Ideas thread for what to take/not take to Uni.......

[MissMarplesBloomers]

We have found already that the student forum on the Warwick Uni website has been a valuabel resource.

Also advice from past students on here & other friends so thought I'd share a few "ooh ...good tip" moments that we've already had as the lists are mounting up!!

-Keep stuff to take to a minimum, check the list of stuff provided first or else the kitchens end up with 8/10 sets of everything by the end of first week.

-ditto for groceries, stick to dry/tins so tehy last longer & the shared cupboard in the kitchen/fridge shelf may not be that big!

• plain white china/crocks can be muddled/lost/appropriated with all the other IKEA stuff in the kitchen, a couple of granny's patterned plates will stand out as yours & can be found cheaply in charity shops. Ditto cutlery. Then no biggy if it doesn't come home at end of term.
  

-some halls provide linen/bedding but having your own from home helps with the settling in. Eg DD is taking her double duvet & own covers as that is snuggly on a single bed.

-lots of pound coins for laundry & buses.

-Double up the amount of underwear you pack, you'll be too busy the first week to do washing!

Loads more I'm sure, all little things but useful!

Please share your top tips

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Mine has tooJGBmum! Loo brush provided & I think they all have a cleaner regularly which is probably just as well although I have provided DD with beach & instrucitons to lob some in the loo now & then!

Which day did you settle on for going in the end ?

Very impressed by all the helpful bumpf Warwick have sent. Tres organised, considering the logistics, must be a nightmare!

[JGBMum]

Waves to MissM
We are sticking with Saturday as DH and DS1 are in London on Sunday watching a sports game - DS2 had to give up his ticket as he has his first lecture Monday morning.
I will report back on any helpful hints from Saturday , assuming you are still going on Sunday?

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Yes still going on Sunday, that will be useful thanks!

We're planning on leaving at 8am (ish) to get there by 9.30 when registration opens. Going to park in the nearest car park & go down to get her keys then start ferrying stuff. Not sure how much parking there will be out front. Your DS is in one of the newer ones looking at the map so may have more parking outside.

[JGBMum]

8am!! I'm impressed. I think we are aiming to leave about 10 ish, after DD has gone to Stagecoach. Then should be there about 12.
At southampton there were lots of older student helpers who acted as porters and helped carry everything up to your room. I'm hoping warwick might have similar.
Alao, I'm hoping to do a Fresh food shop with DS on Friday, rather than brave tesco on Saturday, and then try to park the car again on site.
Again,at southampton, you were only allowed to park for 30 minutes I think, mainly to manage the congestion. Made saying goodbye fairly quick and brutal, but also meant the students had to get on with things and make friends as there weren't many parents about.

[78bunion]

Takes lots and lots and lots of passport photos to save doing them there. Perhaps get about 10 done.

[MABS]

yep sent her with 10 passport photos, bought a clothes airer half price in sainsburys :)

[JGBMum]

Which halls is he in Millas?

[MissMarplesBloomers]

JGBmum yes it is early////might not actually make it as I am working all the previous day& supposedly out at a party the night before. However as I want to spend some time with DD before she goes I might leave the party early & go home to see how the packing is going!

DD2 is going to stay at their Dads Sat night & travel with him and DD1s bike later on the Sunday. That part is going to be difficult as he doesn't like being around if I am there but I have said I will take myself off for a coffee & so he can see/do whatever with the girls & then I'll go back to her room & help her unpack (if she wants) & if she is in the mood I'll take her out lunch before heading off.

[eatyourveg]

read somewhere ds had to show his vaccination record - he had all the baby ones and tetanus/ polio boosters in Y10 - am scanning in the red book page but wondering if he is should have something for meningitis. Was there an update? - he's only had 3 lots of Hib as a baby. Anyone know if thats A B or C and which ones he should have had? Also there is no mention of hepatitis - is that a routine jab we somehow missed? Beginning to panic as he goes in the morning

[ISingSoprano]

Millais - my ds is off to Southampton tomorrow. Glen eyre halls.

[mumeeee]

Well DD1 and DD2 were never asked for their vaccination records at university, DD3 enrolled at Bolton last Sunday and she hasn't been asked for her vaccination records either so don't panic he probably won't need to show them

[ISingSoprano]

eatyourveg - Hepatitis is not a routine childhood vaccination, he would only have had this as part of any travel vaccinations. My ds had a Men C vaccination when he was 5. I think if your ds has had all his standard imms he will be fine.

[alreadytaken]

Thank you JGBMum.

Actually students are recommended to have a meningitis booster, their gp should offer it as the vaccine doesn't last forever www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/therapy-areas/immunisation/gps-to-lead-catch-up-campaign-offering-meningitis-booster-vaccination-to-university-entrants/20002919.article#.Uj4emtI3tWI

[JGBMum]

Southampton glen a eyre halls are great. Because there are so many students there its like its own little village and only 5-10 mins to the main uni buildings. Ds1 had a blast there :) he was based in Chancellors Court.

Hope those going there have a wonderful time.

[ISingSoprano]

Ds is in Chancellors court!

[Glissed]

Extension plugs. So many gadgets these days, most digs don't have enough plugs.

I am a bit late. Most students now gone

[MABS]

she is finding febreze useful :( :(

[badgerhead]

We dropped off dd1 yesterday at Lincoln, but due to various problems she hasn't got a permanent address yet! She is on the priority waiting list for her preferred halls and a lovely family from her church have offered a room with them until she can get sorted! She is very wary of staying in private rented houses as this is her second attempt at starting Uni due to a disaster with a mixture of choice of Uni and accommodation last year. She knows that if it fails this year her options for attending Uni have gone and despite being very apprehensive has decided to give it a go. I am just praying that she will get the halls once they know who has dropped out (I hope that this will happen) or she finds some people to live with who are understanding of her wishes for quiet, no drink (she can't drink alcohol for health reasons) and not wanting to party until the early hours of the morning.
It seems quiet here today as at home by myself, dh & dd2 have gone shopping at Bluewater & I'm supposed to be revising for an OU exam in 2 weeks (bit of Mumsnetting avoidance going on at present!

[MABS]

ohh badger, that must be so hard re the accom, do take care :)

[ISingSoprano]

I though the whole moving in process was very slick at Glen Eyres today. No problem parking and we had loads of helpers carrying stuff from the car to ds' room.

[mumeeee]

Badger hope your DD gets sorted out very soon and she is able to go into halls.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

We're home. Left dd1 happily tidying her room, the decor of which is mostly centred around leopard print and rubber ducks! They've got a really nice kitchen/dining area and they all seemed to have bought quite a good selection of vaguely healthy food, so hopefully that's a good sign for the future. :)

[zizza]

Just back from dropping my dd at Sutton Bonington (she's in Nottingham as I type, at the official Notts uni intro). What a fantastic place. Really organised - lots of staff and student guides about and welcome packs. Some arrived yesterday (we did - at about 4 after terrible traffic - and DH and I went to hotel for the night) and she managed to meet up with her mentor from the year above and another girl who, like dd, was the only one who had moved into her flat (we overheard her telling a rep that she was on her own so dd went up to talk). They went to a free bbq and a couple of drinks in the bar before ending up in one of the flats for a while. She was a bit tired when we caught up with her this morning, but we went off to do some food shopping and then stayed for a tour of the vet school before leaving her to it. Think they had a talk and a buffet before heading into Notts. Lots organised for them this week during the day, not just nights out.

I was so proud of how she happily went up to people to introduce herself and called into a couple of the flats where people had moved in - met some lovely people, all on different courses (she was happy when she finally found a few other vets).

Fingers crossed for a good week ahead.

(To those of you wondering about vaccination records - don't panic. When they've registered with their new gp their notes will be sent on which will show what they've had)