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.

Is there a list anywhere ?
I did see one years ago on mn which was amazing but to soon for us

@manywanderings did you find a pan without the coating

I am also starting to worry about logistics as we don't have a car! I think I am going to have to hire one. DS assumed we were going by train but I'm not sure that's going to be possible!!

Hello everyone! I always enjoy 'cohort' support threads. My DS is about to start at uni but after a gap-year; am I okay to hop on here even though he was in another school-year?

@temperedolive Your DC2 sounds like my DD in reverse! She is an art-school graduate who is about to be an au-pair for a year!

This might be repeating from the earlier thread, but have your DC all signed up for the free Meningitis B vaccine? If not, good to do it soon as it needs a second part after four weeks.

@PhotoDad, of course, you are very welcome! Where is your DS going?

DS had his first dose privately the day before they announced the NHS programme. He needs to book himself for his second dose (hopefully free this time!) before he goes off to uni. I know it should be ideally at least two weeks before they start for the immunity to kick in.

Hi @PhotoDad - sure I recognise your name, maybe from lurking on last year’s A level threads. Good reminder about the Meningitis. Where is your DS going and what is he studying? Has his accommodation all been sorted for months? I think a Gap year might be the less stressful way to go. All this uncertainty until one month before move in date is unsettling.

I am no longer able to drive due to my eyesight and df was going to drive her but had to have eye surgery last week and can't drive atm. We may get the train but there is no direct train to St Andrews and it will take about 7 hours.

Dd3 has her second meningitis jab this week and I've bought 2 months supply of immune support gummies. My oldest 2 never had a day's sickness living at home but were constantly ill at university. Dd3 is catered so I'm assuming she'll get the main goodness from the catered meals. She only has to cook Saturday and Sunday night.

Thanks for reminding me I need to get DDS SEDOND ONE also

DS is going to Cambridge for Natural Sciences. His college provides accommodation for the whole course, which is a relief (although he will have to clear all his stuff out at the end of every term). My DD was at Anglia Ruskin's art-school and only had first year in halls; after that, the rent in Cambridge was extortionate, for a shoebox room!

We live in the North-East, so it's a moderately long haul but just about manageable in a day there-and-back. Good luck to those with further distances! (I grew up in the Channel Islands which presented interesting challenges when I was at uni on "the mainland.")

@PhotoDad my oldest two both went to Cambridge and it was a pain having to go back and forth. Dd1 also had bedbugs in her second year and she was moved in and out of her accommodation a few times. Parking can be a nightmare. Dd1 was at Downing which was okay but dd2 was at Pembroke which was a lot more stressful.

The bedbugs sound horrible! DS is at a newer city-edge college so parking should be okay. He is considering putting his stuff in self-storage for the vacations and getting the train, anyway. We'll see how it turns out. At least he's used to living out of a suitcase and being self-sufficient from his gap year (working overseas for seven months and then travelling with the money he'd made).

Hello everyone! Joining from the Year 13 support thread - thanks @ComingInByAnsible for starting this thread, it's a great idea.

My DD is actually taking a gap year before starting at Cambridge, but the year 13 thread was a lovely supportive thread and I'd really like to be a part of this one in preparation for when she goes.

Found you all! Glad to hear all the plans coming together!

DS is going to be doing an engineering degree apprenticeship, and he will be moving out, at least for the first year - so we have to do much of the same kind of shopping! I think have 3 weeks before he starts.

We’ve sorted bedding more or less. Lidl are apparently selling their mattress toppers next week if that’s of interest. He isn’t bothered about buying anything decor related and doesn’t have much he wants to take from home, so sounds like he will be embracing minimalism from the start!

@MiniMidiMaxi dd3 is of the minimalist type. Ds though! Every year when he moved accommodation there was even more than the previous year! He has graduated now and we have most of his stuff here while he is living in a hmo but I believe that is filling up fast.

Thanks for thread @ComingInByAnsible

It’s such a lovely, supportive bunch of people. No questions or comments are out of bounds and I’ve learnt a lot along the way, especially from @ventress who I’m thinking about and sending love to her and her family. Seeing everyone’s plans come together is so exciting.

DS was thrilled but his words ‘not surprised’ by his grades and his next 4 years are all mapped out now. He’s off sports coaching this winter, then will take up his place in Warwick in 2027. A couple of people have said that he ought to reapply to Oxford with his 4 A⭐️ in hand, but he’s likely to be out of the country for the TMUA sittings and can’t guarantee bring available should he get an interview. Fortunately he’s very happy with Warwick and doesn’t want to jeopardise that place.

I’m already planning ahead and thinking that we’ll look for plates, glasses etc in local charity shops so they’re unlikely to be the same as anyone else’s!

He’s had his first MenB jab and had a date for his second, thanks for the reminder @PhotoDad. I did wonder about delaying it for a year for maximum effectiveness but thought it was daft to not accept the current offer.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5541130-uni-recipes-please-add-to-this-anything-cheap-and-easy-to-prepare?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share
This is useful for any new joiners.
DS is going to Newcastle but we live here (on the coast) so happy to answer any questions for people coming up here.

DD is off to Durham to study Biology and is also apprehensive and a bit teary. Stress had a difficult educational journey up to now and has anxiety, but the good thing is that she's excited despite all that and will only be 45 mins away by train.

All of you with kids off to York, it's a wonderful city. It's extremely safe and welcoming. I'm kinda of annoyed to live here because I think it's a perfect place to soft launch adulthood! And the uni is great.

Place marking!

Hey @gingercat02 DD is coming to Newcastle and is very excited! Her dad was there as an undergrad so is very pleased too. Is your son going into halls?

Yes he is, we all think you miss out on too much living at home, and a taxi home would cost about £40.
Its a great city to grow up in. I came here at 22 and never left.

Wow well done to her. Newcastle is a fantastic uni and student city !

In terms of pots DS is going to get our old ones. I have already bought new ones for ourselves over the course of the past year. It is partly due to DS's attempts at cooking that we needed new pots anyway.

Several of DS's close friends will go to the Newcastle University medical school. It will be a lovely group. @bluefineliner @gingercat02 @postitnot

DS has been allocated his last and most expensive choice of accommodation at York. It is apparently the most boisterous place. He, of course, wanted a quiet place and wanted to give up rugby. We shall see.
@WaxMeltsMelting Are you pleased with your accommodation?

DS is so happy that he can continue Econ that he is now planning his Masters. He doesn't care a jot about his A-levels and plans to reinvent himself. 😍
I hope all our YP can get over their disappointments and come out stronger ⚘️