Preparing for Uni in 2015 continues...

[Chillywhippet]

New thread

Old one here with loads of info

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2408327-Preparing-for-Uni-in-2015

Dd skyped again for a while this afternoon. She looks tired even though she slept better last night. She is doing a lot of admin, trying to sort out module choices, register with a dr etc. I'm really proud of her for plodding through it as some things are not going smoothly.

Her catered meals are worrying me a bit, maybe that's the wrong word. She gets £10.70 daily on a meal card but it doesn't seem to be buying much. Juice, toast and fruit for breakfast then tomato pasta and a yoghurt for dinner. She is making her own lunch, she had 20p left today. It just doesn't seem much or great food. it's early days though, hopefully she will learn to work the system. I now see why they have top up cards too.

Don't worry Mumslife I'm sure she will be fine.

Aw sassymuffin that is quite sad but they sound very sensible, 150 miles is a big difference and they will both have so much going on.

DS is quite tired as he says it's too hot to sleep, he's so used to our big but very cold house. He had his first induction session this afternoon so waiting to hear how it went.

mumslife I once went on a march (long time ago now...) mods/punks/skinheads in Leeds. I was about 14 at the time, thought I was so grown up with my Harrington jacket . She will be ok.

sassy that's good the split is amicable.

mrsrhod I must get Skype set up with DS, it must have been really nice chatting over dinner.

Fanny sounds like DD has made some really nice friends.

Was shocked tonight... DS whatsapped me to say him and one of his housemates were making fajitas together, even sent me a pic. Am so chuffed he didn't do any cooking at home, sometimes asked if I needed anything doing but that's just about it. He must have been a tad pleased with himself to volunteer the info.

It feels like mine will never leave. DD2 goes on Sat and then DS the week after. I have to be referee when I come home as they are bored and sick of each other's company.

So lovely to hear so many DC are coping well and getting stuck into the ups and downs that is freshers.

I'm waiting with tissues ready for DD to return from her meal. DD and her boyfriend made the decision to split over six months ago so have gradually been seeing less of one another over the last month. They are one another's first love and are also going to study the same subject. I'm hoping that the fact they are parting as friends will mean there will be no awkwardness if they bump into each other during Christmas break.

PRINTER PROBLEMS!!!!

DD gone into a spin - printer doesn't work - comouter room closed - used all her printing credit anyway - needs notes for morning - have to get extra early to print off - worse case scenario she gets kicked out of lecture then if That happens twice she will get 'flagged up' and maybe ask to repeat her year!!!! DRAAAAMMMMAAAAA

hope your DD is ok sassymuffin things like that take a while to get over.

Quietly does she know anyone else with a printer she can beg a favour from?

Can she email tutor and explain and ask for advice?

circular. She has social anxiety and won't ask anyone else!! She is frustrated and because she has left it to the last minute is just panicking! I've told her to read the notes on line and if it's a problem tomorrow then explain to the tutor! She got the printer through DSA so she will have to call them up tomorrow to sort it out! She has been there nearly 2 weeks and we did offer to set it up when we dropped her off! But No she can do it and now she is calling us expecting us to know what to do over the phone!!

Quietly - how long are these notes?
Is writing them out longhand an option?

Thank you for suggesting but she has visual processing disorder which means she struggles to copy down notes (when you copy your brain isn't actuslly copying - you read then store then write) also she has no understanding of phonics so doesn't copy accurately. She will also be struggling to read notes from a computer as well that's why she was given a printer.

She is also visual dyslexic - bless her. Gosh writing that down makes me realise that she has done fab and worked so hard to get into uni and a RG one as well with high entry levels! She does panic though so probably best I leave her to it to work through as sometimes if I prolong things they get worse

Can she email it?

Just had a message to say she is using one of her specialised programmes on her laptop and has turned it into an audio file and is typing some notes whilst listening to it! It's 25 pages long!! Eeeekkkkk

• she can then take her small netbook into lecture tomorrow to show she has done the work on her laptop! Phew crises averted!!!

Quietly Your dd sounds amazing! She obviously has great problem solving skills & is able to look at a situation & work out another way round it (perhaps she's had to do this all her life?). Hope it works out OK for her.

Had a couple of messages from dd today. Mainly asking about what I've sent in her parcel (which cost me £16 to send to arrive today but she hasn't actually been to reception to see if it's arrived...). She also said they (i assume her & her flatmates) were having a quiet night in front of bake off as "I've drunk a shit load the last two nights" . She has agree that I'm allowed to call her tomorrow although it was apparently a bit loserish of me to ask...

Think my dd was also staying in to watch GBBO. However I suspect there may have been a drinking game as well...

Got my DD home! She came back yesterday as we had tickets for Welcome to Night Vale (a shared passion!). Today we travel south and tomorrow is mum's funeral. Sad but it's nice to have a get together with cousins and we've planned quite a send off with music and readings and memories. Then DD will go back to uni for real this time!

She's had a good time overall, but feels everyone else is already in friend groups and she's missing out! I'm sure lots of them feel the same. Housemates are fine thank god but not her type for real friendship. She did drink vodka with some metal head Rumanians who sounded promising!

Cooroo - glad your DD is home and I hope the next couple of days go well under the circumstances

I met up with DD yesterday for a couple of hours after she had finished at uni for the day. She knew I had a meeting in the City so asked if ai would bring her some things she had forgotten - I also swapped her hairdryer in case it is that tripping the fuse switch in her room. She is fine if a little home sick.
The course is going well - she already has work to do. She says becuase it has ben mainly lectures, she hasn't had chance to speak to many people. She has ben put in a tutor group of 6 - her tutor is lovely, but 3 of the group are international students and are speaking mainly in their own language probably homesick too. She said 2 of them aren't even going home for Xmas so she feels very sorry for them and she is glad she is only an hour from home.
Her flat mates are all lovely and everyone is getting on well. They have even 'adopted' a couple more students. They have been out every night and DD is shattered.
She has announced she is coming home for a couple of days in 3 weeks as one of her best friends is leaving for volunteering abroad so she wants to spend time with her before she goes. She also has a reading week in November - she says she has to stay in uni for some of it as she has a placement and needs access to the library, but will also be home for a couple or more days then.

My DD is coming home next Thursday evening as we have tickets to see/meet Jacqueline Wilson (her childhood hero!!) So lots of hugs and fun and laughter are due

I can't imagine how hard it must be for any student that isn't able to go home for xmas!!!! Hope the uni's make arrangements and keep an eye on them!!

I'm pretty sure my nephew once brought an overseas student home with him for Xmas so they could experience an English Christmas - so you never know, some of you may have to set an extra place around the table for Xmas

quietly glad your DD sorted out her printing problems. I haven't asked DS if he's even got his out of the box yet - he doesn't start lectures until Monday. Must message him and check.

DS did say he was going to do shopping and laundry today - wish I could be a fly on the wall. Am fully expecting a request for new jeans when he shrinks his - he has long legs and so they only just fit now. I never tumble dry clothes here (except underwear) as I can't risk it shrinking - we all have long arms and legs

bigbluebus I would happily take an international student for xmas break - as long as they follow our family tradition - we all wear matching pjs ALL DAY!! We have a BIG family cooking spree on xmas eve and then eat what we have cooked on xmas day with our BIG Xmas dinner on Boxing Day!! I started this when the girls were younger as I didn't want to be in and out of the kitchen!!

Re - PRINTER - she is online to the company now who have taken control of her computer and are trying to fix the problem - modern technology really is amazing! A remote engineer!

- did you not send him with a clothes airer???

I have just started a new thread in this section. Which isn't really about the practical stuff, but about coping skills more generally. You might want to take a look, as it's stuff that's been on my mind.

Name of the thread? I'm newish to mumsnet and just finding my way around the site