DD attending university in the same town where we live - is this a good idea?

[PaperDoves]

DD is finishing year 12 and considering where to apply next year. Her current first choice of uni is our local one - which, to be fair, is a great university, especially for her preferred course, and the city is vibrant with plenty to do and an active social scene. If we didn't already live here, I'd say it would be a perfect fit! But I'm worried that she won't have the experience of moving to a new city (although she'll still meet lots of new people) and stretching her wings.

What are your views? If she does end up choosing this one and getting a place, should we make sure she lives in halls so she can still have the student experience? Should I just be glad she'll be nearby in case she needs a hot meal or (heaven forbid) finds herself in trouble and needs help? Is it really not a big deal to not move to a new city for university, and I'm just being weird?

No way is it the same experience

Hmmm I did this and ended up dropping out because I really wanted to move on somewhere new. BUT, this was years ago when fees were significantly cheaper and rent wasn't terrible either and I really wanted the "University experience". These days, I think it's more about getting a value for money degree, boring as that sounds.

So, I'd be happy with it and if I was young and doing it now, I'd stay at home and save money!

Does she actually want a 'university' experience or does she want an education?
Sensible to save money on not having to pay for housing (by her living at home) and she can still meet friends for nights out etc.

It is becoming more and more common. 3 of my friends DCs do it (but to be fair 2 of them are in London)

It won't be the same experience if it's too local. My DD wanted somewhere far enough so she couldn't just 'pop' home but near enough that we could visit her if needed. Ended up about 2.5 hours drive away.

My daughter is off to Uni in September too, I have encouraged her to move away from home . I would be disappointed if she stayed local as I would feel she was missing out on the experience of a new city and lifestyle!

Would she consider going locally but living in student accommodation? I did this and went home very rarely. I don't feel I had a different experience than if I was 200 miles away!

If the course is right then why not? Will certainly save a shed load of money living at home. My nieces and nephews went to uni and lived at home. One moved out in second year and shared.

I did this and loved it. I didn’t want the student experience. I don’t drink, I don't party, I don’t do clubs. I liked being able to come home after class and hang out with my dog, have dinner with my mum and sleep in my own bed.

It depends what she wants out of uni. I still had loads of friends and had a great time, I just didn’t party.

My daughter goes to a University 5 stops down on the tube. She loves it.

I did. And though financially it made sense. I regret not going elsewhere now. And it turns out my sister does as well. It's not the same at all.

What kind of degree is she wanting to do?

I went to the university in my home city.

I moved out after first year (wasn’t eligible for Uni accom in first year).

once out of my parents home I saw my parents about as often as my flat mates saw their families (who lived a 3hr drive away)

But I'm worried that she won't have the experience of moving to a new city (although she'll still meet lots of new people) and stretching her wings.
There is also the concept of re-inventing yourself. Difficult to do that if still living with the parents, still seeing the same neighbours, still walking down the same High Street.
But student rents are horrendous; why pay that if you don't need to?

Is she likely to do a year-out or a post-grad course elsewhere?

If it is the university she wants to go to I don't see why not. DD is at Newcastle and has quite a few local friends, but they all chose to live in halls for first year and private rental afterwards.

She'll save a lot of money, and be more comfortable but she'll miss out on some of the demands of independent living.

Apart from my degree, I learnt to cook, manage my bills on a pittance, make new friends, find my way around a completely new city, rent myself a bedsit and furnish it (sort of). Build a new life for myself without anyone looking over my shoulder or reporting back. By year two I was fully independent and never went home. I don't think I'd have managed that if my mum had been around the corner.

It depends what she wants to achieve.

I did it, it was a brilliant experience. I probably went home to parents less than my friends from away. I was in halls then rented accommodation. If I had to stay home I probably wouldn’t have done it.

I did this to do Cambridge NatSci. I was in halls all four years and possibly saw less of my parents than some others whose parents came to see them. Did pop home with friends for the odd Sunday lunch and generally was utterly unaffected by being in my home town. But this was mainly because my parents were very very careful not to interfere. And had it been a course I could have taken at Oxford I would have applied there instead.

It really does depend on her views. If she is happy to stay in her home town and the course is right then why not ?
my three all went to unis a four hour drive plus away and enjoyed the experience but not everyone is the same.

Don't you have to be in halls if you want to attend Cambridge though? Student accommodation throughout (or used to be)

Sorry, that was to @DelurkingAJ

I think we would strongly encourage her to live in student accommodation. I'd be happy for her to live at home if she ultimately chooses, but I do feel ideally she should experience more independence.

Pretty common where we live.

Ds has no friends in his close group who moved away for uni and out of 12 girls in my dd's friendship only 2 have moved away and its both girls who get the full saas funding and loan.

Ds hasn't got the best social life and dd has an amazing social life she is always out. Uni life is what you make of it.

I stayed at home and went to uni in the city which was a 20 minute bus journey from home, graduated 4 years ago so fairly recently.

Tbh I feel like i missed out only on the rubbish parts of university and have no regrets. I would say it was 50/50 between those people who stayed in halls and those who still stayed at home. We all socialised together, only difference was I went home to my family home at the end of the night and didn't have to pay high rent and/or live in crappy cramped halls!

My son went to uni where we live. It was the best choice for the course he wanted to do. He lived at home for his first year, the got a house share with friends in year 2. He didn't appear to miss out on the uni experience at all.