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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Glasgow uni freshers week

14 replies

Hapagirl48 · 08/09/2024 17:18

Hi all. My DD is starting Glasgow uni next week and is commuting from home. She’s having a little wobble now about freshers week though. She thinks a lot of the kids will move into their accommodation at the weekend, make friends and be ready to hit the town on Monday. She’s probably not wrong but how do kids commuting from home get involved? So much has changed since my uni days. I’m keen to hear from parents who had kids commute from home. Thanks!!

OP posts:

SandyIrving · 08/09/2024 17:44

My DS2 started in 2017 and they ran events for commuting students. Plus he had some school friends too. At least he had someone to go to other things with. Met his lasting friends later thru subject and sport.

NewNameNewDrivel · 08/09/2024 17:47

I did this in the 90s and it was absolutely brilliant. No worries at all about not keeping up socially. It was a blast from start to finish. Honestly I wish I could be there again (being 18 again). LOL.

There is also no difference at all between the grades of commuters and those living locally.

The only difference that I noticed is that when the snow fell very heavily I still arrived on time and the kid that had a 5 minute walk were late, which I thought was hilarious.

Wish her luck from me. I had the best time at Glasgow and I'm sure she will have a wonderful time too.

HelenHywater · 08/09/2024 17:50

Are there not Fresher events over the weekend? My dd is starting at Glasgow next week and I'm taking her up on Friday - she's adamant that's when Freshers starts!

In any case, I'd not worry if I were you, I don't think lasting friendships will be made over the first weekend!

JEA1980 · 08/09/2024 19:15

Hey, my daughter is starting GU too next week and commuting from Kilwinning. Her friends are all at other unis. She is going to attend as much as possible. What is your daughter studying? There will be lots of young people in the same boat.

Precipice · 08/09/2024 19:24

To be honest, I doubt there'll be that much making friends Sunday-to-Monday or even in that week at all. Only for some people.

Her best avenues for making friends are joining some societies (or just going along to some events. Some public lectures have a small wine reception afterwards to talk with the other attendees), or trying to talk to people near her in her lectures and her tutorials before/after the class starts.

Original poster

Hapagirl48 · 08/09/2024 19:35

Thanks everyone. It's great to hear these things. My DD is an over thinker so I think she's worrying too much but it's good to be able to put her mind to rest. @JEA1980 my DD is doing Geography. @HelenHywater I'm not sure exactly when they begin. She's planning to go in on Monday 16. Thanks for the best wishes and reassuring words all.

OP posts:

StoorieHoose · 09/09/2024 20:48

If she looks on the union webpages/socials there are events for commuting students and I'm sure she will find friends through societies. My daughter who is going to U of G has booked to attend a pop girlies society event and she is going alone and hopes to meet new friends

Investinmyself · 09/09/2024 21:38

https://www.glasgowunisrc.org/ents/event/3020/
There’s some events for local
live at home students inc an event all afternoon on 13th.
Mine moves into her accommodation in Glasgow on 13th.

Home Students' Day (Local Student Orientation)

https://www.glasgowunisrc.org/ents/event/3020

Cazziebo · 09/09/2024 22:02

Glasgow has a high percentage of students who live at home and commute to uni. I wouldn't worry about it. Check out the late bus timetable. The unions used to have some sleeping cubicles to rent per night.

If she has half the fun I had at Glasgow, she'll have a great time!

LibertyStars · 09/09/2024 22:09

Is she is the Glasgow Freshers 2024 FB group? Lots of spin off WhatsApps etc from that where people are making social plans.

Original poster

Hapagirl48 · 10/09/2024 16:07

Thanks for the great info guys. I've forwarded her the info about home students. There's a bus that runs all night so that's good. I had a look for sleep cubicles at the union and couldn't see anything online but what a great idea! Maybe that will become clearer once she starts.

OP posts:

pajamasandamartini · 10/09/2024 16:14

My daughter is travelling so can't move in until Monday 16th. I suspect I'll be unpacking while she joins in.

NewNameNewDrivel · 11/09/2024 01:05

When I went to fresher's week I just found a society that was the nearest to my interest. For me it was the Christian Union for Scientists and Engineers. I stayed with them for the whole four years and the society room was like a home from home. It was really good. The boy who was running it when I started fresher's week seemed like demi-God at the time because he was so charismatic and owned a unicycle. Over the years I came to be one of the older ones, but it was always a very comfy place to go.

WinnyMoms · 14/09/2024 00:01

Back when I was applying to unis in the late 1980s I read that Glasgow was the only one that had a kind of drunk tank - a dorm of rooms for students too drunk to get home. I have to admit it completely put me off applying there, but if they still have something like this, maybe she can use it (even if she's not officially drunk)?

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