Annnddd they're off! Uni Starters 2023 Thread.

[Titsywoo]

Hi all,

I thought I'd start a different thread as the Alevels and beyond one is more geared to remarks and clearing at this point so didn't want to start derailing that with chat off packing and freshers week.

How is everyone getting on with helping their DC prepare and the idea that soon they will be moving away?

My DD is off to Cardiff to read psychology so will be about 3.5 hours drive away. I'm both nervous and excited for her right now! Packing is going well - pretty much all stuff has been bought and the induction pan set should arrive today. There is a large pile on the landing which keeps growing as we think of extra bits.

Due to a very lucky spot by me when scrolling Tiktok DD has found and been added to the Cardiff Psychology year 1 snapchat group. From that she got chatting to some others who aren't massively into drinking or clubbing and they have another chat for people who want to do other things than clubbing. They are organising meeting for some of the SU 'Give it a go' events such as an escape room and Ikea trip! Dd has also persuaded a couple of people to join the Hookers society with her (for crocheting! 😄).

Dd had a terrible time with bullying and social isolation from year 5 till the end of sixth form so I am praying this is the new start where she finally finds her tribe 🤞🙏

Looking forward to hearing how everyone's DC is getting on and how the first few weeks are for them. Not long to go now! DD leaves in 20 days 😬

I rang DD1 and she'd been out all day - she claims she told us there were welcome events on this week for early arrivals - but neither DH or I remember this. There are now plans to go into city later in the week - so she's happy.

I don't think she heard much yet from her department but GP etc she knows she needs to do and she gone grocery shopping already - no one else is in her block still.

It is now I've had a very quiet afternoon, DH is busy today for his uni fresher week and other two are in their rooms and they've settled quickly into their new situations, starting to hit a bit.

Dropped DD2 at York yesterday afternoon, stayed overnight with DD3 and home now. @MermaidEyes @Seaweasel @Cwalks @AllProperTeaIsTheft @catrescuelady and all others at Uni of York I was really impressed with all the helpers (Derwent College) and the STYCs (2nd/3rd yrs) who’ve organised lots of things for them to do. It really feels super friendly and inclusive!
DD has met the other 8/9 ppl in her flat/block but still a few more due to arrive. I gave her the option of coming out to dinner with us but she chose to hang in her flat to see who else arrived (and they did within moments), cooked her own dinner, flat mingles organised & over to the college bar for live bands.
Her room is VERY basic with one plug socket miles from the desk, no drawers or bedside cabinet so her sister and I did a quick Tesco shop (plant stand for bedside table 🤣). Dropped the bits off this morning and had bfast at Bills. She was eager to get back for the rest of the activities planned and be with her new friends. Love how she’s already calling them friends!
@MirandaWest yes, you probs saw them doing the scavenger hunt around campus and then into York proper. So impressed how they’ve been given stuff to do and so many opportunities to mingle. So did you go to uni if York then choose to live there after? Where’s your DS going? Send him the calculator. I’ve just ordered a couple of bits from Amazon to be delivered to DD tomorrow - boring stuff like drawing pins, fairy lights, batteries for the fairy lights and a pack of stroopwaffles. And I’ve been messaging.
@Z0rr0 not sure I’d bother complaining. Take photos so no one says she damaged anything. DD isn’t allowed any blutack or command hooks etc so it’s very plain but that means there’ll be less crap to shift when she moves out in 40 weeks time!

Well we are back dd all happy and settled. Her flatmates are lovely and so is her accommodation. I left her planning a night out and well settled.
We took her for a big food and booze shop and got some Krispy Kreme's for the flat.
This is her room once we'd got her unpacked.

I hope everyone else is doing ok? The mums of twins I can't even think how hard that must be.
I definitely think this morning was the hardest bit once we got there and saw how great it was I could feel her itching to get stuck in!

I love seeing the rooms 😍

To those with not very full timetables - is it because they are doing humanity style subjects? I was shocked last year when DD had 8 hours of lectures a week and then a couple of seminars a fortnight. (I did languages and had about 25 hours a week and my engineering friends had about 32!) Apparently though it's normal for her subject (Politics) as they are supposed to read for a squillion hours a week as well.

Hope all the ones moving in have settled.

Ds has arrived (he took himself and 4 heavy bags by train). He's met his neighbour in the next flat and she's making them dinner (the lucky thing he is). He doesn't drink and likes going out but not really clubs as such. It's a decent start.

@troppibambini6 that room is gorgeous!!!
DDs could be nicer but she really doesn’t care. We moved the furniture around but very limited as only one plug socket - under the window!

@stilldumdedumming I am impressed he managed all his stuff on the train!

@NotDonna - my dd is at Derwent too!

I'd have loved one of the Clifton halls for dd, @Tindrum (I was in one myself back in the day) - where she is now is much less dreamy but much newer so probably in better general condition, I suppose. Can't say I love the view of a blank wall and industrial bleakness though. Couldn't help wondering about RAAC either...

I'm convinced she is going to love Bristol though, so I'm looking on the bright side.

I am absolutely drained this evening. Dropped her off, managed to hold it together with just a few tears from us both and then absolutely lost it in the car 😂

She's got together with some people in her flat and made a 'flat meal' together and a few of them are off to a jam session music night tonight. I will mostly just be sat on the sofa drinking wine and wishing that she was 4 years old again 😂😂

@NotDonna. He insisted and it was a bit ridiculous. Plus we hadn't thought about getting a taxi from the station rather than using the tube! he struggled a bit and said some people helped him at Euston. But he's got his bed all set up

Q impressed with DD's kitchen. Plenty of cupboards and drawers to share inc 2 fridge freezers. 7 flatmates, and 2 ovens and 2 sinks. THere's a breakfast bar with 5 seats but also a 5 seater sofa, split into 2 in the 2 windows. Bit weird but plenty of seating.

DD1 had a huge table in the middle oft he room and DD2 thinks the breakfast bar is better as there's less space for people to dump all sorts. DD1's table was always covered in rubbish and pots and pans. And on one memorable occasion a traffic cone.

I've called her today for a 2 min chat to see how it was for her waking up where she is. She was chipper about having sorted more out in her room, finding an envelope with a birthday card that she thought she had lost.

One thing to look for....the Too Good to Go app can be a good shout. When DD1 was in York the cafeterias for the catered students were on there and she would frequently get a good dinner at the end of the day for £2.50!

Dropped DS off in Sheffield. Cried when I got home to his empty bedroom! He's having a great time so far. Is clearly drunk because he texted me all excited about an air fryer - not like him at all! He's off to a Freshers street rave tonight with his flatmates. Relieved that they've all made friends so quickly. As soon as all their parents (Inc me) cleared off, they wasted no time!

Younger ds is devastated, bless him. I feel v sad, but I wouldn't change anything. So excited and happy for DS.

Dropped Ds off at Exeter today. The room is lovely and he's now out with his flatmates to a Freshers party. I'm feeling pretty teary and it was tough laying the dinner table for just the 3 of us but its what he wants and needs now.

@Whiskeyinthejaroh dd is off to that tonight as well.

For someone who hardly went out at home, she’s in the pub with a second group of people of the day after an afternoon with her flatmates.

@Yoloohno My ds didn't go out much at home either. It's so good they're getting stuck in and making friends so quickly!

Exactly, I’d prefer her to be out trying to find her place than sitting inside missing out on freshers.

Sheffield seemed quite friendly and safe when we visited even with a Sheffield united match being on when we went.

@ZittiEBuoni @Lowther @Tindrum Our DD also in Bristol. She's in West Village which includes Clifton.

Back from Manchester after dropping DD yesterday. Four hour drive for us which we didn't even start until gone lunch-time as the goodbyes to DDad, DBrother, DBoyfriend and DDog took five hours....

She had a little cry on the way, as it is all a bit 'off plan' (as anyone from the A Levels results thread will know), and she doesn't know anyone going. Except that by the time we got to her accom, she could see a few people on her SnapMaps that she hadn't realised would be in Manchester. Accom great - onsite car park with unlimited free parking and free trolleys - how about that?! And flatmates seem really nice. First one to see her came up and gave her a big welcome cuddle - I honestly could have kissed her for being so warm.

Was quietly stressing about her room as it was a last minute scramble and we nearly had nothing, so it's the most basic option available, but halls are actually lovely - shared spaces really lovely and her room and ensuite actually pretty bloody nice.

I stayed in a Premier Inn last night as too knackered to drive back to London in the dark and met her this morning to do a big food shop (final hoorah from my wallet!) and then we finished sorting her room before I headed off. I was worried that she wouldn't have anyone to go out with but she called a couple of hours ago to say she was off to a Drum n Bass thing at Factory Night Club. Never been so glad to hear that she is out clubbing in my life!

Hello @SlightlyJaded I remember you from the other thread. And your dd. What a relief for you both that it's panning out well. Long may it continue

That is such a good update @SlightlyJaded how fantastic that she was so welcomed and I'm deeply envious of the trolleys!

@SlightlyJaded glad everything is finally working out for.

DH and I went to Manchester Uni it's where we met it's a lovely city.

Ah mine’s at Manor Hall, there’s a cluster of halls there. If your dd is close they might unwittingly bump into each other 😎

@SlightlyJaded DS it at Manchester uni too. His room is quite basic but the hall is a lovely building to be fair.