New Uni starters 2015 (continued from Preparing for Uni)

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Thought we needed a new thread to continue from preparation.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2466997-Preparing-for-Uni-in-2015-continues

Suspect all have arrived by now...

It's hard isn't it Violets. When DS left I honestly thought he'd be back after a week because I didn't think he'd cope so far from home and without support. I am so proud of what he has achieved so far and quite proud of how I've coped without seeing him too. He rings me twice a week but just for a chat - he hasn't really needed anything so far. Don't know what to expect when I see him though. Wondering if he will have put on weight too much alcohol and junk food or lost weight. I think he'll be clean and well presented as he says he still spends ages in the shower, seems to be keeping up with the laundry and has had at least one haircut and beard trim since he went away. Pretty sure he won't have had any piercings or tatoos - unless done whllst drunk so I'm hoping he will look like the same DS that left home - just more grown up - maybe.

That's exactly how my DS was when he came home bigbluebus same DS, just more grown up

I hope he does allow you to see his halls, it really helps if you can visualise where they are.

Bigbluebus When I visited DD a few weeks ago, I was determined to see her room again and thought she might resist. So took a bag of goodies and said 'shall I meet you at halls or bus stop, as need to drop stuff I've brought with for you off rather than drag it round Town all afternoon'.
Opted to meet me and walk back together.
Would a touch of bribery like this work with your DS?

Never saw any flatmates, not sure if they were all hiding away in rooms, or out.
Room a bit untidy, hadn't seen a Hoover, but not as bad as expected. She wouldnt let me touch a thing.
Kitchen better than expected, seems she is clearly the untidiest in a very tidy group.
Was itching to get my hands on her fridge shelf, but wasn't to be.

Sorry DS has been like that with you Bigbluebus, they don't get that you just want to make sure they are OK. DS allowed us into his room when we visited but only because other DC wanted to know where he was living. Although we were only in there about 10 minutes and didn't see his flatmates who were all still in bed apparently.

When DS came home last weekend I was worried how he would look as he is very thin and has digestive problems but he looked good - he hasn't put on any weight but at least he hasn't lost any either. It is amazing how quickly they do grow up when they have to get on with life without you, DS has surprised me mainly with his budgeting - he takes great joy in telling me about the bargains he gets from the supermarket (unless he's lying just to pacify me .

Thanks everyone.
Circular that would be a good plan if only we weren't flying and restricted to hand luggage and no liquids over 100ml, so very limited to what we can take. Also we will arrive at the bus station from the airport - and the hotel will be nearer than the Halls so he probably wouldn't fall for that. I was hoping that we might leave our case at his flat on the Sunday though as we have to check out of the hotel by lunchtime and aren't flying back until the evening so that might be a way of 'forcing entry' . Knowing DS though he will probably meet us at the front door of the block and take our case back up to his flat whilst leaving us waiting outside

Take him shopping before you leave so he can stock on everything but insist on helping him carry it all to his room. (Buy heavy things like canned good and 2 litre bottles of drink). Dd was happy to let us visit her in halls and we met some of her flatmates again too. It's important to see where they're living I think.

Dd hasn't changed a bit but she has noticed tiny little changes at home that I'd forgotton about. I put a new picture on the wall a few weeks back and she spotted it straight away when she came home.

DD is on her way home for a weekend of TLC. She's got a rotten cough that's keeping her up all night and she's tired and emotional. I'm hoping some decent food, the animals and us of course will cheer her up. She's done so well managing being a grown up but when she's ill she comes a bit unstuck.

Glad your soon has seen the gp glitter

bigbluebus hope you get to see his flat. It's just nice being able to picture them sat at their desk or cooking in the kitchen.

I gave DS my credit card details for first thing this morning... (He didn't ask I offered) so he could book "Busted" tickets that came on sale at 9am. He needed three tickets. I said he needed to make sure he had the money for the other two tickets by the time he comes home at Christmas and his ticket will be a Christmas present - £48 bloody pounds for one ticket for a band that has reformed after 10 years...

He seems to be managing ok. Chatted to a girl in a night out who remembers him from college (he doesn't remember her), I said he obviously made an impression on her at college then for her to remember him .

Gypsy poor DD. Am sure the tlc will work.

I'm hearing a more grown up voice on phone too. But I also hear weariness - as if he's being stretched a bit.

Feel worried but know just have to wait and see how it all goes. I worry his course is a bit high powered. For example, if he gets 95% in a test, he gets 3/4 not 4/4 - feels extreme.

If it is too much, at end of year, we hope he'll be able to switch. He is not saying that- but I like to keep options open in all eventualities.

I wish I was not so worried. - need to keep positive.

Glad to say - went on a 4hr 20 min round trip for lunch today and met DS seemed fine.

So relieved until the next hiccup!

Need a bit of hand holding and probably a kick up the bum tbh. Those of you from the other thread might recall that my daughter got her first choice but didn't get halls as its a London Uni and we're in Greater London,just the exact opposite end of the District Line.
She's now been offered halls from January. She is also going to Scandinavia ( don't want to out myself too much) to do her second year under the ERASMUS scheme.
I'm in bits at her going to halls. Help me grow a pair!

Does she want to move into Halls? I am guessing that she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to.

Amazing, it will be fine honestly

You will be near enough to have plenty of contact if you both want it and enough distance for her to feel like she's doing her own thing.

It's hard to get your head round them moving onto the next phase, but you do get used to it.

Re the year in Scandinavia, I'd be planning some trips to visit!

Daughter appeared for surprise visit. Has acquired boyfriend, who also appeared briefly.

Does anyone else think it's ridiculously early to be organising a house share for next year?! DS's friends are all getting into it now, and I'm worried that it's way too early to decide who to live with in 10 months time!

I think it depends... My dd is sort of in a house already (her hall has several annexes which are basically large houses). She & her housemates have got to know each other fairly well, all get on & there are a couple of others on her course. I think most of them will be interested in getting a place together next year.
But I appreciate that it will be different for a lot of students.

Going on friends for last year it is pretty normal to be dorting houses out now

With regard to houses it depends on the university. Previous threads on this topic have shown that for example in Bristol there are less student houses so the race for them starts earlier and in most areas (but not all) contracts are for 12 months not 9.
Other tip when looking round potential houses... do ask why a bathroom looks freshly painted - in my DC's experience because they are covering up mould!

The friends thing can work out fine even choosing this early - DD2 had a house with two other girls and three boys with the housing lists opening around about now and they're still very close four years later, despite all the hassles that sharing grotty student houses can bring.

Ds has already signed up a house for next year ... here's hoping it will be as rosy come next October. He assures me they know eachother really well and they all sat down and write out a list of pros and cons before deciding which one to go for. After a month or two away, I've seen a huge jump in his
maturity, I'm amazed lol.

DD is thinking of staying in halls next year. All uni accommodation is on campus and in city centre, so it's really convenient, and some is reserved for second years. The weekly rental looks more expensive than a shared house until you look at the annual cost - it's a 9-month contract vs a 12-month one in the private rental sector. So I think she should go for it if she can get a flat.

This house thing worries me as DD is still not settled at uni. Don't want to commit to a house for a year if she ends up dropping out.

DS1 in second year at a different uni thinks any time before Feb is too early! I guess it depends on the town/city and the abundance (or not!) of student houses.

DS has just rung in a flap.
He has been chased up by his department for not attending any tutorials since the start of term.
He had no idea they existed .
He is supposed to have organisational support for his SEN, but his 'organiser' didn't know he was meant to be doing them either.

Pity no one chased him up a little nearer the start of term! Looking on the bright side, this may account for why he was finding the course so difficult.