Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

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

981 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/08/2019 18:48

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

OP posts:
FrameyMcFrame · 19/08/2019 08:06

@NewModelArmyMayhem18
Oh right!

I don't know how that's happened to us... unless it's because of DD's disability allowance. That part still hasn't been confirmed yet so she hasn't had the letter confirmation at all.

I was on the phone to them yesterday for a frustrating half hour, I'll probably ring them back today to check we have done it right.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 19/08/2019 08:09

What a PITA @FrameyMcFrame (being on the phone for half an hour!).

I also clocked that one can update their student bank account details online too. SFE sent DS a form to complete to update these (which I've kept safe for the past three months or so) but it looks as if it's probably easier and quicker to do virtually.

OP posts:
ifonly4 · 19/08/2019 08:11

DD updated her student finance yesterday to insurance university. Apparently there was some mentioned it could take six weeks to process. Just checked and apparently uni fees are due her first week, she starts on 7 September! Hopefully they'll push it through for the Scottish ones.

Did your DCs have to make an appointment to take their identification documents into banks, or could they just walk in? DD can't set her account up for another week (not 18). Just been checking online and possible banks don't have any appointments until a day or two before she leaves!

juicy0 · 19/08/2019 08:17

@ifonly4 my DD applied online with HSBC but then received a text saying she had to take ID docs into a branch to compete the process. There were plenty of appointments available on thurs and Friday last week but she's going in today, it takes 45 mins max apparently.

ifonly4 · 19/08/2019 08:31

juicy0 thanks. Guess we'll have to phone them up before applying.

MrKlaw my DD has the same birthday as your DS!

icanbewhatiwant · 19/08/2019 08:40

My son also applied to HSBC online this weekend. My husband opened an account there last year and had to wait 3 weeks for appointment. So I hope it isn't the same again. I'd send my son to a bigger branch of HSBC where they may have more appointments but he's working full time. He will need to miss work for appointment.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 19/08/2019 08:57

Just what the DC don't need - delays in verifying ID to open their bank accounts. Thought the HSBC online application part went too smoothly to be true.

OP posts:
Clankboing · 19/08/2019 09:23

We went to visit my ds university yesterday. Dh and I shared open days / interviews but for Lancaster dh had visited, so the visit was for me really as well as ds excitement. Plus on the interview day he had barely taken in the surroundings. So far it my experiences had been online including streetview. I'm glad about it all thank God, it all seems spot on for my ds. Lovely and peaceful. Mind you the full lot of students weren't there yet. There were a few families wandering around having a look. Ds is taking his bike and we worked out the bike route from the uni to the beach - all very nice for him. He's like me, he needs to visit the sea quite often!

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2019 09:24

I know I can't force DS to do anything but the Lincoln parents' FB group is really stressing me out. Quite a lot of helicopters on there but nonetheless they are all talking about WhatsApp and FB groups their DCs have joined and I can't see DS doing any of this.

I wouldn't want him to turn up knowing no one (as we did back in the day, of course!) and find the rest of them 'know' each other.

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2019 09:26

Bear in mind , for those of us who have passive types, no bank will speak to you on the phone about your DC once they are 18.

MrKlaw · 19/08/2019 09:36

For bath seems like most clearing students will end up in city accommodation (university owned). It’s close by and possibly even walkable but I am a little worried about DS not integrating as much as if he was on campus

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2019 09:38

Up a very big hill to the campus, too!

ifonly4 · 19/08/2019 10:37

DD starts uni earlier than most as in Scotland, but she's just phoned up Santander and they can't see her to verify her id until the day we leave. She checked and can go into local uni branch, but doesn't want to book an appointment until she knows what's happening at uni. RSB a possibility to not that convenient in town. I'm passing a TSB later, so might check with them.

Her debit account should be sufficient initially - I hope.

DD said she had a preference for sharing a room as cheaper. If she doesn't get catered, then there are a couple of options 40 min walk out of city. They are so cheap (£2500 self catered) but actually look in ok areas, one has a really good kitchen, and shops nearby. Would more than make up for a bus ride each day!

TapasForTwo · 19/08/2019 10:42

DD said she had a preference for sharing a room as cheaper

That's brave of her. DD would hate to share a room, especially with a complete stranger. What if one of them wants to bring a boy back?

I know I can't force DS to do anything but the Lincoln parents' FB group is really stressing me out. Quite a lot of helicopters on there

A parents group for university students is surely going to attract helicopter parents though? I don’t think most universities have a parents group.

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2019 10:48

I am on it tapas because it's actually generally helpful. But at the same time , it stresses me out , knowing how much more knowledgeable and sorted others (seem to be) are, parents and their offspring!

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2019 10:49

DS just didn't get through security at OneFamily (the CTF people) because he couldn't recite his address at the age of birth!!

SoonerthanIthought · 19/08/2019 11:12

"they are all talking about WhatsApp and FB groups their DCs have joined and I can't see DS doing any of this"

Sympathies, I can see why it's very unnerving, but I wouldn't be too worried. I think in reality those groups won't be decisive in terms of forming long-term friendships - I have no experience or evidence on this, just my hunch! They may form the "immediate" freshers week friendships, but I don't think you really know who you're going to gel with until you meet in person.

Also some students are just more "slowly slowly" types when it comes to forging friendships. It's after the first week that students start bonding with people on their course, possibly in their flat (but don't bank on flatmates as that leads to disappointment!), and by joining societies.

bizzey · 19/08/2019 11:28

Hello all again !! I am back and have been following this thread ...but just no energy to post !

Don't know what happened to me on Friday but my body shut down 😂
Ds2 came into my room to say goodbye as he was off out ...and i sleepily was thinking " why is he going so early?"
Ds2 was talking of sandwich's
? "why does he want sandwich's for breakfast.
Needed a wee ...and it was 2.45 pm !!

What happened to me !!!

Sounds awful ...and i can only say it on here but we are botj gutted at the B he got .

Phew there i said it ! It was for geography which he had put the most work in for .
He did ask for a breakdown and at 14 marks not worth doing anything .

Human geography paper let him down ...
Which is why he knew he would always do geology degree instead of geography..as it was always his weekest area .
The A* in course work gave us /him false hope !

Anyways onwards and upwards today we are making lists of what we need to do next.
(Well i am!! )
And the sun is shinning !!

FabTab · 19/08/2019 11:58

We just got the review of marks back (having ordered it on Friday) - no change. I hope this helps anyone wondering how quick the turnaround is. Hopefully they have better luck.

TootingLate · 19/08/2019 11:59

@PhannyMcNee. I’ve always been a fairly laid back parent and encouraged the DC to be as independent as possible - it’s come back to bite me on the bum now!!

Same problem here - encouraged independence and now want to be involved but they've sorted it all.

Cherryblossomandcornflakes · 19/08/2019 12:04

Sorry if I'm repeating anything that's already been touched on, DD has a Santander account that she's had for years. She's got a debit card and online banking, her wages get paid in directly and it does everything a bank account is supposed to do. She's had it since she was 13 so I don't know if that makes it a 'children's' account. Must she change it to a student account? Is there any need? A rail card is absolutely no use to use to us cos of where we live. She's given all the account details of this account to everyone who needs it, so if she swaps to a student account will she get a new account number? Thanks X

callmeadoctor · 19/08/2019 12:09

Loving this thread, just one question though, why is everybody buying new stuff to take to uni? Does nobody just raid their kitchen cupboards and use their own bedding? (Have I missed something?) Grin

MrKlaw · 19/08/2019 12:33

@Cherryblossomandcornflakes I imagine you’d want eg overdraft facility. You might be able to keep the other account which can be handy for others transferring money and then just keep day to day money in the student account?

Dunlurking · 19/08/2019 12:34

Ds didn't need to change bank number at Lloyds 3 years ago when changing to student account. We're heading to Lloyds this afternoon to see if dd can do the same. callmeadoctor I'm sure we have enough bedding, just none that is presentable for when she brings friends to her room. Towels ditto - dd's peroxide acne gels have stained everything! Annoying as chances are the new stuff will get stained. Maybe I should just splash out on a throw to cover the bed at least, and tell her to hide the towels!

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2019 12:38

I haven't got enough stuff of my own to raid cupboards! But I won't buy new mugs, plates or cutlery. I have to get bedding because the bed is larger. No new towels, though.