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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:
flatmouse · 08/09/2018 07:08

DS is so laid back it's hard to tell. Think he was in denial for a bit, but he seems ok now. He was happy to book freshers tickets with no knowledge of his flat mates as "they're hardly going to sit around in their flats on their own are they?". Currently v keen to join rugby team.
Think it will be more real as next Sunday fast approaches!

Original poster
Justanothermile · 08/09/2018 07:32

I think that my DS is the same, he's playing the laid back card but, in reality, this is because he doesn't go until 30th September. He a quiet person that struggles making small talk, I know he'll find this harder than his current relaxed manner would suggest as the day he goes gets closer.

I'm consequently worried, but trying very hard not to feel this way. There's nothing I can do in reality, he has to do it himself. Which is easier said than done...

OP posts:
14allall41 · 08/09/2018 11:10

Ds2 is a combination of excited and nervous - totally normal I should think. He has a packed first week including 2 field trips Shock His fellow flat mates seem to have a week of nothing! There is no separate freshers week at the uni he's going to - it's just the first week of term. He missed out on the freshers wristband, so is going to pick and choose a few events.
I need him to find out what he'll need to wear for concerts. He has a music scholarship so has to join the orchestra. I have a feeling it's DJ, so that will be another expense!

iknowimcoming · 08/09/2018 15:00

14 - my dh picked up a perfectly nice (and cheap) dh suit from next last year - don't know if they still have them? Dd is going tomorrow and v grumpy today (her way of covering up nerves) can't anyone tell me what docs she needs? Birth certificate etc or is just driving licence ok?

iknowimcoming · 08/09/2018 15:00

Sorry - dj suit obviously......

voilets · 08/09/2018 15:45

Thanks for the feedback. I was worried last week- this week she seems so positive I feel a little bit excited but I'm expecting for nerves to kick in again soon and for the first term to be up and down which consequently will affect my nerves!!! Smile

No clothes mentioned yet but she did an IKEA trip with friends and bought a laundry bag and make up container/divider - all important no doubt!!
Good luck all those going next week!

prettybird · 08/09/2018 21:59

To those whose ds' play serious rugby: ds went to the Uni trials on Thursday. He was disappointed in the attitude of those that were there (not sure if it was those that were trialling or those that were observing; think it was a bit of both Hmm), as in they thought they were god's gift to rugby and yet simultaneously weren't taking it seriously.

There were 24 Freshers and they played a 12 v 12 game in which ds scored a try despite not having his gumshield - but he's now going to go and seriously look at Granite City U18 team (the combined U18 team for the Aberdeen clubs) and/or look at senior rugby (which he can play from Monday) for Aberdeen Grammar or Aberdeen Wanderers, rather than Uni rugby. He's fortunate that his age means that U18 is still an option for him (although for representational rugby he really needs to be playing Senior/U19 rugby).

He admits that he was being somewhat naive, thinking Uni rugby would be like at an American sports college Hmm. We had tried to warn him that Uni rugby clubs were mostly about the alcohol Wink

He is serious about his rugby - and if he can't find others who are equally serious, then he's already had the maturity to acknowledge that he'll be free to concentrate on his long term UN objectives! Grin

vivprod · 09/09/2018 01:07

Just dropped DD off today she was nervous but tried not to show it.She has always wanted to go to uni but now reality has kicked in. Very much out of her comfort zone having to push herself forward to introduce herself to complete strangers, I could see that she was not finding it very easy. How strange it feels for me as a parent of a only child - happy that she is moving forward onto the next chapter of her life but sad that she has flown the nest, it already feels very empty.

partystress · 09/09/2018 08:56

ThanksCakeWinewhichever will be most helpful vivprod. My d-day still almost two weeks away and I will only have a half empty nest, but still v apprehensive.

iknowimcoming · 09/09/2018 21:39

Mine has flown the nest Sad she was fine and brave - me and dh not so much although we just about held it in till after we left! We were very impressed at how much she was given in her room, toilet brush, bins for bathroom and room, mattress protector and a pillow! Our house looks like some sort of disaster has happened and her room looks like a sad wasteland! tomorrow's job - full tidy-up!

Miljah · 10/09/2018 15:57

My DS's room will hardly look touched! He'd be happy with a bed and an iPhone, job done Smile

TonTonMacoute · 10/09/2018 16:13

DS bought a nice dinner suit in Moss Bros. Can’t remember how much, but it was in the same ballpark as the Next suit we got last year.

vivprod · 12/09/2018 08:46

Does anyone know when students receive their maintenance loans?

prettybird · 12/09/2018 09:01

It depends on which Uni they are at. Ds already has his as he started last Week.

flatmouse · 12/09/2018 11:04

DS gets his when course starts (so not freshers week). If they log in to student finance it tells them when payments made and for how much.

voilets · 13/09/2018 17:02

Sometimes the loan takes a few days to arrive so they may need a bit of money to get them started.

PinkMug32 · 13/09/2018 18:25

Hi all,

Just a quick post to say that anyone with DC starting at Sheffield and moving in this weekend - I may be helping you! I’m just starting my third year and am one of the student volunteers helping new students move into their halls.

I know it’s quite late now, but do let me know if there’s any Sheffield-specific questions - Endcliffe is fab accommodation and I’m sure your DCs will love it Grin

TheThirdOfHerName · 13/09/2018 18:40

DS1 and his friends are going out for a meal this evening. Some are about to start full time jobs, some are about to go travelling and some are about to leave for university, so they've been referring to tonight as the Last Supper.

voilets · 13/09/2018 22:23

Sounds like a night to remember thethird. Hope he enjoys.

Waiting here , DD a bit bored, some gone, some still travelling, some going before her. All change soon though.

14allall41 · 14/09/2018 09:28

TheThirdOfHerName Hope he enjoyed it. My ds2 was out last night for a final farewell. He's got another week, but quite a few are going away this weekend.

He's become quite anxious about going to uni and feeling very sad at the thought of his friends scattering across the country. I told him that they can meet up at Christmas and with mobile phones it's easy to keep in touch, but he says it won't be the same....I know what he means Sad

nokidshere · 14/09/2018 11:12

Southampton get their maintenance loans on 27th September, first rent is due 4th October

voilets · 14/09/2018 14:16

14allall41, it is a big change, my DD is feeling it sometimes but my experience with DS1 is that he thinks the holidays are really fun meeting up with old friends even in Year 3 - they have so much to talk about.

TheThirdOfHerName · 14/09/2018 17:11

It's just dawning on DS1 that he won't see most of his close friends between now and December.

Princecharlesfirstwife · 14/09/2018 18:45

DD1 has spent so much of this week saying her goodbyes to friends, I've barely seen her. She did manage to leave Wednesday night free to come out for a 'last hurrah' dinner with her family which was kind of her. In fact, as I'm here right now panicking that she's not finished her packing, she's just popped round to a friend's house for another farewell.

We'll be setting off at 8am tomorrow - for the 3rd yr Sheffield Uni PP, we'll no doubt see you at lunchtime tomorrow!

Studentnurse1981 · 16/09/2018 21:35

I start my adult nursing degree tomorrow - scared but excited x