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Higher education

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

Original poster

Parents of Durham freshers 2025

443 replies

MillicentFaucet · 20/08/2025 14:55

We've chatted on a different threads over the past few months so do any anxious/excited/slightly overwhelmed parents want to congregate here for Durham chat?
My DS will be starting an MEng next month and has been allocated to Cuths 🐯(but no confirmation of what type of accommodation he has yet).
He's slowly working his way through registration etc and fretting about the important things like what to wear for matriculation <sigh>
How's everyone else getting on?

OP posts:
Brienneoftarthismyhero · 23/09/2025 19:32

MillicentFaucet · 22/09/2025 23:04

Just watched them get spanked on University Challenge
Swings and roundabouts I suppose 😁

Show quote history

Ha, we watched it too!!

Brienneoftarthismyhero · 23/09/2025 19:36

I think we will also need vacuum bags. Going to see how everything fits tomorrow.

Her76 · 23/09/2025 20:48

We used vacuum bags for all the bulky stuff - bedding , pillows , blankets , jackets . Great storage saving . Still so many bags , I worry where it will all fit 😂🫣

Skybluegreen · 23/09/2025 22:43

We seem to have an ever expanding list of things to take. DS is pretty low maintenance but I’m still not sure we’ll fit everything in the car. At least he’s in catered accommodation so we don’t need a lot of kitchen items too.

We’re on the final countdown after what feels like such a long wait since results day. DS is looking forward to it so much & can’t wait to get stuck in. He’s a lot more excited about freshers week than the actual studying at the moment though 🤣

MollyButton · 24/09/2025 03:01

My car is part packed as we’re early arrivals. I worry a bit about the box the monitor is in when it gets unpacked at the other end.
And we even booked a Flu jab for tomorrow

Dery · 24/09/2025 07:06

@MollyButton - have a good trip up!

Original poster
MillicentFaucet · 24/09/2025 07:54

Skybluegreen · 23/09/2025 22:43

We seem to have an ever expanding list of things to take. DS is pretty low maintenance but I’m still not sure we’ll fit everything in the car. At least he’s in catered accommodation so we don’t need a lot of kitchen items too.

We’re on the final countdown after what feels like such a long wait since results day. DS is looking forward to it so much & can’t wait to get stuck in. He’s a lot more excited about freshers week than the actual studying at the moment though 🤣

This sounds exactly like my DS @Skybluegreen lots of chat about various club nights etc but no progress with finding out the spec for a new laptop 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
MillicentFaucet · 24/09/2025 08:07

Best wishes for today @MollyButton
I've looked at some of the JCR instas and there's a lot of events for the early movers-in, hope your DD has a great time

OP posts:
BigHeroSix · 24/09/2025 09:53

MollyButton · 24/09/2025 03:01

My car is part packed as we’re early arrivals. I worry a bit about the box the monitor is in when it gets unpacked at the other end.
And we even booked a Flu jab for tomorrow

Hope you have a smooth journey today!

Dd has asked if I can do a few meals to get her through the first week, which we can take up in a cool box. We also have an ever expanding stack of boxes in our hall!

Supersoarer · 25/09/2025 18:52

Hi, has anyone had a further email today confirming accommodation? My YP had one late afternoon today but as with a few of the communications, it's as clear as mud! 😀

Skybluegreen · 25/09/2025 20:09

Supersoarer · 25/09/2025 18:52

Hi, has anyone had a further email today confirming accommodation? My YP had one late afternoon today but as with a few of the communications, it's as clear as mud! 😀

DS had an email to let him know which accommodation block he’s in. To be fair, he wasn’t expecting to find out until he got there on Sunday so it hasn’t really made any difference.

MollyButton · 25/09/2025 20:40

I’m glad to say Freps unpacked my car in 15 mins and DDs room was quite a way from the entrance. Going well so far.

Brienneoftarthismyhero · 27/09/2025 20:22

How did everyone get on? For us, drop off went smoothly. Freps were fantastic at South college and DD has settled in well. Was strange driving away, but happy to see her so pleased with the accommodation and already making friends 🥰

BeverleyHofstadter · 27/09/2025 21:02

It went well. We were all too excited to shed any tears. Everyone at the college seemed lovely and all of the freshers were nervous but keen to meet each other.

On the way there I had said to DS ‘By the end of today you will have made friends you can’t even imagine now’. I obviously followed it up with no worries if he couldn’t, but honestly, the other Trevs freshers and people on his landing seemed exactly the kind of people DS would like to be friends with. I just hope he remembers to work…

BigHeroSix · 27/09/2025 22:41

All good here. Traffic fine (I thought we might get stuck at Lancaster, who are dropping off this weekend too, but didn't). We helped dd unpack then went to do a food shop, whilst she met her flatmates. She seemed happy when we said goodbye - busy schedule for the next week!

Dery · 27/09/2025 23:08

We’ve dropped also, at John Snow. Freps were very friendly and efficient unloading the car and taking daughter up to her room. Daughter is very, very independent and we did not get to see her room but we saw her a couple of hours after drop-off so she could hand back some empty luggage and she seemed to be settling well.

Her76 · 28/09/2025 07:40

Move in was a bliss at St. Aidan’s . We decided to go early afternoon and it went very well , freps , staff were Amaizing and very kind to the freshers , superb organisation . The place was buzzing with positivity and happiness . Room decent , clean , plenty of storage which is great . Child happy but I feel a bit nervous , it is only the first day . Saying goodbye was sad , I held back the tears as didn’t want to upset him . Good luck to all of them , Durham is a fantastic place .

Dery · 28/09/2025 08:07

@Brienneoftarthismyhero - we were dropping at John Snow. I was so
impressed with what i saw at South and John Snow. So friendly, efficient and buzzy. I also love how JS and South are right next to each other and share facilities but also very distinct.

It sounds like it was the same at all the colleges. Like @Her76, i’m very excited but a bit nervous for DD but i think that’s normal.

@MillicentFaucet - is your DS now installed at Cuths or is that today?

Wishing all our DCs an amazing time!

BigHeroSix · 28/09/2025 08:52

@Dery , when we drove around the corner to join the queue for the car park at John Snow, it was the friendliness and welcoming nature of the Freps, when they took dd to get registered, that made me feel huge, huge relief. Freps were all busy so we unpacked our car ourselves but I was so guilty about the growing queue that as soon as the boot was empty, I sent dh to get it parked elsewhere. Dd on 3rd floor, so we got a good workout taking her bags and boxes up all of the stairs!

Dery · 28/09/2025 10:45

@BigHeroSix - same: the minute i saw the Freps with their signs, cheering and mascots at the t-junction, i thought this will be great and then when the Freps whisked daughter off from the car, i felt very reassured and excited for her.

RayonSunrise · 28/09/2025 15:09

Well, we’ve left DD to settle into Grey and so far she seems to be perfectly happy to have seen us roll away! Hope all our freshers are off to a good start.

Original poster
MillicentFaucet · 28/09/2025 16:39

Dery · 28/09/2025 08:07

@Brienneoftarthismyhero - we were dropping at John Snow. I was so
impressed with what i saw at South and John Snow. So friendly, efficient and buzzy. I also love how JS and South are right next to each other and share facilities but also very distinct.

It sounds like it was the same at all the colleges. Like @Her76, i’m very excited but a bit nervous for DD but i think that’s normal.

@MillicentFaucet - is your DS now installed at Cuths or is that today?

Wishing all our DCs an amazing time!

Dropped off this morning, glorious sunshine, excellent vibe on the Bailey and so well organized. I stayed a bit to help set up his room (it's directly above the bar 😱) then we went for lunch. Once I'd fed him & paid for his freshers wristband I was sent home but I'll see him again tomorrow as he feels he needs more coathangers and I am going into town anyway. I've got a feeling this delivery service could become a regular thing...

OP posts:
Dery · 28/09/2025 16:44

@MillicentFaucet - sounds perfect!

Brienneoftarthismyhero · 28/09/2025 16:50

Sounds like drop offs went well across different colleges. DD sent some beautiful pictures of Durham today, she went for a walk with her new friends. We didn’t think to bring things like toilet brush and hand soap so she had to get some from Poundland. She shares a bathroom with one other girl and we assumed they would have provided at least a toilet brush as toilets are only cleaned 3 times a week.
As a parent I miss her loads already!! I know it gets easier but for now it’s a little empty at home. The dog is getting extra love and cuddles

KittyMcKitty · 28/09/2025 17:12

Sounds like all the move ins went well! Dd is a 3rd yr at Chads and is frepping for the 2nd year - she’s been up for nearly 2 weeks getting things ready and was very excited for Freshers Sunday which is always a massive day with college matriculation and a formal!