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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Tales from the first term - how are they getting on?

71 replies

seagull70 · 08/10/2014 13:44

I thought that a catch up would be nice to see how everyone is getting on as we haven't really chatted since the build up to results and clearing.

DT1 - loving it. Quite a few issues with her accommodation and a few glitches with her course but everything seems to be coming together. She loves her flatmates (she is the only one of two English students in her flat, so is loving the multicultural aspect).

She has made so many friends and has socialised more in the last few weeks then she ever has before! She is doing loads of cooking too. One of her flatmates has his mum come over once a week to do his laundry and another was caught trying to fry an egg last week without actually cracking the egg first. Just an egg in its shell sitting on a hot dry pan

DT2 - very wobbly to begin with. She's in Belfast so not that close. We stayed for 3 days with her just to get her through all the initial bits as she was very very panicky. She has gradually found her feet though and is loving her course. Has taken delivery of a lab coat and dissection kit and can't wait to get into the gory side of things. I think that around 80% of her weekly budget goes on booze, 15% on books and laundry costs and approx 5% on food

Lovely Boy - a wobbly start again and a few issues with finance but he's getting on with housemates and gradually finding his feet. His course is a killer though. Pretty much 9 till 6!

They all seem different somehow, more confident and grown-up. Will all be home for 'Reading Week' though at end of this month so I'm bracing myself for the wonderful chaos

How are your DCs getting on? Hopefully no disasters and everyone is settling in x

OP posts:

CakeUpWall · 10/10/2014 22:45

I've had visions of myself doing that BOF, so I will leave it for a bit.

Feel a little better now, thanks to the marvellous partnership of Mr Hendrick's & Mr Fevertree.

2rebecca · 11/10/2014 00:40

Fine but minimal feedback ( he was much the same at school though I had to drag info out of him).
Has joined lots of clubs (maybe too many he joined lots and then thought he'd drop the ones he wasn't as keen on), been to some parties, seems to have folk to socialise with and is coping with the course although not done anything too challenging yet by the sounds of things.

cricketballs · 11/10/2014 14:06

DS continues to make me chuckle...had a text "why do I buy stamps from"

BOFster · 11/10/2014 14:49

I've sent dd a parcel, so I texted her, to get the reply that she'll pick it up later because she's "working" in her room . I think she's as surprised as I am .

clam · 11/10/2014 15:05

Ds is having a blast. His late-night text on the first night was "this is the best fun I've ever had."

We've heard from him quite a bit - usually cooking queries, or about money/allowance. He seems to have a great "floor" in halls and they're out and about socialising together. He's joined a range of societies and is very busy.

He's asked if I could pop down (only an hour away) with a range of things he's decided he could use, now he knows the form. He wants his bike, and flute, and more towels and various bits and bobs. I'm glad of the excuse to see him, to be honest. This is the longest I've gone without him since he was born.

Original poster

seagull70 · 11/10/2014 18:37

Sorry, quick funding question. Does anyone know what happens with funding for year 2? Do you have to reapply for student finance and if so is it based on income for 2013/2014 (as this years current funding was based on income for 12/13 I think?)

OP posts:

fridayfreedom · 11/10/2014 20:10

Dd is 5 hrs away . She rang tonight, she's enjoying her course but says its a huge amount of work with a fast turn around. She's doing an art subject. She likes her flat mates but as its a flat full of girls I think there are a few issues at times although she says she just walks away.
She likes her course mates but says some are a bit quiet and hard to get to know.
She says she's not worried about anything but she says they give very little guidance for work. She's not fab at asking for help so hope she learns to do this if she needs it.
We are going to see her for a few days at half term. It's her reading week so she rang to ask if she can come home with us for a few days and see her friends. Asked! Of course she can.
She says shes missing us a bit and was a bit teary as she was so tired after a day out with her flat mates.
Feeling a bit wobbly now as I just want to be there for her and give her a hug. Am ok till she rings then I get all wibbly again.

unweavedrainbow · 11/10/2014 20:19

You have to reapply. The deadline is in june to have it sorted by september, but better sooner than later. It's based on income from 13/14. HTH

mumslife · 11/10/2014 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Littleham · 11/10/2014 22:44

Have just seen dd1 (dropped some stuff off for her) and she just seemed so grown up & is enjoying being independent! Made me feel very redundant. She seems really happy & loves her course.

Am still worried about whether she will find company at the weekends (due to being in hall with older students) but she says she is contacting people by facebook & meeting up with other Fresher's via that route.

Do you have to reapply for tuition fees every year as well? I thought it was just a one off application.

Original poster

seagull70 · 12/10/2014 08:19

Thanks unweaved, I thought as much

The girls were allocated a higher level of funding this year as our family income was low due to redundancy.

So I'm guessing next year they'll be entitled to a lot less :(

OP posts:

PurplePotato · 12/10/2014 14:35

DS has just done week 1 - haven't spoken to him yet, but we've had a few texts and he's loving everything so far. He's been enjoying cooking meals for the rest of his floor in halls, and has joined a LOT of clubs, the gym, and signed up for various sports teams. Now waiting to see how it goes when his course starts tomorrow and he has to get up for 9am lectures. I still can't get used to his room here being always tidy.

Needmoresleep · 13/10/2014 12:15

Texting seems to be the way forward. And feeding.

DS is only a short bus ride away, but we have only seen him once, when he came to pick something up. So he might as well be in Edinburgh. On balance a good thing. Though we miss him, I think we would be worried if he were coming home at weekends. Instead DD tells us he has been adding new Facebook friends and he tells us he now knows his way round the library.

I have accepted an invitation to an alumni event and will take him out for supper. My dad used to take me out to old style restaurants like Skeekeys, the White Tower, Manzis, and Bianchis. I'm not sure I can manage anything so grand but feel there is a tradition to uphold.

My dad finally gave up and used to take me for a carvery lunch at Simpson in the Strand, where he would look on proudly as I went up for at least three servings. I get the feeling that Hall food is not much better now than it was in my day. DS now lives round the corner from a Nandos and has asked if he can borrow my loyalty card, so he can take his friends for a feast. I think I am due three free chickens!

Littleham · 13/10/2014 20:25

Taking him out to lunch sounds like a lovely idea Needmoresleep. I'm planning to do the same once she has settled in.

My dd now has a fresher in her flat (who moved in because of the noise in her previous place). DD1 has also made friends with a boy in the flat above, so things are looking up.

I can't believe that dd2 is checking track now - like some sort of recurring nightmare.

BeckAndCall · 14/10/2014 08:58

Its lovely to hear how all of the DC are doing - I've only just found the thread!

It sounds like kez's DD had a scary moment - my own DD walked home ALONE from a club at 2am when she couldn't find any of her friends. We had strong words, believe me. it seems like all of their common sense can go out of the window in a new environment.

My DD has likewise done only one week so far and its been more wobbly than i thought it would be (have 2 older DC so expected some wobbling but not this much). Shes not used to doing so much for herself tbh - sorting out GP surgery, registering bike, doing laundry etc. I know she'll get the hang of it but she tends to panic if she doesn't feel on top of stuff. My suggestion was not to join the Kung fu club or turn up for ultimate frisbee training - stick with the 100 other clubs she'd signed up for......

She really enjoys the work though - but there's lots of it. Four days of 9 til 5 and 2 days of 9 til 12. So only gets a lie in on Sundays. Good job its only for 10 weeks at a time!

We're seeing her on Saturday - shes coming down to London to meet us for dinner as the rest of the family (4 of us) are up there for an afternoon event and its only an hour on the train. And I've already sent a parcel of forgotten items by post and sent a care package with a friend's dad who was driving up to take his DD her forgotten stuff!

On a serious note, we had a parents talk form the president of the college who told us to watch out for 'week 5 wobbles' - which is very common apparently.

hattymattie · 14/10/2014 16:52

Hello - have been lurking here a little bit and enjoying the tales. DD has only been at uni a week and a half now. This is the first full work week and she said she'd never had to work so hard but is enjoying her subject. There seems to have been a lot of partying and she has taken up rowing and was on the machines at 6am - this is the girl who has slept until 10 am all summer. Her professor apparently is totally nutty but the second and third years are there to steer them through it and have passed on their annotated books.

Beck - I shall look out for the five week wobble.

BOFster · 14/10/2014 17:11

I've just had a text from the girl who has never drunk tea or coffee saying "I've given in, I've had to start drinking caffeine!"

I hope she gets a couple of early nights, but I suspect that the burning of candles at both ends will continue...

Medge68 · 14/10/2014 17:42

Hi can I join in? Very new to MN but I'm in bits and the moment and think you will all (hopefully) understand more than DH! Just called DD (1st year) and she is poorly - sore throat, dizzy, hot and cold - so just freshers flu I guess? I feel really upset at her being so far away and not being well. She's not generally a poorly girl which makes it harder somehow! I have half expected it as it seems a common thing and most of her housemates have had it but my baby girl is poorly and all I can do is give advice over the phone

Littleham · 14/10/2014 18:58

Hi hatty & Medge.

I talk to MN too because my DH just says 'she'll be fine' and it doesn't help!

Hope your dd gets better soon Medge. Luckily my dd contacted me after she had been ill so I didn't know about it at the time.

BeckandCall - my dd said it was freaky going home after a society event through a dark city. She did listen to us & stuck like glue with a group going back to halls.

clam · 14/10/2014 19:03

Ditto here with the illness. We went down to visit ds last night - he wanted his bike and a few other bits, and we took him out to dinner. He was amusingly grateful for the rest from cooking! ("Have you any IDEA how long it takes to prepare, cook and wash up?")
He also asked dh to order "a decent bottle of wine" as he was fed up with "cheap crap."

He has apparently spent much of today in bed (apart from attending two brief lectures, where both tutors declared that they were an unhealthy lot and they didn't want to catch the germs from the entire room coughing and spluttering), watching the first series of Homeland and texting me for sympathy.

BeckAndCall · 14/10/2014 20:17

i admit i snorted when i read your DS's comments clam

I feel your pain medge as my DD was looking shocking on skype last night and miserably blowing her nose on screen (delightful!). DS (new post grad) has the same and he lives at home! Its just the start of term and all those bugs going around and finding new people to attach to.....

Waving at hatty - not seen you since the results thread! Sounds like your DD is settling in well. For reasons that passeth understanding my DD, too, thought rowing club would be fun. But reverted to form when she saw in her try out that this involved getting into possibly very cold water. So back to dry land activities for her.

waves also at littleham - I've just responded to a post of yours on another thread! Your family is clearly full of very accomplished young ladies! (I came over all Jane Austen then!)

hattymattie · 15/10/2014 06:54

Hi Beck - I think our DD's are at the same uni - and both in all female colleges. I think my DD enjoying the girls but slightly wistful about not having boys around her (although her boyfriend is very happy). Her male friends based in London are coming up for a visit in a couple of weeks - should be interesting.

Medge68 · 15/10/2014 07:03

Thank you all for your kind words - made me feel a bit better! I kind of wish I hadn't picked yesterday to phone her! Think I'd have preferred to hear about it when she was better did laugh at the cooking comment - they have a lot to learn!! Here's hoping all illnesses are short lived

hattymattie · 15/10/2014 07:43

Medge - hope your DD is feeling better today. I actually bought mine a packet of lemsip before she left. She looked a bit sniffy on Skype but seems OK. There was one girl however who apparently came to tutorial with a sick bag yesterday.

BOFster · 15/10/2014 08:43

I'm so glad we live in the age of the text message instead of the queue for the phonebox ! The little exchanges a few times a week are very comforting.

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