It's August ..... the countdown begins

[doglover]

How's everyone feeling? My dd was pretty much able to forget about results during July but said in a very quiet voice this morning, "I'll find out this month where I'm going."

Is anyone doing anything yet in preparation for 17th? Should we be doing anything yet in preparation for 17th?!

TheMighty congratulations. What's your son going to study at Sheffield? Is it an Engineering course. DS has started looking a bit and Sheffield might be one of his Unis he'll be applying to.

I've heard from friends of my son, now going into their final year, that sheffield is a great place.

Eusebius he's doing human geography at Hallam, he was very specific that he wanted to do human rather than physical !
I've never been to Sheffield but I'm going on Tuesday
Cowgirls -.thanks😊

TheMighty - aah! Sounds very interesting, never heard of 'human geography' all thought all Geography was human in essence . Hope he has a blast there, infact I'm sure he will from what you've told us.

I think it's more economics / population type stuff rather than rocks and soil 😊. I hope he'll like Jess it, he's joining a few Facebook groups etc trying to name some contacts. We'll know more after Tuesday I'm sure.

How did your dd get on at the open day travelled?

She enjoyed it cowgirls . Thanks for asking.
The admissions tutor and the accommodation officer were both Scousers and highly entertaining.
She is going to accept the offer of the place to do Politics.
Now trying to decide if she applied for catered or self catering accommodation. She is Vegetarian, and we have seen some really poor examples of vege food at various universities, making catered poor value for money.

However at Liverpool, catered only seems to cost a few pounds a week more than self catered. I think that's because some of the self catering accommodation is brand new, high spec and more expensive. One of the student ambassadors told her that the catered food at one of the student villages was actually very good.

In reality Imthink if will come down to what is still available. But we were told they could accommodate all Freshers in University owned accommodation.

An added bonus of our visit to Liverpool was the start of the Clipper round the world yacht race from the Albert dock right opposite our hotel. So I had a lovely morning looking at all the boats, chatting to people and savouring the party atmosphere.

That's great news travelled. I imagine it was a great atmosphere down at the Albert Docks too. Liverpool is a city with a lot going on.

DS1 had given up being veggie by the time he went to uni so he didn't mind sharing grills etc with bacon eaters.

DS2 is still veggie so he's going into a catered hall because he doesn't want the faff of having to clean grills etc before he starts cooking.

Travelled, for what it's worth, DD was in a catered hall (Exeter) and never once made breakfast. She also found the evening meal was served earlier than she wanted to eat (also a veggie). So I'm not sure she used it at all!

Thanks Lazy I did warn her is she was going catered she would have to get out of bed and get dressed to go and eat breakfast.

In my day we soon decided to take turns at going to breakfast and coming back with marmalade rolls for those who couldn't manage to get up on time.

I loved Liverpool when I visited with dd accomadation was great campus ran into the city and you could hire a bike for 25 pounds a year. Before she went the dental school talk I had it all mapped out in my head as to how she would spend her student days but then she decided she wasn't fussed about the dental school! Maybe dd2 might like it lol!

Is your dd any good at cooking travelled?

That's a good point, Cowgirls. The ability to make a few simple meals such as omelette & salad, toasted sandwiches, chilli, Bolognese and to make soup from leftovers and a stock cube will save them a lot of money.

DS also knows how to clean a bathroom. It sounds so obvious, but DS1 was amazed by how many of his flatmates were domestically clueless when he went to uni.

Travelled, did you actually see any halls in Liverpool?

My DS has just finished his first year (and had an absolute ball!!) - at his offer day we went to visit the off campus catered halls, as well as on campus SC, even though he had no intention of going catered (but just in case!).

The difference is stark - the catered we saw are very old fashioned, reminiscent of my halls in 1981. I think they are being updated/replaced, but probably not for this years intake. They are also a good couple of miles off campus, and the city.

The SC by contrast, modern, warm, great facilities, not to mention close to lecture theatres, the city and Lime street. The latter 2 were important - lots of times we messaged DS and he replied "just wandering into city with x,y,z to do/see a,b,c" (not just the clubbing and nights out, though he had plenty of those). All part of socialising and firming up the friendship group in year 1.

As for the station, we are close enough for him to come home overnight midweek when more convenient than weekend. Given that his room was 10mins from the station, then another 5 to lectures, he could easily arrive at Lime St at 9.30 for a 10am lecture, dropping his bag in his room on the way! Obvs only relevant if you are reasonably close to Lpool, but something that didn't enter our heads when looking at accommodation.

I have often read on MN that they make friends more easily in catered. Well all I can say is that it took me almost a term in catered to make friends, compared to DS who met his quite large friendship group at welcome drinks on first night. None in his flat, all in flats above, below, but he is moving out with some of them and all still good friends.

I realise there are lots of things to consider when choosing halls, not least cost, but if SC are within her grasp, then I would say go for them.

One thing we have noticed, is that DS has generally eaten later at uni, 9ish, compared to 6-7 at home. I think he liked to get work done then cook, but maybe something to consider if catered have rigid meal times. I am sure that nights out and later breakfast/lunch also had a bearing on the late meals too.

Feel free to PM me if you need any more info on Lpool, or your DD wants any info off my DS.

I am sure she (& you!) will love Liverpool, DS has and we have certainly loved visiting him.

One other point - Livepool accomodation offers came out on the Monday after results last year, so a year ago today - and have to be accepted and deposit paid within a short timeframe - so tell her not to take too long deciding where to apply for accomodation, as others will be starting to get and pay for theirs today.

As you rightly say, it may depend more on whats available than what she wants.

My DD has also just finished 1st year like Kath6144's DS. She also chose sc on campus and has had a ball. But she also has lots of friends in the student villages Greenbank and Carnatic who are catered. They have also had a great time. Yes, the disadvantage is the distance from the uni (and you need to buy a bus pass), but the food has been fine and the social life fantastic. She does not regret her choice at all but would still have been fine in the student villages.

Child did year in student village - basic but clean and homely. Food was fine and meals very sociable - also able to easily socialise with other halls. Really friendly and catching the bus was a bonding experience.
As above both on and off campus have advantages should be very happy in either

I'm just looking accommodation at Hallam . Looks to be privately owned much of it and very hard to gauge what it's going to be like . No chance of looking round them all as there's about 20 odd !

Being a clearing applicant I suspect places might be quite limited . Bit concerned really

Hallam claims a place in halls is guaranteed for first years.

There is a review site here that might help you - the halls my ds is going into is fairly mid ranking on there but it is interesting to read.

Where is your DS going odd boots. The thing is some of them are quite expensive . I could go to say £105 a week but didn't want to be paying £135 really.

Sheffield (UoS). His halls are around £5600 for the year which feels a lot when you think about it for any length of time but we have budgeted it so I have put it to the back of my mind now.