Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Higher education

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 39 40

Original poster

UEA freshers

999 replies

juicy0 · 16/08/2019 20:03

I've never done this before but hopefully I have managed to set up a new thread for UEA specific posts.
Perhaps someone can let me know if it's worked!

OP posts:

Thread gallery

sluj · 16/08/2019 21:40

Are any of your DCs musicians? There are quite a few fun, informal big band, concert hand groups as well as the usual symphony orchestra type things.

TheMaestro · 16/08/2019 21:43

Oh dear, it's thirtycough years since I graduated.

Not sure about the alcohol thing. The "Drunken Shits Society" was very active when I was there. If you went on every crawl you would visit all of the 365 pubs during the year!

MrsBartlet · 16/08/2019 21:49

@GoldenRuby - basketball for my ds. He is already following the UEA team on Instagram and has made contact with them so I guess they have the same for hockey and cricket.

GoldenRuby · 16/08/2019 21:57

@MrsBartlet yes they do. He sort of knows one of the girls who is there already and is at the hockey club, and there are lots of teams so I'm sure he will find his place. I think they like to party though by all accounts.

MrsBartlet · 16/08/2019 22:00

Yes that was the impression we got from the girl who showed us round the sports centre at the open day. We have just had a chat with ds tonight to check he realises he actually has to do a degree while he is there 😦 All his focus seems to be on the sporting opportunities.

NotSorry · 16/08/2019 22:16

I'm here! Sorry I had to go to work as soon as I posted

We haven't had the uni email yet - just the UCAS one, we need that to apply for accommodation - I think he would like an en-suite - we saw two today and they are very nice

he's doing economics - we had a chat with 3 different economics lecturers/students and they were really welcoming and friendly - he is relieved that they weren't worried about his C in economics as he got an A in maths - they said, some students don't even do a-level economics, so really not a problem!

I have an older DS who went to Warwick so I feel a little more in the know this time round - he wasn't much of a drinker, I suspect DS2 will not fall into that camp

NotSorry · 16/08/2019 22:17

oh and my DS is a pretty decent squash player so I think he is hoping to get into a team there (probably a lower one to start with)

Itscoldouthere · 16/08/2019 22:41

Just checking in to the UEA thread, DS is doing biology. Waiting for his accommodation to be allocated next week.
He’s not an outgoing type, doesn’t drink, so is feeling a bit unsure about freshers week.

icanbewhatiwant · 17/08/2019 06:39

Itscoldouttgere...my son is taking biology too. He's not particularly sociably either. He only has a small group of friends.
He knows someone from school that is also doing biology, but he is commuting.

Have you all applied for the loans? I think we will get a student bank account opened today...or at least fill the forms in. We haven't applied for loans yet. HSBC looks the best for students.

NotSorry · 17/08/2019 08:04

Yes we’ve had the loans in place for some time but you can still apply. We did the HSBC account - seemed the best one - the onsite bank is Barclays but I told DS that doesn’t matter, you can still go in there if you need to

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/08/2019 08:12

@icanbewhatiwant @Mrsbartlet @Itscoldouthere

DS is in 3rd year at a different Uni. Extremely sporty and not a big drinker regularly and hates clubbing. He found when he joined the sport that he tended to socialise a lot with his teammates according to training etc.

I think at Uni your DC find their "tribe" wether in sport, their course, music, societies etc there will be like minded people who want the same experience as your DC and that will make it easier.

And it's not always the ppl you meet straightaway-but over time it settles. There are lots of non clubbing things and things during the day etc. DD not a big clubber-but will def join in some go the Freshers things for the experience.

So glad we have this thread!! They are starting to sort out who is bringing toaster and kettle in her flat-getting very real!!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/08/2019 08:18

DS was very impressed by the sports facilities. He is not over sporty but plays squash and looking forward to playing again at university having had a bit of a pause towards the end of Yr 13.

Original poster

juicy0 · 17/08/2019 08:30

DD applied for an HSBC account online and has an appointment in branch in Monday to complete the process. Most banks have a branch in Norwich including Santander, Barclays, NatWest etc so whichever account you decide to apply for there will be a branch near the uni to resolve any problems.
If your DC is travelling by train a lot then I think Santander offer a free railcard with their account. As we only live 20 mins away DD decided the £100 offer from HSBC suites her better.

OP posts:

MrsBartlet · 17/08/2019 08:34

I think the £100 might appeal to ds as well juicy0. When dd went she did the santander one to get the railcard but I get ds his railcard with my clubcard vouchers and he has just got a new one.

Original poster

juicy0 · 17/08/2019 08:34

It's worth mentioning for those of you moving into the UEA and arriving by car/train that there is a large Wilko in Intu Norwich which is only 10 mins drive from the uni. Therefore if there are things you can't squeeze into the car you can easily nip to wilko on moving in day. There's also Argos, John Lewis, primark, tk maxx and we've managed to get everything DD needs from those shops.
Any other local queries please just ask

OP posts:

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/08/2019 08:36

It's a tricky one re which bank account to opt for. I had thought the idea of a four year railcard good but now that I see that DS could use Megabus (which is so much cheaper if booked with reasonable advance warning), wondering whether the £100 would be more useful. Hmmm

Itscoldouthere · 17/08/2019 08:36

Ds cooked last night as I supervised, he did a good job but in discussion about what he needs to take to uni asked if he’d need to take a microwave !
Did make me laugh 🤣
For who ever asked about cycling, a friends son who is going into yr 3 at UEA has had a great time, he joined the uni cycle club and cycles all the time.

Original poster

juicy0 · 17/08/2019 08:37

@MrsBartlet DD plans to use some of the money to buy a small printer for her room. One of her friends already at uni said it was the one item she would recommend to buy as it takes away the hassle of having to go to the library or resource room every time you want to print something. Obviously it depends how far their accommodation is from central services but I can see how it would be more convenient and you can pick a printer up quite cheaply.

OP posts:

donutrehomer · 17/08/2019 08:43

My advice to you all is stop them off, unpack and food shop if necessary.

Then leave uni campus and city centre asap. Uni drop off days are totally manic with congestion, parking etc and the city centre and surrounding area will be having.

If you leave late you will get stuck in awful traffic, and the service areas are full if sobbing parents.

MrsBartlet · 17/08/2019 08:43

My dd took a printer with her and didn't really use it. It was a better one than we had at home so we ended up taking it back and using it ourselves We could dig the other one out the loft for ds as I agree it would seem to be more convenient to be able to print in your room.

sluj · 17/08/2019 09:00

DS1 took a printer and never used it so it has been back in his home bedroom since the end of year 1.

If you are approaching Norwich along the A11, there is a massive Sainsburys superstore, one minute off the main road towards Thetford. It's one of those that has clothes, linen, cafe, electrical goods etc. We always stop there on the way back to UEA with DS1 to stock up on socks, milk, fresh food, heavy cans, ribena etc.
If you stop there you can get to UEA on the ring road and avoid Norwich town centre altogether. Parking in Norwich is a bit of a pain, especially if you get a Saturday move -in slot.
Along the A11, past Thetford, there is also a nice pub/hotel, the "Breckland Lodge" where you can stop for lunch. There is a nice pub past the Lodge too for decent food.
Unfortunately for us, DS1 moved into the village in torrential rain and he was on the top floor so lots of trips up those stairs. Fortunately you can park right near the door for Village blocks, no idea where we will park if DS2 gets the Zigurrats. DS1 says you can park nearby but not sure how near

icanbewhatiwant · 17/08/2019 09:03

Thanks for all the info. I know Norwich city centre quite well as I said earlier we aren't that far away. But I don't know the area around the UEA. I have been told parking is a nightmare.

MrsBartlet · 17/08/2019 09:09

I love Norwich. I visit at least once a month for work and visit my customer on the UEA campus about twice a year. I also visit the city where dd was at university regularly for work so we used to meet for breakfast or lunch when I was there. It was lovely to catch up and I could bring her things from home. Not sure if ds will be quite so keen for me being around so much so I will follow his lead on how much he wants to see me. I think I will try and see my customer who is on campus in the holidays so as not to encroach on ds's space!

sluj · 17/08/2019 09:27

I think they give you temporary permission to park outside the block on moving in day. Other than that the main car park shouldn't be too bad as term hasn't officially started when freshers week starts.
You have to park there anyway to go along to the accommodation office and collect your keys. Then they had a student to meet you in the accommodation office and take you over to the Congregation Hall (3 minutes) where there was more info. DS1's school had it's own freshers week earlier than other courses so it might be different for DS2 where there will be more freshers.
After that, we drove over to the Village, dumped all his stuff and went home. I wont lie, it wasnt easy. However, apart from the rain, it all went like clockwork and DS1 was fine.
Just in case any of you arent on WhatsApp, nows the time to get on and set up a family chat. Your DC will be connected to the UEA internet so it will be free to use and you can have reassuring one line chats that dont put too much burden on the DC

MrsBartlet · 17/08/2019 09:39

Good advice re WhatsApp sluj. We set up one when dd started and it was so useful. We also FaceTimed a lot which was great. So much better than in my day when I had to call home from a pay phone!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 39 40

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.