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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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@sergeantmajormum, the M6 is the worst motorway in the UK between Birmingham and Manchester. The toll road is a dream, but then you are back onto the traffic jam of torture Mind you, the M4 wasn't good yesterday...

Lovely to see happy stories from this weekend's drop offs.

@Benjispruce, I am crossing everything for you.

DS1 has just left to start his second yr at Southampton. Packing was much easier this time for some reason thankfully. He's going into a shared house near the uni. My house is looking tidier already.

DS2 leaves next weekend for Northampton so we will start packing his now.

Hope everyone who has already moved in settle ok and have a fab experience.

Driving through Sheffield this morning, and there are lit up road signs warning about congestion next weekend due to students starting/returning to university.

Chillywhippet dd is at Bay too. She has a bike. How did your dd get a bus pass?

Next weekend is when my twins are going ex cept I think they are going on the Friday so may be that won't be so bad depending on time of day - they are going into year 3 and drive themselves (at same university).

Thanks Tilly I have a constant knot in my stomach over the shared room.
Big respect to those of you with more than one child at uni at the same time. My DC are over 3 years apart so will have a gap if DD2 decides to go. At the moment she thinks it’s a huge waste of money and would rather study alongside working but we’ll see how that changes or not as the case may be.

Trewser she doesn’t have it yet but it was promised by uni as she is required to go to Singleton for a module. She wants to take her bike though.

Some people don't mind shared rooms. In the USA I think it's very common to have a room mate etc. I hope it works out for benj's child.

I would not have been prepared to go to university if I had a shared room. It is one reason I was plonked in non catered halls in my first year because there were in those days so many halls with shared rooms.

Hey thestarvingcaterpillar - my DD is at Manchester Met (in Birley) there was a notice on her door saying letters and small parcels will be delivered to her townhouse letterbox and bigger parcels to the main reception for Birley. Get your DS to check - there is probably a notice in his room or accommodation.

I have a few things to send for my DD but will send it with her Dad when he goes up in a couple of weeks. I might send a doorstop though....

Also my satnav got me to avoid the M6 through a diversion via Stoke and Congleton which was great. I will do that again.

My sister is sending a welcome parcel down so hopefully it’ll be there ready to collect when DS goes to register (parcels are held centrally, letters go to accommodation building)

nokidshere Do you mind if I ask how much he’s paying for the second year house? Dd is starting at Southampton next year & it struck me I have no idea how much it will cost after the first year!

Lovely to hear all the drop off stories, exciting times!

Dd is working three 12 hour shifts at Goodwood this weekend - I probably won’t see her until tomorrow!

She’s also - drumroll - got a proper full time job for the year .... £17,700 a year & lots of extras (pension!). Induction is on Tuesday then she’s starting properly the next week. I’m delighted for her (& me ;) ). She has the option to live in for 180 a month which would save commuting time, she's considering it.

My niece was dropped off in Falmouth on Friday, she has a massive room in one of the newer blocks - it’s very swanky down there!

Well done to your DD @Laniakea!

@Bouledeneige your satnav served you well by the sounds of things.

@Benjispruce @Mustbetimeforachange I'm sure you're right and it's in the welcome pack I perhaps need to stop worrying and let him deal with it himself!

DD has to go to reception to collect mail, if they're expecting parcels they're supposed to be in to receive them. I only know because I've read her welcome pack emailed after we booked accomodation.

We've had a mad dash out to Primark this morning, we finally decided to start clothes packing and realised she really did need more leggings/pants/socks/pyjamas. Her giant suitcase is pretty full and probably 5 of those big laundry bags (once stuff is moved around).

DH is making noises about it not all fitting in the car (Astra). It will be a bit like Tetris loading it in

we finally decided to start clothes packing and realised she really did need more leggings/pants/socks/pyjamas.

Those are exactly what DD needed as well. DD has very long legs and pyjamas trousers are always too short for her so she has bought (well, I did) leggings and loose T-shirts for pyjamas.

I have spent this afternoon doing admin and sorting out paperwork for DD to take.

Well done to your DD Laniakea. I hope she makes some friends in her job. DD found it pretty lonely to start with last year when everyone left to go to university, and then regretted not going two weeks later. However, she made some lovely friends when she found a job and was out with them last night for a farewell drink.

@Laniakea it's £350 per month plus bills. That's with 6 of them in a 6 bed house with a small kitchen and living area.

@Laniakea fantastic for your DD!

Not intending to do any clothes shopping with DS unless he begs me (unlikely!) - he can order online or take a trip to some real shops when he gets to uni! He has enough sports gear to sink a ship as it is

Well done to your dd @Laniakea . Is it in hospitality? Had she always planned a year out, I forget? Dd has just applied for a winter season job but in meantime will volunteer in local library and look for shorter term work while she reapplies for uni.

Sorry to hear mixed results on accommodation. Hope it works out for them. I was reminded earlier that when we dropped ds off first time not only did I cry all the way home but Toy Story 3 was on when we got home!

Thank you nokids :)

Yes it's a private club/hotel. She's worked festivals & weddings over the summer to get experience (then her short lived job in the restaurant); she's pretty gregarious & really enjoys the social aspect (& getting 30k steps per shift too!). She needs to be out being busy & meeting people for the sake of her (my!) mental health.

The gap year was always the plan - for financial reasons as much as anything else!

This is going to be a little controversial, so I am prepared to be flamed.

I have read a number of posts on the Facebook page from parents of children who are in self catered accommodation and barely know how to open a recipe book or use a cooker/microwave. DD knows students who didn't realise that you have to remove pizza completely from its packaging before cooking it!

How is this happening? Isn't it up to us parents to guide our children into leaning how to cook, or at least heat up food safely?

Laughing at the fact we have the same shortage of socks, pants and pyjamas. Then last is the rucksack though the trolls are still active so I will catch up with that thread later.

Hello. I'm a refugee from the infamous backpack thread - The Thread That Went Wrong.

Welcome

Here you're allowed to discuss things you might do to help your student. You may also be slightly involved in their decision making. There will be no discussion of backpacks!

I agree Gin, but there does also need to be a bit of compliance from DC too. You can lead a horse to water and all that...

Having said that, both DSs can manage to feed themselves and make the basics/heat up tins/heat stuff up in the oven. DS1 much more competent that DS2 but then DS2s motor skills are at 5% on the centile chart so he does struggle with cutting things up etc I'm sure he is relying more on ready meals and noodles/pasta and pizza than is for the best but he's promised he is eating fruit/tinned corn and/or frozen peas every day.

"You can lead a horse to water and all that..."

I did wonder how much of that was involved TBH. Obviously your DS1 is going to struggle, and I hope he manages OK.

DD was incredulous at the lack of common sense displayed by some of these students though. You would have thought that removing the polystyrene foam from under a pizza before placing it in the oven is something that any sober NT student bright enough to go to a Russell Group university would know how to do. Wouldn't you?