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Higher education

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

Original poster

Starting Uni (first year) 2018. A support/chat thread.

480 replies

Justanothermile · 18/08/2018 08:55

Hi there.

I don't think there's another thread for folk with DC starting university this September/October. I'm not sure there's even a need, but I thought I would start one and see.

DS is my first DC and going to Lancaster. New territory for us, so we are learning as we go.

The last few weeks have been reading up about clearing and alternative courses in case he didn't get his first choice, he was pretty pessimistic but did get accepted.

Now it's countdown to the big day and planning what things he needs to take etc.

I believe accommodation will be confirmed in the next few days.

OP posts:
TheThirdOfHerName · 07/09/2018 07:30

During the day they just wear what they normally wear. DS1 is taking jeans, t-shirts and a couple of hoodies.

For the evening events, some of them may be themed; for example he has a school disco, a zoo party, a UV/neon party and a 'ball' with a more formal dress code. The list of Freshers' events should be available on the student union website.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 08:33

Mostly jeans, but this time last year my DD, who'd not been a dress wearer at all till then, got a couple of dresses- not fancy ones, but the sort that youngsters can stick on and forget about if you know what I mean. This sort of thing

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0651558003.html

She's neither a style guru nor a clubbing type but seems happy with her choices. Cheap, cheerful and washable!

prettybird · 07/09/2018 08:53

Ds has just taken jeans, T-shirts and hoodies along with his rugby stuff , one pair of trainers and one pair of grey Nike casual shoes.

He has 3 shirts with him: one an old white school shirt (for post-Rugby games) and 2 shirts for "smart"/parties - one of which he got stroppy at me for bringing down to the car with last minute stuff.

Ds went with two new pairs of rugby boots: one "ordinary" and the other "AstroTurf" (which dh was pissed off at me for getting) as the pair he'd had all last season was starting to disintegrate. But I think they only cost £70 in total.

To be fair on him, he's been pretty good with his custom gum shields: wore through/grew out of his first one and after the incident with the washing machine shortly after getting his second one Hmm still think it can't have been cured properly as it shouldn't have melted into a ball Shock he paid for the replacement he's had the current one for 2 or 3 years Smile I even asked if he needed a new one when he had a check up a few weeks ago and he said no.

If he needs anything more for parties or formal events, he'll have to buy them for himself I'm assuming his SAAS loan has come through by now as he's not complained Grin

Original poster
Justanothermile · 07/09/2018 09:36

Neither a style guru or clubbing type, you perfectly summarised both my DC there errol.

We will do a Hollister shop next week. This will involve precisely 5 minutes in the shop, DS will point to three or four t shirts and a couple of hoodies. I will pay, we will leave. Done until 2019 Grin

We've had to buy a laptop though, I think that's our greatest outlay. The ancient one just got through A Levels before giving up the ghost. We not gone for anything special, extremely mid range. He's studying Maths and so will not be doing quite the written work of other courses I would imagine.

OP posts:
WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 07/09/2018 10:13

My daughter has been on a trainer shopping spree and she never wore trainers apart from doing pe until this year. She's decided comfort is far more important than fashionable shoes that cripple your feet. She's also stocked up on trackies and leggings for slobbing in halls and has bought a couple of clubby type dresses that will also be worn with trainers. Other than that she's raided charity shops for stuff.

ShanghaiDiva · 07/09/2018 10:17

DS has taken sports stuff, hoodies, jeans and shorts (shorts? - he has been living in Asia too long!) all in blue, grey and black.
He's a 40 year old chartered accountant trapped in the body of an 18 year old!

prettybird · 07/09/2018 10:24

We did an H&M shop 2 weeks ago that was similar Justanothermile - although we did go to TK Maxx beforehand to check if there were any bargains.

Ds (or rather I Wink) bought 2 new pairs of jeans. His main issue in choosing them was to find pairs that weren't too skinny, weren't pre-ripped and didn't have fancy fading. Surprisingly difficult to find! Shock He's not that interested in fashion He did buy a few picture T-shirts off Amazon (a Dr Who/De Lorean mashup was one Grin) as well.

He's also taken shorts (to Aberdeen!): a chino pair and 3 pairs of "basketball baggies" for working out in/earring as alternate pyjamas.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 10:24

Sensible girl, whirly - students typically do a lot of walking, in all weathers. With my full blessing, DD took my good goretex trail shoes, and also she has a properly waterproof berghaus shell.

flatmouse · 07/09/2018 10:27

DS not packed yet, but did think he'd get all his clothes in a weekend bag. 😆 this is the boy who has listed about 8 different footwear he's taking! He's purchased suit/smart shoes for freshers ball. He's covered for the Hawaii themed event (he already had many suitable shirts and we have various accessories in the dressing up box - the joys of many rugby tours); think he lacking for the zoo themed one but he not that bothered, he'll cope. Apart from that it'll be just what he wears at home/wore at college plus multiple rugby kit for training, and more of stuff as apparently washing machines are large and expensive so plan to build up big pile!

WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 07/09/2018 11:00

Hmm I've got a Berghaus totally waterproof yet very thin jacket that I'm currently too fat to fit into. I shall attempt to sneak it in to her room and then she can thank me later 😂 Thanks for the tip Erroll

Original poster
Justanothermile · 07/09/2018 11:12

prettybird, I wish that I had known you were going, I would have sent DS as that is pretty much his prerequisite for jeansGrin

I've now also figured what I want to help out each month with in terms of a monetary amount and set up a relevant standing order. Not a massive figure, but DS has worked for most of the summer and has his own money to rely on too. We will cover accommodation. Lancaster is in fact pretty cheap for halls.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 11:21

Whirly - She started nicking my berghaus shell (and karrimor urban rucksack) for trekking round open days and interviews - I had to get her her own, in colours she preferred (and replace my trail shoes). 'Generation sensible' has just been mentioned on another thread...Grin

WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 07/09/2018 12:15

They are sensible aren't they, not like me when I was her age and not counting last weekends vodka vomit
She likes going to art galleries, museums and out for lunch mostly rather than clubbing, she's actually looking forwards to going to watch bands rather than wearing tottery heels, my parents keep giving me the eye, the why weren't you that sensible eye Hmm

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/09/2018 15:55

Insurance wise is there any down side just to sticking with our household insurance? dd seems to be covered on ours.

flatmouse · 07/09/2018 15:58

DS gets insurance included in accommodation. Covers only stuff in room. He can add on to it if he wants, not looked in detail yet.
Is it wrong that I can't wait for him to discover the inconvenience of the toilet roll fairy not being on duty in his accommodation? Why is it so hard for them to put a new roll on when they finish one?

prettybird · 07/09/2018 16:27

Ds has insurance anyway (Endsleigh) via his university accommodation but they did say that you might want to extend for valuables.

I've just had to renew our home/contents insurance anyway and checked: his bike and valuables are covered anyway while he's a student (bike throughout the period he's a student as it's a named item on our insurance, the rest for as long as he is in official student accommodation)

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/09/2018 17:08

Fascinatingly dds university have said they can no longer provide insurance due to legislation changes, I have no idea what those changes are though.

Nettleskeins · 07/09/2018 20:51

I've just checked with ds about the Freshers' parties, and he has amazed me by saying he has already purchased fancy dress for Love Island, Back to the Nineties and Outer Space (I assume he means teeshirts and badges). He has been busy researching then..
Clothes wise he has jeans, three cool shirts, 6 normal teeshirts, baggy jogging trousers, a very warm anorak he bought last year. And no proper shoes, or alternative trousers. He does have a tuxedo though sad to say there doesn't seem to be a chance to wear it so far. No balls all discos!

TheThirdOfHerName · 07/09/2018 21:35

he has already purchased fancy dress for Love Island, Back to the Nineties and Outer Space

Hopefully not all in the same outfit Grin

Nettleskeins · 07/09/2018 23:19

Third Grin maybe just devastatingly handsome will do the trick for all three and a few quotes to hand

voilets · 07/09/2018 23:24

Clothes wise, DD is taking what she has and buying a few more when she sees what is needed there. She does need a black dress though as we pulled out her old one at back of wardrobe and it is now a bit short. DD likes her clothes so I suspect a bit of shopping will go on in uni town.

I was wondering how your DC seem to feel about going to uni?
This week DD seems really upbeat and positive and is getting on with reading. We did have 2 weeks though of her being tempremental and it was clear she felt really nervous about it all. Let's hope she is optimistic from now on. Luckily, someone on the group chat who DD met on offers day was also really nervous about going and said it very colourfully online which made DD and us laugh.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/09/2018 23:24

I don't think dd will do fancy dress. Which is a shame as I specialise in Roman/Greek/World War 2 outfits.

She had various cool t shirts but we are worried about them surviving a uni tumble dryer and airers are banned.

She will need posh outfits for formals and matriculation though. Fortunately that's sorted.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/09/2018 23:27

dd is really scared I think voilets. Change isn't something she is comfortable with.

voilets · 07/09/2018 23:42

Sorry to hear that kitten but it reassures me. Felt a bit worried for my DD that most were bright and breezy about it all.

Nettleskeins · 07/09/2018 23:56

voilets ds is not exactly breezy; he gets very agitated when things go wrong. He is very inflexible. and very shy However, he has made up his mind that there is a "plan" and so he now doesn't think about the variables much. That's his way of coping.
Which is why he dislikes me discussing any aspect of the preparations Hmm
However, I do think he is full of optimism about what fun it is going to be to leave home. I suppose it is the drive to "move forward"/teenage independence seeking/making your mark on the world, which overrides the anxiety which lurks beneath.