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Higher education

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

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:
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9
CharliesMouse · 21/08/2019 19:50

Just checking into the thread. DS has a place at UEA through clearing after turning down his first choice offer at Nottingham because he'd changed his mind about not only Nottingham but the subject he was planning to study there too! I'm finding the distinct lack of communication from him about everything frustrating and I'm just hoping he's on top of everything he needs to do. I suggested he might want to live on campus rather than at home (UEA is our local uni) to get the full student experience but he's not at all gregarious and I think will be staying at home (which will at least save money). I think the deadline to apply for accommodation (for him) is tomorrow.

I asked him to make sure he'd applied to convert his under 19's bank account to a student account before his loan is paid in and I think he waited until he heard my key in the door yesterday evening before he started the process, but that is one thing he has now actually done. I think he's looking forward to starting his course but is apprehensive about the general faff of meeting new people and worrying about being an introvert in a sea of new people. I am worrying about everything but trying to pretend I'm not.

icanbewhatiwant · 21/08/2019 20:10

@CharliesMouse hello we are sort of local too. Well...30 miles away. My son has decided to stay there to experience university life. He may commute the following year he doesn't know yet. He has 2 friends from school going too, one is commuting one isn't. He has chatted to a girl in his accommodation who is also from Norwich.

Original poster
juicy0 · 21/08/2019 20:14

@CharliesMouse I am worrying about everything but trying to pretend I'm not. Same!! My DD is local too but decided she wants to move into halls for her first year. Once the novelty of food shopping, cooking, washing up, laundry has worn off I wonder if she will make the same decision for the following years. Who knows?
She's spent quite a bit of time looking at the various societies so I think she sees those as a way to get to know people a-side from course and flat mates. If he's living at home perhaps the societies might be a good method of integration outside his course? I had a quick look and quite fancy the cocktail society myself 😉

OP posts:
CharliesMouse · 21/08/2019 20:18

Quite a few of DS's school friends are going there too @icanbewhatiwant. I think some of them picked a local uni to save money but also it's a great place to study and Norwich is a lovely city. Good luck to your DS!

CharliesMouse · 21/08/2019 20:24

@juicy0 I think DS is worried about paying to live in halls and then finding himself popping home all the time and therefore essentially wasting all that money. He's out at the moment but he's just messaged me to ask me if he can live in halls for the first term and then decide if it's worth staying for the next two terms! I've told him I think it's a 38 week contract, so he's either in for the year or not!

Original poster
juicy0 · 21/08/2019 20:29

@CharliesMouse I think you're right, I think it's a fixed term contract which lasts the whole academic year. The deadline to apply is today or tomorrow so if he's in two minds maybe he should apply and then he can always turn it down if he decides home is right for him. If he doesn't apply he won't have the option and it sounds like maybe he's 50/50? Perhaps if he lives out for the first year he will come home for years 2 and 3 if he doesn't enjoy it.
Will he have to travel far each day and how will he get there? If he's reliant on public transport it may make it difficult for him to socialise on campus in the evenings depending obviously on the timetable. Sorry, I'm sure you've probably already thought about all this, I'm just thinking aloud really.

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CharliesMouse · 21/08/2019 20:41

He'll be reliant on the bus @juicy0 but it's a do-able journey from where we are. We're also not far from the park and ride direct to the university, but he has to pass his driving test (next week!) and get a car before that's feasible. He's always so last minute about everything so leaving the accommodation issue until the 11th hour is not unexpected. I, on the other hand am always super organised so his dithering is stressing me out enormously.

icanbewhatiwant · 21/08/2019 20:56

@CharliesMouse yes your son should probably apply for accommodation while he's still thinking about it incase he wants to stay. My son can drive, but it will take 50 mins or so and that's without traffic. So we thought best to live there. It may be easier to go by train. But by the time he's driven to train station and paid to park, then paid for a train and a bus from train station he may as well drive.
What subject is he doing? Mine is doing biology.

Original poster
juicy0 · 21/08/2019 21:38

@icanbewhatiwant @CharliesMouse DD is studying Geography

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CharliesMouse · 21/08/2019 21:43

Computer Science @icanbewhatiwant. He was planning to do chemistry before changing courses. We had a good look around the new science block the day after it opened at the open day at the beginning of July. (He was wobbling about going away so thought it might be a good idea to check out UEA as it was on our doorstep.) It was very impressive I thought.

sluj · 21/08/2019 22:00

Ooh, is the new science block up and running then?

icanbewhatiwant · 21/08/2019 22:24

I don't think we saw the new science block. Did it open July this year?

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/08/2019 06:35

Is the new science block next to the environmental sciences one?

icanbewhatiwant · 22/08/2019 07:49

@juicy0 I have replied to your message. Does Mumsnet tell you I've messaged? I just found very old messages from others I never knew were there!

Original poster
juicy0 · 22/08/2019 07:58

@icanbewhatiwant got it. I think you can set up alerts but I'm not sure

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NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/08/2019 15:08

Anyone's DC received another email from UEA as yet - nothing here today.

DS just received written notification of the payment dates for his SFE maintenance loan. So the first payment doesn't get paid through until mid October. That's quite a long wait when he goes up on the 21st September?

MrsBartlet · 22/08/2019 15:42

Ds is at work today so don't know if he has had an email yet. That is worrying about the loan. When dd was at university hers used to come through a couple of days after she signed back in once she returned.

Ds joined an unofficial FB chat for his accommodation yesterday and I think there was a little more chat on that. Still only one other person from his actual flat though. I have been buying him a few bits and pieces now we know what accommodation he has - towels and a bath mat from Tesco and saucepans from Home Bargains today (thanks to a tip on one of the threads). The pans were very cheap and much better quality than the Ikea ones we bought dd. Also an airer that you hang on a radiator for only £2.99!

GoldenRuby · 22/08/2019 15:48

DS has had the registration email, and confirmation that his registration details have been received. Then another email (I think school specific) linking to the school pages and course handbook.

I've got DS a slim airer. I didn't go for an over radiator one as in his accommodation the radiator looks like it is under the desk, so a bit to tricky.

There are 8 in his flat, he's now heard from 3 of them. All girls. Hoping there will be a few more guys as well. No chat yet about who is bringing a kettle or toaster.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/08/2019 15:52

Maybe the registration emails are being staggered department, school, course at a time?

DS said he was sent a link to joining a FB group for his accommodation on Monday or Tuesday but isn't going to act on it. He's not even unsociable when you meet him but seems to be dead against putting out feelers in advance!

icanbewhatiwant · 22/08/2019 16:02

My son is also at work all day. But we've no idea what emails to expect anyway. As I've said he has accommodation confirmed and is in a group chat with just 2 others (out of 12) from his flat. But heard nothing else. Sent of to hsbc for bank account and filled finance forms over the weekend.

boys3 · 22/08/2019 17:04

DS2 claims no further emails received as yet. Bank account however changed to student account - same bank as now so no change to his sort code or account number. I think they are up to 5 in his accommodation flat's FB group.

Saw a few of you expecting GCSEs for younger DCs today. Hope that has gone well. Ds3 got the results needed for his A level choices so one less thing to worry about.

icanbewhatiwant · 22/08/2019 17:28

Ds has had an email today telling him to register as a UEA student and to visit the new student website. There's also a link to what to bring...someone already added the same lust earlier in the thread.

NotSorry · 22/08/2019 17:52

Still no accommodation email

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 22/08/2019 18:00

Oh no @NotSorry - perhaps your DC should phone up tomorrow.

Thanks for the update on your DCs' registration emails status. DS says he's still got nothing. Can only think they might be releasing the emails in batches?

NotSorry · 22/08/2019 18:09

He got the registration email today - I’ve said if nothing tomorrow morning give them a call to see what’s happening- Twitter seems to indicate they’re continuing to send out accommodation offers, so we’re trying to be patient

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