University 2019/20 intake: next steps (some still students but many now graduates)

[LouisCatorze]

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Oh didn’t see him. We were there 2-6!

Reported. Like your previous post under a different username.

'Place an order' for 'help' with essay writing...

DD says her flat is beautiful, too nice to be a student flat and far better than any of her friends are in for less money! She still has essays to complete (from her year abroad) so has been busy working on those. The end of the queue to see the Queen (she's in Edinburgh) was very close to her flat, but she didn't feel the need to join. First lecture now recorded as it's next Monday.

Hope they'll all settle into their new homes soon. Can't believe we're into the fourth year.

@ifonly4 it sounds as if your DD has fallen on her feet with her flat. Lovely to hear that some end up in accommodation that exceeds expectations!

I dropped ds2 off at Sussex uni yesterday. I'm really disappointed at how old and run down the accommodation is. Carpet and chair all stained. Sticky kitchen floor. The toilet was dirty. Plus building works right beside his room. Almost £180 per week. Ds1's accommodation wasn't that nice at UEA, but his room was nicer than Sussex. There are so many photos on the Facebook page with lovely rooms.

Almost £180 per week. That's a lot for what sounds like a shoddy room @icanbewhatiwant . I would expect that weekly tariff to be at the more 'luxury' end of the accommodation on offer. Maybe all our expectations of uni rooms are too high these days? However, I wouldn't imagine they'd necessarily 'refresh' the rooms on an annual basis (it would be too costly) though.

No excuse for a dirty loo (bleurgh). How disgusting.

DD’s is same price for en-suite (private accommodation) but was very clean and they brought up a new(in shower curtain and quilted mattress protector . Had already made the bed with our own protector so will keep as a spare.

(In packet)

@LouisCatorze no I'm not happy about it. I expected better for the price. One weeks rent would replace the desk, which is just a piece of covered wood and the basic office chair. The carpet join under his chair is frayed, so that will come up while he's there as the chair wheels are going to roll over it. Plus there's a new block going up right beside ds's block. Literally right outside with a narrow walkway in between. So that will be very noisy, if it's a tall block it will be all winter going up.
Oh well...it's only for 9 months.

@icanbewhatiwant its so hard isn’t it? Is this Brighton?

I have seen some horrors on the WIWIKAU Facebook page. I would expect at the very least that university halls would have been cleaned, but some of them look like they haven't been touched since the last students moved out.

DD is moving into her new flat today. We are just about to set off.

I wonder if the more established (and generally higher ranking in league tables) unis rest on their laurels rather with accommodation?

I would imagine the universities have a rolling programme of accommodation upgrades. Possibly your DS has just been very unlucky @icanbewhatiwant and has one that will be revamped next year (possibly when the new accommodation block has been completed)?

You'd kind of hope that the rooms and flats would be thoroughly cleaned and then locked up over the summer break, so the only mess to be met with would be dust and cobwebs.

And good luck with getting your DD settled in @RampantIvy .

Good luck @RampantIvy . We moved DD1 to London last weekend and now DD2 yesterday. Feeling very strange . DH is quite upset. He’s always the rock. I’ve sent him off to Aldi as our cupboards are bare. We have done two good shops this last week and neither have been for us!

food not good

@LouisCatorze apparently the accommodation is used over the summer. The toilet wasn't very clean. I cleaned it thinking it can't have been used since June. But apparently they are used.

I don't mind it being run down...but should be reflected in the price. It is the most expensive accommodation on site. Ds just put all 6 of the accommodations with en suite as his choices. There wasn't much difference in price with all 6. But this is top.

@Benjispruce4 I can't imagine having all the dc's gone. Do you just have the 2? Ds1 has finished university. So he's home until Jan when he goes to NZ for a year. Ds3 is only year 9 so it'll be a while until I have an empty house. Ds1 is very grumpy and bad tempered though. So I'm looking forward to him moving on. Ds3 is more like ds1. Ds2 is usually bright and cheerful, though doesn't do mornings 😂 so I'll miss him joking and winding people up.

Aww @Benjispruce4 - we barely got any empty nest time (should have been 2 years!) when the DC went to uni, and now they are back home! Can’t see that changing for a few years either.

@icanbewhatiwant, I think unis/accommodation providers have got very cheeky about how much they charge and the quality of the rooms. That said, I don’t remember it being 5* back in the 80s, but at least it was cheaper/we got grants!

I don’t think we will be empty for long . DD is not having the best start. 4 in her flat and only one(a lad) cones out of his room. She’s very low.

@Benjispruce4 really sorry to hear that.

He’s been so nice, including her last night on a night out. Just want to send a message out to this lad’s parents that they did a good job.

Oh no, that’s very difficult for her. Thank goodness for the friendly boy. Is it Freshers week yet? When does her course start?

Yes it’s Freshers but lots of events overlap. Last night this group wen for a club, not the freshers event so wasn’t quite what she had in mind. Her timetable isn’t available so I think there’s an issue. Course supposed to start a week Monday. Spoke to DD1 who was suddenly so grateful for Collingwood!

It’s going to be a very different experience to a collegiate university, and tricky if half of the flat aren’t very sociable. But if she can gather her courage up, she will make friends with students from other flats. Is it a flat of four, or are others due to arrive?