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!

This is a great thread which satisfies my need to gnash about this stuff without sharing with DD who refuses to contemplate going anywhere at all, pending results. We are just two hours away by bus if she gets first choice, which is a perfect distance as also not too expensive.

Parking is v v v bad however, and I am intrigued as to how hundreds of parents will descend with so much stuff all at once. However we did it in our day - and without coordinating mobile phone - one year I even took my full size harp to university, as I thought it made me seem more interesting. Only did this for one term however, as I kept getting requests to play. People assumed (wrongly and embarrassingly) that if I had gone to that much effort to bring it, I must be passably good at playing it.

Anyone going to Durham, it is fantastically well organised for parents getting onto the peninsular - all my fears about traffic snarl ups etc did not happen. And the car was unpacked and stuff taken to the rooms for you by a huge crowd of students. So impressed...

SecretSquirrels, I may be doing him a disservice, but he did not work very hard during 6th form although spent a lot of time revising for the exams.
DH is the voice of doom and has pretty much convinced me he won't make it.

Obviously I would be ecstatic if he does, but am wary of tempting fate.
His insurance is an hour away which would be great for transporting him!

circular no it was a normal current account - I think to be classed as a student account it has to be one that your loan is paid into but could be wrong

Figment, they give you time slots and particular days to turn up.

Joining in , on the strict promise from someone that as we don't really have a sensible insurance offer, joining this thread does not jinx the offer DS has .
Back up to read the thread.

To pack- fancy dress costume and black tie/posh frock. Also, the kids who had printers were popular.

Heard the kids that can bake cakes popular too

Not sure whether we will need overnight stay or not. And also whether night before for possible early start, or when we finish and are too tired for the drive home. Both first and insurance choices very pleasant for weekend break.

I don't dare join this thread as tempting fate

So...moving in day...

Do parents just dump and run or stay to help unpack? Are parents expected to attend anything formal?
It's a 8/9hr round trip for us if DD gets her firm and I hadn't planned to stay over so we'd need to crack on with the return journey.

We are going to book a overnight stay at the travel lodge, its about 8 hrs round trip for us, I don't fancy driving all the way back on the same day, plus we are planning a blow out meal at the jamie oliver restaurant in Bristol city centre, last supper so to speak as we won't be seeing dd for ages probably Xmas time. Its going to be a tearful goodbye, I'm not looking forward to that bit

A mum I know cleaned her son's room from top to bottom before she then unpacked his stuff Gypsy

I won't be doing that!

Depending on where he goes, we'll drop him, stay over if long distance and take him for lunch the next day before coming home.

for those not going to Oxbridge - check out the sales now for bedding, crockery, cutlery. Parents of Oxbridge students (or any other late departures) will find that supermarkets have a lot of student stuff late August/ early September and you can pick up the unsold items very cheaply.

Oxbridge halls often have pathetic cooking facilities so a recipe b0ok for "in a mug" is useful. Take a look at the mumsnet you tube channel for examples of what t teach them.

On moving day some universities may have trolleys - grab one quickly if at all possible.

Go through the student bank advice below with your student www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/Student-bank-account
Mae sure they understand what to do if their "bank" phones to say there is a security breach.

Ensure they know what the welfare services are and that it's a mark of strength to admit you need help, not a sign of weakness. If they dont need them their friend may do so.

They will get some form of illness so pack some medication for freshers flu.

If you havent already done so learn to use Skype or one of the newer equivalents. Become their Facebook friend so you can see their pictures and when they last accessed Facebook.

I made a long check list last year (based on all last years threads) if anyone wants me to e mail it. Feel free to PM me.

Marking the thread in a non-jinxy type way! I don't believe in jinxes, but you can't be too cautious!

I'm going to get an alphabetised book and write tips under each letter! It will never be used knowing him, but I'll keep me occupied writing it and he might find it useful!!!

To provide a contrary view. DS set off with just a computer, half a small suitcase full of clothes, and enough crockery/cutlery for him and a guest. He was going into catered, where sheets and bedding were provided and he is a minimialist. He is pretty close so he popped home after a couple of weeks to pick up things he had forgotten. (For some reason - registration? - he needed his passport and for another he needed his chequebook, neither of which he wanted to keep in hall.) The top up included better sheets and his own duvet, but not much else.

His room remains pretty bare, but this does not seem to bother him.

His friendship group is a mix of home and International students, some of whom are presumably quite well off. However most seem to work hard, none seem to drink and all seem to be happy living as frugal students. The main difference seems to be the determination of overseas students to live close to campus even if it means additional rent and/or room sharing. (The latter does not matter as the library is open 24 hours.)

One tip is to include a Chinese speaker in your friendship group. The "special", Chinese script only, menu at Chinese restaurants is apparantly much cheaper and designed to entice Chinese students who don't like hall food.

He is moving into an established flat for his second year, so he probably needs to get there first to find out what is missing. I manage property so we always have loads of "tenant booty" but otherwise Argos or a charity shop. I will provide a carbon monoxide monitor, as he is the last in so gets the room with the boiler.

I'm reading this like and now feeling horribly unprepared.

Oh and do check that any smoke alarm is working and has a fresh battery. Halls should be OK though students may turn them off. No tenant of mine has ever replaced the batery, so I either fit new ones at the start of a tenancy or if I have an electrician in anyway, ensure they are mains connected.

Again with rented property, and I appreciate this is not such a first year thing, the landlord should show tenants a current gas safe certificate.

Right. Have ch3cked. So far DD1 has
Delia's complete cookery
2 cake tins
Dubet cover
Cutlery
Kitchen knives
File bok.

Oh dear.

She's also travelling. Currently in vietnam. No idea about halls, bank or any thing else.

My DS has nothing yet Hooked, apart from some bits I've put aside for him when I've replaced stuff at home. Does everyone buy new or give the DC their cast offs?