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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Uni Freshers parents 2016?

999 replies

granarybeck · 21/08/2016 22:23

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 · 02/09/2016 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hellsbells99 · 02/09/2016 22:09

DD1 seems more on the ball.....DD2 has finally registered with her uni today.
Got moving in slots booked - DD1 on the Friday and DD2 on the Saturday. But DD1 is insisting she is coming back with us after we have moved her in so she can help move DD2 in the next day - and then we are dropping her back off on the way back from DD2's uni.
I thought a family holiday before they go was a good idea but now I am panicking as we have 5 days when we come back to get organised. DD1 hasn't had her disability assessment yet - booked for 2 days after we come back from holiday.
Leeds2 - I hope your DD is getting on well.
Sopyourhavering - good luck with the trip to Edinburgh.

OhFuds · 02/09/2016 22:42

My DD moves in tomorrow, there isn't any time slots so I have a feeling it's going to be a long day with queuing to park, queuing for keys etc

I think she is all organised, I'm feeling pretty nervous though!

Leeds2 · 02/09/2016 22:50

Thanks, hellsbells. I think things are OK. Not very much info received so far .....

Sounds like you will have a busy weekend! Will your daughters be far apart?

dottygamekeeper · 02/09/2016 23:23

DS has been told to wait until they get there to get advice on which laptop to buy - doing a creative course with lots of specialist software, and sounds like it may be expensive...Luckily his birthday is at the start of October, so I have suggested he puts all his birthday money towards it.

We have a slot booked for moving him in next Thursday, as it is 7 hours from home we are breaking the journey at the grandparents, which is half way there.

DD has a slot booked for her uni 2 and a half weeks later, 3 and half hours in the opposite direction...DD is coming with us to move her brother in, so that she can have a nosey round, and because she has never been to Cornwall before.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 02/09/2016 23:38

Still waiting for DSs accommodation to be confirmed. He doesn't move in until 2nd Oct, so exactly one month away. He thinks 2 more weeks at work then a 2 week break before he goes. He has been working full time since July so he deserves some time off, but no plans what to do with it. His DBs and I are back at school/college and his girlfriend is in Y13, so he'll have to find out when his other friends leave for university.

He's been enjoying having a bit of money, a routine and evenings and weekends free with no homework or revision. Tonight is a 'leavers' pub crawl. Not sure when to expect him home...

Gillybobs · 03/09/2016 08:06

It's the big day here, DS1 off to St Andrews. I have made lists and lists of lists and shopped til I dropped so if we've missed anything I'll be gobsmacked . To be honest I've been deliberately keeping myself busy as I'm dreading it. Much excitement on his part of course and he's discovered his room mate is from Illinois which hopefully means fab holidays . I've been told that student care at St Andrews is excellent so that's comforting but it still feels like a huge deal and the end of an era.

blueskyinmarch · 03/09/2016 08:14

That is exciting Gilly. I live in St Andrews and it was evident over the last few days that the students are all arriving. I love it when the students are here. My DH and i met while at uni in St Andrews! What hall is your DS going to be in?

BeJayKayven · 03/09/2016 12:26

Exciting (and emotional) times!
It's move in day next Friday for us, then Freshers starts on the following Monday, then lectures start the week after that. We have a time slot but don't know (new to this) how long it will all take. I think we've bought the minimum to get started. The Uni actually are running a bus to and from IKEA for the students to stock up but probably more use for International students I think. How come some Unis don't start until into October, I didn't realise that they all had different timetables.

hennipenni · 03/09/2016 12:31

It's all getting a bit real now isn't it? Moving day next Saturday for DD, just biked her moving in time, few little bits left to buy, men vac done, appointment made with bank to change her account over to a student account. Holding it together at the moment as we're still busy preparing. Has hit DH hard that she's going as she always been daddy's girl.

Gillybobs · 03/09/2016 14:06

blue he's in agnes blackadder as we wanted catered and close to the physics building. Lucky you living therel're, we have visited many times as we're only 1hr 45 away and just love the town, I think our many visits contributed to his decision to apply. We're on the road after hosting family for coffee and goodbyes this morning, he's a lucky boy as he now has a wallet of cash and a stash of chocolate and beer

mummymacphee · 03/09/2016 14:14

DS also en route to St Andrews at the moment. DH took him as the car was too full for both us to go. House feels very empty!

blueskyinmarch · 03/09/2016 14:28

I was in Morrisons in St Andrews earlier today and it was full of students and their parents getting all stocked up. It made me smile to see them looking all eager and excited and the parents looking a little frazzled.

My DD has had her fill of St Andrews having been at school there so she is going 400 miles away to Bristol! We will be leaving to drive her there two weeks today.

Gillybobs · 03/09/2016 14:42

mummy where is he staying and which course?

blue that's about as far away as is possible

BackforGood · 03/09/2016 14:50

Is it Scottish Universities that are all starting so early?
Generally it's towards the end of September for England and Wales.
Dotty - I wouldn't go overboard on the cleaning sprays - in halls, they have the kitchen and bathroom cleaned for them once a week, so I don't think my ds ever had need of any cleaning sprays. Also, the numbers had rubbed off the oven, so any baking had to be done by guesswork as far as temperature goes

mummymacphee · 03/09/2016 14:50

Staying at David Russell Hall - catered, so one less thing to think about. He's studying maths and might take a physics module if he can get the timetable to work.

We've spent a few family hols in St Andrews too when the DC were younger so I think that influenced his choice too.

Exciting time for them - distinctly mixed feelings for us parents!

blueskyinmarch · 03/09/2016 15:08

I stayed in David Russell as did DH - that is where we met!!!! I loved it. They are all refurbished now into apartments i believe?

mummymacphee · 03/09/2016 15:21

Yes - 5 bedroomed apartments with a shared kitchen and lounge area. All ensuite bedrooms - very swanky compared to the chilly dash down the corridor to the shared bathroom that I had as a student!

Stopyourhavering · 03/09/2016 22:20

Well that's dd 1 dropped off in Edinburgh at Sugarhouse Close ....(welcome pack of bedding/kitchen stuff was waiting for us)lovely flats and so close to Moray House, as well as Royal Mile, Holyrood and Salisbury Crags....I'm a teeny bit envious!!.... She's sooo excited to be studying in such a beautiful city and in such a well renowned uni.....not bad for a girl with dyslexia/ dyspraxia and dyscalculia who was told by her first secondary school that she'd be lucky to get c's in her GCSEs!!.... Well she now has a 2:1 degree and is doing a post grad teaching qualification in teaching English as a foreign language ....we're soooo proud of her
Off to buy food for her tomorrow and the a 6 hr drive home tomorrow!!
Good luck with all other freshers moving in days

OhFuds · 03/09/2016 23:23

I'm just in from dropping DD off at Aberdeen University, I had planned to just drop and run but I ended up staying to help her unpack and then we went out for a meal. I was worried leaving as she is pretty shy but I text to ask how she was and she said she's been in the kitchen with 10 other girls so at least she left her room.

Gillybobs · 03/09/2016 23:34

Stop no wonder you're proud of her, fantastic achievement.

ohfuds it's hard to leave isn't it, I found it heartbreaking watching him walk into the building alone today as we left, knowing he knew not a soul inside. My stomach is still churning even though I know he'll be fine in time

buckingfrolicks · 04/09/2016 00:22

Just dropped DS off at Aberdeen and home after an 8 hour drive feeling so excited for him and relieved he made it through a levels, and is there, actually a student at a university good heavens what a strange idea that is! No tears but my first hug from him for years which was lovely. I still have DD his twin to see off to London next Saturday so not quite an empty nest.

Good travels and happy moving in day to all of you yet to part from your DC!

missnevermind · 04/09/2016 01:19

You lot have got me really worried you are all so organised. I can't believe some of them have started already.
DS is at Nottingham Trent getting his keys on 23 September and he is in denial about everything and won't speak to me about any of it.
He said all anybody ever want to do is talk about university and he's fed up of it already.
Of course I have been shopping already have most things on everybody's lists and seeing what you've said I don't think of overdone it.
I've seen a video of his halls and type of room which is really reassuring, have seen the kitchen and eating areas so it was really helpful to be able to visualise that while shopping

NoahVale · 04/09/2016 08:19

We took DD up yesterday, she is there for the weekend, and then home for 10 days then back up in time for freshers week.
It is just prolonging the agony as I know she will be back soon.
otoh I was pretty relieved that she too left her room to go to the kitchen and knows about 4 people from college already
so excited for her.
went to sleep anxious about her of course, but must push that aside.

NoahVale · 04/09/2016 08:21

so glad someone mentioned loo roll, she has an ensuite and there was no loo roll, i added one in for her at the last minute, although there is a shop next door!

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