Medicine 2021 - Part 4

[MaddieElla]

Fingers crossed for those final offers coming in!

Hope no one minds me starting the new thread...

Oh yes!

Drop off here too. What an emotional day, happy tears but also a real pang from deep within. Ds happy and asked us to leave so off we went. Had planned you write some notes and pack some treats but in the end it was such a manic week and I didn't get to do all the small stuff. The main thing is the important things were all done and he knows how loved he is. Welling up just writing this! House feels empty and after years of complaining about the state of his room I actually can't bear to look at it now all clean and spotless. What I'd give to hear him shout out 'mum can you make me some toast, nice and crunchy but not overdone?!'.

Aww @Powergower so glad to hear DS is happy and it won’t be long until he’s back for the holidays to shout for some toast

Good to hear he’s happy @Powergower. We’re just going to buy lunch for Dd then head home

The deed is done for DS as well. At a practical level, all ran like clockwork and he was settled very quickly in his lovely flat and out with his new flatmates yesterday evening. I kept it together whilst we said our goodbyes and then blubbed all the way to Durham in the car. Luckily, the ladies' tennis final was a good distraction but I made the mistake of going into his empty bedroom today which made me feel awful all over again.

@opoponax we’ve just got home, and I gave blubbered all over Dh! It was the empty bedroom got me too!

It is really hard isn't it @emummy. I said to DH, what am I like blubbing all the way to Durham. He said he had expected me to be blubbing all the way to London!

Yes, the empty spotless bedroom is a trigger! For those going this weekend it's probably best to close the door to the bedroom for the first week.

It's lovely hearing everyone's drop off stories. I've still got dc at home but there's a definite empty nest feeling. Ds seems really happy, made lots of friends, been given a lab coat and found a footy team to play with. Good luck to all going in the next few days and weeks.

DD is thinking of buying an iPad Air - any advice about 64GB v 256Gb? Guessing it may be better to spend the extra £100 or so, but if anyone has real-life experience, I'd really appreciate it.

My DS has an iPad Air @Millylovespuddles. He has used it over his last school year and loves it, particularly the pencil for notes and annonation. He just went for the 64GB as anticipates using cloud storage. So far no problems.

@Millylovespuddles we have bought my dd an IPad Air 64gb and Apple Pencil for note taking. She tends to use cloud storage so 64gb is plenty for her.

Hi @Millylovespuddles DD also bought the iPad Air 64gb with the pencil. She got it from Apple with a student discount and free air pods and also traded in her old one so it worked out quite well.

Ds was torn between the iPad air and MacBook air. In the end he went for the laptop.

Well that’s DD in Sheffield
Everything went smoothly yesterday - accommodation was good and flatmates seem nice! Loads going on this week with intro type activities from the Medical School which a great.
I’m feeling a bit sad though - it’s very odd without her at home

@LaLaFlottes DD went yesterday with DH - seems we are later than many others and DD's med school activities don't start until next week.

Her room had a fridge and a kettle 😳 and an Amazon locker outside of her hall - she's certainly fallen on her feet after hearing of so many accommodation woes eg Bristol sending students to bath and Weston, a friend in a hostel until accommodation is finished being built, another friend in a private rental until room available, another in a shared room as yet unoccupied by international students until their proper room free - sounds so stressful esp as their first experience living away from home

@LaLaFlottes glad all went smoothly. The first week without them is tough if you have been used to having them at home. I'm feeling a bit better now as DS is having a great time, joining all sorts of clubs and making lots of friends. I can even go into his bedroom now!

@withiceplease we are feeling so thankful that DS didn't choose Bristol after hearing first hand horror stories about the accommodation students have ended up with. His accommodation is excellent too and so close to the Med School, sports facilities and the city centre, which is lovely. It makes it easier knowing that they are having a good experience.

@opoponax
Glad your accommodation is good
I should have been clearer in my post - those experiences not all at Bristol. It seems many universities having problems. The last 3 examples are each at different universities. It must be a nightmare working at accommodation offices at present

@opoponax thank you! I’m glad to hear it gets better! I am awful today, so tearful! She seems to be having fun though and I’m glad about that

@WithIcePlease I’m glad the accommodation was nice!

There have definitely been some accommodation nightmares which just sound awful. @Millylovespuddles did things work out with accommodation at Queens? I hope all is well?

Yes @withiceplease I reread my post and should have been clearer too. The problems we have heard of haven't been exclusively at Bristol either. I've heard equally sad stories about others and it is all fallout from the madness of last year. It must be a nightmare working in accommodation offices. The Bristol stories just struck a chord as Bristol was the one he was weighing up against his choice as it was closer to home.

@LaLaFlottes DD held her nerve and was offered a room about a week later - so was thrilled to get her first choice. We dropped her off on Saturday, and she seems to have some lovely flatmates. They made something to eat, watched Strictly and then went out to Spoons, which is about a 2 minute walk away. All good!
I've had a few bubbly chats with her, she sounds really happy and excited. This morning, the medics at her halls had all arranged to meet in the lobby to walk to the campus for their first event today - the wonders of WhatsApp.

@Millylovespuddles so glad to hear the accommodation all worked out! Phew!

Hope everyone’s DC are settling in well

Hello... an imposter from the 2022 thread here!

DD is applying to med school for 2022 entry. I recognise that getting offers is not a given etc..... BUT would like to know what gadgets your little urchins have taken off to uni with them this term.

She's after a new iPad for Christmas, so I'd be interested to know which models are most popular with med students or whether MacBooks are preferred due to their integrated keyboards etc.

Please let me know, either here or via PM so I can look out for bargains!

I think a macbook is probably the most useful item, that's what ds said anyway.

Hopefully everyone's kids are settled in now. Ds seems really happy, no calls or texts at all really, except a quick message yesterday to ask if he could put a pasty in the microwave. Miss him like crazy but trying not to message too often and let him lead with what he feels comfortable with. Hope everyone else is doing good. Lessons start properly on Monday.

Yes DS is settled and seems very happy and is making contact quite regularly. Sometimes it's a 'can you remind me how to cook x' call.... and others just to see how we are doing. I'm reassured that he is cooking and eating properly. It does get a bit easier but I can't wait to see him again.