Fledglings 2026 - support, discussion and looking after each other

[ComingInByAnsible]

A thread for parents of Year 13 leavers as they go on to universities, apprenticeships and other new adventures.

DS is off to Warwick to study PPE.

They also need ID to get into the student union plus regular local bars and clubs. Some students will be under 18 so they can’t go into the Student union at all unless they’re able to slip in or security is lax but they’re pretty strict usually and security is tight for everyone’s safety not just for the age thing.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn so sorry to hear that. I’ve been looking out for you as I know things were tough on results day with the disappointment. Sending positive vibes and hoping your ds can accept and adapt as I’m sure he will end up loving Notts x

That’s very kind @Onthesofawithmydog thank you. 💐

Here the accommodation payment is due 1st October. The loan isn't sent to them until they register at the University on move in day and then takes 3 days to clear - so timing a bit tight for us! Son will be using the maintenance loan to pay the accommodation each term (there will be a few pennies left over!) and we will be sending him money weekly to live on. Weekly because if we send it monthly he'll probably run out too quickly.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn hope it all works out for your son. Not recently, but my cousin and several friends went to Nottingham and all had a brilliant time there x

Thanks all! On the Sussex site it just said payment was due "during registration" but DS has already started the registration process. It sounds standard that payment is not due before the start of term and DS is keeping on top of emails so I'm sure he's not missed anything.

The final registration part of the process is enrolling in person once you arrive at uni with your ID.

Same here I can’t pay the accommodation until the loan comes, they will have to wait ! Loan fully covers with some to spare so it will all come to me and I’ll pay accom then dole out the weekly maintenance payments every Monday. Accom was significantly cheaper than I had feared which has made life so much easier - have about £2k maintenance after accommodation

I think son's university will have to wait as well! Google tells me they are ok with it being paid a few days late (I hope!). How come it gets paid to you rather than direct to the student? That would be handy.

DD is under strict instructions to transfer it all to me! I will then pay accom on cash back credit card 😊

Checking in!

My DS is getting bombarded with emails from the uni and halls and calls to check into social media and WhatsApp groups. I think he is finding it quite overwhelming!

His last request was that he wanted to take his PC with him. It's massive! I've agreed to the monitor but not the PC as he will have a lap top. I think it's for gaming. But the compromise I've reached is that he doesn't take it but if he finds that he needs it he will have to take it back with him when he comes for a visit at some point.

@AuntyBulgaria DS wants his PC too, DH said take the laptop, monitor and keyboard, just as good, less space and the reply was, but what about Football Manager? You may not be wrong.
He is taking his PS5.

@gingercat02 DS doesn't currently have a PS5 though he has suggested that he buys one with his loan. I did remind him that was for food/living. But we shall see. I have a feeling some rather silly budgeting decisions will be made in the early days.

DS is trying to decide which guitar(s) he wants to take!

DS thought at the time he might take his PS5 after Christmas term in first year but didn’t and found he had absolutely no time to game. He played very rarely on his laptop and Switch and said he’d never have the time on his PS5 so never took it.

Welcome to everyone joining, new posters and posters from previous threads!

DS has now got his accommodation allocation at Warwick, which he is very happy about and can finally start to plan his packing. Looking forward to making use of some of the excellent suggestions on this thread!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn, so sorry to hear about your DS’ situation. Nottingham is a great university but it’s tough when they’ve had their heart set on something. Hope the final remark comes through quickly and that it all works out well for your DS. 💐

@AuntyBulgaria, lots of uni group WhatsApp messages and uni emails here too, DS is finding it a bit annoying but not annoying enough to mute the groups. He also needs to decide on the devices to take.

@PhotoDad, similar dilemma is happening in our house along with negotiations as some guitars are shared across the family!

Son wants to take his PC as well. It is not going to fit in the car! To be fair he prefers typing on a proper keyboard and uses the screen as a tv - and a laptop won't play games. I don't think he'll have much time for games either.

DDs biggest stress right now is how to get period underwear washed and dried.....
Followed by how she will get there as DH has broken his leg, so can't drive and I can't drive. ......

DD is pretty organised in many ways - she sorted out the meningitis vaccinations, a dental check-up, a supply of asthma medication and is finishing off work commitments, all with little or no prompting from me. But now she's a ball of stress about packing her belongings. She's decided she needs to bring every last possession. She may have to learn to sleep standing up in her student accommodation. I'm telling to keep it minimal, that the more she brings, the more she'll have to deal with at the end of the year, and she will be able to buy what she needs when there, but she tells me that I don't understand and she needs everything.

I was already worried about driving there and my mother has been telling me on the phone how anxious she is about me doing it, which doesn't exactly help.

And I applied for a new job, which would require a house move, because it is more money and it will be just me, so why not shake things up, and now I have an interview and am thinking that it might shaking things up too much.

This does not feel like a relaxing time.

Morning all. Decision has been made, Notts it is! We have been doing some shopping and getting the admin sorted and DS has come around to being more positive now. He's been given a good room so that sweetens things a bit and has signed up to the app where you can see who is going to be in your halls. Moving day is three weeks tomorrow which sounds awfully close!

We haven't discussed him taking his gaming PC, I'm not keen as I think he should be focussed on uni for the first term at least and then maybe he can take it up after Christmas. Does that sound reasonable?? He has a laptop for normal work.

@hels71 when is the moving in date? (sorry of I've missed that). Will your DH be able to drive then?

Wow I have missed lots need to get reading.
DS heard back from college he got regraded to an A in accoutancy so very happy. He also got a temporary job 19 hrs a week at Tesco so can earn some money while still tryung to find an apprentiship.
Hope its all going well with those heading to uni. Happy planning for those taking a gap year. And good luck to those applying for jobs.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn move in date the 12th...very unlikely he'll be driving. A friend can take her on the 13th, but she's worried about arriving later than everyone else....

@hels71 is train/flying an option? I am the other thread about taking child to uni by train as that is what we will be doing - some helpful advice on there.