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Higher education

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

Original poster

First year at Uni just finished! How has everyone else's DC got on?

55 replies

MOSagain · 09/06/2012 11:28

Gosh, seems such a long time since we were hand holding waiting for their results last August to see whether they'd got into their first choice Uni.

DS has just finished his first year at Exeter and is on his way home now. Thankfully he appears to have chosen the right course (law) and is really enjoying it. I was shocked at how many had dropped out so early on, both the course and the Uni. Some have reapplied for other Unis next year and will now be hit with the higher tuition fees Sad

He managed to get himself a job in the campus shop which was really good so has managed to earn a little bit of money to help make a dent in his student debts! Contract all signed for his squat/flat for next year which appears to be in the middle of the fast food section of town Hmm

I have stocked up on bin bags and washing liquid and clothes line is out ready awaiting his arrival. Oh, and of course the fridge is fully stocked and I have promised there will not be a toasted cheese sandwich in sight!

Would love to hear how everyone else's DC have been getting on.

OP posts:
gettingalifenow · 09/06/2012 13:05

Hello there! Hasn't the year gone fast.

I'm glad your DS has enjoyed his year - my DD still has two more weeks at York so not quite finished yet but she's taken to it like a Duck to water (and anyone who knows York will appreciate the imagery!)

If seems like yesterday we ere on here every day with news of offers, rejections, A level angst....

Original poster
MOSagain · 09/06/2012 13:09

and that awful morning when UCAS site kept crashing! Wink
So glad your DD is enjoying it too. I could almost relax now but number 2 is doing her GCSEs!

OP posts:
ggirl · 09/06/2012 13:14

dd back tomorrow from sheffield..i am collecting as she has so much stuff 4hr drive each way

she's loved it and is looking forward to moving in to a house in sept

roast dinner on order for tomorrow evening

KalSkirata · 09/06/2012 13:17

its shot by. ds didnt manage to get a job despite hundreds of applications but he has landed a paid research position for next year so that will help. He is loving it. Next week hafta collect all his gubbins by taxi and move it to the house he will be renting a room in - for some reason they have to rent it from 15 June Shock for the whole year.
Right now we are tackling the hell that is the student loan form renewal for him and dd

gettingalifenow · 09/06/2012 13:42

Yes, it's def moving month for everyone! Need to move my DS back for good too as he's finished!! And like you MOS, doing it all again in 2 years time.....

KalSkirata · 09/06/2012 13:56

dd will be in her last year in september. ds in his second and ds2 starting

Original poster
MOSagain · 09/06/2012 14:00

LOL at ggirl, I've had an order put in for a roast dinner tomorrow and bacon and brie baguettes for breakfast tomorrow. We/DH had a 4 hour each way trip this morning. Due home momentarily.

Kal, thats a bit much, having to pay from June Shock well done on paid research though, that is fab!

OP posts:
KalSkirata · 09/06/2012 14:02

he is always here too MOS. Eating my food, bringing his washing. Never ever let your child go to a uni 2 miles away!!!
Currently he's miffed I am extracting 20 quid a week for food.

webwiz · 09/06/2012 14:26

We are going to get DD2 from Bath tomorrow and can't believe that the first year is over with! She has really enjoyed herself and is happy with her choice of course and uni - I think I have only just recovered from the stress of results day though.

DD1 is flying back from her year in America on Tuesday as well so the house will go from calm and laid back with just DS to chaos.

gettingalifenow · 09/06/2012 17:45

And if you're anything like me Webwiz, the chaos is the version you prefer...!

mumeeee · 09/06/2012 20:28

DD2 has finished uni but is staying in the university town. She has made lots of friends there and most of her friends here have moved away. I am starting the process again with DD3 going to an open day next month.

BestIsWest · 09/06/2012 21:07

DD arrived home earlier, DH having braved the floods and traffic to go and get her from Aberystwyth today. She seems to be loving it though I think it took a while for her to settle down. There is stuff everywhere.

Ponders · 09/06/2012 21:30

oh, Stuff is a big issue!

DS2 will be collected from Sheffield in 2 weeks - he has a term-time job, & is staying on for a bit to put some extra hours in to raise some money to help get him through the summer. I have an expedition to the Range planned, to buy enough of those under-bed storage boxes to stow most of his Stuff away until he goes back in September...

Before he left last year he made a point of saying, portentously, that he was leaving home, & wouldn't live here ever again. His elder sister is currently living here temporarily & has taken over his room, & he is furious Grin

JustGettingByMum · 09/06/2012 22:02

Gosh the year has absolutely flown by. It's so good to have a catch up after last years angst - I get to do it all again next year as DS2 is Y12 so just finished his AS exams.

DS1 finished his first year at Southampton last weekend. He is loving the course, but it's definitely been hard work. Lots of late nights and early starts to keep up with everything, and masses of revision, but he's just got on with it! Its great having him home, now hopefully he can get some kind of summer job.

ggirl · 09/06/2012 22:05

does anyone know a good halfway stopping place
driving southcoast to sheffield and back tomorrow
so need a place to stop on the way back down south

Ponders · 09/06/2012 22:27

presumably you'd rather stop N of London, ggirl? are you looking for a town, or a stately home, or something else? & are you around Brighton, or E or W of that?

ggirl · 09/06/2012 23:38

yes def north of london
just a pit sstop really..decent pub or even just a decent motorway stop
we are heading for bournemouth

Ponders · 10/06/2012 10:07

there are 2 pubs that sound ok at Newport Pagnell, under 2 miles from J14

\link{http://www.thecarringtonarms.co.uk/\Carrington Arms, Moulsoe}
\link{http://www.swanrevived.co.uk/\Swan Revived, Newport Pagnell}

the junctions S of that don't seem to offer much

above J 14 there's

\link{http://www.thecockatroade.co.uk/\The Cock at Roade} close to J15 (Northampton)

or \link{http://www.thecuttleinn.co.uk/\the Cuttle Inn} near J17 (Rugby)

oh dear, just realised you've probably set off already but I hope this helps! Have a good trip Smile

webwiz · 10/06/2012 19:22

Aaargh the stuff!

DD2 fell asleep in the car as she had been out partying last night so she didn't notice the journey home Smile

ggirl · 10/06/2012 20:20

aaagh ponders you are too kind !!!!!!!!!!..unfortunately i had already set off!

and my sodding satnav died about an hr out of sheffield..but miraculously made it
thanks for yr suggestions ..i will keep them for future trips.

we had lunch in sheffield centre then drove all the way back

roast dinner finished and now dd is sorting out bags of laundry

Yellowtip · 10/06/2012 21:56

Roast dinner after driving from Bournemouth to Sheffield and back? How do you manage this stuff?

DD3 not due back for at least two weeks, possibly three - if she stays on to help with the university's Open Days. Seems to have had a great first year, very happy.

MOS, my niece has just finished her first year at Exeter too. Hasn't dropped out - has loved it in fact. What sort of numbers are you talking about in terms of drop out? Very interested but also very surprised.

Ponders · 10/06/2012 22:58

Did the same person drive and roast??? Surely not!

glad you had a good trip anyway, ggirl.

DS2 & I had an excellent meal once at a pub just down the road from Endcliffe - it's a Wetherspoons I think & they do special deals on week nights (for future ref if you haven't come across it before)

Where will DD be living next year? DS2 will be in Crookes (I think)

Livnatmum · 10/06/2012 23:49

Watched the thread last year with interest - it was thanks to you all that I woke her at 6am on results day to say that UCAS track was open! Just collected her from Leeds where she is studying Broadcast Journalism, she has had a ball and can't wait for her second year, but oh the stuff.... it looks like she has come back from an arctic treck!!

Jobforlife · 11/06/2012 07:52

My DS has had the time of his life at Loughborough Uni... definitely was the right place for him. He's only just started his end of year exams this weekend, and doesn't finish until the end of June. He's then moving straight into his shared house on 1 July and working in Loughborough for the summer to fund it. No son back in my back yard! He will probably come back for a quick holiday at the beginning of September before he goes back to be a Fresher helper ie he does the whole thing all over again :)
He's now a rag rep and doing all sorts of fundraising events, and is contemplating running the London marathon next April (so am I, but that's another story).
Couldn't be more proud of him and so relieved that he has found his way in life

ggirl · 11/06/2012 08:03

ha no dh stayed at home with ds and did the roast

dd is staying in house in the centre of town, she showed it to me yesterday..about a 5min walk to language building so ideal for her!
looks a dump tho