Uni Freshers parents 2016?

[granarybeck]

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?

Yolo, I hope your DD manages to transfer accommodation next week.

thank you. She's just phoned to say her timetable is wrong, she was an hour late for a 3 hour lecture and is now not allowed in!! have told her she needs to find the lecturer in the break and explain and work out how to catch up on what she missed... she was quite cheerful about it though which is better than floods of tears. hope it is actually wrong and not just that she misread it. sigh.

How is she getting on with her course Yolo - have things improved there?

Just catching up.

Hope your DD gets her accommodation sorted hells. It must be hard for her.

DS goes on Sunday. I am currently surrounded by household items for him to pack. He hasn't done anything yet. I said we have to do it today - as I am busy Fri/Sat and if there is anything he still needs then I need to know in advance.

gah!!!!!

Hi Lovely. Both my DDs struck lucky with accommodation. It is Yolo's DD that has been given a rubbish flat share

hi hells I think course will be ok, I did the overinvolved mummy thing and contacted her tutor, who was immensely helpful and reassuring - just hope he doesnt tell her that I was in touch!!

lovely I had to take emergency package of clothes she had 'forgotten' when I met DD1 yesterday. unfortunately I managed to bring some of the wrong things, so they are still littering the back of the car - must get them out when it stops raining. good luck with the packing and even more so with the unloading.

Good luck on Sunday Lovelybangers. Trying to fit it all in the car is the problem.
Glad the course is looking up Yolo, now fingers crossed for the accommodation!

Thanks.

Sorry for the mix up...

Seem to be spending too much brain power planning for DS.

The big pack up has started, got two at the same university, so we are taking DS1's stuff up when we drop DS2 off for fresher week. Both are in fully catered halls but they still seem to have lots.

I'm surprised Unis have seemingly left freshers isolated. Were they late/clearing applicants? Ds' accommodation seems to be predominantly first years with just a smattering of finalists. Apparently no one has fallen out with each other yet but a few keep themselves to themselves or have friends elsewhere. One only arrived this week, so maybe there was a drop out.

I had a delicious moment of "Mum knows best" today - a panicked message from DS who needs a dinner suit for a formal dinner next week. Guess who told him he should take it with him for just such an eventuality. Guess who poo-pooed the very notion . Going to have to parcel it up grrr

And the fridge is remarkably full for this late in the week

So not all bad.....

In my first year back in the stone age we were mixed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, PhD and mature students on my corridor.
We picked our friends.
I've had a couple of FB chat messages from DD but I'm making a point of only messaging when messaged
she seems to be having an utter blast

In my first year I was next door to a second year who turned out to become a member of a v famous rock band. I spent much of the time banging on the wall in an attempt to shut up his guitar playing- I kind of wish I'd made more of an effort now

I was with other first years in my hall of residence back in the day. I stayed there in my second year (cos it was a lot of fun) and was in a corridor with first, second and third years. I remember feeling a bit sorry for the 2 first years on my corridor, but we were in a catered hall, so a lot of interaction happened in the dining hall and the bar. There was a student run bar in each hall.

The self-catered area at the uni, of houses with around 10 people per kitchen, seemed much less sociable as they didn't have a central hub, except for the 10 in a kitchen.

I'm hoping DS1's self-catered hall will be better. There are 10 - 16 people per kitchen and it's made up of three blocks with roughly 100 in each block with a common room in each block (but no bar, sadly.)

Spill, homebythesea, who was it, or at least give us a clue to the band?

ellenjane it would out me I fear...

I've got four freshers living in the house next door to me who didn't get into Halls.

They seem so young. I've offered to help them if they get stuck with anything or need help.

My DS will be a fresher next year. Yikes.

Liney that is so kind!! I befriended a student in one of local pubs, third year medical.....her parents live abroad so we have swapped mobiles and we WhatsApp
Update on DD......she's a little bit perkier . Went out last night (on campus), thought it was rubbish and buddied up with the students in the next block and played drinking games until 1.30am!!! But then tonight sounds droopy and tired of it all again.....told her get the UV paint out (that's tonight's theme) and get out there!! She was planning on a nap first. She has a three hour lecture tomorrow 9-12 then another 2-4 and she doesn't start properly until Monday. I think she's thinking of meeting up with my sister at the weekend as a substitute'home fix'. That'll sort her out....new puppy running riot, a 14 cousin with raging hormones and a younger 7 yr old cousin with high energy (and volume!!) and no'off switch'!! Shell be begging to go back to her quiet room in her quiet block after a couple of hours of that

much better tonight - had 3 hour seminar this evening, 6-9 which means she could retire to bed with dignity not feeling everyone else is out painting the town red. tomorrow she has nothing til 3pm - told her to get out there and explore the area properly, and then go to her student services appt. think it is to do with DSA but hopefully also a friendly face... then she coming home tomorrow night and will go back Sun night or mon am depending on what time accom office opens so she can get straight in there for flat swap. And despite yesterday's orthodontist appt really quite painful she feels physically ok. phew.

naughty you must have a massive car!! had to laugh at home and the dinner jacket scenario. DD1 found the trousers she had specifically rquested I bring from home were already with her at uni...
lizs no not late - first choice uni, accepted offer on A level results day and on to accom at first available moment after that. I think in a flat it is a bad idea to mix up years (unless people specifically rquest it) - it might be different on a corridor or in catered halls. I know that Exeter has a whole questionnaire which aims to try and match people with similar interests in their accom

Well my little baby-faced fresher neighbours just took twenty minutes to get themselves into a cab whilst trying to simultaneously close windows and doors!

Funny isn't it, that that's a life lesson - how to close up a house and jump in a cab in under a minute

Yolo thankfully it is as we also have our overnight bags, as we are staying over on the way up and back.
DS1 is on the train to stay with friends till uni starts and DS2 is ready to leave. Will be a very quite house when we return on Sunday

Finding such a lot of comfort in this thread & hearing how everyone is getting on. My dd has a weekend away with family , hoping that will give relief/ relaxation, but also worried that going bak to Uni on Sunday will be even harder. This has been VERY long 2 weeks !!