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Higher education

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

Original poster

Preparing for Uni in 2015

998 replies

circular · 22/06/2015 09:01

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Horsemad · 07/09/2015 18:37

Lol Figment, that would please me too! Grin

vodkaredbullgirl · 07/09/2015 18:44

Im making up a survival box to help cover the next month, after that she can buy her own stuff.

Horsemad · 07/09/2015 19:16

I'll do a supermarket shop with him when we arrive and then he can get his own from then on.

mrsrhodgilbert · 07/09/2015 19:17

Dd1 really suffered from flatmates who hardly left their rooms and had a very difficult time because of it. They have so much technology these days that they hardly need to make friends. It's sad, I think they need to be encouraged to leave the safety of the world of tech.

Horsemad · 07/09/2015 19:23

That is so true Mrsrhodgilbert, I'd prefer DS to leave the desktop at home, but I don't think he'd tolerate that, more's the pity.

vodkaredbullgirl · 07/09/2015 19:30

My dd is only taking her laptop and ds and thats it, she leaving the rest at home.

MissDemelzaCarne · 07/09/2015 20:10

DS wanted to take his PS4 but I said I wouldn't buy him a TV until he'd been there for a few weeks, if he has it straight away I'm worried he'll get into the habit of just staying in, he has ASD so can be unsociable.

Katkat50 · 07/09/2015 22:28

And you need TV licence if you have a TV in halls....

Chillywhippet · 07/09/2015 22:52

DD not big on tech - taking laptop for work and phone.

Her essential shopping at Lidl included Prosecco and Pinot Grigio.

Sounds like we all have worries but not the same ones!

lalamumto3 · 08/09/2015 09:18

DD and I went shopping yesterday, I tried to steer towards domestic items, she was more interested in clothes! We managed a rice cooker and lunch.

she is not at all domesticated, I have tried but she is very uninterested. I am keeping going on cooking, washing front, in hope something is going in!!!

DD is off to Warwick, she is still waiting to hear on accommodation (which is all self catered) apparently they should hear this week, she is keen to know what she has been allocated.

Still laughing at poster who's DS is taking a wet suit. Mine will be taking skis and ski race kit, which includes race suit, helmet, poles, back protector, shin guards, race bench for ski prep, tool kit and waxing iron, not sure how it will all fit in car let alone room. Funnily she has no intention of taking an iron for her clothes. She also never does the ski prep, it is usually dh, who lovingly takes her to races, preps skis, provides food and drink.......... It will either be very different or we will all drive and see her at the races! I expect she will be weighing up coolness of no family with all the he ell and support with Lala family.

I suspect accommodation people have seen students bring many things with them, I wonder if they have a competition to spot strangest/largest item !!!

DarklingJane · 08/09/2015 09:56

My dd is only taking her laptop and ds

Vodka - I assume by "ds" you mean a small handheld gaming device rather than your son. Otherwise I think she wins the award for most outrageous packing. Grin. "Ski race kit ? wetsuit ? - pah! - I'm taking my brother

itmustbeglove · 08/09/2015 10:01

I've given up trying to teach DS to cook and ordered a student cookbook for him.
Might be useful as a coaster/ door wedge. Grin

Horsemad · 08/09/2015 10:14

Lol itmustbeglove Grin

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 08/09/2015 10:15

I have to confess, I didn't bother with a student cook book for ds3 - I bought one for ds1, who said it was useless, because it asked for too many ingredients that were too expensive, so I got a different one for ds2, who said it was equally useless - and as I suspect ds3 is going to live on supernoodles, cheesy chips and (I hope) green apples, I decided he didn't need a cook book for those!

muffinmonster · 08/09/2015 11:26

DD is taking nothing more outrageous than a yoga mat.

She's gone to get her meningitis jab today. New bank account to be set up when the application form arrives. Have made a note of rent due dates vs. loan instalment dates - it's the same day in terms 2 and 3.

Slowly getting there.

bigbluebus · 08/09/2015 12:01

muffinmonster Hope your DD is ok after her jab. DS had his yesterday and has a splitting headache, is achey and I checked his temp which was 38.8 Hmm. He has not surfaced from bed yet - which given how much stuff we need to sort is not good.

itmustbeglove · 08/09/2015 12:18

DS had his ACWY last week and had a slightly sore arm. I reckon it's worth getting them booked in ASAP as stocks are running low apparently.

LapsedPacifist · 08/09/2015 12:38

DS had his meningitis jab yesterday and started complaining about 'flu-type symptoms last night. He was feeling really rough this morning and dosed himself up before going off for a 2 hours driving lesson. Sad

I must be a crap mum - it didn't even occur to me this might be a reaction to his jab.

muffinmonster · 08/09/2015 12:59

Shock at jab reactions, bigbluebus and lapsed. I never thought about a reaction either.

Anyway, DD went along to the surgery this morning and it turns out that her appointment is tomorrow. She is convinced that it was the lady who made the appointment and not her (she?) who got it wrong.

Her timetable is supposed to be available online today, plus an appointment for enrolment. Will feel much better when she knows that.

sassymuffin · 08/09/2015 13:06

Done the eye watering maths and as her loan doesn't cover her terms rent £1460 and numerous other charges (minimum dining requirement £140 and maintenance charge £185 etc) we have decided to pay that and she will have to live off her loan for the rest of the year.

It will be a hefty squeeze on finances but will be more practical than sending her money every five minutes.

She has been warned to budget very carefully and "essentials" do not include Prosecco, shoes or Mac make up.

Original poster
circular · 08/09/2015 13:13

Is the date the loan is going in supposed to who on Student Finance?
DD said hers shows as approved, but no date?

OP posts:
bruffin · 08/09/2015 13:14

Lapsed

Ds had his in August and he didnt feel very well for 24 hours with bad head and sore arm.

Original poster
circular · 08/09/2015 13:42

DD had flu like symptoms after hers (last week) too. Lasted a coupe of days, so don't think long enough to have been a cold.

OP posts:
muffinmonster · 08/09/2015 14:02

circular, my DD logged in to student finance yesterday and showed me her page; it had dates and amounts for all three instalments of the maintenance loan. (Also for the tuition fees, but they go direct to the university.)

Horsemad · 08/09/2015 15:28

Same as muffin monster, DS's shows dates and amounts for 3 instalments.