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Higher education

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

Original poster

What happens on arrivals day at university

48 replies

bevelino · 01/08/2017 22:52

Are the roads into university cities on arrivals day clogged up to the hilt? Also what happens with parking when you actually get there with all their clobber. Do parents get the chance to unload the car and say goodbye to dc before the next car load of students pitch up?

OP posts:
Lindor · 01/08/2017 22:55

going on experience with DC1 (DC2 coming up in September hopefully), the uni staggered arrivals by day and time and gave everyone an hours parking directly outside the hall of residence. There were also lots of 2nd/3rd year volunteers to help carry stuff in.

hellsbells99 · 01/08/2017 22:59

Similar experience to Linder with both DDs. There were also trolleys available at one of them. Pack as much as you can in wheeled bags and cases that you can then bring home. After unloading everything and getting it in the halls/flat, then try and find somewhere else to park.

Original poster
bevelino · 01/08/2017 23:02

I am so worried that dd will try and take everything but the kitchen sink with her to uni and we'll not have time to unpack it all. I am pleased to see that there will be other students to help carry stuff in.

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 01/08/2017 23:09

We found everything very well organised. You will have plenty of time.

errorofjudgement · 01/08/2017 23:10

Yep - as above. It's fairly abrupt, but meant we didn't have drawn out farewells.
Once we got to the room, quickly made up the bed, unloaded clothes on to the bed for DS to put away and so we could remove the suitcases.
Sent DS to the kitchen to unload his pots and pans (and say hello to his new flatmates) then said our goodbyes and left.
DS contacted us later to say he was all settled and was off with his new friends to explore!
We didn't need to know where the SU, supermarket or nearest laundry was.
Far better for DS to go out with a group of other newbies and explore the campus together.

Other friends took a week off work to stay in a nearby hotel when their DD started uni. 😳

BizzyFizzy · 01/08/2017 23:23

Hopefully, it is well organised, with arrival slots to ensure that you get a parking place.

Ocies · 02/08/2017 07:08

When we arrived with ds the car was descended upon by about 8 students who helped carry everything to his room. I made the bed up and unpacked the suitcase onto the bed so that we could take the case and bits of packaging away with us. Several journeys to and from the car and the whole thing was done in under half an hour. Ds wanted us to leave him to sort his stuff out so there was no hanging around!

Loopsdefruits · 02/08/2017 07:12

My uni also does things this way, when you arrive you're directed to the main car park, then your student goes to 'check in' and get keys from the reception area, then you return to your car and are directed to the halls car park to unpack, then some parents leave their DCs and some drive in to the city for lunch and goodbyes.

BigGreenOlives · 02/08/2017 07:21

A tip we had was to give the child a bottle of vodka & some mixers & glasses....

hugoagogo · 02/08/2017 07:26

I hadn't considered any of this! Something else to worry about.Sad

LIZS · 02/08/2017 07:32

Ds could book a time slot for arriving during which we had access to the nearest car park to his hall before having to move the car further away. It was surprisingly well organised with marshalls. Ds then had to register for which there was a long queue and get his college id card which was also a room key. You may need some passport photos as well as photo id, certificates etc. Later a 3rd year came to the block and accompanied them to the dining hall. Over the weekend there were other social events like picnics , pizza etc before Freshers' Week kicked off.

Food and drink are good ice breakers, also a few dvds. Some provide duvets and pillows although ds took his own. Check what the kitchen consists of , he had a microwave, kettle and toaster, so you supply some suitable cooking (and washing up) supplies.

Marlinspike · 02/08/2017 07:33

Same as above. Time slots, lots of help, and bring back cases & washing baskets (useful for packing kitchen stuff). My top tip? Buy a door stop to keep bedroom door open - helps you DCs flat mates bob in during those first few days.

Lucysky2017 · 02/08/2017 08:11

I think we had a time slot for at least one of my 3. With the second one I remember going to lunch with her in the halls canteen. With the first there was a talk the university put on for parents. With my third I remember queing up with him for registration. I think it must differ between universities. I don't remember ever having help with carrying stuff in but that might be common these days. My older son went 10 years ago and the youngest 2 go this September if they get the grades.

Kez100 · 02/08/2017 09:29

Current students help. We arrived. The queue for the key and medical GP application took about 15 minutes and then we could go to the accommodation.

No time slots had been given but it really wasn't as bad as I had imagined. We found a lot of students came to help and my DD only ended up carrying in her laptop!

Then we left. Literally that quickly. My DD was a bit upset and just wanted to get on with it, I think. Within 12 hours she was posting pictures of games they were playing with new friends from her flat and another halls flat.

Interestingly, she has just graduated, and four of about 10 in those pictures are still firm friends.

HotLadybird · 02/08/2017 10:58

As above. Time slots. Wardens outside letting us park on double yellows while unloading. Loads of student ambassadors helping. They'd 'acquired' supermarket trolleys which made the job easier! Then we moved the car and unpacked everything in her room. I stayed for about an hour before I left her to it. Within five hours they were in a bar in town!
It's terrifying and exciting! All the best!

thepatchworkcat · 02/08/2017 11:01

Gosh there was no organisation, time slot, help from students when I went to uni! (In the 90s tho!). We all just pitched up any time, traffic on the main rd through the student area was horrendous I remember. Parents helped me unload everything, had a quick look round flat and then I booted them out asap!

Kez100 · 02/08/2017 11:14

Oh yes, ice breaker - one girl cooked cakes. She was a huge favourite!

Allthebestnamesareused · 02/08/2017 11:16

DS was given a time slot within which he had to arrive which was stressful (in my head not his ) to carry out at least a 4 hour drive on notoriously busy motorways (3 of them) but he arrived in his allocated slot and all was fine! Then it was the 4 hours drive back again!

chemenger · 02/08/2017 11:41

Top tip - Blue Ikea bags. Don't forget coat hangers. We sent DD with cakes and wine. She had already been in contact with her new flatmates on Facebook and sorted out who was bringing what for the kitchen. She couldn't get rid of us quickly enough. Don't try and hang around, they want to get on with their new life, let them do it. She's still friends with most of the 7 she shared with in first year, sharing with 2 of them in third year still.

Couchpotato3 · 02/08/2017 11:46

Dropping DS1 was horrific - literally drove through the college, stopped briefly to unload bags and had to drive on. Met him a bit later for a coffee but basically it was drop and go. Current students were on hand to sweep up the newbies.

DD not so bad - had time to unload at hall of residence and get her settled in.

I think you just have to be prepared to go with the flow, and get yourself out of there sharpish when your presence is no longer required!

WandaOff · 02/08/2017 16:45

I've done drop offs at two different unis.
I found both DC were very nervous but also keen to be left to make a start on meeting new flat mates.

Both were given time slots. A short unloading time to park close to the hall and then directions to a car park to get the car out of the way.
There were a few 2nd years lolling about helping.

I made up the bed while DS unpacked his kitchen stuff. We took some empty boxes back to the car and left. DS was eager to meet his flat and was armed with chocolate and vodka.

AtiaoftheJulii · 02/08/2017 16:55

Neither of mine had time slots (different unis), just got a half hour permit on arrival. I think we went slightly over both times! Dd2 is 300 miles from home so we stayed over in her city and had breakfast together the next day which was nice, because we weren't sure if we'd see her again before Christmas. Dd1 is close to home so we can see her whenever we want, so a quick goodbye was fine!

BackforGood · 02/08/2017 17:08

It depends on the amount of parking at their accommodation, and practical things like if they are in high rise blocks.
Where ds was, there was plenty of parking and no allocated slots. My DN lived on 7th floor with very little parking and the university had big caged trolley things that the whole car could be unloaded into, and they fitted into the lifts, then the driver was directed off to somewhere else to park and up to you how long you stayed. Most will have different check in days so everyone doesn't arrive together, and most universities have the freshers there in the week before others start so more space on campus than there normally is.
So it really is very individual.

BackforGood · 02/08/2017 17:10

A lot of students unloaded their stuff then went with parents for a meal or to get a supermarket shop in, but I agree with others that, once you've unloaded, it's best to leave them to introduce themselves to the others in their flat and for you to go home.

Roseformeplease · 02/08/2017 17:19

Anyone any idea about Oxford? Seems almost impossible to imagine. Assume we will just out stuff in a taxi from hotel in the suburbs. We live a 10-12 hour drive away so will need to stay over at least 1 night, if he makes his grades.......