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

Re accommodation - yes DD2 is paying £3681 for hers - Newcastle self catered, room with sink and 1 shower and loo between 3. All kitchen stuff supplied - even a shared pack including cutlery (she's still taking her own). She had an unconditional so got 1st refusal on her 1st choice. I realise we are lucky (DD1's cost a lot more) but I decided on her behalf that she didn't need an en-suite. Unfortunately all new uni accommodation is being built with en-suites which are now becoming more the norm - along with the price tag.

And as for someone mentioning over £200 per month for food - Noooooooo!!! For DD1, she just got a loan (no grant) so I sorted the accommodation and she paid all uni living costs (after I'd set her up) out of her grant. She is high maintenance but did this quite well out of her loan on a normal bank account with a (by the end £350 overdraft) She did have a pub job in the holidays.

With DD2 she will get full loan, grant and should also get uni's own grant (I'm not married any more ) and I think she should be able to pay for everything out of that. They can do it. They just have to adjust their expectations sometimes! Extra cash for fresher's week does help too!

Bobs I agree that it should be possible - but one of the downsides of oxford is that it is fully catered - the university's recommended minimum spend on food is £265 pm month - which I also think is very high - I assume the "minimum spend" end is targeting people who don't have very large appetites (eg my dd) but it might turn out to have something to do with the type of meal setting (ie canteen or sit down meal etc) - but I really don't want her stressing and setting off with the idea that she has to economise by skipping food (she doesn't eat much as it is!) so I guess I have to at least start out by budgeting for meals at £265 pm, with some spending money on top - aargh.

Mrshodgilbert Do they need all that stuff printed out - apart from accommodation check in and parking permit for move in, wasn't aware of anything else?
Thought all the registration was done on line?

I had a look on the preparing to come part of the website and it asked for copies of all that. This is for Leeds, other places probably have different requirements.

I think she has to take them along to get her student ID card. She registered online for that a week ago and uploaded a photo. I don't know how strict they will be about inspecting It. Dd1 had to take all of that too but nobody looked.

I think DD does the student ID on line but just has to bring photo ID to collect it.

Just had a rare text from DS in response to my last few asking what his flatmates are like, "Yeah, they're all nice and easy to get on with. Not very rowdy though!" Clearly that's a bad thing .....

Gosh, you lot are all so organised! Begin my 3rd year on Sunday and haven't started packing yet, am starting tomorrow. Mind, beats my first year when I left most of the packing til the morning of moving

Dd has now got out all the clothes she wants to take and the piles cover her double bed, I'm thinking 2 suitcases worth. That doesn't include coats, shoes, pjs, fluffy dressing gown... DH is going to have to work miracles packing his car.

She has found a group chat with some of the girls in her hall, they are discussing the (disappointing) looks of the boys. It seems to have been going on for a few weeks. I think it's upset her a bit as its quite nasty. We've just had a bit of a chat about friendships and being able to say no to things if you're uncomfortable with them, takes a bit of courage though. She is very outgoing and friendly so I'm not to worried but she might be daunted if the atmosphere is unkind.

Too worried!

On the subject of kittens, Bristol I think it was, had a puppy cuddling room this year for students, to alleviate exam stress!

How awful for the puppies

Students were only allowed in in small numbers and the puppies got regular rest breaks I believe, so no hardship

DD is planning to smuggle her cockerpoo and the new kitten into her packing

DD's accommodation email says no sunbeds, no candles and no pets!
Doesn't actually say what they should take.......

No sunbeds???!

That implies that some enterprising student took a sunbed.

How did they fit it in the car I wonder?

Seen no candles and no pets in terms. Nothing about clothes airer s, but cannot see how these could be objected to in en-suite if it came down to it. Otherwise would have to object to hanging up,wet towels.
Appreciate if the tiny 'wet room' type, wouldn't be able to leave clothes hanging while taking a shower.

Not sure I understand the logic of 'no kettle' in rooms unless it's a water and electricity safety thing. Hairdriers just as powerful.

We've bought a small clothes airer and there's one in a promotional pic from Durham so it hoping that will be ok.

circular It said no hairdriers above 1000 watts on DS's terms and conditions (as well as no kettles/fridges/sandwich toasters in room. I can't see the girls managing with such pathetic hairdrying.

Oh dear, DD's is over 2000.

I remember reading somewhere that sockets in the halls at RHUL only cope with 500w max,

I dropped my daughter on Sunday for her first year!! I brought loads - her room is tiny and expensive and she can sit on the loo and have a shower at the same time!!!! ???? she was very tearful when we left which of course meant tears from me too!! Been a very emotional MONDAY and I have randomly been bursting into tears (which my 13yo daughter seems totally puzzled by) Ive had a very emotional and stressful year and I can't seem to hold it together anymore - my heart feels heavy!

Oh Quietly I feel for you...........and don't stop yourself having a cry as it will ease the tension. It's many years since my PFB went to Uni and I was in a terrible state - sitting in his bedroom crying and crying - DH said "anyone would think he'd died" but I just couldn't help it. And there were no mobiles then or FB. I think it did take him time to settle and I think he was a bit homesick but you know Christmas rolled round very quickly and then it was all so much better. Mind I wasn't much better with DS2 when he went - I couldn't even go with him and his dad to drop him off as I knew I'd be crying and embarrass him. I was less worried about him as he is more outgoing than DS1, and we used to visit him quite often, BUT I used to cry every time we left him, and for about 30 mins on the return journey home!!

Someone mentioned worrying about whether they were home safe, and that was a worry at first but I got over that surprisingly quickly. And now many years on, when I'm lying in bed at night still awake and hear boyish voices going past the house, I am so relieved that I'm not wondering if DSs are in the group and hoping to hear the voices stop outside our house and the sound of that key in the lock!

Just the way we're made I guess - I know lots of my friends had no such problems.

Quietly

Oh Quitely . That was me yesterday...I even made a colleague cry (whose son is going this Sat). Last night I bloody well nearly shouted upstairs to ask him something and then remembered my baby is not here.

BUT my quiet sensitive boy was out on the town last night (woke up to a text this morning which was sent at 12.15am) and DH said to me that he had a text from someone in the early hours from a number he didn't recognise - was DS - changed phone providers and he has a temporary number, should get his old one back in a couple of days. Him and his housemates also had people round on Saturday night .

mrshod I don't have any girls, but I wouldn't like that kind of chat either. Am not surprised it has upset her.