The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - Will NewModelArmyMayhem18 forgive me?

[MrKlaw]

previous thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3701968-The-ABC-of-university-life-2019-20-cohort-settling-in-we-hope

Hope you don't mind - people have pent up comments about cheese graters and traffic cones to get out of their system!

DS home for weekend. I'm happy that he's settled well ! I was worried as he didn't enjoy freshers and he will never be a party animal .. but he's got very lucky with his flatmates .. he's usually quiet but talked my head off all the way back last night .. He's at Nottingham and next week is "Wobble Week" ... if anyone is wobbly about anything.. help is there and all kinds of support .. what a great idea !!

I think they'll all do things in their own time. DS never very speedy to get on with life admin, so unlikely to even start thinking about it until after Christmas which I think is soon enough, for him anyway. I am an 'early bird' myself and experience has taught me that it can sometimes disadvantage one being too quick off the mark.

@BorisInAnExecutionersMask. Which campus is your DD finding quiet? now fretting about university for DS

@Trewser can't she say she's running out if money and can't afford to cook? There's plenty of healthy and cheap stuff you can eat without cooking - bread/cheese/fresh or tinned fruit/salad/bread/ham/tinned sweetcorn.

Well it’s done. DD just text to say she’d had a great morning; they won at netball and signed for the house. Gulp.

So your DD has been cooking not just for the flatmate who refuses to for whatever reason but others too @Trewser? That's not on!!!

Well done to your DD @Bejispruce. It's a major thing not to have to think any more about until the summer vac.

Oh, lots of house/flat organising progress.

Can I ask what do they generally sign up for? Is it for a year at a time or a rolling lease? For the full year, so starting when they are due out of halls or starting next August/September?

@Benjispruce, good on your DD!

DS has a footy match - hope it's less rainy in Durham than it has been on the drive back - I have just driven 3 1/2 hours in persistent rain and loads of surface water. DHs turn now!

@WaxOnFeckOff it’s a deposit of £400 for DD on rental for July 20-21. I presume they can continue for 3rd year if they want.

@WaxOnFeckOff, both DDs end June/beginning of July. But I guess it might vary in different places.

Looking at ones available in Norwich (out of curiosity at this stage), most seem to be available from 1st July, although a few seem to be let from 1st September.

When I look at the websites at the moment it's still only listing properties available now, not those that you'd be looking at for next year so I'm guessing in Aberdeen it's too early to be doing anything yet. Looks like you can get some bargains if you are prepared to wait, saw a lovely 3 bed (DS is thinking they want a 4 though) nearby the Uni for only £600 a month! The few 4 beds still around seem to be about £1000-£1200 (obviously there are some more expensive) which still seems very reasonable. They all say that the rent was dropped in price in October though so I'm guessing that when they are advertised for the students signing up for next summer, they will be more expensive.

It's probably a case of having a steady nerve.

I think it's been useful to look now as unless the situation changes rapidly, there should be reasonable accommodation available even if they leave it later. There were 2 x 2 bed flats that looked like they were in the same block so that would also have worked even if they want to be close together.

I totally agree with you @WaxOnFeckOff. Looking at Norwich availability, there are clearly lots still to rent for this academic year (that aren't far from UEA), so would suggest supply outstrips demand.

It's obviously a different situation depending on where you are and I guess that the downturn in the oil situation in Aberdeen has changed the availability. There were still some flats listed as being suitable for "workmen" which I thought was a bit strange :o

Indeed! What makes a rental suitable for workmen (rather than students), I wonder? One of DS's friends is at Aberdeen, a very long way from home.

@OatyGoaty It's the Brackenhurst campus, DD is loving it but she definitely wanted a small rural campus rather than a city one.

I'm a bit concerned about not having been asked for money for a deposit for next year. It's possible that DS will stay in uni accommodation, which is possible where he is. I think his main issue is going to be that a couple of his good mates are from low income families who will not be able to loan them money for a deposit, nor can they afford it themselves. What do other people do in this situation? I don't want to stump up for the whole house as I know I wouldn't see the cash again.

@simbobs, if they're getting the maximum loan, couldn't they potentially save the deposit from that? I would have thought that for most that would be doable (particularly if they have a part-time job too)?

Sorry @simbobs have forgotten where your DS is a student. My post sounds a bit naive, as I do realise that some towns/cities are very expensive for students, particularly those who don't get additional financial top-ups from parents.

He's in Sheffield. One of his friends has the maximum loan, not sure whether he still has a job. The other doesn't have maximum but also doesn't get parental support. If they have to pay the deposit before Xmas they won't have enough as this is the most expensive term but has the smaller amount of loan. Anyway I am struggling to get more than a text exchange at the moment so I don't know where he is up to.

At the moment dd is talking about wanting to stay living on campus which on their website does seem like a possibility. Except she won't get the cheaper shorter let if she does.

Mine, hope you have a lovely weekend with your DS, my DS was home last weekend, he is loving NTU, doesn’t say much about the course and not much evidence of too much academic work . He says he’s enjoying the lectures and seminars though, strange to think our DSs are probably in the same lectures.

Hi Rags It has been great having my DS home this weekend. He is so missed when he is not here. We had a really good chat. He likes the people he lives with but said Sandby can be really noisy all night long. He likes his course but its not stretching hin and he is looking forward to the actual economics starting,. He is enjoying student lif,e and is glad he chose NTU. His friend at Loughborough has stayed and says it's boring there and he wishes he chosen NTU. My DS says he doesn't need to come back home until xmas as he has too much going on in Nottingham. I feel so reassured and happy to let him get on with it. I do wonder if our DS-s know each other , that would be lovely