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!

Kettles and toasters are not provided at Southampton - ds waited until he got there and they clubbed together and bought them.

No photo required for unilink bus pass.

Hey all, spend a productive afternoon flicking through a list of sites for university starter packs this afternoon and so far I think my most helpful has been My Student Pack (link - mystudentpack.refr.cc/PG874K6 ), DD off into uni halls on the 12th and so unorganised it's unreal! These packs have saved my life (and our relationship, lol!) and she's getting them all delivered to her halls once she's moved in!

Any other tips on how we can both survive the next few weeks?!

I'm loving that site wishful! So far, I have bought DS a pop up laundry basket and 3 wooden spoons

Joining you and just off for a read. DD is off to Edinburgh. Self catering, 6 to a flat type thing.

She's already hooked up with four - all girls, the joy of social media. They have had a comprehensive list of what is included in each flat

I keep reading that those big Ikea bags are useful for storing stuff. I presume you can buy them as well as walk round the shop with them?

Also, apparently plastic crates than slide under the bed are a good idea.

Your children will all be fine. When I went to Uni 40 years ago our mums didn't really get involved and we survived. Remember we could only contact home by going to the public phone box! By the way, I'm starting a masters in September - hope I can get back into studying mode.

So right Carol! God luck with the studying. 38 years since I went - hard to believe!

Good!

neuroticattimes Yep - you buy the blue bags from IKEA. IIRC It's a yellow version you walk round the store with
Check with accommodation whether bed has storage under before getting underbed boxes.

Hey Pistey it's me Bella . Bit of a long drive for you and DD with all of her stuff.

apologies if this has been said already, I'm not reading 19 pages to find out.

Remind them that they need to register with a gp and that they at least need to know what the arrangements are for dental care if they need it. They will all get some form of freshers flu and wisdom teeth may cause problems in this age group.

They are no longer automatically entitled to free prescriptions. glasses or dental care but may be able to claim on low income grounds www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx
Order them a form but it's best filled in after they arrive at university and are paying rent. The student loan counts as income and those who work may not qualify. For the fortunate ones who qualify it can be worth the effort.

Make sure they know about welfare provision (and that chaplains are part of it even if you are not religious). My child has a friend at another university who became too depressed even to register that they were ill with the university. Therefore they got no consideration for the illness when they failed their exams. If one of their friends had expressed concern to the university they might be in a stronger position if they fail their resits.

Pugs! Of course!

You know how much DH travels, so her trips to Edinburgh will be courtesy of air miles. It makes it very quick. At the right time of day, less than 30 mins to T5, less than an hour flight and then the tram straight into Princes Street, or there's a Airport bus too. Her digs are 20 mins walk from the central station. Very quick.

Her friend started last year, and I think we will do the same as they did. We all plan to go, using maximum luggage allowance, which DH gets a lot of. So it's not a problem, although she wants her bike there too at some point. She can sort that. They start earlier than most - Sept 12th, and she's home for a Rugby Word cup match we are seeing, so can collect anything else then. Just as well she didn't get the single scull she wanted! She loves a mooch around charity shops, got plans for that in Edinburgh.

Anyhooo! That's the plan

I know she'll be absolutely fine. Tis ME I'm worrying about

Thanks Alreadytaken that's really useful.

Is it just THEIR income this time that s counted, ie minimum loan due to parental high income will go in their favour for once?
Bet will still be awkward to fill in as won't know how much likely to be earning from holiday work.

Re the cleaning in her particular accommodation - all down to the students, inc communal areas. In their flat of 6 they get two bathrooms. They will work it out. Hopefully!

That's very useful information thanks.
DD went off to buy a bike with DH last night (so cute, with a basket ) , her faculty is a little way from her accommodation and apparently a bike is the best option. She however has not cycled much for years and never in a town centre so she's planning on cycling to work for the next month as training!
DD has just found some declaration of finance forms that were due in June

cathy - we bought dd the obligatory black bike with basket last weekend. She rode it from the shop to the carpark and was wobbling all over the place like a child who had just had their stabilisers removed! She has been out practising this week and is much improved

Very helpful alreadytaken

I'm also interested in how their income is counted, seeing as student loan is based on parental income. Ds's accommodation is lots more than his loan/grant (I guess like many others) so he'll need a top up from mummy and daddy just to get a beer coffee and a bus ticket. Does having generous but cash-strapped parents count as low income or high?

Lol at child with stabilisers removed

Piste I think I'll be with you on the DD2 got the grades she needed to board at sixth form and both my girls are leaving the nest at once. I've been sticking my fingers in my ears and lalalalaaaaing until now but now it seems very real.

We have just bought DD a cheap bike off ebay and ordered a basket to put on it. She is not taking her nice bike as we don't want it to get stolen! We have also bought a D-lock.

You are more sensible than us hellsbells but we made a deal with dd months ago that if she got into Cambridge we would buy her a bike. We need to get a decent lock and she is going to customise the bike to make it easily identifiable if someone steals it.

Yes Hells much more sensible,I think DH just couldn't wait to get in the bike shop with DD! DD's is not black so should be a little more identifiable and we are getting a good d lock ---and hoping she doesn't forget to use it. I know Lily Cole had a rather fabulous £700 Pashley nicked but the company gifted her a replacement! Not sure Halfords will do the same for Dd

Thanks Alreadytaken for that really useful post. That is exactly the sort of information that I need.