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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:
Studentnurse1981 · 17/09/2018 21:41

First day went well

MajesticWhine · 17/09/2018 21:42

Good luck studentnurse. Hope it continues to go well.

2BoysandaCairn · 17/09/2018 21:46

Studentnurse1981
Glad your first day went well Smile
Ds first morning spent with hangover, with his 5 flatmates.
Did fresher's fayre and meet his Tutor and the other 21 in the group.
MacDonald's for tea, whole flat, and they are all have quiet night in, missing sigma disco, as tomorrow is societies and sports club day, so don't want hangovers. Shock

BagelGoesWalking · 17/09/2018 21:48

Last week before Southampton on Saturday. Also slightly panicking that I haven't got much time left together as DD seeing a friend tomorrow, then going to Brighton and staying til Weds eve. Thursday with friends and then Friday with us and DS26 who'll come with us. So I'll hardly see her! 😩

wohmum · 18/09/2018 00:55

Dropped DS atSheffield (city - Allen Court) on Saturday . He loves it already. I’m not sad - more envious of the great time he’ll have. I loved doing uni open days - they offer so much now

bruffin · 18/09/2018 09:56

DD is 21 today, she is s bit worried as she is oldest in her flat. We are dropping her off on Saturday.

nokidshere · 18/09/2018 13:37

@BagelGoesWalking which halls is she going to? DS is in Mayflower in the city centre and we have got a moving in slot of 2:30 on Saturday.

Original poster
Justanothermile · 18/09/2018 15:12

Bruffin she will find her people I'm sure, my (still) best friend didn't go until she was 22, she travelled and worked before deciding she wanted to go. She still says that yes, she found the really young students immature and sometimes annoying, but there were plenty of others who she connected with. Smile

OP posts:
Princecharlesfirstwife · 18/09/2018 18:55

bruffin my dd was 18 at the end of August - we dropped her off on Saturday just gone and within hours she was texting that she felt like a baby because most in her flat had taken a gap year and were 19 heading to 20. Three days later and she’s having the time of her life and seems very happy with her new flat mates (here’s hoping that continues). Hope your DD also finds that age is no problem.

bruffin · 18/09/2018 19:10

Thanks , I sure she will be ok. Her flatmates have decided to celebrate her birthday on saturday night Grin

BagelGoesWalking · 18/09/2018 22:07

@nokidshere 2:30 slot for us as well 😬 but she'll be in Romero, Archers Road.

Her preference was one of the bigger places, like Glen Eyre but she's pretty happy with Archers, although she knows the rooms are much smaller and basic than some of the luxurious ones her friends have been sending her from other unis!

Good luck with your moving in!

TheThirdOfHerName · 18/09/2018 23:12

In the unlikely event that DS1 passes his driving test tomorrow...

He would have to surrender his provisional driving licence and would need to wait a couple of weeks for a new one to be delivered. He starts Fresher's week (fortnight?) on Saturday and is hoping to go to most of the evening events (has bought a wristband out of his savings) all of which require over-18 ID. Other than carrying his passport around with him on nights out, is there another solution?

MarchingFrogs · 19/09/2018 01:46

I don't know where you live, but does this help?

www.citizencard.com/same-day-id-service

TheThirdOfHerName · 19/09/2018 06:52

Thank you, that does help. 1.5 h away by public transport.

PostNotInHaste · 19/09/2018 06:58

Bruffin I was 23 when I went and had lived away from home since 19 ( think your DD is going to Cardiff? I went there and DD just started) and I was the oldest. Two of my housemates were only just 18. They were all lovely but I tended to mix more with people on my course and another group of people I found after a bit.

bruffin · 19/09/2018 07:15

Postnot

She is doing a health related course which i think attracts older students. It was just she had been talking to her new flatmates on their flat sm page and they were all 18.

We see taking Dd up on Saturday.

PostNotInHaste · 19/09/2018 07:56

Yes I think you’re right it will and assumably she’ll spend time at the Heath so meet people there as well?. Hate the bit whilst you’re waiting to go, nerves ramp up.

We’re possibly going over on Saturday too, just waiting to hear about tenancy on flat. Unfortunately it’s unfurnished and i’m kind of in a flap about them owning no furniture but trying to keep lid on it and scouring Gumtree ! DD has induction this week and seems to be ok but they haven’t hit the technology side yet which is the bit that is a bit of a worry. one day at a time is current mantra.

bruffin · 19/09/2018 09:04

Thats nerve wracking Postnotinhaste

DD is in TBS so the big worry is silverfish from what i can gather.Grin

choirmumoftwo · 19/09/2018 09:36

Hi Bruffin, my DS moves into TBN this afternoon (doing music) but has been in Cardiff since the weekend staying with a family so hopefully has found his bearings a bit. He took a gap year and moved away so although he's only 19, he also thinks he may be more worldly wise than some of his flat mates and has already got the immediate excitement of being away from home (and all that entails) out of his system. Has your DD been talking to any of her course mates or flat mates via the Facebook groups the university sets up? I think DS has found that helpful.

choirmumoftwo · 19/09/2018 09:38

Just re-read your post and see she has been on sm already. Sorry Blush

adrinkofwater · 19/09/2018 10:06

My DD moves to Taly north on Friday! I think they have found 4 of the 6 flat mates. She is doing medicine so will be at Heath a lot and has loads of lectures in Freshers week!

PostNotInHaste · 19/09/2018 11:49

I was in TBN and DD is renting flat literally round the corner from there as she’s jusr found out a few minutes ago when she lookedit up (I’d already worked that out !) She’s not at main University, at U. Of S Wales.

We’ve sorted that if they get keys before Saturday they’ll get cheap blow up bed then Saturday we’ll take better one down to buy breathing space plus she needs all her winter stuff now weather turned. Waterproof stuff will be a must there !

bruffin · 19/09/2018 13:01

Postnotinhaste
We bought her an umbrella for her birthday this week. Dds friend is doing photography at USW
Choirmum
She has been speaking to both flats and course
adrinkofwater
Dd says shes in 9 to 4 everyday as well.

PostNotInHaste · 22/09/2018 07:40

Good luck today Bruffin hope it goes well.

MajesticWhine · 22/09/2018 20:00

I dropped off my DD today. It was very emotional Blush. Hopefully she is having fun and getting to know her new flat mates. She is not very good at communicating - we get one word texts, if we're lucky, so I am going to have to get used to not knowing how it's going or if she's ok.