5 pages!) but a few more esoteric basics!

Big bottles of toiletries, big box of tampax/whatever for a DD, washing powder, cleaning bits & washing up liquid so she's not struggling for money for essentials over the first few months.

One of those expanding file type folders that she can shove loose papers in as well as a a4 pad for multiple lectures in a day.

Colour-catchers/colour run rescue type things (can't rely on student washing machines to do anything but run and shrink) and a flat airer.

All the relevant chargers for phone/ipod/computer/stereo etc. Stick some credit on her phone if PAYG as a surprise? Sending a top up card in a "New home" card to arrive a couple of days after she does might be a nice way of doing it.

Couple of teatowels

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 06/09/2011 21:39

An hour/3 hours! Envy Bloody ridiculous, will probably take 10 minutes to find his sodding room!

Ponders · 06/09/2011 21:43

20 minutes does sound impossible, MOS

good luck Smile

webwiz · 06/09/2011 22:10

We had as long as we wanted to drop off DD1, I think we had to park in a some sort of field at the back of the accomodation - she had to go to the student union to pick up her key and then her room was on the top floor up some incredibly steep stairs. The whole thing took ages and I presumed there would be some sort of similar arrangement for DD2. I bet she's on the top floor as well Hmm

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 07/09/2011 06:34

luckily I'm in training for a charity trek next month and will look at this as good practice although hopefully it will be a little warmer in Jordan!

IShallWearMidnight · 08/09/2011 09:23

The worst DD1 can be is up one flight of stairs, but from looking at the campus map, she's as far away from a car park as you can get Sad.

Ponders · 08/09/2011 10:14

Midnight, I remember when we first took DD1 to Leeds (many years ago!) actual car park spaces were so limited that we had to park on the double yellows outside her block. There was a one-way system, so as long as we left space for other cars to pass it was OK.

HTH Smile

MOS, are you sure the 20 mins is for unloading? Our 1-hour window is actually for picking up the key, & afaik we don't have a time limit after that. Mind you I do need to ring to check if we need a timed parking permit while we're there, as it is a requirement at Newcastle.

(DS2 refuses to do that for me as he thinks it's a silly question Hmm)

Greenshadow · 08/09/2011 16:59

We're lucky in that DS has decided he'd like to go midweek so no problems with parking to drop everything off. He's also on the ground floor - so no stairs!

webwiz · 08/09/2011 18:46

Dd2 appears to be on the fourth floor Hmm - I am going to sit in the car and direct the unloading and carrying upstairs as I have a dodgy back and cannot possibly help.

ishallwearmidnight I hope that on dropping off days you wouldn't have to use the carparks but would be able to use the internal campus roads for dropping off.

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 08/09/2011 19:17

Ponders apparrently so, there are seemingly real issues with regards to parking at Exeter. Just as well I'm (supposed to be!) in training

Ponders · 08/09/2011 20:18

Well I rang Sheffield accommodation office this morning & apparently there will be hi-vis stewards both directing us to parking & helping to carry stuff. As DS2's flat is called B3, which I think means he's on the 2nd floor, & is some distance from the parking area, this will be very welcome.

MOS, how much is DS taking? we have shedloads - bike, 2 guitars + amp, & 3-in-one printer, before we even start with kitchen kit & stationery & clothes Confused (we are going in 2 cars...) I hope your load is a bit less extreme

(on the plus side, his flats provide kettle & toaster - I am unreasonably cheered by this information! Grin)

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 08/09/2011 20:24

Ponders OMG, that is a lot of stuff! We will be going in one car but will be 5 of us as having to take younger siblings. Thank god we have an XC90 and a roof rack! DS not taking much kitchen stuff as he is in catered halls and I'd suggested he buy a printer down there if he needs it. Does your DS REALLY need 2 guitars?

Ponders · 08/09/2011 20:31

1 electric (hence amp) & 1 acoustic...Hmm

but he does play them for roughly an equal amount of time so I guess he does...

& Sheffield is a very bikey city, I am pleased about that Smile

Taking the little ones along is very sweet (we did it for DD1 - DS2 was 8 then) & they can be quite a help carrying stuff, but be aware that it may well make you more emotional - tempus fugit & all that

jazzchickens · 08/09/2011 20:50

Just wanted to say good luck everybody. We went through this last year with DS1. No idea HOW the car got down the motorway it was so overloaded.

I had lists within lists and we shopped & packed for weeks.

The day arrived. DH was taking DS (no room in car for me and DS2 as well).
We had an emotional farewell. I sat and wept for an hour or so then went up to his room to find a bin bag full of all his cables & chargers for phones & laptops etc. Other things he could have managed without but not these.

Had to ring DS1 on mobile and he had the task of telling DH he had to turn around and come back home. Basically, 2 hours of driving and back to square one.

So we had another emotional farewell ............Grin

Ponders · 08/09/2011 20:58

oh jazz, how Sad & Grin

we will have to try not to do that next weekend!

jazzchickens · 08/09/2011 21:09

Those cheap fold down crates/boxes were really useful. We got some from Tesco.

DS used them to take stuff there & back in. Tucked them under his bed for additional storage and used one to carry things backwards and forwards to the communal kitchen.

webwiz · 08/09/2011 21:20

Goodness me Ponders that sounds like a lot of stuff Smile

Went I went to university I had one suitcase, a black and white tv and a small stereo - DD2's eyes glaze over whenever I mention it as she is planning to take as much as we can jam into the car.

mumofsoontobelawstudent · 08/09/2011 22:14

To be honest, I'm not too concerned about being emotional and upset as we've done all that before. When we were living abroad he returned to the UK to a boarding school for his A levels so we are used to the separation and will probably see just as much of him.

webwiz black and white tv, you are showing your age Wink

I'm hoping DS won't take too much initially but we will see. Both he and DD who is at boarding school doing GCSEs have this thing about 'packing'. They seem to needs days/weeks and I'm sure they just use it as an excuse to get out of helping around the house Hmm

Swipe left for the next trending thread