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!

Thanks soon had a big ‘talk* about cleaning up after herself as she has a tendency to leave a trail. Unfortunately any requests from us at the moment we met with a volatile response. I guess a lot of it is hidden stress. Resolved now, I think.
When did the AQA mark come back LIZS?

Sorry it wasn’t what she wanted.

@errorofjudgement that had me welling up at 'gave him a huge hug then we were off'. Think I might need a cry before the big day to avoid making a scene :)

There is no easy goodbye especially if its your first or only off to live on their own for the first time. I think we'll just encourage him to come back whenever he wants and we're not far up the road. He's a boy though so he'll probably ignore that offer (hope not)

Freshers at DD’s college is full on-she needs 3 fancy dress costumes and a black tie outfit! She’s sociable but is a bit nervous about dressing up with strangers. Then again that’s why they do it , to break the ice.

She’ll be 4 hrs away so no easy way home for her.

Ah, I think I remember now lizs - we conversed earlier about Edinburgh accommodation?! Sympathies to dd, that is bad luck. Yes, the remarks are a long shot but I suppose at least dd knows she tried them - there are no 'what ifs' (doubtful that dd will find that much consolation at the moment, I know!) I do think the pre-results application system can be quite unkind for our dc.

Having said that, I know this falls into the category of 'annoying things people say' but I think very often the dc end up being glad things worked out the way they did - and Edinburgh is a fantastic place/university if she does decide to go this year!

AQA came back yesterday having been requested on 16th, Edexcel was much quicker.

Thanks. DD emailed the teacher that took her appeal form yesterday. She’d requested it on 15/8. Hopefully she hears today.

I think Freshers' Week is great for the already gregarious but I think it can intimidate and isolate the already less sociable.

I'm with you all the way on this. I personally think having it midway through (or even end of) first term would be better.

Worth checking if the TV or streaming service can be extended to uni.

eg my son watches sport on BT sport using the virgin media streaming app - as long as your TV package has it, he can stream. Should be fine also when he's away which will help.

thats on top of your usual suspects like netflix (increased sub to allow more streams for that), freeview app is good (links out to iplayer/itv hub/uktv etc but brings all the guide/content in one place)

There is an element of needing to be seen to join in during Freshers. Even usually reticent ds attended some events.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I'm a bit worried about Freshers week. If you have a quiet child, you're dropping them off cold in a brand new flat on their own surrounded by strangers (yes they'll make friends but some make them more slowly). Then almost an entire week of no actual studies (some subject specific talks and maybe some course admin but nothing much). The socially quieter ones or the ones that take longer to get to know people can easily feel more isolated.

Bath is 2 hours. But the car parks aren’t that close to the accommodation.
When DS went a couple of years ago, they provided trolleys. (We could park very close to his accommodation, though.)

Surely the point of freshers is to encourage the quieter ones to meet people? I know it's dominated by people like my dd in neon mini dresses and laser cannons, but there are definitely more mellow options available that look really interesting

We have Virgin Media but am not sure about the app : I bet you need all the passwords which we never know, but will look into that one. I think he can already get Netflix on his laptop . Equally, I'd rather he watched football with other people rather than it being another reason never to leave his room so I may not tell him!

Sorry to hear your news LIZ

Mixed in with the party nights there are pub quizzes in the bar, pool competitions in the JCR, bingo etc. I think it sounds fantastic and a great way to get them all talking.

@Piggywaspushed

app is 'virgin tv go'. Agree about the sharing - I might try to see if I can connect to the TV and play from the ipad. Will report back. Might be a good option if they can get access to the communal TVs?

Also even though my DD likes to party she’ still be anxious about meeting new people. She’ll just talk a lot, it may seem like confidence but it’s often not. I’m the same.

Also even though my DD likes to party she’ still be anxious about meeting new people. She’ll just talk a lot, it may seem like confidence but it’s often not. I’m the same dd also!

hobs. Not jobs. Might have noticed sooner but for long conversation with DS2 about which subject he will drop at the end of year 12. Can't even remember by the end of it which one it was, but apparently he has a Plan, so will leave him to it.

Any DD’s/DS’s off to Uni of Nottingham? Accommodation confirmed and moving in date 21st, but bit surprised there are no moving in times or slots?

@MrKlaw it's when sharing a room with another student has its benefits, as one is forced into friendliness from the off! DS isn't really quiet but is quite self-contained. He had a good group of friends at secondary school but certainly not one to randomly pick up loads of friends elsewhere (as some young people are very good at doing). I can truly seeing him opting for a League of Legends session over Freshers' Week activities!!! I am trying to encourage him to get a ticket for one event at least though!

It is a massive deal going from being with roughly the same friendship group for the past seven years (although acknowledge there are DC who changed learning environments for A Levels), to suddenly having to do it all from scratch again.

actually one of the only 4 options for clearing accommodation is shared. But he threatened to take a gap year if he has to share! Think it might be good for him too but I doubt he'll listen.

He went to the pub last week when he turned 18 and there are two others from his school going to Bath. One boy doing engineering he knows, and a girl that was doing history A levels in his class (although windsor has separate Girls and Boys schools at GCSE-A level, the A level courses are sometimes coed to make up the numbers)