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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

Thank you Cheese - thats so kind - I appreciate it. I think Manchester is great and I'm sure she will love it.

I might message you tomorrow. It will be a busy day!.

Seriously, cheese? I know it's not far but that's awful. These universities are expanding too fast - not enough accommodation and definitely not enough pastoral support at Bristol for those struggling according to my DD.

Yes the universities take on students but then can't cater for them!

DD is moving today, long drive ahead of us.

There have been accommodation issues at other unis, too. It's not a nice start for Freshers.

I think the poor Bristol students are being put in Newport and then have a bus pass. That's a long long bus journey. I wonder what drop out rates they'll get from those students.

Not as organised as you lot! Got all the washing and packing to do today!!

Yes, a pp has started a separate thread about Bristol accommodation in the HE forum. Apparently it is insurance/clearing students who are having issues. This does seem to be a recurring theme - I think I've mentioned earlier that I'd started to think a gap year might be preferable to some of the accommodation issues insurance students encounter - but of course that's not possible for everyone (as pp point out, maths students in particular).

(Tangentially, accommodation problems may be another reason why unconditional if firm offers may work better for students than having firm/insurance offers - an unpopular view I know!)

Interestingly, for those who remember the discussion earlier this year about Edinburgh and the possibility of shared rooms (including possibly bunks!) for insurance students, it looks as though several insurance students on mn have got non-shared. Just goes to show how difficult it is to predict.

Is this for Bristol University or UWE, @PIggywaspushed? That's terrible?

I have been having discussions with DS about his washing. Told him that once I'd washed, dried and ironed it, his clothes were to go straight to packing (and that he would have to wear what's left in his wardrobe). He is very stubborn and wouldn't have it though. AIBU to have want it to rain very heavily so I can't get some of his stuff laundered for the off?

Does your DS go up tomorrow @Piggywaspushed? Good luck!

Well done to the DC who got a bursary - that's jolly useful!

What do the DC need a passport for - just to ID when they arrive/tick a box to say that the University staff have verified that they are who they say they are? Just wondering whether DS's can be brought home once he's shown it next Saturday.

Glad the 'backpack' thread took an upturn @Shimy. Who knew there were so many state of the art brands? I am totally with you on having an input, particularly if you are looking to buy one that is going to be expensive. They want something that is robust, practical but 'on trend' too. What did you get in the end?

Have safe journeys to everyone travelling over the weekend.

yes, dd was lucky she had a year out, she was able to be first in line in accommodation choices
bit of a rollercoaster for those who dont take a year out

I think this is a massive issue @SoonerthanIthought and one that the universities really need to address. It was one of the major considerations that discouraged us from suggesting DS chance his arm in Clearing rather than accepting his insurance choice. Everything is stressful when they are setting off on their own, without finding they are potentially living miles away from where they thought they'd be. No disrespect to Newport, but it's not going to have the same vibe as Bristol for going out...

Despite having started DS's 'bottom drawer for university' many months ago, I feel we are lagging behind with preparations, although we finished buying additional clothing items (including more pants!) yesterday. I have still not got him pots and pans or pillows - large and somewhat cumbersome things to carry along with all the other kit we'll be taking on public transport. I may be scheduling in an Argos/Amazon delivery.

Also seem to be making some headway with trying to persuade him to hook up with his new flatmates (which might yield some results in what he might not need to take for the kitchen, at least initially). Watch this space!

The article linked to in the separate Bristol thread suggests it is Bristol, Newmodel. It does suggest it's supposed to be temporary. An alternative is accommodation at the vet science campus which is 14 miles away from the main campus (is there one? I thought Bristol was quite spread out - anyway that's by the by) apparently.

The article also says student numbers at Bristol have increased by 23% in the last five years.

Sounds like Bristol is getting greedy @SoonerthanIthought. It really is a buzzing and happening city though, so can well understand its popularity.

If you were of a real party animal disposition, you'd probably be infuriated not being based in the city, even if only temporarily!

Quite a lot of the campus is clustered around Queens Road and the Wills Tower building (and heading down towards the children's hospital and the BRI)? I always thought the vet school was there too (but clearly not any more!)

Cross posted Newmodel! Yes I agree it's a not much talked about issue, which is very important to individual students.

Lots of sympathy for the students in this position - it would be quite a difficult decision whether to go or take a last minute gap year. Just trying to imagine how I would advise a dc if they were in this position. So disappointing at a very stressful time (and bear in mind they've already not got their 'firm' so won't necessarily be feeling on top of the world at the moment!) Some students will power through, others feeling more fragile may be more fazed by it.

Woke up this morning crying and cant stop. I cannot believe my DS is leaving on Friday for NTU. Luckily my DD is still home but he is the heart and soul of the house and its going to be so quiet without him. I need to get a grip.

I was very low when I woke up but need to be strong for DD, plus DH is also going to miss her and DS will feel very odd being left

Yes I agree - infuriating for the partyers newmodel, and also for the shyer ones who are already stressed about making new friends!

@minesawine and @EleanorReally, can you plan something lovely to do for when your DC have gone. It won't stop you missing them but will give you something positive to look forward to. and hugs.

DS and DD have been getting on like a house on fire in recent months - he has even been helping her with her homework when asked! They have gone from being spatting siblings to loud and larky ones in the past year or so. I don't think she has yet realised that he won't be around most of the time from next weekend. I don't think it will hit home with me until next Saturday.

Yes you are so right @SoonerthanIthought. I would be expecting a significant reduction in accommodation costs to compensate for the added inconvenience!

yes, we will plan something, good idea. we have a caravan holiday booked but dd may come too, but i am not sure if she will be allowed.
so that will be strange, just the two of us!

mine sorry to hear you are feeling low, must admit I am the opposite, I really think my DS is 100% ready to leave home . He has found out that another student from his school is on a similar course and staying in the same accommodation so hopefully they will all meet up in the Business Department. Has your DS done the suggested pre- course research, I doubt mine has?

MrKlaw if you have still not found the info on the breakdown of the maintenance loan I can tell you that it was not on our letter from SFE, which contained only the split of tuition fees. I found the maintenance breakdown in ds's SFE account online.

I am sad that we will not manage a whole team event before dd goes away, ahead of ds starting uni as both have plans at different times. We planned ahead for our empty nest by booking to go on holiday, both at the end of this month and again early next year. Mind you, we do have a dog, so not entirely empty!

@MrKlaw, I second what @simbobs has said - info definitely not in SFE letter but online.

Having post-grads around could be helpful in so many ways @MrKlaw - with studies, just in being more supportive (because they are older, have been there and done that re first degrees), being less noisy and generally more considerate. And great to get the added bonus of being able to mix with a different set of people, broadening social circles. Best of both worlds in a way? What does your DS think of it?

I'm replacing DD with a new hobby - I'm starting calligraphy classes. I've wanted to try it out for ages, so when I saw that there was a class starting this autumn I thought that was great timing.

I will miss her lots but still have DS here and he has just started sixth form with, what seems to me, a very part-time timetable, so he will be at home more during the day than last year.