University 2020 :8: Use the CAGs, don’t use the CAGs...

[MillicentMartha]

...if you can use the mocks, then use the mocks but not if they're higher than the CAGs.

And hopefully on to university!

Old thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3993327-University-2020-7-Results-tombola-roll-up-roll-up-pick-a-prize?pg=39

Me and DH are going on holiday as soon as we drop DD off (within the UK I hasten to add)! First long child free holiday in over 21 years which we'll probably spend talking about the DC!! Think we've earned a treat after COVID situation, a return to NHS from retirement to help out, DH job worries (now sorted) a very recent bereavement and now a very empty nest.

Good luck to everyone going this weekend.

DS's moving in date isn't until 26th and I'm torn between dreading it happening and even more dreading it not happening because we are self-isolating (I work in a school and there has already been a case at DS2's school)

My DS (going into third year) pointed out that it will probably be easier for new students to manage in the new university circumstances as they won't know any different and the whole experience will be new to them anyway. Those like him who had a different experience prior to COVID will have more adjustments to make. Makes some sense really. I think an open mind and positive attitude will stand our fresher DC in good stead.

@choirmumoftwo I think it is much harder for the Freshers as they want to find their group of friends and that is so hard this year. Yes, second and third years know what they are missing, but they have already established their friendship group and are mostly living with people they have chosen to live with.

@Monkey2001 yes, that's a fair point. I suppose at least they're all in the same boat. How is your DC settling - I know they're a long way from home. And how are you coping?

Dgds student card arrived this morning along with her Totem card. She says she needs a larger purse for all her cards! Bank cards oyster card driving licence blah blah!
Getting real with just a week to go!

Making friends is much easier than it used to be though. Dd already knows loads of people on her course, from online chats and zoom calls. She's met up with a couple of them already, hundreds of miles apart.

@choirmumoftwo thanks for asking - I think he was lucky to have a week before the stricter rules came in and St Andrews is almost like a campus so it was possible to meet new people on the beach. Sadly (but unsurprisingly) the auditions for the choirs which he had signed up for have been postponed. Was surprised they were planning auditions anyway.

I am worried for his GF who is going to Sheffield Hallam and will be in a S/C flat of 5 which she was allocated by student accommodation, but is a private hall. It will be very difficult for people in S/C city flats to meet other people and to only meet 4 people seems very hard. I really feel for those who are worried that there will be empty rooms and they may meet even fewer other students.

For freshers I think the social worries are bigger than the course delivery worries.

@Monkey2001 I think freshers at campus universities may fare better and I know from our visit to St Andrews that it feels very campus like. DD loved it but then changed her course plans so is going to Lancaster instead, which feels like a good fit for her.
I hope gf settles in okay in the end.

DD is in a choir, and it's going ahead, with choir practices starting before the formal start of term. It's really important to her, so I hope it carries on rehearsing. Infection numbers are really worrying.

We've taken DD to uni this morning and it was all very well organised. The hour to get her in wasn't really reinforced so we did stay a bit longer. Her kitchen group seem lovely too.

Aw, that is nice @suze28. We had the same experience, the "1 person to help" was applied as 1 at a time and it was all very friendly, which was a relief for everybody.

I'm glad everyone has had good drop offs so far. Ds has another two weeks to wait, I just can't help but wonder what will happen between now and then. Really hope he actually gets there!

Dd is off by train tomorrow. Apparently her bubble is her whole floor, not just the flat. She has been allocated a personal tutor but not heard from them yet.

We go on Monday. DD has almost finished packing all the purchased and delicate stuff. Just got her clothes and study stuff to go. A lot of this week was spent revamping a 'free' bike for her to take and showing her how to change tyres and adjust it etc. Packing car tomorrow as it's garaged. Eek!

Barely heard from Dd2. Reckon no news is good news. Her friends will let me know if there’s an issue 🤷🏻‍♀️

Feel exhausted after today, both physically and emotionally.
DD's room seemed to be the furthest from car park. They were strict with only one adult so I helped her carry everything in as she wanted me to help sort stuff, not dp. One flat mate was already there so she helped a bit too and seemed lovely.
We then took her food shopping to fill her cupboards for a while. And then out for a meal in a gorgeous river side pub.
Then came the painful part. We dropped her back and said our goodbyes. I didn't want to let her go .
I won't lie, it hurts. There's a big gap on the sofa now next to me and I don't like it. This is going to take sometime to get used to. She's such a family orientated girl, we did so much together.
I know she's going to be fine and this is such a fantastic opportunity for her and I'll get used to it, but it's tough.

We don't go for 2 weeks! Glad I get to hang onto her for a bit longer...

DS isn't going until the beginning of October. He can't wait, whereas my feelings are more complicated (happy and excited for him, but I will miss him horribly).

Snozzlemaid we are a week ahead of you and the rawness has subsided but your description of drop off day sounds so familiar. We had what felt like a lovely day out and then actually saying goodbye hit me like a sledgehammer. It's a rollercoaster. I'm so proud of how well DD is doing at settling in, in a difficult year. And we're talking a lot online, which is lovely. But I do miss her.

@Snozzlemaid I feel your pain. Dd moved in yday and was finding it hard to meet others and negotiate the myriad of covid rules (some of which were already being bent). Room looks lovely though. The house feels suddenly very quiet. Hopefully it will get easier in coming days. Took a while when ds first went to uni.

What are people using to pack clothes and kit in (and then swiftly carry up flights of stairs to DC’s room)?

Sets of matching suitcases? Those big blue Ikea bags? Cardboard boxes? Plastic stacking crates?

Picked up some big clear zipped bags in Ikea £3 each for bedding, towels, clothes.

General stuff in blue bags, starter food shop in bags for life.

And probably a collapsible crate or plastic box for kitchen stuff.

New pillows, duvet and topper in original packaging.

He's up two flights at the end of the corridor, and we're not allowed in the building! Several flat mates are arriving around the same time and a couple will already be there so hopefully they will all muck in.

DD used rucksack and holdall for clothes, bin bag for bedding and collapsible crates for other bits. Someone advised avoiding anything that will take up space when empty. That was good advice - the room is well designed but small and she also has a large musical instrument!

We vacuum packed duvet and pillows, had 1 large and 1 cabin suitcase for clothes, an under bed crate with lid to keep kitchen stuff in (we know that if it goes on the kitchen you lose it by the end of the year and he is mostly catered), an Ikea box to transport and store bedding and towels, a couple of cardboard boxes, one large Aldi shopping bag for transport and to use for shopping and a ruck sack for the tech stuff/to use for lectures.