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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) - and the fledgling freshers are off!

999 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 04/09/2019 14:56

Previous thread

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 13/09/2019 09:23

@Benjispruce we are also a long way away, especially if driving - 5/6 hrs Confused
DS has been to GP and given forms in and booked Men jab under his own steam! Now needs to book appt for HSBC as they couldn't do it when he went in the other day.

Mustbetimeforachange · 13/09/2019 09:27

MrKlaw my DD was in a similar situation (in a different city) where she lived in the city centre & had to commute to the uni. In many ways it wasn't ideal, but there were quite a lot of them on the bus each day, and she loved being in the city centre. I was with a friend last night whose DD is going to Bath. Her third choice was sharing (4th was city centre) & she got the sharing option. It sounds as though there is a shortage in Bath this year?

Gettingthroughtheweek · 13/09/2019 09:43

What a lot of updates since I last looked. You all sound like wonderfully supportive parents and I hope DC appreciate it!

@ifonly4 thanks for asking about my DS. All going well, he’s joined some societies and found some friends. He’s chosen modules and ordered books and is looking forward to starting term next week. Hope your DD is enjoying Edinburgh too and feeling better.

Witchend · 13/09/2019 09:47

I doubt the money hungry uni finance department would leave a bed empty
I would suspect that if they moved out a few weeks into term this wouldn't happen, because people by then would have sorted accommodation, so couldn't move or they'd be paying double accommodation.

I know and because she’ll be so far from home it’s so important. She’s unlikely to be able to get home often
Dd's feeling exactly the same here (only it's 5 hours). In theory she could come home for the weekend, but in real terms it would be too much hassle.
I suspect that wherever she went she wouldn't want to come home (I never did) but it's the not being able to that makes it hard.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 09:57

I don't know if ds will come home a lot,I doubt it tbh even though he has train pass. I imagine having it will make it easier though.

I do sort of wish he wasn't quite so far away. It's not another country though.

Piggywaspushed · 13/09/2019 10:11

Oh dear... I just did the poem 'Poppies' with my lovely year 11s and it made me cry!

MrKlaw · 13/09/2019 10:16

@MrsPellegrinoPetrichor Understood but DS picked a campus uni specifically for a bit more comfort/softer start maybe for the first year?

@Mustbetimeforachange yeah they should have sent out accommodation two weeks ago to everyone - we were on clearing but we're off next week so leaving it until the last minute. Clearly they were oversubscribed to be putting people in postgrad accommodation

Do 'commuters' tend to spend the day on campus then - that could actually be good for him as it'd encourage use of social spaces and library/study locations.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 10:17

Oh dear Sad Brew

Actually I keep reminding myself that I should just be relieved ds isn't joining the army as that's all he wanted to do for years!

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 10:19

There is a uni shuttle bus from ds's student accommodation to the campus apparently. I imagine he'll spend a lot of time there and use the library etc.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 13/09/2019 11:02

There could be advantages to living in a flat amongst lots of post-grads @MrKlaw. It could give your DS the best of both worlds. How far is the flat from the university campus?

@Boule sorry to hear that you are feeling sad. It is a major life change isn't it, so you have every right to feel down about your DD's impending departure. I think I will miss DS terribly but trying not to think about it at the moment.

OP posts:
Decorhate · 13/09/2019 11:51

@MrKlaw Re dropping off, for the campus accommodation we had to pick morning or afternoon & then were sent a parking permit valid for an hour, but don’t need to be there at a particular time. I’d give the accommodation office a call. Did they clarify yet how many weeks you have to pay for?

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 12:33

We've just found out that although ds won't be on campus,his house has just been renovated over the summer so that's a nice bonus. Shuttle up to campus 4x a day if the massive hill seems a bit daunting with a hangover Wink

simbobs · 13/09/2019 12:39

Another soon-to-be-empty nester here. My dd (now 3rd year and going abroad) only came home once in her 1st year when everyone else had exams and hers were already finished. We tended to see her when we were visiting family and friends near her uni. Ds going in 8 days and counting. We haven't even talked about packing yet as he is seldom home long enough. I want to wait until dd leaves on Monday and then pin him down and make a start. My washing machine is in overdrive at the moment!

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 12:42

I can't wait to stop washing!

MrKlaw · 13/09/2019 12:56

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 bottom of the big hill so almost mid-way between town and campus. I did suggest he might luck out if he has any Math postgrads (which is likely for Bath)

MrKlaw · 13/09/2019 12:58

@Decorhate 38 weeks. So about £5300 overall which is about average for shared bathroom self catered. Rooms look fairly decent from the 360 photos but we'll see.

Mustbetimeforachange · 13/09/2019 13:00

If people move out they have to keep paying if/until a new person is found, ot at least I think that's common DD had someone move out during the first term & the room was never filled. This was through a private provider & I always suspected that as it was being paid for anyway, they had no incentive to let it out. It might be different with university accomodation.
And yes, DD used to stay on campus until she was finished for the day.

simbobs · 13/09/2019 13:03

I think my ds has to pay for 42 weeks which is annoying, though dd only paid for 38. It does seem to vary by both uni and accommodation. Luckily he is going to a cheap city.

ifonly4 · 13/09/2019 13:09

benjispruce My DD found it very lonely when she had a room to herself for boarding sixth form. That's one of the reasons she was happy to share, not to mention saving £1700! She came across her roommate on facebook (total fluke it was the top post) who obviously wants to make it work as well. We're only a week in but DD says she's getting on really well with her and the girl next door. Hopefully it won't be as had as your DD thinks.

DD is 630 miles from home, so no chance of coming home regularlyShock. First visit will be xmas, and she's talking of staying at easter as they have exams around the corner.

Gettingthroughtheweek DD is feeling better thanks. She's met some girls in her halls she likes, and ones on her course. Hopefully they'll be more friendship opportunties from societies.

LIZS · 13/09/2019 13:49

Sorry to hear about ds tonsillitis @blametheparents . I suffered throughout uni and beyond, missed start of second term. Hope he recovers soon. Also sorry to hear about accommodation issues, that is the last thing they need so close to arrivals when getting stressed (even if not showing it) already. Hope this weekend's drop offs go ok,

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 14:06

How many clothes are all your kids taking? Did has packed a HUGE bag. Washing is expensive where he's going so I suppose it makes sense to take more clothes.

MrKlaw · 13/09/2019 14:34

that just means a more expensive load of washing when it all needs doing :P

as long as you have enough to do a batch in the laundrette and something to wear while its drying that should be enough

drsausage · 13/09/2019 14:38

Mine has taken one suitcase and one big duffle bag. That's clothes, toiletries, books, pens, calculator, bedding including duvet (but not pillows), woodwind instrument, laptop/ipad, chargers, power strip, and various other bits and pieces - cup, plate, cutlery but not much.

When she got there she bought pillows, more toiletries and shower caddy, laundry basket, hangers, desk lamp, cushion.

She'll take her cold weather clothes and boots there later in the year.

DH is taking her guitar out there soon. She's going to buy an amp and bike secondhand, and a new printer.

When she was at boarding school she actually took less and less with her each year, and now she's a 2-hour flight away she knew there was only so much she could bring.

A lot of her stuff will have to go into storage over summer.

They actually have washers/dryers available for free in all the halls, and you can use an app to see which are available/in use, and also the app tells you when your laundry is done.

drsausage · 13/09/2019 14:40

DD is 630 miles from home, so no chance of coming home regularlyshock. First visit will be xmas, and she's talking of staying at easter as they have exams around the corner.

Yes - mine's 1,700 miles away. It took me 10 hours to get there and 7 hours to get back this week. The 7 hours was because I actually got to the airport so early I was able to jump on an earlier flight.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 14:54

They actually have washers/dryers available for free in all the halls, and you can use an app to see which are available/in use, and also the app tells you when your laundry is done I think that should be the case in all unis the amount they charge!

Industrial washers are huge so at least he'll have a big load to fill it up with. I can always bring stuff home if he thinks it's too much once he's there.

We are taking down all kitchen stuff,lamps etc, the car will be properly full 😂