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Higher education

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

Original poster

It's real now - leaving home to go to uni (part 3)

999 replies

user9512736123 · 18/08/2017 10:45

Here you go @Lucysky2017

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8
cricketbat · 13/09/2017 08:10

Same here Hugo, DS goes Saturday, and has done nothing other than open a student bank account. But that's up to him, I'm trying really hard not to interfere, but that's not easy is it? He must be thinking about it though as last night he appeared and said he was worried £50 a week for food and socialising wouldn't be enough (excl all bills). I disagree ....what do you all think? Are we being tight?...I want him to learn to budget. We told him to see how it goes and might give him a bit extra the first week. he's in non catered halls.

Oldie2017 · 13/09/2017 08:16

I am very lucky with these children 4 and 5 - they don't row or lose tempers. I am not sure why. I certainly remember one older one being very difficult at this age. Good luck with the shopping.

I think the child (I should say adult) is going to pack today as they are off to a theme park tomorrow, not the park I said earlier. Luckily I have never been to one so I muddle them all up and tomorrow would have been his last day.

What I do remember was how long it took their sisters to pack the car on the day (hence my enthuiasm to do it the night before this time or at least have most of the stuff by the door) and particularly as there is an absolute deadline later in the day when he has to be at his department leaving on a coach for the field trip.

I do think considering what to take well in advance is a good idea. Eg I dropped him off at the tube. It was pouring and for once he took the umbrella in the car so that's another thing worth taking - an umbrella but I won't remember -they should put the items aside when they think of them, not expect to remember at the last minute. Anyway everyone is happy and calm so no problems.

Ah yes have to wake one up for hair cut and another for the dentist...... so at least the one packing today should be back by 11 to pack. We had to look out the school vacc. records for a friend of theirs yesterday from school. In 2016 they had the menn c + other ones vaccination at school so that's all done.

bigbluebus · 13/09/2017 08:19

DS goes on Saturday and has also done precisely no packing or preparation. He is working every day too and doesn't finish until 6.00pm on Friday. He has a pile of shirts which need ironing which i have been nagging him to do for a week. I am trying to hold off doing them for him but can see I'll end up doing them on Friday night! I've asked him a number of times if he's sure he wants to go to Uni such is his lack of enthusiasm to get ready, but he assures me he does!

hugoagogo · 13/09/2017 08:27

It's the flap on Saturday that I am worried about, I know he won't use half the stuff he takes and can always nip to wilkos if he needs something.
Still a bit of preparation would be nice.Hmm

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 13/09/2017 08:32

Ds1 is the only one of his friends moving in on Saturday

I dont know if its good or bad

(Its a bit of a shame he hasnt got anyone to go to the disco with that night...he probably wont go)

Oldie2017 · 13/09/2017 08:39

I think that is part of the issue here - the twins are going to Bristol and it starts earlier than some other universities some of their friends are going to although I do know 2 other boys from their school are going to Bristol.

Rufus, I think it will be fine. I was saying to my son (going on the field trip) the fact we move him in 2 days early probably means we get a peaceful moving in and you get time to get your bearings before the hoards arrive.

He was saying last night he has no idea how all these others tudents have time to be posting in face book groups. Are they doing nothing but sit at home waiting for university he says? I said it won't matter- he can get to know people once he arrives. In my day we didn't have that Facebook contact in advance and it was fine. I just wish they would do a bit less and be out a bit less this week so we can just pause and think about what is needed (particularly as their sister's baby might arrive before and I would like them to see the baby before if possible although it's not essential and I see this morning it did not come over night.....)

MorvahRising · 13/09/2017 08:41

We also have a rug. Although nothing as creative as tying the room together has been mentioned!

How have people found their flatmates-to-be so far? DS says there is no link on the university FB page or anything like that.

rogueantimatter · 13/09/2017 08:48

My DS didn't know who his flatmates would be till he moved in. The two who were in when he arrived came to say hello and the fourth 'seems nice'....

HSMMaCM · 13/09/2017 08:55

DD found her flat mates by looking up the uni name and the accommodation block on Facebook. Another student had set up a group. They all posted which house they were in and then set up their own groups with their housemates.

It wasn't done through the uni website or Facebook page.

HSMMaCM · 13/09/2017 08:57

We're giving her £30/wk food money and she's still getting her £18/wk pocket money. It should be more than enough. If she wants to go clubbing every night and eat takeaways she can get a job.

Oldie2017 · 13/09/2017 08:58

I suggested a rug as I saw some one the halls website but I was rejected. I gave a course in iran and was presented with an enormous rug I had to get home in hand luggage on the flight back and it's not being used at the moment but no takers for it! May be I will get it out when they go away and I regain control of my living rooms.

BehindTheBlueDoor · 13/09/2017 09:32

Good idea Oldie, go for it. I have a couple of Persian rugs my father gave me when I was a student and they were put away when the DCs were small but came out again when I felt I could trust them not to drop food on them or colour them in! (Only recently then!) I did ask if DS wanted his rug for his room -the look I got said it all. He has decided to take his throw/fleece blanket though and I'm not allowed to wash it because it will lose its smell of home apparently. No packing happening here but we do have just over two weeks before he goes. I wish he'd think about the clothes he needs to buy though.

Oldie2017 · 13/09/2017 11:53

He's not taking his bike now to start with so that's one less thing to get in the car (although I cycled all over at university and he cycles every day at home).

He's started packing now so that's good. I am on hand if needed. We just washed his never washed jeans too and they seem to have survived.

Mine has rejected his Chelsea duvet cover - he hasn't supported the team for 5 years (we have very old bedding here) so his older brother has given up his rather old grey duvet cover. Enjoying the lack of materialism here. Long may it last.

HSMMaCM · 13/09/2017 12:44

DD is off for her flu jab this afternoon. She got something about signing up for modules by email. It's all happening now. I feel like I should have taken the whole of September off work, but she is obviously perfectly capable of doing it all herself.

TheMightyMing · 13/09/2017 13:00

Flu jab???? We had the meningitis one should he have had anything else ? X

amaliaa · 13/09/2017 13:11

My dd has the flu jab every year because she has asthma. I have suggested she get it done before she goes. She seemed to listen to me at the time, but afaik hasn't done anything about it yet.

HSMMaCM · 13/09/2017 14:31

DD has asthma too. It might be an idea for the others to get one too though. Places like boots etc do them, as well as GPs.

Our surgery helpfully offered them at the end of September, so she's gone elsewhere.

Horsemad · 13/09/2017 15:11

Having a right battle with Santander over their Student Account!!

DS opened a current account to apply for student finance and they said it would be upgraded to a student account once he had his UCAS confirmation.

He has tried twice now to upgrade and it's been declined - because the current account is less than 6mths old, which wasn't mentioned when he opened it Angry

They said he has to shut the current and apply again for a student account but all his current account details are with Student Finance so he'd rather not muck around changing things at this late stage.

What a bloody farce!

He's now spoken to customer services who are trying to sort it out...

MorvahRising · 13/09/2017 15:18

Thanks HSMMacM I'll point DS in that direction!

DS has just had the Meningitis B jab at Boots. He had the ACWY one last year at the surgery but for Men B you have to get it done privately.

MorvahRising · 13/09/2017 15:19

Crossposted horsemad - that's really frustrating! How ridiculous. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Horsemad · 13/09/2017 15:32

Thanks Morvah, I am so fed up with it!

user327854831 · 13/09/2017 16:09

The flu jab is £12 at Boots.

ByTheSea · 13/09/2017 18:26

Just talked to her. She is having the time of her life and really enjoying Freshers week and all else there. Soooo happy!

HSMMaCM · 13/09/2017 18:30

That's great to hear. Hopefully I'll get similar feedback next week

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 13/09/2017 19:15

Great to hear bythesea

He is doing more packing Sad

Boxes are in the garage ready to go

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