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Higher education

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

Original poster

Uni Freshers parents 2016?

999 replies

granarybeck · 21/08/2016 22:23

hi

I've just been reading recent threads on weekly living costs and what to take to uni and found loads of useful info. I'm certainly finding that there was so much focus on getting the results/not tempting fate that it all feels a bit of a panic now. I have a dd going to warwick and a ds going to bath.

Wondered if there is already a thread for other general tips for those with dd/s starting uni this September?

OP posts:
Coconutty · 26/09/2016 18:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Leeds2 · 26/09/2016 18:07

I don't have a DC at York, Northernlurker, but that is a really kind offer.

There seem to be an awful lot of our DC at York this year. And can't believe that Coconutty is the only one with a DC at Exeter! Friend's DD just started at Exeter and seems to have settled in really well, which is great to hear.

hellsbells99 · 26/09/2016 18:08

Both DDs have survived their first proper day of their course. DD2 is now tired as she didn't finish until 5. She is going to find the hours some days a bit of a shock. I think tomorrow she has either 9 to 5 or 6pm. DD1 has had her first 'homework' and managed it. Both are going to a society tonight - 1 sport and 1 music.

Leeds2 · 26/09/2016 18:16

9 - 5 is a long day for a uni student!

I think the first homework/assignments/tests etc are quite difficult for them as I don't think they know what is expected. In school, they tended to know the pecking order!

BaconAndAvocado · 26/09/2016 18:21

I have a DS at Manchester. He seems to be enjoying himself, although I haven't heard from him today - his first day of lectures. Think it's going to be very full on now.

He did make me laugh a few days ago. " I did the tower challenge" he boasted. As he's doing Chemical Engineering, I thought the tower challenge was some sort of construction/science activity or the like. But no, the tower challenge was drinking one shot for each of his hall's floors in one night - all 16 of them.

I'm kind of glad Freshers Week is over.........

hellsbells99 · 26/09/2016 18:54

Ohhhh the infamous Owens Park Tower!

Squirrills · 26/09/2016 19:10

That's a kind offer Northernlurker.

thepurplehen · 26/09/2016 19:50

Northernlurker that's a really kind offer you made. My ds isn't at York, it was his insurance choice though.

My ds has just sat in his room since he arrived on Saturday. He's catered, so is going down for meals and then back up to his room. He says he just wants his course to start, so he can meet others like him. He's not even found anyone to have his meals with.

I've been messaging him, trying to encourage him to try things and make the effort. He left it too late to get to the freshers fair today, got lost and came back to his room. The fair is on again tomorrow, so hopefully he'll get there tomorrow. I had to send him the link to some societies he might like which spurred him on.

I am torn between encouraging (nagging) from afar and just leaving him. I haven't actually spoken to him (just messenger) yet so I can't fully gauge his mood.

I too am stalking him on messenger and it looks like he hasn't been online much this evening, so hopefully he's actually doing something out of his room.

BaconAndAvocado · 26/09/2016 20:40

hellsbells yes! Owens Park it is.........not sure it's going to be the best place to study!

Hopefully things will calm down a bit post-Freshers week.

Northernlurker I wish you lived in Manchester Smile

BaconAndAvocado · 26/09/2016 20:42

purplehen I'm so sorry to hear that, I'm sure things will improve once he starts his course in earnest. Wine

rockingthelook · 26/09/2016 20:53

granerybeck yes dd staying on campus in Bath Spa, also went to the induction meet and greet today, I phoned tonight she said none of the others in her accommodation really know what to do with themselves and she doesn't know if anyone is going out tonight. I think that she had the idea set in her mind that she would be cutting the apron strings and it would be party central every night, and the reality isn't quite that? really don't want her to bail out without giving it a good trial, hopefully things will improve once she starts having lectures and meets new people as well as her flat mates...bloody hell they put us through it don't they ??

Ta1kinpeece · 26/09/2016 21:37

Thank you Northern, a kind offer.
We have friends oop north who are DDs emergency contact.

THe College seem to organise so much that the kids do not have time to get homesick yet!

Original poster
granarybeck · 26/09/2016 21:39

rockingthelook yes my ds has gone up to the student union to watch a hypnotist tonight. I hadn't seen a list of freshers what's on like my dd has got in advance for warwick. He seemed relieved not to be going clubbing though tonight, and he normally likes going out! Think maybe had a couple late nights! (hard as haven't spoken to him, just whats apps. He's got a lecture at 9 tomorrow though so tricky. He likes his flat mates fortunately, not sure they are people he'd be friends with (and mostly girls) but he said they are nice.He's in Waterside Court off campus. The first night on saturday, they all just hung out in the courtyard which actually sounded quite nice to meet people in other flats.

OP posts:
kath6144 · 26/09/2016 21:43

Ha, I was in OP 35 years ago - but tree court not tower. Still remember my full room no (despite forgetting most other things from last 35yrs). Dont remember a tower challenge, but then freshers didnt exist in the format it does today. Was more about joining clubs from what I recall.

DS been in Liverpool a week, he seems to have settled well, been out a lot, made friends with 2 boys in private halls close by, so spending a lot of time with them, sharing cooking etc. They already know each other from school, which concerns me a little, but one is on his course and they seem to have made other course friends, plus friends in his halls block, so hopefully he is spreading his wings wide.

He has a trial sub-aqua dive next week, to see if he likes it. At least thats birthday/xmas presents sorted if he does!

We have had lots of whatsapp messages, plus a couple of facetimes and calls about a few things, but I am still missing him desperately. I feel like I am losing him!

yolofish · 26/09/2016 22:35

DD1 came home for w/e on Sat after being out til 4am... first tme she really met kindred spirits I think. We had family friends round on Sat so that was her 'excuse' but I am slightly concerned that no one in her flat knew she wasnt there for 3 nights! went back today after emergency orthodontist appt; back here on weds for the afternoon for scheduled appt. so she starts lectures tomorrow and I am hoping it will all slot into place - am I the only one who thinks a week is far too long for freshers? a couple of days to learn the lie of the land and then a bit of structure might be better IMO

Original poster
granarybeck · 26/09/2016 22:55

yolo my dd will have two weeks of freshers at warwick which she is worrying will be a long time to balance being supposed to go out with having to get up for lectures still during the days.

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 26/09/2016 22:55

DD2 is shattered Yolo. After a week of freshers she was woken up last night after midnight by the fire alarm, then full day of lectures until 5pm, then went to music group. She has now text to say her flat is very noisy and she just wants to sleep! 9am start tomorrow too. I have reminded her she has ear plugs with her!

hellsbells99 · 26/09/2016 22:57

Granary ....2 weeks? Shock

yolofish · 26/09/2016 23:02

2 weeks?? that is madness, how can people be expected to do that? hells the fire alarm went off last week (drill) in DD's 11th floor flat. no one heard it - including the RA student in the flat - RA is supposed to be Residential Advisor, eg help out newbies. only reason he has taken the role is a year's free accom...

EllenJanethickerknickers · 26/09/2016 23:03

Yes, Freshers' goes on forever but they have lectures from the first day so are in a routine from the start. I've bought DS1 some Freshers' tickets for his birthday present and events go on until 16th October. He doesn't go up until Sunday.

He's decided that a camping trip with friends on Friday night is a good idea. Hmm So Saturday will be spent packing and last minute shopping while tired and hungover!

homebythesea · 26/09/2016 23:11

Had a v nice texts"chat" with DS today- it's been a day of admin, meeting tutor (getting reading list 😁), going to Freshers fair etc. He says that most in his corridor are not v sociable so far but between a couple of them and friends from school he has been partying quite vigorously it would seem despite what looks like a massive cock up around the sale of tickets for Freshers events which meant he missed out on the big club night yesterday. Food in his catered hall has got the thumbs up thank goodness - I've told him to eat a lot to get him through the drinking fest

Phaedra11 · 27/09/2016 08:50

Place How is your DD? Your last post really resonated with me.

Stopyourhavering · 27/09/2016 09:40

Just a warning to freshers ...dd was in night club in Manchester at weekend and had her I phone in her hand she's attached permanently to the thing truth be told when some low life scum ran up to her and nicked phone out of her hand and ran off through night club...
Reported to nightclub in vain hope that something may show up on CCTV but I'm not holding out any hope there
She's phoned police and got crime number so at least we can claim on the insurance ( thank goodness we have it for her phone!)and we've phoned 02 to block phone.....but please advise your students to be vigilant

placeofworkshop · 27/09/2016 09:59

Phaedra thanks for asking, she's agreed to go & talk to student support today about how hard shes finding it. Hopefully an objective view will help her regain perspective on the situation. How's your ds doing? It's really a day by day thing isn't it ?

placeofworkshop · 27/09/2016 10:00

Stop - horrible thing to happen , a life experience she could have done without learning just now Sad