DS/DD off to Uni? - Empty nest support thread

[rustybear]

DS is off to Warwick in October - anyone else feeling old? Or are there any old hands with advice ?

Just wishing everyone good luck for today!

Hi RustyBear are you the OP from 2006?!!

My DD1 got into Warwick yesterday.

Any nuggets of wisdom?

Must say they've been quick off the mark with info & reams of links.

DD is making lists!

Am determined NOT to be snivelly mother but fear I may have something in the eye as we say goodbye.

Oops just caught up with the rest of the thread....it is you! Sorry!

Yes, it was me, though I didn't have my capital letters 7 years ago! I wonder if this thread will make it to it's 7th birthday, at the end of the month - only 70 posts to go!

DS loved Warwick, made some very good friends there, is still going out with his uni girlfriend and sharing a house with some others.

Where will your DD be living? DS was in Rootes, which I think is the closest to the campus, but it's all fairly compact, I think the furthest hall is only about 10 minutes walk.

Warwick used to have a parents' section on their website and a family email address, is it still there? - I never had to use it, but I know some other families found it very useful.

Sorry -forgot to say Congratulations to your DD - I'm sure she'll love it!

I'm a recent warwick graduate - I loved my time there and am very jealous of your DD MissMarples, I'd love to do it again! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me

My nugget of wisdom... tell your DD to buy a ticket for week 1 POP! (an event at the SU) as soon as humanly possible if she is at all into clubbing - its one of the most popular nights of the year and always sells out, and she'll definitely be able to re-sell the ticket if she doesnt want to go for whatever reason.

ps. sorry if that wasnt the type of advice you wanted happy to offer more serious advice too!

Thanks RB ! DD is hoping to get into Jack Martin halls, or Rootes , it has been having a huge overhall recently so we didn't get to see much of it.

There are some posh new ones called Bluebell, basically flats of 8 double rooms, all ensuite, lovely kitchen/communal lounge, & a shared laundry on each floor.But top of the price range, so she's going for JM. or something similar.

Lots of lists being made!!

dinkydonky All good info thanks, but she's not really into clubbing, but she might get a ticket & sell it on at a profit!!

Anything you can remember you should have had/taken or took/didn't need?

They're pretty hot on people not profiting on tickets (sadly for the more organised students!) and its all done electronically on her student card.

Kettle/toaster/microwave are all provided in halls, so no need to take any of that stuff, just pots and pans, plates etc. would recommend not buying the generic plain white stuff from tesco as its so easily confused with everyone elses, try ikea or wilkos for patterned stuff if you dont have any spare sets lying around - i had old-lady patterns on mine from my grandparents attic! Cant think of anything else really, I took my own beddings and pillows as although the uni provided them, they werent very nice. Lots of good advice and lists of what to take on the student room (forum) if she hasnt checked it out already. Tupperware for packed lunches if she has lectures all day (may not be necessary, depending on her course!) are useful too.

One other thing worth knowing about is 'Eating at Warwick' - I believe its now integrated into the student cards, you can top up your account online and this gives you 10% off all food and drink outlets on campus, it saved me a fortune in coffees, drinks, snacks etc.

dressing gown also really useful if she doesnt already have one!

Fair enough!

Thanks dinky added to the list.

Good point about the white plates i think my mum has got a white set she was going to give her so I'll have that & get her a coloured set.

I think she's looking at some of the blogs on the forum.

Yes the catering card thingy sounds great I spoke to the catering manager about it at the open day!

Thanks Rusty for this lovely thread. Ds 1 in Sheffield, Dd in Leeds, ds2 just got into Exeter, anyone out there had any experience of that uni? It's a bit southern for us!

Just girding my loins for the trip down there With, obviously, half of ikea...

Oo lots of love to you MissMarples

Another oldie from this thread - when I first posted DS1 had just gone into 2nd year at Nottingham. He's now doing very well and living and working 9k miles away!
DS2 is about to go into final year at Hull.
Hoochy I went to Exeter back before time begain (believe that Rusty is an alumna and that her DD also went there). A friend's DD has just graduated from Exeter and loved it, so the place still weaves its considerable charm.
And for whoever posts "What do they need to take to university?" I refer to one of my original posts and suggest that a bottle of vodka, a home made chocolate cake and an open door when unpacking will work wonders for instant friendships!

Yes, I was at Exeter, so was DH- we met there - and DD graduated from there in 2011. Where will your DS2 be living hoochy?

delighted to find this thread :) perfect!

anyone got any word of wisdom about Northumbria uni? dd is off in 4 weeks and it's a long way from us... thanks

Dd has now finished at Keele but will be starting at Bath Spa in a couple of weeks to do her PGCE. I have found this thread very useful over the years and will miss it when she finally finishes.

If anyone has any queries about Keele Uni please ask.

Thanks hoochy having my first wobble today, DD's have gone off with their Dad to see some of his relys for a few days.

They were packing upstairs earlier (not allowed to supervise THAT these days!!) and I could hear them laughing & teasing each other.

DD2 (16) is going to miss her sis so much (although she'd rather have teeth pulled than admit it naturally ) and it suddenly struck me that it was not going to be happening as much from Oct and I felt a bit

Still enormously proud of her but ....< pulls big mummy knickers on>

I need to go into the loft to find out what is useable for DS in the box of Uni stuff that DD finished with last year.

Trip to Dunelm Mill looms for new duvet/covers and mattress topper, and then to phone my parents who both work in charity shops with a list of things to look out for :)

Yes we're going to do that Milliways but instead of/as well as charity shops we're asking around the family for donations, especially her father as the tightarse is making no other contribution

....................but that's a whole other thread!!

Paid the Uni accommodation deposit today - it's getting real!

doing same payment tonight :)

missmarple my DS is off to Warwick. Can I ask, have you had anything through the post yet? We've had the welcome email with lots of links, but I was hoping he might have had some info about registering by now.

Well the time is getting nearer for my DD3,our youngest to leave. She has today enrolled online for her course at Bolton and she could even Upload a photo for her ID card, She still needs to finish the process at Bolton but it will be a lot easier and quicker then doing the whole thing up there.
She has also asked DH to get the suitcases from the loft so she can start packing. It seems strange that she is going and DH and I will be without any DCs at home.