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

There is another thread running at present which talks about the things you remember your mother doing. I have have avoided it as my memory of my teens and early twenties is that my mother had stopped caring

Looking back I know that it was because my father was ill and all her compassion was centred on him, but I collected my O level and A level results, went to university and planned my wedding without any input from my parents. I know I was selfish for even considering that I needed attention.

I think my parenting style is different from my mother's. My DC KNOW that I am interested in all that they do unless it is yet another sleb gossip chat DD2

DD1 went shopping with me for her first year stuff. She sussed out that if I'm with her I will pay and she could save her precious earnings for Freshers! We will go shopping soon to get her second year stuff and I'm sure the same payment rules apply.

Another item to add to the list for this year is a CO alarm. She is moving into a house and SHE wanted one for peace of mind.

It's rather nice that so many of us seem to actively like and enjoy the company of our children, and that it is reciprocated.
I've mentioned before how shocked DD was when she was in her first year and so many students announced their intention to never return home again. Not even for Christmas.
She hadn't got much of a clue about how many dysfunctional familial relationships there were as a matter of course, one or two of her friends had trouble but the majority like their families, whilst being able to enjoy being adults.
This is a happy thread.

You weren't selfish to hope for some support with those big life events Woolly, whatever the circumstances at home. I'm sorry your Mum didn't feel able to offer more encouragement, she might have enjoyed it too after all x

not selfish at all Woolly, I had little suppor either. DD does seems to appreciate my input, tho is more interested in vodka and Galaxy being bought than the staplers etc I am listing...

We must have an update of this thread after they all get settled to see what were the best bits !!

agree miss marple

A thing to know, rather than take - my university doctor had a system where if you asked for an emergency appointment for the morning after pill, they guaranteed to get you one within the time limit needed to take it. I know you can go to a pharmacy, but it's expensive and students don't always have a spare £30. I think it's free from the GP, but I might be wrong.

I assume this is standard medical practice, but I certainly didn't know it was A Thing before going to university and I was relieved knowing it was there as a safety net.

Good idea oldroan

DD is going to be like a kiddy in a sweetie shop with all these men & is quite naive so although I am issuing her with condoms I think I'd better have the pill discussion with her too.

Talking of things medical, what paperwork will be needed to sign on at the Uni Health Centre?

Very useful to take NHS card / number.

Also passport for opening bank accounts if not done already.

An emergency credit card was also useful.

We had to prove we were within the catchment area, even as students of the university (although all the halls of residence were), so a copy of something with her term time address would be helpful, as well as NHS card.

I also took a copy of the list saying which vaccinations I had had - not sure if that was my mum being cautious or an official requirement from university. Can't hurt though.

Ds is off on ten days hols on Friday so we have had a mad week trying to get stuff sorted out. He still hasn't heard about his accommodation though and is getting a bit twitchy about that!

I am pleased to report that we bought a stapler today

stapler - you and me both then :)

Haha - high five then MABS

My DS is off to Venice to spend his third year at uni there, anyone got any bright ideas of necessities? I'm thinking about bank accounts, phones, internet etc.
Anyone live there and have any specific advice? He's got a place in halls there but they have to eat in the canteen so no kitchen stuff needed.

DS1 has been given a "uni starter pack" (basically a couple of gifts bags full of stationery etc) by a friend of his. Is that classed as helicopter-friendship?

Ooh, off to Venice Lifeis
How gorgeous
What course is he on ?
Do you have to be good at languages ?

< considers doing second degree >

Lifeis I recommend you and your ds set up Skype for calls home otherwise it could get expensive!

He's doing Modern Languages at Exeter, Spanish and Italian so this is his year abroad.

He had skype although I think his GF will benefit from that more than us judging by the number of times he called home last year. We mainly keep in touch via facebook.
We will be visiting, I've never been to Venice.

He may well be ok with just putting a PAYG sim in his existing phone for Italian calls.

We've spent 5 months in Athens and didn't bother with a local bank account. It's been ok although the commission charges for ATMs are annoying.

A commission free credit card may be a good plan for many purchases if he doesn't get a local bank account which I imagine may be a PITA to set up.

Venice is gorgeous!

Ok couple if things pens pencils, paper (I'm particular about stuff like that)

Vicks I remember a very hot summer that was particularly smelly (sorry) we all used to put a smear of Vicks under our noses which made life bearable

A fan (bye locally though)

Chocolate and peppermints

Herbal tea bags if he uses them where hard to find

Certain none medication medication cough medicine, obas oil etc

Condoms a load of them, Italian ones where a hard to find (Catholic country ) and b a different size!

That's all I can think of for now

Sorry didn't go to uni in Venice but I did work there for a while

Gloves and hat and a good winter coat it can be very cold in the winter

Two things one is there is the most amazing sorbet shop in Venis it has over 400 flavours simply heaven

I'm totally sure he knows this already there are 3 prices in every bar. Sat at the bar is cheapest

Food is amazing normally follows a set order

Salad
Pasta
Meat
Desert
Coffee
Virtually always served with wine

I expect uni will be the same he will not go hungry unless he doesn't like pasta!

Oh cereal if he is particular the Italian equivalents I found to be very sweet

My tip is to make sure you have something entertaining to listen to in the car if you're dropping your DD off at university. You'll find yourself in an interminable traffic jam composed entirely of cars packed to the gunnels with duvets etc.

And it won't just be once you start getting close to your destination university. No, no. The traffic will be a nightmare whenever you get even slightly close to any university because so many of them all seem to start at the same bloody time. I have memories of a horrible trip involving the M6, M1 and M25 on what seemed to be parents-dropping-off-their-offspring-at-university day. The M25 on the approach to Royal Holloway was by far the worst bit though.

I'll make sure he has condoms, his GF will be visiting and although I would not be impressed if he cheated I'd rather it was safely IYSWIM.

Pasta is his favourite food so should be good and I will make him up a first aid kit.
Looking forward to visiting but I'm a bit nervous as I'm sure he is although he's being very nonchalant.

Oh no I didn't mean to infer that! Just meant that they are an essential item!

It's an amazing place, can be pricy though

I would also recommend a couple of baggy clothing items I always used to put on a bit of weight when I was in Italy

I'm sure he is probably half way between ecstatically excited and worried