Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - and the fledgling freshers are off!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

Just placemarking : nothing new to say!

No, DS is in a bit of a pause at the moment. No doubt that will all change two weeks today when he starts rushing around realising that he isn't organised for the off!

I’m not in the UK but dc has got a place at Uni - only got it 3 weeks ago and has been on the hunt for accommodation ever since and she still doesn’t have any. Saw an article online that last year there were over 1000 people on the waiting list for halls 😱 so no surprise that she hasn’t heard anything from there.
We’ve got 6 appointments tomorrow and Friday to look at private rooms - surely one of them must work out

Thanks for the new thread New !

A pleasure @JennyWreny

@ComeOnGordon, welcome. Your poor DD (and you) having to look at private rooms - it's an extra added stress she/you could well do without. Good luck and hoping that one does work out, sooner rather than later.

@newmodel - thanks. It’s very stressful and so stupidly expensive for a stupidly small room. And then I saw an article online saying last year some people started the uni year sleeping in tents which has made me panic even more!! Wish I’d known all of this when she applied

Placemarking too...DD is on her way in ten days. ComeonGordon, I really hope you get something sorted soon, I'm sure its very stressful.

OK, DS1 now applied to vote in Lincoln!

Placemarking, thanks @NewModelArmyMayhem18

I'm so glad now my son decided to defer - the hassle with accommodation looks so stressful (I baulked at reserving a room earlier in the year as it was £200 non refundable, and he was not sure he wanted to go).

@fishonabicycle I wonder if that’s what she should have done but she applied to 4 Unis and wasn’t sure she’d get into this one (kind of like Oxford for this country) so it seemed strange to book halls if she wasn’t going to get in

Dd is enjoying peace and quiet while the younger pair are back in school.

My ds is driving me nuts by taking no interest at all in the fact that he is off in just over 2 weeks. No planning, not even properly reading the emails sent by uni and accommodation; I have just had to send them something else by email as he is not around. He says that all his (male) friends are the same. I have tried to point out that it is not like his first day at school where he just has to turn up and be told where to sit... Sighs...

Simbobs, mine is same...

When dd went 2 yrs ago she had the whole thing planned like a military campaign. My only role was to drive her and her mate to Ikea and flash my credit card. Ds is a bit miffed that I am expecting him to take old stuff with him and not buy new. Well, I have bought new pans etc for us - he can take his pick of the old stuff.

Sounds like my DS simbobs. I'm tearing my hair out.

And doing it all for him, no doubt. Or is it just me? Actually, I am more laid back myself this time around, though I do sometimes feel like he is a spectator in his own life. I just want it to work out so that my nest stays empty.

@Simbobs You are not alone!
“Spectator in his own life” is a very apt description of the whole situation. I wish there was some kind of military school /national youth service programme he could do for a yr before going to uni.

Same here with DS

We have a nice organised list in the iphone notes app which is shared between me, DW and DS. We've checked off everything in the 'shopping list' area - bedding, towels, crockery etc etc. Even new laptop.

He has a section for 'register for Uni, upload photo etc - basically uni admin' - almost nothing is checked off. If we ask, he might mention he has done X or Y but doesn't update us without prompting, and its starting to feel like we're nagging.

He should be way more proactive. I guess he's trying to take advantage of the last of the summer hols but its been a massive break since A-Level exams so he needs to get off his arse

Mine has signed out of his email account now so that I can't see it. Good for him if he is going to get on and sort his own stuff out. In some ways I think he needed a year out but had no funds to support it, nor idea of how to fill it, so on he will go.

Checking in

We're on a family day out today (I think DH is trying to cram in some family fun before she goes). Nipping into Aldi later to check out the special buys.

Dd dithering about what type of fairy lights.
Still no purchase of a sturdy coat.
A decent couple of pairs of pyjamas seems to have evaded us too.

Freshers week has a trip to Ikea so I think I have managed to stay Ikea-trip free. I suffer from some sort of Ikea-rage claustrophobia where I can’t get out and am stuck behind a primary coloured snail-paced flow of trolleys until I wail for natural light.

Anyone still with an IKEA trip planned DD found this offer on their website today - Looks like it's only in certain stores though.

"Student exclusive! Get £10 off when you spend £50 or more in-store. Buy one 10 meatball or veggie ball meal, get another free. Valid from 7th Sept to 19th Sept.
Ask in-store for further details."

Hi @JennyWreny that is all the enticement my DS would need for a trip (clearly stocking up on Bilal sweets to share in early days at university could well be a good bonding thing @ProfessorLayton1?). Pleased to report that our local one does the deal.

We aren't sure if we have £50 worth of stuff to get so I'm now adding "recommended by mumsnetters" Bilal sweets to top it up!!