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Higher education

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

Another path- the first year ......

998 replies

chopc · 13/01/2022 20:42

Apologies if I didn't tag anyone. Hopefully have inckueded all current posters

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - Biochemistry
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - Open
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -modern languages
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@Notagardener LSE
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL - History
@raspberryrippleicecream ? -Maths
@derekthe1adyhamster Birmingham- Computer Science
@Vargas -Durham -Geography
@AvocadoPlant Exeter -History

OP posts:
Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 11/09/2022 18:26

@BigWoollyJumpers We are trying out a different restaurant on Saturday but I'm insisting on coffee and cake at Right on the Green!

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 11/09/2022 18:27

@BigWoollyJumpers Oops, Eat on the Green!!

Chilldonaldchill · 11/09/2022 21:56

Hello everyone. Probably no one will remember but I was on the previous thread about applying to O/C and DD was not redirected so I've not been on this thread although I do read from time to time to see how everyone is doing. However.... I thought you might be the people to ask about ds - hope you don't mind! After seeing dd's workload at C, he has decided not to apply. He has other choices too but his current favourites are Bristol and Exeter (have visited both, did open day at E and tour at B). I know some of you have children at those unis.... What do they think? How have their experiences been this year? Thanks in advance for any information and glad to hear that things have mostly been good for your children.

Pumpkintopf · 11/09/2022 22:07

Hi all. Haven't been able to bring myself to read the thread for a while as have been very stressed about DS not finding anywhere to live next year!

They've had a dreadful time with agents just not picking up their phones, emails left unread, houses going for way over the rental asking price and places being let within hours of being listed. I really was starting to consider buying him a tent to pitch on Imperial'a lawn 😁

However- we got up at the crack of dawn Saturday to take DS and gf to the station to go view two houses. Both were ok but the first had other groups of students viewing at the same time and when ds said they'd probably have to offer over asking to get it the agent said 'that sounds good'.

The second- the agent has been the only agent who's actually treated them decently since the start, coming back to them etc - so they offered asking and have put down a holding deposit. Now just the paperwork checks to sort and hopefully they will have a house!

It's so useful to hear all your experiences. What did you all get asked in relation to the guarantor thing? Reading another thread it seems some have just been asked to sign as guarantor where others have had to provide eg payslips!

MidLifeCrisis007 · 11/09/2022 22:29

DD and I went to Cote last night - and got the last table (at 6.30pm) - on the 2nd floor. Pizza Express turned us away as they were fully booked for the whole evening.

Exeter is bonkers!

Notagardener · 11/09/2022 23:27

Pumpkintopf · 11/09/2022 22:07

Hi all. Haven't been able to bring myself to read the thread for a while as have been very stressed about DS not finding anywhere to live next year!

They've had a dreadful time with agents just not picking up their phones, emails left unread, houses going for way over the rental asking price and places being let within hours of being listed. I really was starting to consider buying him a tent to pitch on Imperial'a lawn 😁

However- we got up at the crack of dawn Saturday to take DS and gf to the station to go view two houses. Both were ok but the first had other groups of students viewing at the same time and when ds said they'd probably have to offer over asking to get it the agent said 'that sounds good'.

The second- the agent has been the only agent who's actually treated them decently since the start, coming back to them etc - so they offered asking and have put down a holding deposit. Now just the paperwork checks to sort and hopefully they will have a house!

It's so useful to hear all your experiences. What did you all get asked in relation to the guarantor thing? Reading another thread it seems some have just been asked to sign as guarantor where others have had to provide eg payslips!

So have 2DC also in London.
With dc1 did not get asked much and needed to sign electronically the house contract together with the other students and their parents/guarantors.
With Dc2 had to show bank statements (with me erasing a lot as no need for them to know where I shop....), payslips, work email, MY manager's email address (who they did email as well)....
But i have not seen or signed any contract. DC2 moving in later this week.

Dc2 offered £30pp and per week above asking price. However dc1 did mention his friends looking for rooms are really struggling and prices going up up up.

Pumpkintopf · 11/09/2022 23:38

Wow @Notagardener £30 pppw is a lot!!

I really hope they get this house sorted so can then relax a bit. Thanks for the info re the guarantor stuff - first time for us.

AvocadoPlant · 12/09/2022 08:04

Hi @Chilldonaldchill i wasn’t on the original threads as my DD didn’t go down the Oxbridge route, but I’ve been made very welcome in these threads.
What subject us your DS looking to study? My DD is at Exeter studying History.
Her experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The city is small enough to get around easily and students seem to make up a large part of the population! Plus there are enough clubs, pubs, and venues to suit all.
The university itself has been great, all lectures and seminars F2F, great support and well cared for buildings and facilities.
I’ve also bee impressed by optional modules encouraging and supporting students to see how their degrees can be used in the workplace, and they seem to have a good alumni support network in place.
Happy to answer any specific questions if I can.

BigWoollyJumpers · 12/09/2022 10:17

AvocadoPlant · 12/09/2022 08:04

Hi @Chilldonaldchill i wasn’t on the original threads as my DD didn’t go down the Oxbridge route, but I’ve been made very welcome in these threads.
What subject us your DS looking to study? My DD is at Exeter studying History.
Her experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The city is small enough to get around easily and students seem to make up a large part of the population! Plus there are enough clubs, pubs, and venues to suit all.
The university itself has been great, all lectures and seminars F2F, great support and well cared for buildings and facilities.
I’ve also bee impressed by optional modules encouraging and supporting students to see how their degrees can be used in the workplace, and they seem to have a good alumni support network in place.
Happy to answer any specific questions if I can.

@Chilldonaldchill I would agree with everything Avocado has said. DD's accommodation was great, everything well looked after, and communication very good. The grounds and surrounds are lovely. History student too, and the lecturers and tutors have all been fab, and were very supportive when DD was ill with Covid.

The town is small, but has a great gym, and a John Lewis (very important !) and plenty of places to eat, but as MidLife says is always very busy, although not a bad thing, as it is always buzzing with life. Most of DD's friends have got jobs there too in retail or hospitality. I would thoroughly recommend anyone to Exeter Uni.

@Pumpkintopf We didn't need to sign or do anything, which at the time seemed really odd. But obviously it very much depends on the landlord/agent, and DD's landlord is very explicit that his contract is with the student NOT the parent (we fell foul of this when DD asked if he needed to speak to us about an issue, absolutely not!). I assume he has been victim of particularly pushy parents in the past.

London is a nightmare for anyone hoping to rent. WIWIKAU is full of desparate parents and students trying to find accommodation. DD1, even as a working adult, with good funds, had terrible trouble finding her second flat. Things literally don't even hit the boards before they are snapped up. Fingers crossed that everything turns out well for the London crew.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 12/09/2022 11:04

@Chilldonaldchill I'm the same as @AvocadoPlant my DD didn't look at o/c but I joined this group which has been so informative and supportive.

I agree with everything @AvocadoPlant and @BigWoollyJumpers have said. My DD is loving Exeter and it is a great small city where everything is very walkable and nightlife is pretty decent. DD is a Geography student and although she stuck with all Geography modules first year lots opted for modules from other departments. Also another plus point is that whilst 2nd year accommodation does go quickly it has not been too bad compared to other cities and especially London. I real feel for @Pumpkintopf and the others who have had to navigate the London rental market.

Xenia · 12/09/2022 13:40

Chilldonaldchill on Bristol v Exeter they are both good. 3 of my children went to Bristol and were very happy there. (I cannot remember why I originally came on this thread, probably to say mine did not try Oxbridge and have done fine - my twins just finished their last exams ever this summer (law)).

Bristol is a bit nearer for us in outer London than Exeter. My 3 who went to Bristol were choosing to firm either Durham or Bristol actually (I am from the NE and my father and uncle and in sense my mother went to Durham so I would certainly have been content with that and their cousin went to Durham) but they picked Bristol. Bristol is slightly above Exeter in terms of where law firms recruit but there is no much in it and this list in part is determined by numbers of students eg not may students go to St Andrews so obviously fewer recruited from there www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/law-firms-preferred-universities.

BenchOfCompany · 12/09/2022 13:59

@Chilldonaldchill <makes room on the big bench> this is a thread for whoever wants to just chat about our children and their uni experience plus general life. It is only called another path so we could all find each other again. Everyone is welcome here. I hope your DD is okay with the Cambridge workload. Ds2 has decided not to apply based on this too. He has just started year 12.

I actually find it really helpful to read about other universities just in case Ds wants to go to one of them or any of my friends children. Also it highlights things I hadn't considered like reading weeks.

AvocadoPlant · 12/09/2022 16:50

@Xenia - my DD also had to choose between Durham and (in her case) Exeter as her firm choice (both were unconditional).Bristol is our nearest large city and felt too close to home for all 3 of mine - though her brothers both applied and had offers.
Our experience has been that a university's reputation may get them added to your 5 choices, but you have to actually want to live there to make it to top 2!

Notagardener · 12/09/2022 17:27

Oh well, all was arranged for Dc2 to move into her new London flat tomorrow, to be told today they can't move in till later this week. Apparently flat needed a proper clean and also some problems with the front door.
Her friend who she is sharing the flat with, was supposed to start work on Wednesday.

Xenia · 12/09/2022 18:01

Avocado, same reason mine did not choose London ( as we live here). It is good for them to see a different city, broaden horizons etc. Mind yo both my twins are at home now and even one of my older ones is currently "working from home" from my home 2 days a week (which is all fine with me).

Chilldonaldchill · 12/09/2022 22:32

@AvocadoPlant @BigWoollyJumpers @BenchOfCompany @Xenia @Dobbyismyabsolutefav and any one else I've missed off! Thank you...@benc
That's all really good to know. He's hoping to do Politics and IR or just IR - really needs to decide soon!
The enthusiasm was very clear on the open day at Exeter which was lovely to see. Bristol is significantly nearer for us (Exeter is almost 4 hours away) but I don't want that to be the deciding factor unless he wants it to be. Exeter looks to be a lot cheaper to live in? (But then Bristol seems v expensive).
The fact that he could continue his language on and it could be recognised on his degree was a selling point of Exeter.
The A level requirements are surprisingly a lot less though for Exeter compared with Bristol (AAB / A star AA) which we thought was a bit surprising, especially given the popularity of IR at the moment.
Anyway, thanks for the welcome and I will pop back and ask questions as they arise.
(And thank you - DD is very happy but does say she thinks she was mis-sold the idea that getting into C was the biggest hurdle whereas actually the workload is much more of a big deal than she ever understood. But she doesn't regret it currently).

BigWoollyJumpers · 13/09/2022 10:17

@Chilldonaldchill DD's boyfriend does Politics and IR - If you have any specific questions I am sure he will be happy to help.

ChimneyPot · 13/09/2022 11:18

I haven’t been on here in ages.
I have DTs who will be applying for college. DT2 wants to go to drama school for musical theatre and will be hoping for a foundation course somewhere as she is quite new to singing/ drama/ dancing.
DT1 is more traditional. She would like to do Politics or IR with English Lit and French.
she ruled out Oxbridge early on based on work load and is thinking about St Andrew’s/Glasgow/Aberdeen/Durham/Exeter/York and Newcastle.
She isn’t planning attending open days as we are in Ireland and it would be very time consuming. She might visit after she gets offers.
She will also apply in the US and in Ireland but won’t go anywhere in Dublin so that limits her Irish choices.

Great to be able to read about other DCs experiences and decisions.

DD1 who I originally joined this discussion for is still very happy in Brown. She thinks she will major in Applied Maths and Economics but does all sorts of random classes too. This semester she is doing Palestinian history.
She is living on campus and partying a lot!

Pumpkintopf · 13/09/2022 18:09

@ChimneyPot great to hear your dd is still enjoying life at Brown!

Chilldonaldchill · 13/09/2022 22:36

BigWoollyJumpers · 13/09/2022 10:17

@Chilldonaldchill DD's boyfriend does Politics and IR - If you have any specific questions I am sure he will be happy to help.

Thank you!

Notagardener · 14/09/2022 06:47

Should I be worried? DC has paid deposit and 1 month rent. (As well as a holding deposit a while ago). But has not seen a contract...
They were collect keys and sign contract and move in. But as apparently flat needs extra clean and moving in delayed till Friday

Notagardener · 14/09/2022 06:48

Sorry " due to collect keys etc yesterday"

AvocadoPlant · 14/09/2022 07:13

Yes! The contract should be available to view and question before signing.
Also there should be a rent refund for the days the property is not available. The Tenancy Agreement should only start on the date they have access to the property.

Notagardener · 14/09/2022 10:43

Hm yes, good point. She should not just go and sign without having some time to read through it

SeasonFinale · 15/09/2022 21:44

@Chilldonaldchill DS is loving life in Bristol. He can't recommend it more highly enough.