Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - wave goodbye to family, say hello to fellow students and key uni staff and they're settling in (hopefully)

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread. Possibly a little precipitous but for some of our DC their university start date is only just over a fortnight away. Yikes!

Can I just ask a banking question? DD has had a bank account for the last 2 years, why does she have to swap it to a specific student account?

Ds never swapped his Nationwide account.

No idea Benji. they also wanted to know if DS had any special needs. His halls are already booked so not like they are trying to put like minded folk together. They wanted to know what school he attended. It was a pretty comprehensive questionnaire.

@Benjispruce doesn't need to - some do because you get a railcard or £100 for opening, and an interest free overdraft of £1-2k if needed.

You don't need to switch but do need to pay in maintenance loan I think. You can probably just open one for the free money and use it as a spare.

Nosy beeks

beaks!

@Benjispruce that question surprised me too (although was included in the UCAS initial application) but I assume it's to see how many students come from families without higher education qualifications etc...They may use to cross reference with contextual offers and future related outreach work.

@LIZS bad luck to your dd. I think a year out might be for the best and then she can apply somewhere she's 100% on.

Did a bit more shopping today and dd2 had her final free dental checkup. Shes blowing hot and cold at the moment as she hates the thought of change but is also excited for uni. She's getting a CV together so on the first Sunday she can go job hunting to stop her feeling lonely and to get to know the area.

Thanks, I keep having this mild panics reading this thread!

DS applied for a job at weatherspoons, they wrote back interview 9th September, he does not go until 14th. He cannot on their form inform them of this fact. No facility to refuse or alter date at all he says.

You don't have to have a student account? Brill

@Benjispruce it would be helpful if the university websites explained why they are collecting certain bits of data, don't you think?

Student accounts - not essential, but about the only time in your life you will get a free overdraft!

Kids bank accounts typically go to 19, at which point they revert to a standard adult account, with no automatic overdraft facility.

Most student accounts offer perks too (free £100, railcard etc), because banks know that once they've got you, you probably will never change banks.

*I found out that if you defer your place UCAS won't let you make new applications for different Unis or courses in 2020

So, it's not possible to put your confirmed place on hold while you try to apply for better alternatives for example.*

Yes my understanding is that you have to withdraw/ask to be released (which?) by the deferred university from their offer, before putting in a new UCAS form. Presumably you could reapply to the deferred university as one of your choices (though whether that would affect the chances of the application I don't know) - but I think that's right, you can't 'hang on to one' while seeing if you can get offers from anywhere else at the same time.

@justasking111 yes my son answered that question. Correctly. He knows his parents are uneducated. I hope he's not too embarrassed by us.

@Benjispruce the student accounts are really only for the perks (HSBC free £100 or Santander free railcard etc) and the increased overdraft facility for the duration of their degree course. DD decided she wanted to keep her uni money separate from the savings she's earned this summer so she can keep a track on her spending more easily which I think is a good idea. Each to their own I guess but it's not compulsory so no need to worry.

How can it be possible to have so many problems with one bank???
Firstly Dd couldn’t convert the account to a student account because they forgot to convert her child account to a adult account. Supposed to be done automatically. Then she had to be registered for online banking to convert. As she had a different telephone number from when she was 11, she has to wait 4 working days to get the new PIN number to activate online banking. She has always used an App and didn’t even realise we had given them a phone number. Once she’s created the adult account online banking she can rip up all the new adult account stuff to create a student account. At least we think that’s is what is happening. We’ve been told 4 different processes by 4 different bank people. One thing is sure - they won’t allow it to be done in branch. Not allowed to see a real person.

@ZandathePanda I was equally incredulous that banks could be quite so inept, but recent experience has taught me otherwise. The 'computer says yes' but if anything requires a collective human memory of how to do things correctly, the whole systems seems to fall down. I feel your frustration and hope you get it all sorted out very soon.

Back from Lincoln. DS sulked at first, was starving, didn't understand why we wanted to look round the town as well as the (tiny) campus. He perked up when he got a pint of lager shandy, gammon and chips and saw the entire Everton football team stroll past right before his eyes!

He then claimed I hadn't told him he didn't get the accommodation he wanted.

DS2 loved it!

I am knackered. Anyway who ahs ever been up Steep Hill will know why.

Having looked at the accommodation (which does not look two weeks from being fully built!) it looks like we could park in Morrisons as long as we went inside and bought stuff which I plan to do. No car parks any nearer than the actual uni which is not far but not walkable with a load of shopping.

Piggy, sounds like the lunch was a success!

Dd is totally disengaged with the idea of going to uni. 4 weeks to go!

Totally off topic but perhaps comforting to anyone bemoaning the uselessness of their new-adult-child (mine is worse).

Dd had a job interview this afternoon, she tried to leave the house for it wearing micro mini denim shorts & a crop top. Then she looked at me like I was an idiot when I screamed at her UK ref changed for me

To get changed

(Honestly my phone hates me)

(She’s edgey & it’s body shaming to expect her to wear actual clothes)

Piggy you are a good mum and patient. Much lip biting going on here. DS argued about forwarding e-mails but sent me his santander ones. Eek he has to action something within hours, he missed that so is now going to do it. When he finishes looking at freshers events (rolls eyes)

Anyway who has ever been up Steep Hill will know why.

Yep
The clue is in the name. I love that Lincoln has two completely different parts to it. A modern shopping centre and an old town.

OH and I had a short break there last summer and loved it.