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Higher education

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

Uni starters 2024

733 replies

radiator2 · 09/09/2024 12:04

The countdown is on. Uni move in has started for some unis and is right around the corner for others. How are we all feeling? Wishing the best of luck to all freshers!

OP posts:
radiator2 · 21/04/2026 14:07

Nice to hear how everyone’s getting on. Definitely agree here that the step up in second year has been really difficult. In terms of accommodation, DD has been happy in her house this year, had some issues but they generally get on really well & getting a house together next year. It’s mind boggling how fast this year has gone and third year will be here before we know it. @SockFluffInTheBath hope your DS manages to sort it all out. I’m sure everything will work out whatever he decides to do, Uni causes a lot of loneliness especially if grief comes into the picture too.

OP posts:
Fizbosshoes · 21/04/2026 17:33

Sorry to hear how many YP have struggled in second year, especially those dealing with grief and difficult situations Flowers
I hope i dont come across as insensitive but DD seems to have been a lot more settled in year 2. She didnt come home at all between christmas and Easter (11 weeks) which i could have never imagined at the start of last year. We visited a couple of times, and even face timing has become less frequent, although we still message each other multiple times a day.

Can't believe we are nearly at the end of year 2.

HPFA · 21/04/2026 18:00

Fizbosshoes · 21/04/2026 17:33

Sorry to hear how many YP have struggled in second year, especially those dealing with grief and difficult situations Flowers
I hope i dont come across as insensitive but DD seems to have been a lot more settled in year 2. She didnt come home at all between christmas and Easter (11 weeks) which i could have never imagined at the start of last year. We visited a couple of times, and even face timing has become less frequent, although we still message each other multiple times a day.

Can't believe we are nearly at the end of year 2.

Not insensitive at all!

Glad to hear your DD is doing well.

MirandaWest · 23/04/2026 15:34

DD is doing OK at the moment. She had first year going wrong and was having a supplementary first year but she then stopped going to lectures after Christmas. Had a meeting with her senior tutor who basically told her that she had to actually engage as otherwise the university was committing fraud by getting money for her. This seems to have worked and she has been going to lectures and yesterday said she had written one of the essays she needs to do.

So hopefully she will get through and complete first year and then next year she will be a proper 2nd year. She’s sorted for accommodation as staying in the same house as this year. Also she’s going to stop Spanish and just do history:

DH and I are going to see her for the weekend the first weekend of May (she’s doing some music things then) so will see a bit more then.

whilst I don’t want anyone else to have DC suffering it is sort of good that it’s not just DD

TrixieFatell · 23/04/2026 18:47

Sorry to hear some of your yp are having a difficult time, hope it gets better quickly.

Again sorry if this seems insensitive. My yp has had a good second year. They ended up getting a house with two people they loved with in halls and it's worked out well. They are all quite similar in character and get on well and have decided to stay in the same house for third year. They have been home since Easter but we don't see much of them as they have got into a new relationship so they spend half their time round there. I think there are two exams and some coursework to go and that's year two done. Trying to get them to start making plans for after third year is proving a bit challenging. They want to do a masters but are not really looking into it. Given how fast the last two years have gone it will be on us before we know it.

Turmerictolly · 24/04/2026 13:37

Really sorry to hear about some of the health and accommodation issues. It’s so stressful for us as parents when the realities of year 2 kick in. It seems to me the academics are harder and they still have to cook, clean, shop etc. Then they hear about the grad job market and think, is it worth it. Hoping all of them get through and have a restful summer break.

Ds is ok but studying hard again for exams. He still hasn’t secured an internship. His friend has been offered two so he is baffled as to where he is going wrong as he’s stronger academically than the other boy. However, the other boy has worked in hospitality since Yr 13 (out of necessity) so will have gained a lot of soft skills from that. I have subtly pointed out to Ds that he needs to focus on more than the academics these days.

daffodilandtulip · 24/04/2026 16:51

DD has had a good second year. She was meant to be on an industry year for year three but couldn’t get a placement. She applied to so many! So then she had a last minute rush to find accommodation for year three so has taken a studio flat on her own.

She now has the choice to do her industry year in year four or just make it a four year course.

She’s also got into a very lovely, serious relationship and will move in with him for year four (regardless of placement as he’s not a student). She’s very happy.

ShanghaiDiva · 24/04/2026 20:10

Dd has had ups and downs in year two. She secured a paid placement at the end of October and was very excited! End of March the company in Cambridge withdrew all placement offers (despite signed contracts) and she had to start again. She managed to get a second placement (unpaid) and then it was a mad rush to find accommodation.

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