A Levels 2023 - Results Day & Beyond: Part 2

[SlightlyJaded]

The previous post is filling up and as i seem to be one of the few still in limbo, I thought I'd start a new thread.

A place to discuss 2023 A level results and navigate our way through clearing/frustrations/questions and anything else.

Previous thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4873934-a-levels-2023-results-day-and-beyond?page=10&reply=128536278

Waiting till the old thread fills up before we hop over here.

There’s an article on the BBC today about a student accommodation crisis. MMU is mentioned.

@LaDeeDa123 Just read it and blimey! Feel like we genuinely might have got one of the last rooms in Manchester for under £200. Still pricey (£175) and pokey (most basic entry level room) but ensuite and in proper halls. God knows what will happen next year...

Actually, a question... Do you have to move out of your halls in second year? Are they only for first year students?

@SlightlyJaded I have a dc at UofM finding second year accommodation is not a problem.

Thanks @KittyMcKitty. That's a relief to know!

Both MMU and UoM students all live in Fallowfield or Withington - the busses run really frequently up to Oxford Road and beyond

@abterol & @WendyWebersdrugget DD also headed to York. She’s got catered ensuite despite requesting self-catered & shared bath on all her 7 choices. Apparently it’s Band 2 in Derwent college and is not an option to select, not listed on their website etc. Accom people have reassured her that it does actually exist but bc there are so few of these rooms they are not advertised. Not sure how basic band 2 will be but she’s relaxed.
@DrMadelineMaxwell where was your DC1 please?

@WendyWebersdrugget may I ask what your DC1 is studying? You obvs don’t need to say but if not happy to can you shed any light on the placement situation please? Is he doing one? Hard to find etc?

@NotDonna She was vanbrugh and got en suite self catered.

DS also going to York in Halifax, which was his top choice as cheaper than others.

Ooh lots of DCs heading to York! Are most of you fairly local? We’re about 250 miles away. Not ideal. But easier than overseas. I’m hoping not everyone goes home for weekends as that won’t be feasible for DD.

After dropping her off I guess we’ll next see her at Christmas. I’m not sure how normal that is. Do parents visit?

@NotDonna we’re local but have promised not to visit unannounced!

DD is going to York, she's catered in vanbrugh. We're in Newcastle so not too far away, only an hour on the train/90 miles but I've promised not to turn up every 5 minutes!

We’re not local to York but we have visited DS1 a few times and loved it. He’s doing a joint degree, no placement though so unfortunately can’t help with that. Teaching and tutorial support have been excellent. Really glad he chose it even if it is quite a trek!

York was just over 2 hours for dd1. Dd2 is at Leeds which is about 20 mins closer.

DD2 will be at Reading uni and shes in Bridges Hall. she applied back in February and got allocated it 2 weeks after applying (first choice uni). I looked just out of interest at private halls for Reading and theres some but like 200-250 for a room and its 51 week contracts which is mad.And for private rentals I could not find any.

York is 2 hours away for us, so DD definitely won't be coming home on weekends. I love York, and Yorkshire, so might book a couple of days off work mid-October to visit. @NotDonna It is nice if parents can visit - just as you would any relative/friend you enjoy spending time with, it would have helped me a lot when I went to uni, so I'm hoping to visit my DD once or twice a term, if she doesn't mind.

I'm planning to do a trip over after about 3 weeks, on the pretext of it being for practical reasons - take away any stuff he's realised he isn't going to need, bring stuff he's realised he is going to need.

It's a 3 hour drive into a charging desert so it's a bit of an undertaking, but I can stay overnight locally for not too much dosh.

I'm also planning a mid-term meet - dd has a friend going to the same university whose mum is a friend of mine, so we'll probably go up together.

Must admit I'm not wild about dd's hall of residence - it's an ugly brute of a block in a dark, creepy city centre location overlooking a multi-storey car park, and not cheap! Perfectly nice inside and very handy for everything though, so I'm trying to come round to it.

@ZittiEBuoni yes I think there’s quite a bit of ‘trying to come around to it’ going on. Today is the first day I’ve felt ok about her not getting first choice Uni . How Ridiculous is that?!

I may go up to visit during DD3’s October half term, as she’ll probs like to visit her elder sister. I don’t think DD2 gets a holiday until Xmas as York does semesters. But I think that’s a 3 week holiday plus a reading week so we’ll have her fill of her big time then!

Yesterday we went to the clearing open day at Nottingham Trent.
Ds loved it and is excited to start the course.
Although we live local to the uni, I can't help but feel he's missing out a bit loving at home. They still have accommodation available but I just can't afford it unfortunately.

Great that he's excited about the course, @aleC4 , that's the main thing. Could he work this year to save up for living costs for next year, if he wants to move out?

I think that's what he will do. He's always worked, since he was 15 and will keep the same job. He doesn't get loads of hours but is paid quite well.
He does have savings plus a bit from his child trust fund but he's wary of dipping too much into it when he has a home here.
I think this year will help him decide if that's what he wants. I will I was as sensible with money at his age!!

@sammyjoanne I was in Bridges Hall when I was at Reading - although they've been demolished and rebuilt since I went in the 1990s! Best hall ever IMHO. Hope your DD has a fab time there - Reading Uni is great.

For those who are paying for halls, are you setting up the payment to come direct from you or from the student's account? We need to set DS' up and I get the impression they will want to verify the name on the bank account matches the name of the student.

From experience you need to do the students account. It's less complicated. Normally halls payments are 3 time a year so quite easy . That year Student finance asked some stunner to send proof they were loving away so a contract and proof of payment which was easier form my DS account than mine.