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Higher education

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

Original poster

Our DC are nearly all officially students now (going to university 2019/20) - seizing the moment, spending, socialising, societies and studying!

999 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 17/09/2019 16:00

Previous thread

[Edited by MNHQ to fix the link]

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JanetheObscure · 22/09/2019 19:40

The gym at the main student accommodation site at Sheffield University is free and just a couple of minutes from DD's flat! I imagine that it will be very busy, but there's absolutely no excuse for her now Smile.

She seems to be getting on well with her flatmates, which is great. But of course there are so many other new people for all our DC to meet over the next days and weeks as well.

Clankboing · 22/09/2019 19:42

Zanda my son had a clip on desk fan. Not sure of the make but quite convenient.

bigTillyMint · 22/09/2019 19:54

Good to hear some are making friends, but there is plenty of time for the quieter ones.

DS is currently selling off all his old gadgets before he goes...

MrKlaw · 22/09/2019 20:19

DS’ room was roasting but said probably don’t need a fan as it’ll cool down soon. If he does he can get a cheap one from Argos/Robert dyas

Gym he was mentioning but he isn’t a gym bunny - more something he wants to have as a routine. Which makes me wary of laying for a year upfront if he isn’t going to stick with it. Really surprised they don’t have monthly options - but as he’s in town the local council place might be better (similar prices but I think can be done monthly so less lost if need to cancel)

He likes tennis and football but tennis will be off season for a while

AWanderingMinstrel · 22/09/2019 20:37

Just catching up on this thread and am like some others here that DS doesn't go to uni until this coming Saturday. We've just dropped older DS off at uni and he has talked non stop (unlike him) all the way home about how excited he is. In particular he is looking forward to trying to reinvent himself and be more sociable so I hope he finds some other to "click" with. Not looking forward to trying to park in South Ken on Saturday but they say we can have two hours next to the Halls. So that will be 3 of them at uni and just one at home- its going to be very quiet!

Mustbetimeforachange · 22/09/2019 20:38

Pure gym is good. DS1 got a deal where he can use any Pure Gym so he used the one at home over the summer.

FrameyMcFrame · 22/09/2019 20:54

Quick request, could anyone repost the link to the doorstop on Amazon that was on a previous thread?

Still haven't bought the new backpack yet Grin

Last minute packing now for DD who goes next Saturday...

Mustbetimeforachange · 22/09/2019 21:03

This is the one we got fiXte® Deluxe Heavy Duty Non-Slip Rubber Door Wedge Stopper, Light Grey/Cream www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D33BXZN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Vn9HDbR6WP64B?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

minesawine · 22/09/2019 21:04

Ragwort I have just bought the £110 gym membership for my DS, which I think is quite reasonable. He is doing a boxing class tomorrow.

My DS has asked for me to book a train ticket home in 4 weeks, he said he will be ready for a weekend away from uni by then. I am reluctant as he hasn't joined any societies or made any friends yet and may not be so homesick or want to come home. But the longer you leave it, the more expensive the ticket is. Any advice on where to get cheap train tickets from.

ZandathePanda · 22/09/2019 21:08

The reason I got a bright blue one is so that Dd may see it before she trips over it - she has form for tripping over grey things on grey carpet - which is what her flat has got.

LifeImplosionImminent · 22/09/2019 21:09

@minesawine I saw an advert for the trainline.com app where you can get same day train tickets at advance prices. www.thetrainline.com/information/advanced-on-the-day-tickets

MrKlaw · 22/09/2019 21:12

I’d be wary of booking this early in term? Good that they’re planning on coming back but what if a new society/sports club they joined has a thing happening that they don’t know about yet? Could be a false economy if you have to cancel the ticket

bigTillyMint · 22/09/2019 21:14

@minesawine we use trainline. Has he got a railcard?
But where is he? Some places way cheaper and only slightly slower by coach - DD gets the Megabus to/from Bristol.

ZandathePanda · 22/09/2019 21:19

Just read the gym prices!!! Newcastle is much cheaper than most. Loads of new equipment next to accommodation for £169 including all exercise classes, gym and team sports.

Ragwort · 22/09/2019 21:24

mine the NTU gym does sound better value compared to others. Has your DS been to any of the Freshers night time events? Mine has, he didn't buy a Freshers ticket but he just paid £5 on the door. He said he met someone nice who is on his course, perhaps it is your DS? Grin He is lucky as the only other boy in his flat is also on the same course so they have something in common immediately.

Our DS has no plans to come home yet (that we are aware of, probably more interested in seeing his girlfriend) but we have booked a weekend to visit in Nov and DH travels a lot with work so can arrange a mid week stay in the city & meet up for a meal.

Empra123 · 22/09/2019 21:32

Dd will come home at the end of October for a weekend- it's my mothers 90th birthday and there's a 3 line whip! Otherwise I suspect she wouldn't. Her twin is visiting her next weekend

AtiaoftheJulii · 22/09/2019 22:00

Ds is home in a couple of weeks for my brother's wedding. It's on a Friday and he has labs first thing so he won't actually make it there for the ceremony, but will arrive just in time for the wedding breakfast Grin

He's one who's taking a long time to feel at home, but he's been out today at a non-uni gaming event and had a good time, so that's been nice to hear.

AveQ - She hasn't really clicked with her flatmates. Is that unusual or do most make their best friends there? Where else do people find friends?

After a day or so I don't suppose anyone's really felt much of a click yet, so I wouldn't worry about that tbh.

Some flatmates really bond (my dd2 was very lucky in that respect), but you only need them to be straightforward to live with really.

Otherwise it's people on your course, people from other activities, and random connections. (One of my best friends at and after uni was the girlfriend of someone my boyfriend met playing rugby.)

WheelDecide · 22/09/2019 22:09

Had a Skype call tonight. They couldn't have been less interested, which is a good sign but bloody annoying! 😁

simbobs · 22/09/2019 22:39

Just found out that DS is going to a Freshers' event finishing at 3am and has an induction session tomorrow at 9.30am. There is no bedside table on which to put an audible device. Would I be unreasonable to phone him at 9.00? WWYD? He has seldom ever got up without intervention, total owl.

Benjispruce · 22/09/2019 22:40

DD has a week to go. It’s her birthday this week so had family over today for that and she won’t see them now until Christmas. It’s starting to feel real now. We were talking about her first day at school earlier with family and I remembered her carrying her little book bag and it being empty. I had to discreetly leave the room as this tiny detail set me off. Sad Oh dear me.

HoldMyLobster · 22/09/2019 22:47

Would I be unreasonable to phone him at 9.00? WWYD? He has seldom ever got up without intervention, total owl.

It's time to leave him to it. Don't phone.

Benjispruce · 22/09/2019 22:49

Are you going to do that every time he needs an alarm call? Don’t phone.

simbobs · 22/09/2019 22:53

I also remember DS having started school, and seeing other mums with a little boy while out shopping, and tearing up.

I was actually fine when leaving him yesterday. My main concern is that he will have too good a time in his social life a the expense of going to lectures. He already has a group of friends starting at the same uni, so has no real need to make an effort with his flatmates. I met 2 of them yesterday and they didn't obviously seem to have too much in common. I felt sorry for one of the lads as he looked quite lost.

HoldMyLobster · 22/09/2019 22:53

Had a Skype call tonight. They couldn't have been less interested, which is a good sign but bloody annoying!

Yes! Mine texted briefly yesterday in reply to a question I asked but otherwise it's radio silence. With her I know this is a good sign.

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