Early days at uni 2017

[HSMMaCM]

How is everyone settling in?

DD starts on Wednesday.

I would have done the same thing Sparkling. It's a nice thing to do. DS wil be bringing washing home this weekend. I know he's perfectly capable of doing his own, he's been doing it since the age of 12.

I did speak to one earlier who wanted something emailed from home. he has had a few lectures so far which were "fine" and has a group session or something - some kind of group thing, not seminar but something similar and not just with 1st years but 2nd years on his course too which seemed an interesting mix. I said that might help as they will know some of the answers. He has about 10 hours of lectures and other sessions a week and his twin about 12 or 13.

Thanks Best. DS can put a load of washing on too, but for the first weeks I can sort that for him.

Through that doesn't sound great. Any chance of a move?

Through that sounds horrible, I hope that he can get a swap to another flat. DD shares a flat with two foreign men and another woman, it seems OK so far. She did some socialising in Freshers week but mostly tame stuff like board games and cups of tea but last night she was in bed early because she was tired. She's newly vegetarian so I hope she's making sure that she is getting enough protein.

Sparkling it sounds good. My daughter will bring her laundry home when she comes for the weekend if she wants to, I've said it's fine.

Through I hope your son can move. How lonely for him.

Through I hope your son can move. How lonely for him.

Sparkling. One of my friends is driving from Surrey to Birmingham tomorrow to take her dd a mattress protector I suspect, but haven't accused her, of this being a good excuse!

One of the girls in dds hall is very homesick. She came through clearing and doesn't have the room she wanted, although she's lucky to have one at all. I feel a bit sorry for her, though according to dd she's not helping herself fit in with the others

Goodness dingit Makes my trip seem like down the road.

Dingit, I don't think they sell mattress protectors in Birmingham or the surrounding areas. I also think Amazon don't deliver them.

Omg! Competitive laundry independence! Do you know, Sparkling, I think you and everyone else can do or not do whatever they blooming well want.

I thought this was supportive thread, not s snarky one! But they’re a bit thin on the mumsnet ground these days. It’s like aibu on all these boards sometimes!

As you were.

Agree tobee. I've appreciated the support.

It may time to confess that we are dropping in to see dd on Sunday en route to a family gathering. As well as the bits she's forgotten or wants, I may or not be baking on Friday so I can also deliver some home cooking.

Sparkling Abra1d apparently a flat swap list opens up on Friday, but can't see anyone wanting to swap with him tbh!

And fairy, thanks for sympathy! He'll be alright, although it's a shame as he was so looking forward to a sociable flat.

through That happened to my DS when he went to Uni the 1st time (we're on our 2nd attempt as a fresher this time as he didn't like the 1st course!). His flat had a couple of UK students, some overseas students - who mainly socialised with overseas students from the same country and NI students (he was in Queens Belfast) who all went home at the weekend. Added to that, the overseas students were often only doing a 1 semester visit so new people arrived after every holiday. Fortunately he did get on well with the people on his actual course but socialising in his flat didn't happen. Has your DSs course actually started yet? Hopefully he can hook up with course mates - DS was actually going to share a flat with 2 of his in Yr 2 if he'd actually stayed.

Thankfully, my DS has had a totally different experience with his flat mates this time and was out every night in week 1 and went on a day trip with 3 of them the 1st weekend.

Through - I hope he gets a swap but he maybe needs to be careful what he wishes for. I'd think that the majority of students wanting to swap out of their flats at this early stage will be because their own flatmates are too wild and they're not getting any sleep!!

I wonder how much, if any, planning and thought does into the profile mix of students in a flat. It would take a human quite a while to do but with a few bits of key information a computer could make light work of allocations.

Odd I'd love to know how the allocation is done. DS applied early as he had an unconditional offer. He put down 3 choices and didn't get any of them. He wanted a self catered en-suite bedroom on campus but was told there was only single (not ensuite) semi catered rooms 3 miles away available. I made him play his ASD card (which he is always reluctant to do - but he desperately wanted to be on site and have en-suite). Within 24 hours of speaking to the accomodation office and the disability office he had been allocated the room he had originally requested!

Can I jump in the thread? My DS moved into halls last week and was due to start induction this week on Monday. I got a panicked phone call that afternoon from him saying he had overslept and missed it! There was another thing he was meant to attend but he got anxious and didn't go...this isn't a good start!!! He has been into the uni and arranged his ID card but got in a bit if a flap about that because there was problem which meant a few phone calls home! He isn't interested in all the usual fresher's activities and as far as I can make out he has been holed up in his room most of the time. He suffers from social anxiety but usually struggles through, I knew he was going to find this tough and I'm wondering if he is going to be able to stick at it...but proud he is having a go. Proper lectures start on Monday so fingers crossed he gets in and starts afresh. I am stressed!!

Omg! Competitive laundry independence! Do you know, Sparkling, I think you and everyone else can do or not do whatever they blooming well want.

Absolutely agree with tobee!

They all make the best of it in their own ways. One of mine was just on the phone and he may well not go out tonight (his first night not going out since start of term). I think he should stay in more. There is no merit in always going out.

onemandown that's really tough, poor lad. But I bet he's by no means the only one who's missed things. Hopefully when lectures start there will be more of a routine which will help him.

My younger DS is a party animal, talk about chalk and cheese, so I'm sure I will be worrying about him for completely different reasons if he goes to uni! I think you are right, once it all starts properly he can get into the routine and get a chance to find his feet a bit. I told him to go and get a new alarm clock and he just text me to say he did ;)

My children were taught how to use mangles, Fairy soap and scrubbing boards as toddlers and have taken them up to university. No need for them getting soft using namby-pamby university laundrettes. I expect them to use the river in preference, though.