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 😬

My dd is not a clubber either. She has opted for the games night with the nerdy types at her York college tonight instead of going clubbing!

DS2 goes tomorrow, to Sheffield. I think he's quite looking forward to it although he's leaving his girlfriend behind.
DD is taking him which is probably better than me going 😂

@Chiaseedling @ZittiEBuoni @Tindrum DD is at a city centre student accommodation with a mixture of UWE, Bristol and BIMM students. She is making friendships with her flatmates of 9. Apparently cooking Chinese, burning pizza, setting off the fire alarm and drinking hot chocolate. A group of them are going out tomorrow night. It's a relief, as I felt awful leaving her alone not meeting anyone in her flat but it seems they are all making an effort to at least look out for each other and explore the city centre. She was gushing about the library today - is this my child? First lecture tomorrow at 10. She has just gone out again!

Dd is really settling in and making friends. Sheffield seems really friendly.

After the street rave last night it’s the lead mill tonight.

My DS is at York. He's also never been partying or even drank alcohol. He's determined Uni won't change him. He prefers games and spending time on his PC. Hope your DS is more settled today.

That sounds good 😊 I’m a bit worried he’s already missed a couple of days but fingers crossed he’ll get straight into it!!

I think there’s so much going on a couple of days won’t matter.

I don’t think our local unis have even started freshers yet.

Actually that last post sounds a bit dramatic, but for some reason I can't edit it. I let them know that he was struggling and they called him and met up with him for a chat. Anyway, the point was that the pastoral care seems pretty good.

I’m actually going to stop reading these threads and wiwikau for a bit I think. It’s making me anxious! I want DS to have a great time but there will be times when he doesn’t, that’s life. Reading these threads though is making me feel like I will need to constantly monitor the situation.

my post above wasn’t directed at anyone btw. Of course if you know your child is really struggling getting help is the right thing to do

I am so sorry. DS is fine. They are all so different and I was just trying to help.

No honestly I’m sorry, it wasn’t directed at you. I’m glad your DS is ok and had someone checking in on him

Ugh. Wouldn't you know it. DS' nice quiet flat has been invaded by a late-arriving douchebag. He went out last night, forgot his key and was banging on the flat door at 3am to be let in, brought a girl back with him and they proceeded to talk really loudly.

Now hoping this guy can be persuaded to put his name on the waiting list to move out of the quiet block.

Maybe the rest of the flat can organise a nice loud Sunday morning worship session (tambourines if they can) with singing.

Sounds like a fine idea @BabyStopCryin and no need to limit it to Sunday, they can cycle through the world's major religions choosing a different day of worship every day.

I'd be seriously doing some hoovering this morning right outside the guy's room.

Urgh @tribpot that happened to DD last year. Two boys from the same secondary school (apparently a school that feeds about half its kids to the same university so a ready made group of people who all know each other) took over the kitchen and communal area completely having parties with all their schoolmates every night to the point that the other kids were eating dinner either in their rooms or at 3pm just to get a chair.
Tiger Mother here resisted (with difficulty 😂) getting involved but it all ironed itself out and the 2 boys ended up not being part of the house group at all. Didn't join in the Christmas dinner the others did, never went out with them. Nothing. The only 2 that DD has never mentioned and doesn't know (or care) where they're living next year.

To those worrying that their kids won't find their people...in 1984 I started uni and didn't go to one single Fresher's event. Not my thing. I first went out (out) 😂 towards the Christmas.

On Saturday I'm meeting my best friends in the whole world with whom I speak daily, even though we live in different places (countries)

One is my roommate from 1984, one is the girl who we followed (bright coloured coat walking in front) the first morning of lectures because we were lost, and one is a girl I got talking to the first week in the foyer of the department building.

Never went out with any of them in Freshers 😂

So grim @HicIocusEst . Fortunately as this is a designated quiet block, if this lad takes up any of those antics they will be able to report him.

@Yoloohno @Susiesue61 dd is at Sheffield and has definitely found it super friendly too.

Good! The sooner the better.

DS, not DD, but ok so far. He has some mental health issues which is why he deferred and we weren’t even sure if he’d actually go this year. He just needs to settle a bit and get into the course and he’ll prob be fine. He likes three of his flatmates (2 are international girls who do other stuff), and has met a few other people. He’s got his course intro and mixer today so that should be interesting.
what about your DC?

Ooh yes! Hare Krishna and a Dawn Call to prayer for starters. Salvation Army brass band to follow. Plus conversations about ‘have you met God?’ At every opportunity.

A quiet block is a brilliant idea. If the students understand the rules of course!

DSs flat has a notice board: ‘NO SMOKING’ (fine) and ‘do NOT jump to other balconies’ which is a bit worrying.

Reminds me of a story my uncle told when he was at Cambridge fifty years ago. A drunken student decided he needed pastoral support from the college chaplain at 2am. So for the rest of the term the Chaplain woke him up for early matins at 6am every Sunday.

Reminds me of the time we moved into a new flat opposite a beautiful church.

We didn’t realise it was part of a convent who had ‘early bells’ at 6:00am 6 days a week.

Reading all these posts makes me glad that one of the ‘pros’ in the description of DD’s room was ‘thick walls’. 😀She will find out how effective they are when she moves in middle of next week.