Preparing for Uni in 2015

[circular]

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!

Dd has yet to open a student bank account. That's next on the 'to do' list. So, any recommendations?

I think moneysavingexpert says that Santander (3 year railcard) and HSBC (Amazon voucher) are the better ones, good terms, overdrafts etc. DD was already with HSBC so she stuck with them, just changed accounts.

Thank you, railcard would be useful, I'll check it out.

has anyone's dc actually received their railcard from santander yet? There's no mention of it in any of the bumph that ds brought home and he's v vague about what they said ..

Basildon on the FAQ's here suggests that a unique code is given that they use to apply for a railcard.

Can you open one student account and then in a year or two open a different one? Or do you have to be a first year?

Dd1 already has a railcard that doesn't run out till June 2017 so she's thinking of getting an HSBC account and we were wondering whether - if someone was offering a railcard or some other incentive - she could open another account in a couple of years' time!

My DD has a bank account and an ISA. The plan is to store 'spare' money in the ISA and transfer it as needed. Is there any point I getting a student account with all the attendant hassle and form filling? I'm not sure an overdraft is a good idea seeing how deep in debt she'll already be in 3 years' time! Ok rail or coach card is nice. But otherwise?

DS is keeping his U19 Lloyd's account (can't go overdrawn) and using that.

Horsemad DD doing same, but got Santander student a/c also. So loan gets aid into that to get perks, then will set up standing order to transfer weekly/monthly spends to U19 account for day to day use.
Won't work for those soon turning 19 though - at last an advantage being August born

Good plan circular, DS not 19 until next July, so will work well for him!

Anyone off to Soton - they have induction hobs only in their halls, so only certain types of pans (steel or iron) will work apparently, if the internet is right

Me too Pistey with the . Good old DH eh! Knew he would come in handy at some time or other didn't we , even if it is with air miles and extra baggage allowance .

DS has an under 19's Lloyds account. He had a letter from them a while ago to say it would automatically change to a student account sometime in August. It may well have done by now but we are away on hols until the end, he is not 19 until next June, so all good.

He still has to fill out the form for dental treatment and prescriptions.

That is exactly what dd is intending to do circular - open the Santander account to get the railcard and have the student loan paid into it and set up a standing order into her HSBC account which she has had for a few years and is used to using. She is intending to do weekly standing order so that she has a clear idea of how much money she has each week. I really don't want her getting into an overdraft situation as the will have more than enough debt to deal with.

it is based on the students income and savings - over 6k of savings and it may not be worth applying. This is one time cash strapped parents benefit.

The form is ridiculously complex and I'm not sure how they treat erratic earnings.

good advice about the santander railcard.

Went to soton today. First time I've really looked around. I really liked it.

Exciting for them and us - coming closer.

Need a big shop now. Dh wants all from IKEA but their bedlinen creases so - I want M and S stuff for bedding!

finding it so helpful to hear soton advice - keep it coming.

Plug DD had same letter from Lloyds. She called before her 18th asking them NOT to convert it, but was told they can't automatically without seeing offer letter. Quite confusing.

Will have to ask DS if he had that letter from Lloyds.

Has everyone's dc had their accommodation offer by now? My dd has heard nothing yet. Their website does imply that it may take a while, but still can't help fretting!

Yes dd has decorhate but she was told exactly when to expect accommodation offers and they were actually sent out earlier. It may be worth a call or an email so that you know what time frame you are working on.

We are off to Ikea this morning

decorhate - do call uni accommodation because we waited and they did not contact us and I just was able to get DS to accept in time. Accommodation line told us to wait for emails until one clued up chap looked on line and found we had been offered. If you applied online - try going into that account.

Best to call and be sure

Have you all heard from university? Welcome packs etc. From faculty?

We have heard nothing except ucas offer.

Violets, same here, nothing apart from track updating & a medical questionnaire. After some googling I found a place in their website where you could check you had been offered a place & then it said something like "thank you for confirming you are accepting the place". Was a bit as there had been no communication to say you had to do this. And now wondering if that had to be done to trigger accommodation offer

Mattress toppers - any recs please?

Horsemad something washable, and not too thick if you want to use a protector on top. The ones I had my eye on at John Lewis sold out before we knew bed size.

Only accommodation acceptance confirmation email, nothing faculty/course related here either.

Before you buy mattress toppers etc make sure you check the size of the bed. Ds had a 'small double' - it was about 1.5 times the size of a single. I ended up buying his fitted sheets from Amazon! (he was in Selborne Court, Glen Eyre).