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!

Virgin media anywhere has anti mirroring, so can be watched on devices but not on tv. Their maybe new technology to get round this but it could be trial and error costing money.

I think it helps that DD is nearly 19. She can’t wait for freedom!

I think it helps that DD is nearly 19. She can’t wait for freedom! dd is 19 already! Neither of us can wait

@Piggywaspushed, drop off slots for DD were short - literally to get the stuff out of the car. But then we moved the car to a proper carpark and helped her unpack - can you do that? Also, are you sure there isn't a common room in the halls - there often is.

@Ligresa, DD was/is the same - there were loads of others to party with and luckily the rest of her flatmates were exactly the same. I do feel for those who don't want to party - must be hard for them.

So true that the gregarious are also anxious about meeting people. DD was lucky that a good friend from home was in the halls next to hers so they both felt confident inviting other maybe quieter students to join them doing stuff.
And there will be stuff put on for students who prefer say board games to clubbing. A friends son who is definitely not a party animal has a great social life with his different clubs. And I know boys and who like going to watch footy - my DD regularly watches in the pub with friends and DS definitely will and go to games if he's not actually playing at the same time!

There is something for everyone at uni

@LIZS sorry to hear your news. DS is in same position; one remark went up to an A but OCR English Lit remained 0.6 UMS below the grade, so he’s off to Edinburgh too instead of Oxford. Very galling as he would have been fine if OCR hasn’t raised the boundaries to 88.5%, but it is what it is. Edinburgh does have a lot to offer, especially much more course flexibility, and DS has been researching the societies - there seems to be loads going on, so hopefully he’ll have a great time. Hope your DD feels more settled soon - it’s agonising being so close, but someone has to be there ....

Thanks @Gettingthroughtheweek . It is tough to watch their dream fade though. Interesting those saying their dc at 19 or just approaching 19 are ready for the off. Dd has only just turned 18 and suddenly seems far less so. I also think we underestimated how much the Oxbridge process may have taken out of her.

errorofjudgement well done for your DD, I bet you're really pleased for her. Do keep in touch with us as and when, even though you're DD is taking a gap year, it'll be good to know how she's doing.

LIZS We couldn't find a facebook group for DD's halls on facebook, but when she accepted her place at Edinburgh, they're was a direct link. Just thought I'd tell you, in the hope it puts your DD in touch with one or two and that helps her feel happier if she accepts. If not, it might not be an easy decision, but some breathing space may give her a clearer picture for 2020.

My DD went into boarding for sixth form. It was a real shock spending so much time in her own room and with other issues it took a while to settle. She stuck at it, and says it's the best thing she's ever done. She's fairly quiet until she gets to know others, but she says she's learnt from that and her advice is to throw yourself into everything even if it's out of your comfort zone - easier said that done but if there's any DCs out there who might take that advice!

Dd was a cambridge hopeful. Sobbed her heart out on results day to find she 'only' got A* ABB as she wanted all As.
York was her firm uni but she was eligible for adjustment and had her heart set on it.

DD had Oxford interview but didn’t get further. She was downhearted for about a week but thankfully that was January and now more than happy with Durham as she could make it her first choice then.

To those whose DC missed Oxbridge by a very narrow margin, a story to tell. DSibling has in a group of four very close friends, three of whom went to Cambridge and one to Bristol. Guess which one is the real high flyer?

@Applepieco - Yes, DS is off to Uni of Nottingham.
We’ll take him up on the Saturday.

DD1's Geography remark came back - unchanged. Still 1 mark off a B, so I've paid for a second paper to be done. It is NOT cheap! It would not have made a difference to her uni place, but she's outraged at getting a C. Even though she completely stuffed up her NEA.

No news or mention of "slots" for drop-off; we have just been given a date. Having said that, DD1 is in the UEA University Village, just opposite the campus entrance, so maybe there's not as much competition for space.

She has purchased her fresher's wristband and claims she is raring to go with all the planned social events, but, if I know her, she won't be quite so confident once she's there on her own.

Still have loads of admin to do, and she's far too laid back about it all. Haven't even started on the shopping.....

Sorry to hear thatLIZS

Looking into deferrals when dd didn't get her 1st choice grades...

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.

Dd's gone up on her further maths. 2 marks up, so now got a A*. Very pleased.

Oh great Witch , which exam board? Still heard nothing from AQA here.

Wow, Witchend, A* in Further Maths is very impressive!

That's a shame Cointreau -love the name btw!

Gosh yes A* in Further Maths is excellent. My DS got his results off his college website and just the letters. Where would we get the detail from? He didn’t go into his college in person , and doesn’t seem interested. I have suggested to him we could get a remark if he was close on a couple . Won’t change his university as he got his first choice but he was personally not completely happy with a couple of his grades. He just doesn’t seem bothered with much at all. I sort of feel it’s all a bit overwhelming, going to univ etc so his way of dealing is to just hole up in his cave and not talk about anything. He’s not done any organising , and it’s hard work to get anything out of him at all.

DS off today started giving us grief about another new phone. Well I was not going to bother him with my list today because he has a driving test tomorrow, but seeing as he was bending my ear I produced my list.

Drop off times for gear.
Railcard application photo
wristband
student uni. application
Santander account details for direct debits.

@GaraMedouar, the mark detail should come from his college, but you may need to request them. Deadlines for re-marking are around the second week in September, so pursue it now.

Thanks CointreauVersial - I will speak to my DS, I would phone the college myself but I think they’d only give info to DS.

@justasking111 I like that approach :)

Mine never asks for anything which can be difficult for birthdays etc. Not bothered about brand stuff etc. Got him a new iPad for his 18th and he seemed pretty chuffed

Finally he is filling in his enrolment application. Got to the question do your parents have qualifications, hit no. Cough, mummy has a degree. Shock "Do you". sheesh our kids really do not know us at all.

Just why would they want to know that?