Is there a general starting uni thread??

[Susiesue61]

I've seen a few threads for specific universities but not a generic one!
DD has gone to JMU in Liverpool and I'm finding it really hard going! Anyone fancy a support thread? Or direct me if there is one already!

[SometimesRavenSometimesParrot]

Just to say I’m an LJMU alum and had the time of my life there - she’ll have a brilliant time. Make sure she checks out the new student life building, looks incredible from the videos we’ve had on our newsletters!

[PlumeMoth]

I’m certainly up for a support thread. DD1 is off to Bath on Thursday and I’m already feeling rather anxious! I really don’t know how I will feel once we’ve dropped her off. I guess once she is settled and happy then I will be able to relax.

[pourmeanotherglass]

Im up for a support thread. DD heading to Warwick on Friday.

[beenrumbled]

DS1 has started at UofM this week but is staying at home, so i feel a bit of a fraud joining in. But he was at his department yesterday to meet the lecturers and went today to meet his tutor group. Think it went well as they went off to the union and a few of them are going to the city match! I will be going through it all again next year when DD will hopefully be going to Lancaster or Sheffield.

[frantic17]

I'm definitely up for a support thread. Dropped my DD to uni of Liverpool on Saturday. She's struggling a bit today, rang for a chat and burst into tears. Says she's finding it hard to meet like minded people, she's not really clicked with the people in her flat. She's got freshers fair on Friday so I'm hoping she joins some clubs and meets people that way. I'm finding it really hard too! Sympathy to everyone in the same boat! x

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

We dropped our DD off at UEA on Saturday. Early days but seems ok so far. Our DS will find it hardest- he’s 24 and been there done that. There was definitely a tear in his eye when she left 🥺

[cptartapp]

Took DS to Uni of Nottingham on Saturday. What a beautiful campus. We're two hours away in the NW. He's facetimed tonight and luckily seems to be settlling in and having a whale of a time. Met loads of people, signed up for basketball, joined the gym and started his course inductions. So far so good although we're missing him like mad.

[grateful3]

My DS who is very shy and quiet has just started at LJMU.

[Susiesue61]

DD has been full of cold! She's getting on fine with her flatmates but has been reluctant to go out clubbing. She's going out tonight for the first time as they're going somewhere she usually goes with her school mates 😊 She made 2 friends on her course today so she was happy about that, she's such a home bird and she's rung me every day! She was quite homesick today but she'll be home Saturday for work 😂
Thanks all for joining me!
@frantic17 Liverpool is lovely, DS1 went to Liverpool uni and DD is at JMU. I hope she settles in soon, it's so strange for them.

[Bagelsandbrie]

I’m in!

Dropped dd off at Nottingham on Sunday. She seems to be enjoying herself and has been out every night since…! Bit worried she’s suddenly going to have a wobble but we will see how she goes.

I’m feeling really upset and down! Obviously not showing dd this, and being very excited and positive for her but gosh this hurts. We are very close and I miss her.

[BeyondMyWits]

Dd20 swansea, full of freshers flu! (All 6 housemates tested negative for covid)

Dd19 is also off to Bath on Thursday
@PlumeMoth ... our paths may cross...

[frantic17]

@Susiesue61 thank you! Yes I think she is going to love Liverpool! I'm sure she will settle in, I just hate hearing her upset. She's really sociable and outgoing and she said she thought it was going to be easy to make loads of friends but she's finding it harder than she thought. I did remind her it's only been 4 days! x

[Bagelsandbrie]

@frantic17

I'm definitely up for a support thread. Dropped my DD to uni of Liverpool on Saturday. She's struggling a bit today, rang for a chat and burst into tears. Says she's finding it hard to meet like minded people, she's not really clicked with the people in her flat. She's got freshers fair on Friday so I'm hoping she joins some clubs and meets people that way. I'm finding it really hard too! Sympathy to everyone in the same boat! x

Your poor dd, it’s good that she was able to tell you how she’s feeling. I suspect a lot of them are feeling the same, it’s just such a huge change. Hoping she meets some people she clicks with soon.

[frantic17]

@Bagelsandbrie thank you I hope so too! I can totally sympathise with you feeling down I am the same (and also hiding it from her when she calls!). She deferred from last year and got a job so we've had her at home a year longer than planned which has been lovely x

[Underbox]

Can I join you? I dropped my DD at Uni 300 miles away last week and have found it very difficult not having her around, especially after being at home pretty much all the time for the past 18 months.
The halls Wi-fi is not very good so we are struggling to face-time. I just miss her so much and it's a seven hour car journey if anything ever goes wrong and she needs me! It's hard.

[Susiesue61]

DD is normally confident too but has found it all a bit odd! I want her to go out and enjoy herself but am now worrying about her getting home safely, it's hard work this!

[boys3]

my youngest, DS3, off to Aberystwyth end of this week. It is a looooong way from us so I completely get where underbox is coming from.

[Boulshired]

DD will be glad when freshers is over, she is liking the girls in her flat but is not really into clubbing or late nights, but wants to be part of the group. She really wants a night reading a book but not confident in the group not to go out. The pressure to make friends is just seems huge.

[gleegeek]

Dd started at Sussex on Saturday. Gosh it's hard going! She's getting on ok with her flatmates but they've been clubbing 4 nights in a rowShe went the first 2 times but couldn't face it again.
Today has been really tough, lots of upset messages about not being cool enough or alternative enough, she just hasn't cĺicked with anyone yet. She's desperate for Fresher's to be over and done with and to get on with the course.

[Bagelsandbrie]

@Boulshired

DD will be glad when freshers is over, she is liking the girls in her flat but is not really into clubbing or late nights, but wants to be part of the group. She really wants a night reading a book but not confident in the group not to go out. The pressure to make friends is just seems huge.

I think dd is feeling this a little too, although she hasn’t said it..! There is a huge pressure to be social ALL the time, and there doesn’t appear to be any downtime yet. At home dd will usually enjoy a quiet night to herself after a big night out but she’s been out out every night since she got there and I know she must be shattered!

[pistachioicecream]

I'd definitely be up for a support thread. DS is going to Lancaster which seems to be a much later start date than others. So he doesn't go until 2nd Oct. Not that we've seen him much over the last month or so. He's either been working or with his girlfriend, who leaves this weekend. They're planning to stay together - am just hoping there's not heartbreak ahead :-(

Sorry some of your DC's are finding freshers hard. The pressure to make friends and fit in sounds intense. Am sure things will settle down over the next few weeks but the worry about them must be so hard.

[Bing0Bong0]

@PlumeMoth @BeyondMyWits DC1 is also going to Bath tomorrow, see you in the car park :)

Signed up for some freshers' events but they're not into clubbing or drinking either so I'm not sure how they're going to cope with that scene. But DC1 is in a quiet hall, so hopefully hallmates will be similar?

DC2 is off to one of the London ones on Saturday, they're looking forward to all the drinking and clubbing (cue lots of worry for us).

We'll be empty nesters all of a sudden. That's going to difficult for sure. I'm trying not to wobble too much already.

[BigWoollyJumpers]

Old hand here, DD1 done and dusted a few years ago, already in the world of work, DD2 went off last weekend to Exeter, so freshers done and a full week of lectures/seminars/tutor meets going on.

After having everyone in the house over the last 18 months though, I am finding it really hard. DD1 went back to London a few months ago, then DD2 left last weekend, and now DH is going back to work albeit not full time. I am a SAHM, so just down to me and the cat .

DD2 has settled in really well. Some wobbles and the odd issue, but her cooking is amazing, and she seems to already be the "mum" of the flat. They are already cooking for one another, and spending film nights in together. She is in quiet accommodation, so has a small group of very like minded souls, so that seems good. First load of washing done as well, and no mishaps. She did find an errant sock left in the drum, which she removed, very proud to tell me, as I had warned her to check for the ubiquitous "red sock" which always lurks in the back of university washing machines waiting to turn your laundry pink !!

[Susiesue61]

DD is really homesick today! She went out last night and had a good time but is reluctant to go out again tonight. She says she's ok when she's busy but lonely when she's in her room. I'm trying to encourage her without getting annoyed!!

[Bagelsandbrie]

@Susiesue61

DD is really homesick today! She went out last night and had a good time but is reluctant to go out again tonight. She says she's ok when she's busy but lonely when she's in her room. I'm trying to encourage her without getting annoyed!!

My dd has said similar things today. She said she feels like she’s in a big hotel with lots of new friends but she said if she wasn’t busy doing stuff she’d be really homesick…! So I wonder how she’s going to feel as things calm down a bit. I’m kind of waiting for the “I want to come home” phone call - secretly hoping….! Ha! Oh it’s so hard isn’t it. I’ve felt quite tearful today.