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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:
justasking111 · 13/09/2019 19:49

Gave DS some gifts, a cocktail shaker, he is a whizz in the bar he works at so hopefully that will help him make friends. I suddenly thought card games, so he has packed Cards against humanity.

He does not think he needs his passport I did ask.

icanbewhatiwant · 13/09/2019 19:53

Yes good luck to all those off tomorrow. My ds is going next Sunday. He has gone out for a meal with a few friends tonight as it is the only night they are all free before ds leaves. One friend is commuting to his uni. he starts Monday. The other is off to Cambridge he doesn't start until October.

ZandathePanda · 13/09/2019 20:16

I love this thread. It is so nice. Cheers to Friday Wine everyone.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 13/09/2019 20:18

Good luck to all DC off this weekend (and to parents too).

OP posts:
MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 20:19

I think it's always a good idea to have your passport with you,covers all eventualities and it'll cost a fortune to send it recorded delivery if he does need it.

JennyWreny · 13/09/2019 20:35

Good luck everyone going this weekend. Smile

Still two weeks to go for DD. She's happy with her room allocation and has a FB chat with most of her flat and she says they all seem nice. She's managed to register to vote and with the GP.

Finally managed to sort out her phone contract so that it's now in her name - seems it was so complicated to do because we were transferring the ownership of her number from me to her.

Still some more admin stuff to sort out but pretty much everything else done which is good because she's picked up some extra shifts at work which is handy and then it's her birthday 2 days before she goes, so a busy few weeks ahead.

I'm very happy with my purchase of a vacuum bag today, thanks for the recommendations!!! Think I might get another. One for bedding and one for clothing.

bigTillyMint · 13/09/2019 20:35

@MrsPellegrinoPetrichor, yes, I had to send DDs when she needed it to sign for their house for 2nd year. I guess DS will take his.

JennyWreny · 13/09/2019 20:49

DD definitely needs her passport or driving licence to pick up her uni card and room key. I think she's planning to take both with her.

Benjispruce · 13/09/2019 20:50

Good luck to all of you for this weekend. Hope it all goes smoothly.

MrKlaw · 13/09/2019 20:57

Good luck to those going this weekend! We’re now in the eye of the storm - nothing seems to be needed, spare room has all the packed stuff except clothes. And I finally did all the online banking to move things around to get set up

I think we are next Saturday but he hasn’t actually accepted his accommodation he mentioned matter of fairly over dinner! So he has to do that and then we’ll have to be ready to pay

DrMadelineMaxwell · 13/09/2019 21:01

4th driving test for DD tomorrow.

JennyWreny · 13/09/2019 21:04

Hope it goes well tomorrow DrMadelineMaxwell

Shimy · 13/09/2019 21:04

@justasking111 DS has been told to bring his passport with him when he arrives to collect his student card and key. Maybe take it along just incase?

Good luck to everyone going this weekend!Smile.

Ragwort · 13/09/2019 21:32

DS got a nice surprise today when he finally opened a letter from NTU letting him know he had been awarded a bursary Confused . He's not off until 20th, no specific slot for moving in (private halls). He is totally uninterested in shopping/packing so I bought a final few bits from Poundland and he can just sort himself out when he gets there. I've packed a bit of a food hamper but not intending to buy any alcohol.
DH will find the 'empty nest' a lot harder than I will Grin.

VondaVomin · 13/09/2019 21:52

Not thrilled with DD's room allocation at Warwick. She has very severe IBS and we flagged this on her accommodation application. Most of their rooms seem to have en suites and she has, of course, been allocated accommodation with a shared bathroom.

Going to uni is hard enough without wilful accommodation cock ups. I am concerned this will cause her to drop out. Hoping something comes up with an ensuite quickly after she starts.

drsausage · 13/09/2019 22:24

DS got a nice surprise today when he finally opened a letter from NTU letting him know he had been awarded a bursary

Oh yes - we just got an email from DD's college saying that her fees would actually be $12,000 cheaper than the initial bill they'd sent us.

Not complaining.

Xenia · 13/09/2019 22:36

If they have a passport take it. Mine didn't in term 1 but they had to sign up for year 2 houses in term 1 and had to have a passport for that - Government's rules on ID I think but may be other ID does as well? not sure - so I had to send them both passports by special delivery which I wasn't keen on in case they were lost in the post (although they did arrive okay).

Vonda, in son's first year he got a shared bathoom but on his corridor only he and the boy the other side of it used it so it was virtually a private one in the end so he said it worked out okay but I hope your daughter gets what she needs.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 13/09/2019 22:41

Vonda- I think that's appalling and worrying obviously for your dd. Doesn't that come under suitable provision for disabilities?

Witchend · 13/09/2019 22:42

DD doesn't have a current passport, hopefully any ID will take her driving licence.

Alicatz66 · 13/09/2019 22:45

Moms .. ( I'm a Brummie.. so we are Moms ) ... let's give ourselves a break tonight !! Stop stressing and going to Ikea .. breathe ... they will be alright Wine

Bouledeneige · 13/09/2019 23:03

We went out for dinner tonight the 3 of us - DD, DS and me and now home. She is now busy straightening her very long hair - it will probably take her more than an hour. We will pack the car in the morning but everything is ready to go. Got to admit that includes alcohol - her townhouse are planning some pre drinks tomorrow evening and then maybe going to a pub.

DD and I are very close so tonight she wants to sleep in my bed for comfort. Sweet (though I'd actually get a better night's sleep without her...).

She is positive but a little nervous. She stayed home an extra year to do her foundation course so is glad she chose to be in a house which is more than 50% 19 year olds. She thinks she has matured a lot in the year since leaving school and I think thats true. Her house have been Whatsapping for quite some time and they are planning freshers week etc. She is also pretty active in the Art course FB group and has a distant friend on her course so happy about that.

Its real now. I'm going to stop off and stay in a pretty hotel on the way back, otherwise it would be a lot of driving. But as I will be on my own I guess I will be very sad. It is what it is, I guess.

XH has really done nothing. No university visits, interviews, shopping trips, sorting out student finance and accommodation, nothing. He is abroad at the moment. He is not very engaged in their lives though he does love them, he just doesnt really know whats going on. So it wont really be a wrench for him but it is huge for me as a single parent. Happily my moody DS was charming and fun this evening. I am (optimistically) hoping he might be a bit kinder if his DD is not around. Who knows. If things go to plan he will be off next year (not too sure thats on track) and I will be on my own.

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/09/2019 23:09

Ds wasn't asked for any ID but then he'd already submitted a photo and it was on his card that he picked up. He could have submitted a photo of anyone I suppose and they could have collected his card a d be a total imposter. He was asked for his student reference number only.

I didn't send any booze but did pay for some bottles of cider along with the rest of his first shop. He's 18, he has his drivers licence with him, he can buy his own booze as necessary.

MrKlaw · 13/09/2019 23:13

I don’t want to leave DS with passport - can take with for ID collection but i’d Prefer not to leave it in halls..

Accommodation is a pain. They prefer direct debit but for three payments a year we don’t want to do that, and NatWest don’t let you do DD from a savings account. So we’ll do bank transfer instead.

Is there anywhere online that shows how the maintenance loan breaks down? Ie the percentages you get each term. Just want to have a rough idea how much will come in/out so we can have it all jotted down

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/09/2019 23:33

Mrs Klaw, my DC both got a letter detailing the breakdown but that's scotland so not sure if it's the same from your loan company.

Although they both get the same (£4750), the breakdown is different, presumably because they have different start dates or because DS2 is living away and DS1 is at home?

DS1 gets £950 in the first month and the £475 for the next 8. I can't find DS2s letter but I know the first payment was £800 and something and the payments were broken down slightly differently

Mustbetimeforachange · 13/09/2019 23:44

MrKlaw, it says in their letter from student finance.
My older two have managed without their passports through several house rentals. DD has hers with her & DS1 does sometimes (I trust him with it Grin) but they haven't actually needed it, scans have always sufficed.
Good luck to all those heading off this weekend.