Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Higher education

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

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]

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/09/2019 06:54

Gosh that's an early start for your DD @Laniakea. DN is taking a gap year and working as a barista - she starts work at 6am. Okay in the summer but not so much so now the mornings are darker.

OP posts:
TailsoftheManyPaws · 18/09/2019 07:06

Oh your poor daughter, Alijane!
A friend’s dd is doing music at Nottingham and loves it.

Trewser · 18/09/2019 07:12

Swansea are keeping them busy during freshers! Lots of introductory talks etc. A useful little postcard came yesterday with a short list of everything they should have done before arriving ie which portals to have enrolled on,.student finance. I must say can't fault their communication.

ShackletonOfAntarctica · 18/09/2019 07:27

Please may I join? My dd1 leaves on Friday for Nottingham. She’s spending the next few days packing. The house looks like a bomb hit it!

@Alijane46 sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope she feels better soon. My dd1 is also going to be doing music at Nottingham.

stucknoue · 18/09/2019 07:31

2 more days, don't think it will all fit in our 7 seater car!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/09/2019 07:36

Welcome @ShackletonOfAntarctica. 14 of DS's mates from school are off to Nottingham!

OP posts:
stucknoue · 18/09/2019 07:36

Dd is getting impatient as many of her friends have already gone including those who are attending universities near to where she is going and they are having such a good time, she's at a more "serious" university and much tougher course so will need to avoid being distracted

Alijane46 · 18/09/2019 08:08

ShackletonOfAntartica what does she play? What halls is she in?

I emailed the music department last night to explain the situation. Hoping for someone to contact me today.

Piggywaspushed · 18/09/2019 08:09

14 is a lot to one uni, although in hindsight, given his social anxieties, I wish we had thought of DS accepting an offer at a uni where at least one person he knew was going. His other quite shy mate is off to Keele soon and also won't know anyone.

AvenueQ · 18/09/2019 08:21

Please may I join in?

Dd off to Southampton on Saturday. Very nervous because she doesn't like clubbing etc

Also concerned because there don't seem to be any events put on by her department during freshers - is that normal?

SoonerthanIthought · 18/09/2019 08:29

I wish we had thought of DS accepting an offer at a uni where at least one person he knew was going

Piggy hope your ds is feeling a bit more at home now. I see your point about knowing one person, but I think sometimes that can actually create more problems - other person wants to spread their wings and basically drops the shyer one altogether, which can be brutal (similar concept to what can happen in yr 7!) Also dc can change their minds/not get grades at the last minute, so even if ds had chosen a univ where a friend's going, it might not have happened in their end.

Tldr, don't blame yourself for not thinking of it - it might well not have helped!

SoonerthanIthought · 18/09/2019 08:30

Lots of students here who don't like clubbing, drinking - hope all the freshers organisers are organising things for them as well as the partyers (I know a pp has said they are at one of them! Was it S'ton?)

MrKlaw · 18/09/2019 09:00

to be fair - most of the 'clubbing, drinking' is probably one event a night during freshers? There are still plenty of things during the day - all the various societies, sports etc. Hopefully a few practical sessions about settling in, departmental introductions too.

DS getting on DW's wick a bit now - we're basically packed other than clothes so we've been trying to get him to pack since the weekend but he is still very relaxed about it. Not so much DW.. She's given up on getting any of his dirty clothes washed and dry in time to pack by Friday evening (not everything will be tumble-able) so he either doesn't take or he takes dirty stuff with him which isn't ideal

Mustbetimeforachange · 18/09/2019 09:04

It's very warm over the next few days, I'm assuming everything will dry quickly. It will need to Grin

GinandManic · 18/09/2019 09:11

My daughter is off to Nottingham on Friday.
Has finally this week decided she needs to get organised. Have had an absolute nightmare getting any information out of her. Now I'm getting texts when im in work saying "i think i need a xyz" Hmm
Luckily I'm off work now until Saturday so can hopefully get her to pull it all together.
DH said she spent all of yesterday packing her clothes! I onky wish she she soukd soend as long doing the uni and essential life admin she needs to before she goes.

Trewser · 18/09/2019 09:56

Dd is a bit disappointed there isn't more drinking and clubbing during freshers! She's worked out that there is just one night that she can let her hair down with no intro session the next morning! I'm secretly pleased and loving the uni right now!

notso · 18/09/2019 10:10

MrKlaw I was amazed DD had left us with a completely empty washing basket.
Don't know how she'll fare at university. She said she found the laundry room but it's tiny, most of the machines were out of order and it's about £3.50 a load to wash and dry which you top up online. I didn't think that was bad but she seems to think it's extortionate!

WRT friends DD is at her second choice university and all her friends bar one are already there starting their second year.
DD has started off pretty well and only met up once for a flat tour and has arranged one night out later this week. The rest of the time she's really focusing on getting to know her flat mates and others on their floor.

TailsoftheManyPaws · 18/09/2019 10:34

If it’s any comfort, DS says that so far, he’s been to a welcome tea, department meeting, games night and plant sale (where he bought ‘quite a small tree’). He seems very happy with this riotous start to Freshers week.

He’s far from shy and retiring, just can’t be arsed with loud drunk teenagers.

ifonly4 · 18/09/2019 10:56

Gettingthroughtheweek Oxford is a lovely city. I guess you've visited the uni, it's full of lovely character.

Piggy that's fantastic news on the remark.

SoonerthanIthink DD has just done freshers. There were plenty of things for those that don't drink/smoke/party - movie night, coffee crawl, tea crawl, regular walk around city and local hill, these were on a few times a week. I've got a DD, so probably extra things that appeal to DSs. Also, society taster sessons. DD didn't get a freshers wristband and found herself going to lunch and other things last minute with others. She's now on the fringes of a group that do lots of different things but don't drink or smoke.

Uni made it clear to parents they're contract is with our DCs and they won't speak to us, but our DCs only have to ask, so for those who aren't sure about accommodation (you can apply for transfers) or courses, speak to the department.

DD started boarding for sixth form, she found it incrediably hard the first three weeks, almost came home. She decided to stick at it and when she started throwing herself positively into things, it started to work. She said it was the best thing she ever did. Doesn't help those who are homesick right now, but just to let you know it can work.

Trewser · 18/09/2019 11:23

TailsoftheManyPaws love the tree story Grin

bizzey · 18/09/2019 11:41

Hello all again !
I have been reading , just not able to post.
Sooo much to catch up on .
piggy wonderful news for your ds.
Hope it all settles down for him.

Hi @AvenueQ another Southaptonian (!!) here.
We go on Sunday on the TRAIN .
@NewModelArmyMayhem18 am I right in thinking you are on the train as well ?

Just bedding and towels sorted at the moment. But I have got all the luggage/suitcases lined up in the sitting room to work out which ones to take.
2 brothers are coming as well , so enough bodies to carry stuff !!

blametheparents · 18/09/2019 12:02

DS has about 25 going from his school to the same university as him!
He'll certainly bump into some people that he knows.
He's booked a couple of fresher's events with people in his accommodation so I'm pleased that he's not relying on previous school friendships. One of the people in his accommodation is on the same course as him!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/09/2019 12:06

@Bizzey welcome back! Yes, we are going by train but to UEA. Have already warned DS there may have to be a reserve suitcase to bring along later on in the term. Having two brothers involved to help carry stuff is very positive for your DS! Unfortunately, DD who is a princess at heart won't be much help with being a pack horse!

OP posts:
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/09/2019 12:09

Wow @blametheparents that's a lot (thought 14 - roughly 10% of DS's year group - going to Nottingham was a big number!) - his school must have had a large sixth form?

OP posts:
blametheparents · 18/09/2019 12:27

It's about 10% too (a big 6th form!), and is generally at the same level each year so there will be people in the year above that DS recognises.
Always nice to see a friendly face, even if they might not be your best mate.