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

My tips (from 20+ years ago):

• take cake & alcohol to share on the first night
• take photos of home (favourite places as well as family & friends)
• have three sets of bedding (very annoying if you've actually bothered to change your bed so one set of bedding is in the wash & friend then spills a mug of coffee over your clean set... remember bed will be used as a sofa a lot)
• abandon whites. So no white underwear (and therefore no white or pale tops) as its much easier to shove in one wash all at the same time
• send them actual parcels during the first few weeks. Anything goes. Yes, things like vouchers are particularly appreciated but I'd often get a bag of maltesers or a pair of tights & they were brilliant too.

As for the posters saying why aren't the DC sorting it out by themselves, why should they? I was excited and nervous about university & had little idea of what I'd need on a day to day basis. My parents did have some idea, both from their own Uni days and from their experience of running a house. They were also nervous & excited about me going to university and one way they could deal with the nervousness was to make sure they had done everything they could to equip me for it in a practical sense as well as an educational & emotional sense.

I graduated last year. this list is adapted from the one on the student room site which is ridiculous (half the stuff you'll never use)..

? Sheets
? Duvet/quilt
? Duvet/quilt covers
? Pillows
? Pillow cases
? Underblanket/mattress protector
? Alarm Clock
? Door wedge
? Hot water bottle
? Clothes wash basket/bin/bag (bag for lives work well)
? Clothes ? casual and going out ones
? shoes
? Extension leads Get surge protected ones to protect valuable equipment
? Computer/laptop
? Laptop case/bag
? Chargers
? printer
? USB memory sticks
? Paper
? Ink (colour & black for inkjet, toner for laser)
? Painkillers
? Antiseptic cream
? Cold/flu remedy
? Throat lozenges
? Nail Scissors
? Tweezers
? Plasters
? Small casserole dish
? Small frying pan
? Wok or large frying pan (with lid)
? Saucepans (2)
? Flat baking tray
? Tin opener
? Bottle opener
? Vegetable peeler
? Garlic crusher
? Cheese grater
? Masher
? Microwavable bowl
? Measuring jug
? Colander
? Whisk
? Chopping knives
? Chopping board
? T-towels
? Tupperware
? Glasses
? Cutlery (knives, forks, spoons) (bright handles!)
? Crockery (plates, bowls, mugs, cups) (not plain white!)
? Recipe book
? Clothes horse
? Coat hangers!!!!!!!
? Holdall or weekend bag
? Watch
? Push-pins
? A4 file paper / notebooks with tear out sheets
? Pens
? Pencils
? Highlighters
? Permanent all-surface Ruler
? Eraser
? Sharpener
? Pencil case
? White Tack
? Scissors
? Sellotape
? Hole puncher
? Stapler
? Staples
? Paper clips
? Post-it Notes or flag markers
? Elastic bands
? Lever-arch folders
? Paper/plastic wallets
? Calculator

DD has a HUGE chopping board. That way she could guarantee that there was one clean spot in the kitchen to prepare food on.

It was a loooong time ago, but all that stationary stuff in the list ? - I'm fairly sure I bought that from the student union shop when I got there eg. in freshers week - might as well leave them something to do?

Hadn't quite realised everyone would have printers and all that paraphenalia - our early 80s gear seems so simple in comparison !

Try the 70s, Juggling. We didn't have locks on our rooms as there was zilch worth stealing.

My Uni's SU shop cost about double the amount as wh smiths....
and my campus was in the middle of no where so but to town which i didn't really want to have to do in freshers so i took it with me...

printers...optional but it helps! printing costs a fortune on campus and it's easier to just be able to print stuff in your room rather than mess around with memory sticks and running to the library last minute....plus in my 2nd/3rd yr i lived in town so would have had to bus it into campus anytime i want to print anything

MrTumbles my DC sort it themselves, with a small individual contribution from me and then I do confine myself to driving/ lugging/ making up the first bed/ taking out to lunch. And then when the freshers stuff starts I push off.

I did say I was playing devil's advocate with my question Murtette :) but equally when I was that age going to uni was my adventure/ big step into independence, or whatever, and the thought of my mother muscling in with to do lists and opinions on what colour plates I should take would have made me -fume-- feel cheated out of a proportion of that independence, and to be honest somewhat infantilised, no matter how good the intentions. By 18+ an adult should be packing their own suitcase and doing their own research into what they need (special needs excepted of course) surely?

I wonder whether things have changed with regards to how involved parents are in the minutia of their young adult children's lives, in recent years.

Depends on the individual I suppose, my DD liked the collecting and ideas, she vetoed some of them. Others may have found it intrusive, but we've known each other 22 years now.
However, I confused people on a different thread because she sorted out all her own finances and accommodation and I had no idea what her maintenance loan was worth.

Yes, they are 18+ adults but in the case of my ds, an adult who has never lived away from home. Surely an important life skill is to know when to ask for advice?

My mum helped me to buy everything.
I however made the list myself....mum helped me pack some boxes as i tried but was really struggling to get things to fit into the boxes but most things i packed myself.

parents bought my 1st food shop and helped me unpack and bought me lunch then returned home...after that i was mainly on my own (parents were there for advice etc)

We're enjoying making the list together. I still remember my nerves/excitement when my mum took me to buy new bedding when I started uni, 25 years-ish ago! :)

Ive bought my uni bound neighbour a set of small screwdrivers & I will give him a jar of coffee and nice biscuits.
Is that an ok good luck at uni gift ?

Remus my DD LOVES list making. I can't bear it.

She's desperate for me to take her for new bedding and stationary too. I gave her the money and told her she could go with a friend but she's adamant we do it together. Quite sweet really Can she just come with you please?!

Ooh yes - send her to Brum with her list! :)

Well thanks MrTumbles for pissing on our friendly light hearted thread.

I am in no way "muscling in" on my DD's adventure, nor are any other parents posting here that I can see. She is going to the Uni of HER choice that SHE has applied to and got funding for.

If you had bothered to read all the posts you'll see its a mix of experienced uni mums, freshers mums, and students current & past. All offering various great ideas & tips that can be shared WITH the would be fresher not organised FOR them.

Some parents actually enjoy helping their kids off on their next stage. I feel sorry for you if you didn't get to share that with yours.

If anyone else has a pop about bloody helicopter parenting I shall have to have another large sherry!!!!!

What Marples said!!

DD would be horrified if I muscled in. She's far more organised and prepared than I am anyway and knows much more about it. hence me trying to educate myself a little

Exactly RedStar

DD just looked over my shoulder to see what I was huffing about & muttered summat along the lines of " I'd like to see you bloody try"

doesn't it occur to any of the "helicopter parenting" people that perhaps our teens have learnt that important life skill and actually asked for advice? Mine has done their Gold DofE and arranged almost all of it themself (they asked for help with food) but when it comes to university they actually want to share the excitement and their friends are working when they are free to shop. Perhaps your teenagers didn't want to share that with you because you tried to spoil their fun.

Mine is fussy about stationery so will have enough to tide them over the first few weeks.

Neither of us would have thought about the chopping board without this thread, we're now going to get one. Not going to bother with a garlic crusher, though, you can crush garlic with a knife if you hit it hard enough (and mine isn't that much of a cook)

She is my daughter, but this is now her fourth year away from home. She's always been comfortable about saying if I was over-helping, and I've always respected that.
We have a good relationship, so sniping from strangers doesn't bother me really.
I also agree that asking for advice and help is an adult skill, along with evaluating what you are told and making up your own mind.

One thing students never seem to have .....a stapler! Some things are still handed in on paper and amazingly, folding over the corners of 4 or 5 sheets of paper and dropping it in a submission box is not as good as a stapler, at lest if you want me to mark all the pages. I still use the stapler my mum bought me for university after thirty odd years so a good one is an investment.
In science subjects check if there is a specific calculator required for exams, use it all the time so you are used to it.
Also please advise freshers not to have a raging hangover when they first meet their personal tutor or equivalent, its obvious and not very pleasant, especially if they still reek of alcohol from the night before.

good idea re stapler!!! she all registered, filled all in, tenancy agreement signed, 250 deposit paid, we off to Asda shortly for first shop of essential stuff etc...very real! she far more interested that she found 6 new people on fb and TSR going to same accom, so bought 3 fresher events tickets so far... priorities huh??!!

Helping teens out with their packing is not helicoper parenting. And it's not new.

I had the antithisis of a modern, middle class, MN upbringing, but my entire family helped me out when I went to university!!!

An Auntie bought me a bin , and Nana bought me a dictionary!!!

A man a few doors down lent my Dad a car, and he and Mum drove me down with my stuff, much of which had been suggested by them and then begged, borrowed or stolen from anyone and everyone.

It was a huge experience for us all and one none of us would have passe dup for the world. I still have that dictionary!