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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Backpack for University

266 replies

Shimy · 09/09/2019 12:27

Just occurred to me that DS will need one for uni. What’s everyone else’s child using or what would you recommend? Im particularly interested in:

Ability to store laptop of about 17inch plus folder
Very good back support! So good shoulder straps and padding.

I’ve looked on amazon and there’s a myriad of back packs it’s difficult to know what to choose from.

OP posts:
JingsMahBucket · 15/09/2019 15:22

@Happydaughterhappymum I love those bags. Thanks for recommending them!

Other posters: stop feeding the tr**ls. :)

sainsburyshopper · 15/09/2019 15:38

wax re you above post - agreed. Laughing at this thread. Reminds me when my dd did bronze D of E (granted a few years ago) and one parent insisted the packing was absolutely NOTHING to do with her whereas I enlisted the help of a mum with three scouty DSs, one was kind enough to lend her his drysack instead of us putting stuff in bin bags. The child whose mother refused to help arrived back with everything absolutely soaking wet whereas my dd's was dry Smile

drsausage · 15/09/2019 15:40

LOL indeed - how very dare we be in Facebook groups that connect us with other people with a similar interest and answer questions like 'Anyone know what time the college tour starts on Monday and is it even worth bothering?' or 'I'll be at the football game on my own - anyone want to meet up for an adult beverage first?' or 'Are you allowed to bring umbrellas to graduation?'

I actually visited the page yesterday to see some videos of DD playing in her new band, posted by another parent. Toxic! I know!

roisinagusniamh · 15/09/2019 15:43

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roisinagusniamh · 15/09/2019 15:45

sausage, you actually need an FB group to tell you these details ?
This thread is so amusing 😅

bengalcat · 15/09/2019 15:47

What’s the difference between a FB group and trawling around Mumsnet ? Loving the visual imagination of Christ on a cracker .

drsausage · 15/09/2019 15:51

sausage, you actually need an FB group to tell you these details?

Yes, it does help for things like 'Is the college tour even worth doing' and 'Anyone want to meet up for an adult beverage' and 'Can you bring umbrellas to graduation'. These are not details that the college tends to give out.

And in the process of chitchatting we often find out other useful information along the way.

It's a bit like... mumsnet... in that way.

drsausage · 15/09/2019 16:07

I also, through the FB group, discovered that now DD is living away from home, I can get our car insurance company to reduce our premium significantly.

Funnily enough not something the insurance company had been keen to tell me, but I am sharing the info with my other over-involved toxic parent friends locally who hadn't realised it either.

drsausage · 15/09/2019 16:08

Oh! And someone pointed out that the college has been over-billing us all for health insurance. I just got $4k back. Not having sent a child to a US college before, I had absolutely no idea how this all works, but there are parents on the FB group who have done so and who shared their wisdom.

milliefiori · 15/09/2019 16:16

@Shimy - if he's not a label freak Clas Ohlsen do a fantastic one in red and black for under £20. Well padded shoulder straps and it's 35 L capacity. There's a padded inner pocket for a laptop, external pouch pockets for snacks, wallet etc. DS has one and it has lasted a few years, despite being crammed to the gills with laptop and books every day for school. Wash it and it looks brand new.

TonTonMacoute · 15/09/2019 16:22

I am a bag fanatic, who doesn't like talking about bags!? It did get a bit weird, however, those trakke bags look wonderful and I'm going to have to invent an excuse to get one.

I sent DS off to uni with a lovely leather satchel type back from Not On the High Street. I shudder to think what that puts me on the controlling parent spectrum.

KittyMcKitty · 15/09/2019 16:41

Well my children are in years 10 & 12 so obviously not going to university. They have however both had to take laptops / chrome books to school every day since year 7. Our experience is that bags with laptop pockets are rubbish and the best thing to do is get a really good, close fitting cover for laptop (and buy accidental damage cover!).

Bags - they choose, I stay well clear Smile zone has a Kanken and I have to say I think they are great (and rectangle shaped so can fit things in without all your text books getting dog eared.

KittyMcKitty · 15/09/2019 16:44

^ one has a Kanken not zone!

drsausage · 15/09/2019 16:47

Well my children are in years 10 & 12 so obviously not going to university. They have however both had to take laptops / chrome books to school every day since year 7. Our experience is that bags with laptop pockets are rubbish and the best thing to do is get a really good, close fitting cover for laptop (and buy accidental damage cover!).

Yes, my lot go to schools that provide laptops to all students, and they do not allow them to be transported in anything other than proper laptop cases. If students are caught carrying them around in backpacks they get in trouble. And this is a really chilled out school generally - they've just seen far too many damaged laptops.

Piggywaspushed · 15/09/2019 17:41

I am on a Facebook thread (along with zillions of other parents) for DS's uni. This, and the accommodation page, and the pages for the specific accommodations for the students themselves , were ALL SET UP BY THE UNIVERSITY! Go figure... There were lovely pics of graduation on the parents' page. This uni prides itself on being a 'family university'.

roisin, I mean this nicely... is everything OK?? I have come across you on other threads and you seem pleasant and supportive. You are certainly not putting your best face forward on here.

drsausage · 15/09/2019 18:18

The other nice thing about FB groups for parents of students at university is that it really helps parents who haven't been to university, or who are sending their children from other countries, or who haven't been to university in that country themselves and have no idea how the system works.

I didn't go to a US college so I really do have a lot of stupid questions. Many things about the system are baffling to me. My experience as a parent sending my child to a US college is nothing like my parents' experience of sending me to a UK college 30 years ago. I'm learning as I go, and it's nice to have a FB group that is full of both people who can answer my questions, and people who like me also are baffled by this system they are encountering for the first time.

roisinagusniamh · 15/09/2019 18:25

I'm fine thanks Piggy ....I'm actually finding some of the comments on this thread hilarious!
It's not at all about choosing a backpack for your child really,it is about some parents' fear of losing control once their child leaves home.
And claiming one of the benefits of a Uni parents FB group to get advice on whether to bring an umbrella or not is a bit worrying to say the least!

roisinagusniamh · 15/09/2019 18:26

Adult beverage 🤣🤣🤣

drsausage · 15/09/2019 18:33

And claiming one of the benefits of a Uni parents FB group to get advice on whether to bring an umbrella or not is a bit worrying to say the least!

Really - is it that worrying that someone would want to find out if umbrellas are allowed to be brought to an outdoor event at a venue with strict bag rules when heavy rain is forecast?

You do live in a very odd world of bizarre rules.

BoardingSchoolMater · 15/09/2019 18:35

I have been reading this thread all the way along, and I can't believe it's still rumbling along.

I haven't got a clue what my DC use to carry their things around in at school, but I'm enjoying the 'Christ on a cracker' image. Grin

Rubicon80 · 15/09/2019 18:35

@Trewser
There is no rational reason whatsoever for parents of adults to be in a group with other people whose adult offspring are attending a particular university, or doing a particular job

Then why the fuck are you even on mumsnet?

Because my kids aren't adults?

Sorry you missed that fairly crucial distinction, hun.

Rubicon80 · 15/09/2019 18:40

@roisinagusniamh It's not at all about choosing a backpack for your child really,it is about some parents' fear of losing control once their child leaves home. And claiming one of the benefits of a Uni parents FB group to get advice on whether to bring an umbrella or not is a bit worrying to say the least!

You are, very obviously, right.

It's frightening and sad that there are people who are still defining themselves as 'so and so's parent' when their 'child' is an adult who has left home.

It's also a bit frightening and sad to see the insane defensiveness on this thread. Of course it's touched a nerve - I'm guessing these are people whose lives have revolved around their children for so long that they've lost sight of who they are, and can't let go.

And again - the idea that someone needs to be part of a social media group in order to find out whether or not to take an umbrella would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.

Mostly, I'm just astounded at the idea that there are people out there who, instead of counting down the days to when they no longer need to be part of the parents' Whatsapp group, are actively seeking to continue that even while their 'children' are in their twenties.

Truly quite astonishing. This thread has been an eye-opener, at least.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/09/2019 18:42

So you are happily dismissing all the posters who are posting and their knowledge of parenting their 18 year olds Rubicon and yet have no idea what it’s like to have an 18+ year old.

I think you should wait a few years before posting on these threads, hun. HTH.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/09/2019 18:43

Oh good. Pleased it’s been an eye opener, and you’ve actually learnt something. Hallelujah.

drsausage · 15/09/2019 18:43

It's also a bit frightening and sad to see the insane defensiveness on this thread. Of course it's touched a nerve - I'm guessing these are people whose lives have revolved around their children for so long that they've lost sight of who they are, and can't let go.

This is a new one to me - I'm used to be criticised on here for being that mother who sent her daughter to boarding school, but now apparently I've gone from booting my daughter out of my life before she's ready to not wanting to let go now she needs to leave.

Mumsnet truly is a bizarre place.