Going to University Guide for Dummies

[PublicHare]

Please can someone point me in the right direction. DC has applied to go to University and has been offered a conditional place and accepted. Same DC has also been highlighted as having special needs and we are going through the long winded diagnosis route.

Since before Easter got derailed by life (other DC in accident with life changing injuries, DP elderly, one in and out of hospital, other with dementia whilst they're living in a house with major building works which I'm project managing along with their entire lives, it seems).

Is there a website/forum/group you can point me to which will take me through the steps and processes. I'm pretty sure DC has been getting emails through but been overwhelmed by them.

Thanks.

Are you / they on top of the Student Loan process? That’s rather crucial. (I can’t quite remember but they may need an up to date passport for ID purposes - be sure to find out.)

Once they’ve accepted a place you want information specific to that university and course, rather than generalities. There will be deadlines for choosing and confirming accommodation. Probably communications from their subject department.

So you need to go through all the emails or other communications your young person will be receiving- because none will be sent to you.

The Student Room website is often recommended - others will be able to advise on that. It’s also likely there will be countless YouTube videos made by students at that place / on that course / in the various types of accommodation on offer - these should be helpful in making choices.

It is an awful lot of admin - and they do need to pay attention to deadlines, as missing them can cause pointless stress and difficulty. The main thing is that they agree to allow you to assist. And that you then ensure you have seen emails and responses with your own eyes, rather than just assuming things have been done.

https://www.ucas.com/discover/advice-for-parents-guardians-and-carers

But the OP’s child has already been offered a place and accepted it.

Really, there’s not much to do yet. He can apply for the loan and then as he’s accepted the offer he can accept it on the portal when he gets the results on results day. If he doesn’t get the grades then he might get his insurance place so he will just need to accept that on the portal. If he gets in to neither, then he can go through clearing on the day.

He can look on the university website now and see what the process is for accommodation and then start that if necessary. They all have different ways of applying and allocating it.

on results day, he should collect his results sooner rather than later in case he doesn’t get the grades he needs.

Try not to get swept up in the panic for buying loads of stuff for university.

UCAS has guides online. Assuming not in Scotland or overseas, there is Student Finance to apply for, for loans to cover fees and towards maintenance costs, and you may need to be part of the assessment process. Make sure he ticks the DSA box as that starts the process for learning support funding.

Have they applied for accommodation? at Firm choice or possibly insurance , most guarantee first years accommodation in halls if they meet a deadline, often even post results day. Most require student to submit a shortlist of preferences.

Learning support operates differently at uni. DSA (as above) can provide direct funding towards a mentor, equipment and practical support but there is a Needs Assessment required which could be arranged before term to avoid delays in setting it up. Access arrangements like extra time in assessments and extended deadlines can be arranged between the Student Support team and the department at the uni.

WIWIKAU (what I wish I knew about university) is a group on Facebook for people like you OP

I know. I can read.

She wants a website to take her through the steps and processes. That is a website that takes her through the steps and processes. That is literally her question.

It’s not me that hasn’t answered it, it’s you!

My best advice is: they will need so much less stuff than you think and it all has to be transported back and forth between start and end of Summer holidays. 1 plate, 1 glass, 1 spoon, 1 fork, 1 knife etc is fine. Keep the possessions simple.
Find out about the accommodation deadline for the university student accommodation. When to make choices for this.

I agee WIWIKAU on Facebook

I'm pretty sure DC has been getting emails through but been overwhelmed by them.

Don't be tempted to do all the email reading & answering for your DC. Work with them to find ways to conquer the overwhelm - using folders, setting reminders or flags, and so on. Setting maybe 30 minutes a day to skim through emails ad sort them into IMPORTANT or "answer later." If you have a system for managing work /personal emails, show your DC!

Your DC will need to manage this him/herself at university as we now communicate everything to student's university email addresses - and a lot of the information can be important.

HI @PublicHare and sorry you have been going through such a lot.

I agree with others, the main things to do are

• Student finance – make sure DC has created an account and applied. If you are going to support a maintenance loan as well as tuition fees (ofc neither is compulsory but at least the fees is usual) then you will need to be happy to supply info (just your NINO tbh)
• Uni accommodation – this varies and there is no one way it is done. Some unis ask for preferences way before A levels and others not until after results are in. Try to find out which it is (if you share the uni here posters may know). If the former, support your DC to look now, considering available ££ as well as what they would like (!) and submit choices. If the latter (eg Loughborough where DS is) then again, it's worth checking out what accomm there is and maybe pulling together some prefs. And check out how the process is done (I think Lboro has refined its process since DS started, for example)

WIWIKAU on Facebook as mentioned above is a godsend (will also drive you nuts). But apparently no question is too dumb. But do try and Google first because some really ARE dumb!
Accommodation is the next hurdle, depending on which uni as some will have sorted that already. Make sure your YP is keeping an eye on spam box - so many miss important emails from different departments. Have they applied for DSA? This would have been when they applied for student finance as it’s approved by them, but they need a confirmed diagnosis. This is not monetary aid but for software and other aids that may help. Reach out to the disability team at the uni too (your child, not you).

You Guys, this is all so useful and helpful, I could cry, thank you 💐