Preparing for Uni in 2015

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Carrying on from yr13 thread, here thought we could share our ideas for Uni preparation.

All welcome, not just those in above thread. Would especially appreciate contributions from those who have 'been there'

Topics that spring to mind, and a few recent threads on them are :

What to take What to take , What NOT to take, Shared accommodation

Clearing out rooms

How much to contribute What does it cost, How much needed weekly, How much are you subbing

Budgeting, cooking, and other life skills to learn Easy recipes for teens

Leaving friends, family, boy/girlfriends behind

Us coping without them - noted series of 'Empty Nest' threads.

Hope all the links correct!

Think DD had 7 days (not Exeter).
Seems very random re the order they are allocating, as 2 of the others she knows going to same Uni have not heard. And both firmed and applied for accommodation before her. All different courses, but same campus and same first choices.

Finally joining in as I now know dd is going to university. Couldn't bear to look at this thread before now as I felt it would be tempting fate. I am normally a sensible, rational person - honest

Thanks for all the ideas - dd and I have started making a list now but haven't bought anything yet as we don't know what she will have in her accommodation She is also busy planning her "English student" wardrobe!

Hi everyone
What a nerve wracking time!

I've been lurking for a while and also following the links to other threads which I must say have been amazingly helpful.

Its now confirmed my eldest (dd) is going to Coventry university, I'm immensely proud as she's had a really tough time these last few years so it's not been easy but she did it!

We are also going for open day tomorrow.

I'm petrified & will miss her so much when the time comes, but of course I'm playing it cool as you do

We've done some shopping for bedding online tonight and DD has chosen her modules for the first year. God that makes it all seem rather real now!

Not joining in until DS has decided what he's doing! Still hasn't accepted his offer for alternative course.

I am enjoying reading what you are all upto though!

Basildon he'll be studying law. How about yours?

History with a year abroad- I can't quite believe that four weeks from now I'll be driving him there with all his stuff (which we haven't got yet ...)

I know me too. I think it's four weeks tomorrow, I haven't wanted to tempt fate by buying anything in advance.
Instead of being full of angst about results I'm now anxious about all the stuff he'll take and lose and whether he'll get up in time for lectures.
Wondering when the worrying stops

Couldn't risk it before now mumslife!

Seven weeks tomorrow for dd. Trying to encourage her to earn lots of money in that time

Great to see you here MrsB. You've got me thinking, dare I even mention 'student wardrobe' to DD.

5 weeks this w/e for DD.
Think she's finally going out celebrating this weekend. Will be her first pub outing since her 18th.

On a separate note, does anyone know whether they are expected to have started on the reading list (for 1st semester compulsory modules) before they start the course?

What a great, useful thread!

I have found out so much, so thank you!

DD1 got into her firm yesterday and so buying stuff starts in earnest now. I have been buying odds and sods all year (and the rest of the family laughed at me - they're not laughing now!!), but need to crack on faster now as DD's start date is 14 September.

I must admit to being very shocked when I found out that students have to pay for Fresher's events
I thought that would all have been included in the Uni fees!!

I think the fresher events are subsidised. Also. I guess, by making some paid for they can keep a check on numbers.

My DD last year found most of them were club based. Almost everyone drank too much and the lovely, friendly group in day 1-3 was then fractured with drink fuelled falling outs by the end of week two.

She also had a lot of free time in the fresher period and living close to town meant she could buy "missing" stuff quite easily, so there is no need to panic if they are going to be living quite centrally.

Just checking in - shopping list complete and off to buy laptop/printer this morning!

mumslfe reading list on DDs course is within the individual module description. Probably only worth looking at the compulsory modules at this stage, guessing they get asked to chose the optionals before the course starts though.

Dd has had her reading list for months and hasn't started on it. She is now in a panic She will be doing English and they study one book a week (I think) and there are secondary texts to read around it. It will all be very fast paced so she is supposed to be ahead in the reading before she starts. She was very unsure about whether she was going to meet her offer, though, and so she couldn't motivate herself to do it. She is motivated now!

Mrs B we have a similar thing here for History with DS. He has just realised now much he is supposed to have done before October. He just couldn't face it before Thursday but we had a dash around Amazon last night.

Grumpy my DS is at Coventry, so feel free on questions and I'll get the information from him!

MrsBartlet - my DD is the same.
We had a look through her reading list (she is doing English Lit) when it came in months ago and then, like your DD, she put it away - thinking she might jinx something if she started reading anything.
Like Hocus, we are planning a raid on Amazon tomorrow!

Dd has just ordered all the primary texts for this term. Some new and some second hand and came in at £60 which is not bad. She will aim to get the secondary texts at the library.

My DS has accepted his Chem offer this morning Southampton, here he comes!

Starting to write lists now

That's great Horsemad - hope he is very happy there!

Thanks MrsB

If your DC can get the Unidays app there's varying discounts on laptops and printers etc.

Microsoft Office 365 is available in various options for different numbers of PCs/tablets/phones etc. The one off lifetime option is £110; we went for the University (4yrs, 2 laptops & tablets/phones) for 59.99.

There is a good deal on an HP pavilion laptop but stock is running quite low.

Managed to source pretty much all she needs - laptop, printer, kitchenware, bed/bath/room stuff for under £600 (as long as we don't detour from the spreadsheet!).