Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - finance, flat shares, friends old and new and freshers' week to come...

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from thread 8 which filled up in just 72 hours.

Email copies of DD's scripts arrived. I am avoiding the temptation to open and read them as I promised her I was not going to - and they would mean very little to me!

I've forwarded them to the 2 subject tutors at her sixth form college and await to hear their opinions. Apparently, they are in work tomorrow (probably) due to it being GCSE results day and 2 open days for the college for signing up the new students. Which doesn't seem 2 minutes ago that DD did it.

I have a year off from stress.

Then it's DD1's GCSEs '21
DD1 graduation '22
DD2 A level results '23

At least the relatively large age gap means I don't have
2 doing exams at the same time
2 at uni at the same time.

Phew.

What subject and board is it?

@Mr Klaw - this link gives all the info you should need to get everything ready. My DS didn't register with a FB group, although he did join a WhatsApp group for his accomodation. However, only about 30% of kids did join online groups. It really doesn't matter. We arrived Sunday pm, some had arrived Saturday am (and all slots in between) - by Sunday night they had got together and started to make friends in their accomodation. Then during Freshers Week, they met people on their courses as for my DS's course there was something everyday he had to go to (a welcome lecture here, a module choosing session there etc).

He's had a great time at Bath and is looking forward to going back. He's found it very well organised and help is there if you want to go and get it. Registering with the med centre was also straight forward (forms online)

www.bath.ac.uk/routing/new-students/#new-undergraduates

Just click on your department and all the info should be there. Hope it all goes well.

White socks. DS has asked for nothing white so everything can be washed together. I was shocked he had thought that far ahead, even down to wanting dark grey bedding. Have bought DS lots of dry food and tins. He will be living off rice, pasta, noodles and various sachets of sauce until he can get into his own routine.

Property Snap with the grey bedlinen! (Though that was me not Dd - washing machine is alien to her).

Phew, DD heard from accommodation at last, with apologies that she'll get a shared room in catered and will allocate in 48 hours. She asked for shared to save money, used to boarding and nine sharing a toilet, shower, no privacy, crashing out in eachothers rooms. She doesn't like studying in her room, so roommate won't distract her. Also, both possible options are acually her top two.

Does anyone have experience of Birks Grange village at Exeter? DD has been allocated SC accommodation. She isn't a recluse and likes going to the pub but she's really not into clubbing/partying so asked for something slightly quieter - she's therefore a little alarmed to see that the students in her block all appear to be older post gap year party animals. Is she worrying unnecessarily ?

Had a great time at TKMAXX got all the bedding, crockery, kitchen bits. Then off to Wilko bought a plug tower with two USB outlets, you can stand it up or lie it down. Also an organiser board with magnets for reminders. Currys then for a flash drive. He is going to perhaps buy a cushion, rug, throw when he gets there to make it more homey.

He has LED light strips at home so is going to buy one for uni. it does brighten up a room, he baulked at fairy lights

@Danglingmod I wish school would tell them not to wear white socks, they like them to wear coloured socks as it apparently expresses personality.

@puppypower1 thanks - had seen the maths page before but hadn’t spotted the first week timetable. Have that and the SU/freshers links in a shared note with him now. Still can’t see a reading list but he can wait for that if needed

Piggy, WJEC psychology and history.

Ah, OK, can't help with those ones. Would happily have looked for you otherwise, if the teachers didn't/don't respond!

Dd also is taking grey as she already has grey bedding and I've got her a towel bale to match.
I didn't think about the laundry side!

I hadn't thought of this separating washing business!

Have to say I'm a bit precious with my washing and do everything in separated loads so what I don't know won't hurt me might be the best policy there!

Thanks @CointreauVersial - I hadn't realised it was £50 per paper 😮 sounds like it's very much worth it for your DD though, with only 1 mark off. Hope your ds makes a good decision re uni!

We're on holiday so not able to do any shopping yet but DD is chomping at the bit. Looking forward to some trips with her. One of our issues is in her halls the laundry is done for them (I know!!) So they ask them to label every single thing, even socks so that will be fun.

Thanks for the offer anyway.

You haveall made me feel very guilty with all your shopping !!
I have bought an extra shower gel ans toothpaste in y shop today .
Whooho

Doez that count as getti prepared???

My ds mainly wears white socks, but they won't be that colour for long if he throws them in with everything else. My bet is that he will just throw some away and buy new ones, bringing a load home for me to wash. He has never actually done laundry before.

Then off to Wilko bought a plug tower with two USB outlets, you can stand it up or lie it down.

Have you checked that these are allowed in the accommodation? Because of the risk of overloading, electrical extensions of all types are often on the 'forbidden' list.

@Laniakea same for my DD. She was 6 marks off A* which is what she and her teachers thought she was capable of. Two papers could be remarked but she doesn't want to do it as she's petrified of being downgraded. I hate the thought that she may have achieved it and we will never know.

Ok i am hyperventilating now over the mixed wash! .

I am bracing myself for tomorrow 😊😊

@Laniakea am i right in thi king your dd is going to Southampton?
If so just us to off this thread?

Yes she is - oceanography :) Deferred so she’s not starting until 2020. She’s the only one from her school going ... loads of them off to Birmingham/Cardiff/Exeter/Sheffield this year.

I’m making myself ignore remark threads on TSR etc ... I think it’s worth a punt but ultimately it is dd’s decision.

Ahh Laniakea...i do remember the defered bit...but thought you had all changed your minds .
Just me then for Southampton in a few weeks!

My current shopping policy is that university towns have shops.

We'll buy DS2 some coathangers before he goes, though, as Wilko's sold out of those when we dropped DS1 off several years back.

Grey towels also sound a good idea!