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?

Sorry. Thought I was on the med thread. I do think music is a great way to make friends so very pleased mine has decided to carry on. Off to see him on Saturday and v v excited

My 2 DDs have both joined concert bands and orchestras and are not medics
I do remember them commenting though last year that most of the 6th formers still involved in music at their school were taking STEM A levels so maybe some correlation there. I know there are strong links between music and maths.

My DD is doing history ...but says that the Brass Band is the best fun ever. They are marching for Remembrance Sunday ....but this will be the first time in about 10 years that she's not played the Last Post (she was the only local cornet player). She has also joined the un-auditioned orchestra and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Everything seems to be going OK apart from the horrendously difficult process needed to get a doctors appointment - she's on regular medication.
She sent off her HC1 application 2.5 weeks ago.... not heard anything. Anyone know how long these things take to be processed? Her prescriptions are expensive!

sorry for all these ill newbies, makes it so much worse! DD1 is recovering from the lurgy but the flat swap saga continues. Her current flat was nice last night, because they are united against one really bossy girl whose crimes include a colour coded list pinned in the kitchen about what to clean when and how often; stealing someone else's cupboard space; and last night having a hissy fit because one of the guy's girlfriend dared to laugh while in his room at about 9pm. Said girl doesnt want to be in a flat at all apparently. Then DD1 went to see another flat of first years but they weren't very welcoming and the room wasnt as nice, so she really doesnt know what to do now. I dont know what she should do either! maybe stay in the frying pan - apparently there is lots of room/flat swapping in Jan because some people leave then.

Samandcj - glad your DD is enjoying the music too! It is a good way to meet more people and to keep busy. I always think that music makes them happy too!
Yolo - it is a difficult decision for your DD. Are there any other vacancies for her to look at? DD acquired a new flat mate nearly 2 weeks ago. When the girl looked round I think there was only 1 person in the flat so new girl was a bit of an unknown quantity as were the existing flat mates from the new girls point of view. She has settled in very well and DD says she is lovely

Dad called me today and asked if I'd come and pick her up. She's feeling really ill, couldn't even get up to go to the drs. It's only an hour or so and we've just arrived home.
She wants to be ill in her own bed! Bless her. Will spoil her a bit and in addition to cleaning her kitchen in halls!

Clam - I hope your DD is ok. We did the same thing last night and I took DD back early this morning so she could get to her lecture and I could work. She is feeling rough though - she has even cancelled her night out tonight!

yolo DD had this in her first year and decided it was better to stay where she was. She never gelled with her flatmates but had a great 2nd year in the same private halls and rebooked for this year but she fell out with one of her flatmates in the summer and because she's not told the others the full story they've sided with the other girl, the incident happened while we were on holiday so I know why DD doesn't want to be friends with this person any more and she was arguing with her because she didn't want the others to feel they had to pick sides but they now have. She's asked if she can be moved but the building's full and they can only do a room swap so it looks like she's stuck.

Thanks, hellsbells. Have just taken her temperature and it's 103.

My ds is coming home tomorrow night until Sunday. We are all so excited.

I have just done an online shop for all his favourite things. Sadly, they didn't have a fatted calf...

Yikes clam - she needs looking after.

DS must be okay - he hasn't asked me for any help/advice/medicines. We've messaged briefly today - I let him know I'd mailed him a parcel of stuff, also there was an official looking letter here for him.

i'm trying so hard not to bug him with messages too often - but it's really hard not to!!

My DS went back to Drs today as he was feeling worse, and at last we have a diagnosis. Apparently he has Coxsackie virus (aka Hand, Foot & Mouth) -I had heard of small children having this but not 20 year olds . Often the symptoms are mild, but he has blisters in his throat and on his legs and feet, fever, diarrhoea, and is finding it difficult to swallow to eat or drink and the pain is keeping him awake - he sounds thoroughly miserable. He struggled to get to the Drs - couldnt face the bus and in the end got a taxi (and had to do battle with the receptionist on the phone to even get an appointment). I think he should be over the worst soon, of course as it is viral he can't have antibiotics, just pain relief.

As he is 7 hours away, unfortunately I can't easily go and get him. I offered to go down for the weekend but he has said no. I do feel bad, as if he was at home I would be able to change his bedding and pyjamas easily and provide plenty of fluids and easy to swallow food. He said he is trying to summon up the energy to get to the laundrette on campus as he is waking up in drenched PJs and sheets.

I hadn't thought of this type of problem when they went off to uni - was more worried about the social side of things or coping with the course work, rather than health issues. I guess we had been very lucky til now - this is the child who has never needed anti biotics for anything, and apart from routine jabs, I think the last time I took him to the Dr was around age 5.

Wishing a speedy recovery to all the DCs on this thread who are suffering with illness, and empthasising with all the worried parents.

Love all the fellow music parents!

Samandcj don't know about timescale but I think they can claim refunds, you have to get a receipt at the time and it can be assessed.

Dotty gamekeeper miserable for both of you, hope he is better soon.

And Clam's DD and the others and get well soon.

benny FATTED CALF

Made me snort my early grey 😀😀😀

EARL grey

All these unwell students, it's worse than starting nursery with the bug sharing. What makes it harder is thinking that there is no-one there who actually knows they are so ill or is checking on them. At least by second year they may have a proper friend who might make soup help them.

Oh Dotty he does sound poorly. Are any of his flatmates looking out for him?
I hadn't thought of this type of problem when they went off to uni
The worst problem I had with DS1 was when he ended up at A&E all night and all I could do was to be on the end of the phone.

I had heard very little from DS2 but last night got a text saying he had woken up feeling better for the first time in about 10 days and was feeling happier.

Hoping young ClamDD and DottyDS soon feel better

Would just like to say, if there are any mums of the boys in my DDs flat Thank you for bringing up such lovely, thoughtful young men.

According to my DD they look out for her and the other girl in their group when they all go out together. They make sure that the two girls don't return to campus alone after a night out and have looked after DD really well when she had a tad too much to drink. They al go out to clubs together and the girls know that if they get any unwanted attention then they can ask the boys to intervene. They are a credit to their parents.

henni What a lovely thing to say. As a mother of boys (not necessarily in your DD's flat!) it's nice to hear something positive said about male students. I don't know if it's just MN but all I ever seem to see are unpleasant and negative assumptions about young men.

Totally agree with Henni's post. During freshers week, DD2 drank too much one night (has never been much of a drinker) and a boy from her flat took her back to the flat and looked after her. He also made sure she got to her first introductory lecture when she was desperately homesick and out of her depth. Four weeks in, she seems fine now

Some lovely messages here!

I'm sorry so many of our DCs are feeling under the weather, hopefully things will settle down soon once all the bug sharing phase is out of the way. DD is so far okay but she had a shocking cold and cough just before she went and the cough still hasn't fully cleared yet. She is doing plenty of sport so it can't be bothering her too much!

I think we shall need a new thread soon

My DD, too, has a group of impressive young men in her flat. At first she was concerned because almost all her flatmates are male -- but she could not have hoped for more caring and considerate group. I doubt they're sharing much make-up, but they keep an eye out for one another, and one of the lads is a dab hand in the kitchen and even baked a cake for her birthday. Kudos to their mums (and/or dads)!

New thread for us to continue our chatting on...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2754997-Uni-Freshers-2016-second-thread?watched=1