DD1 starting uni in September - what will she need?

[NorthernNell]

DD1 failed to get any offers for uni so we had resigned ourselves to a gap year and reapplying for the next acedemic year,she got 5Bs so took a shot at clearing and she is now going to be starting Liverpool Uni in september - we are all thrilled but I am now in a flat spin, haven't had to think about this at all, now I don't know what she'll need - she's decided on catered halls so at least the full dinnerservice and cutlery etc is not going to have to trog over the Pennines, but what about an iron? or an ironing board? - will she manage without a lap top or should we try and get one staight away? ARGH!

Any advice from someone who has done this would be appreciated! I don't know anyone whose DC has gone to uniand I could ask.

My lovely neice is off to Reading and has downloaded a SEVEN page list, only to be informed by her mother that she won't need half of it!!

Only came on to say, Congratulations NN DD, Well done you!!

I went to uni in Liverpool many moons ago and stayed for many happy years; have fun and get as much as you can from uni on all sorts of levels xx

Some one will be along who knows about these things.

Thanks Earthymama - if I start thinking too hard the tears start! My baby off to uni - look there I go again -where are my tissues?

Glad to hear your daughter got a place through clearing. When my sons went to Uni I sent them off with a "starter pack" of food, basics for the cupboard and fresh stuff just for the first few days, or does "catered halls"mean that she doesn't have to cook for herself. Whatever she'll need coffee/tea/biscuits/snacks etc. Extra coffee mugs are a good idea so she can loan them to folk who haven't thought to bring them and good way of making friends.

she will probably need an iron but I wouldn't panic - she's not going to the dark side of the moon and you can always get her what she needs once she's moved in and seen what is and isn't provided.

I would however say that a laptop is an absolute must, for her course work and also to keep in touch with family and friends. Being able to e mail her will be really important for you too. It wasn't invented when my sons went but would have been so helpful as in my experience it was a stressful time for me, wondering if they were OK etc.

Hope all goes well

A kind size rolling machine and lots of condoms

That probably doesn't help.

Well done!

king not kind

• sticks fingers in ears and hums loudly - I'm more worried about the number of vodka bottles that may be going with her!

Oh yes extra bottles of vodka good way to make more freinds in addition to the mug freinds .

Quite often the halls have ironing boards and irons, that will be fine to start with, she may want her own iron in a bit if she is fussed as someone will wreck or nick the communal iron.

If it is shared bathrooms a good hanging wash bag is handy as if she leaves her toiletries in the shared bathroom someone else will use them all up.

Towels,
Tea towels,
over the door hooks or radiator rack for drying towels and knickers on.

I've never posted here before but I started uni four years ago in Manchester, just finished masters, so thought I could tell you what I found useful to take!
Congrats to your daughter for getting into liverpool, i've got some friends there who all had a fab time.
Ironing board - most halls are arranged into 'flats' and there is often an ironing board already there. In my halls, we all pooled our money to buy things like ironing board / iron since between the 8 of us, we only needed one. Tbh not a lot of irnoning got done anyway.
Laptop - not essential as most unis have loads of computer clusters, but i think it does make things a lot easier if you're working on essays late at night. Also v. good for emailing friends from home etc.
Other things - definitely some plates and mugs etc - I wasn't in catered halls but knew people that did and sometimes they'd miss the hall meal times, esp. breakfast, so needed to cook then. Also towels, bed linen, blutak (for posters), coathangers, lamp for room (I also remember having to buy a gang socket cos my hall room only had one socket)
My mum took me to do a 'big shop' when we arrrived at uni (all the supermarkets around have cheap offers on toasters etc at start of term btw) but it was a bit pointless really - every one else's mum in flat had done same and we ended up with enough of massive bags of pasta, coffee etc. to last us the whole year. But she did buy me loads of wine which was brill for Fresher's week!
Hth.

Useful suggestions from student123. Things to brighten up a hall of residence room - cushions, posters (if allowed), bedspread, rug. Blanket or similar to wrap up in when she gets freshers flu. Flip flops to wear in shower to avoid catching athletes foot etc.
Electrical items depend on what is permitted at the university/hall. In some places you can't use high powered hair dryers, in others you can run kettles, irons etc in the room.

I would say dont bother with stuff like an ironing board - most probably provided in halls

My wish list would be:
a laptop - so much nicer using your own!
cuddly blankets x2 a must for when feeling ugh or cold!
A dictionary
Over the radiator drying rack - a must!
I would get a couple of mugs, one plate, one bowl, one fork, one spoon, one knife - for snacks and late night nibbles
Big plastic boxes for storing stuff - college halls are often devoid of storage space
Plastic box with lid for nibbles and biscuits!
Possibly a travel kettle - depending on location of kitchen if there is one - for cup a soup and pot noodle coffee etc
hangers for clothes
comfy cardigan - for late night essay chilliness

I would do what earthymamas neice did and google to find out what others suggest, then try to ditch most of the list - but it will give you an idea

HTH

Deffo to buying a gang socket whatnot as well

And tell her not to buy the entire reading list, be selective, use the library and buy books off Amazon if poss - save money

yy lots of 4-way adaptors and extension leads

also check size of the beds - lots of halls have 2'6" and normal single sheets are too big. Get 2'6" jersey sheets from Mothercare or Vertbaudet online.

she will survive without a laptop till Christmas if necc (v good present)

and yy clothes horses, over-radiator airers, overdoor towel rails etc

better than big bags of pasta etc is a big box of washign tablets - they cost a fortune!

if she is a coffee drinker then either a cafetiere, a basic filter jug (like you get in Fr) or a stovetop one are a good idea

A small stash of basic medication - ibprufen, Lemsip, paracetemol. Good for hangovers and Freshers' flu.

If sharing showers - flip flops! Eventually the boys on corridor will 'fess up to hilariously weeing in the showers .

NB when you drop her off, ignore all pleas and make her bed^ while she meets the rest of her corridor, decides which poster will go where etc
It is a crap job and she won't want to do it, but it means that even if she goes staright to the bar as you leave and doesn;t get back till 2am her bed will be waiting for her

(NB if they have plastic mattresses put a blanket under the bottom sheet)

oh and if she has an en suite room she will need bath mats

On departure leave DC with a bottle of vodka and a chocolate cake and leave the door open. By the end of the day he/she will have met everyone on the corridor and got their social life started.

ds2 showed me a packing list from The Student Room website. Lord I'd need a truck to take it all - my poor little Peugeot would collapse under the strain. He's off to Lancaster.

I've already bought the vodka and a box of biscuits!

Might be worth checking on Facebook- when DD got her place confirmed at Exeter last year she found a freshers group on Facebook & found people who were going to be in her hall - they all met up on the first evening & already 'knew' each other a bit.

I'd agree with the adapter/extension lead - there are never enough sockets in the right place.

Don't forget coat hangers - DD's wardrobe had about 6 in it, which was totally inadequate.
My going away present for DD (apart from the laptop) was a big fluffy bathrobe - very much appreciated.

Also useful was one of [[http://www.housecharm.co.uk/items/18-04442578/PopUp-Laundry-Bin.html these[[ pop-up laundry bins, with handles for easy carrying to wherever the nearest washing machine is - DD's Hall had one, but it may be in the Union building.

Next year, DD will be sharing a house, so she's currently compiling a whole new list....

A most entertaining and possibly useful list

When I packed for uni I didnt take 'fancy dress items' - obviously Im too boring!

Oh yes, when DD went back for her second term, the fancy dress stuff was the first thing she packed!

Oh, and your DD might actually want to take some stationery items - DD realised on her first day that she hadn't actually brought anything to write with....

DS used the sheet for dressing as a ghost/Roman in a toga - so a white flat sheet is obviously a must.

You really do need fancy dress.

Fairy wings, red, green and yellow clothes for traffic light parties, a bedsheet or two that can get wrecked, scissors, glitter, glue and safety pins....

Febreeze, other laundry stuff (expensive!), loo roll even if it's apparently provided.

Mugs, tupperware/biscuit tin, cuppa soups, microwave pastas, instant noodles (for when you miss dinner)

Felt tip pens for filling in freshers t-shirts

An array of spirits (vodka, whisky, rum plus orange juice and coke for mixed drinks and tequila for shots) with shot glasses to ensure that there are reasonable measurers to prevent alcohol poisoning and a door wedge to stick the door open so you can invite people in!

A teddy.

Good luck!

oh and a party dress for the Fresher's Ball

I had boxes full of practical jeans and jumpers and had to get my parents to post a dress

yy fancy dress
taking all the tat she has accumulated already (bunny ears, devil horns, fairy wings etc) will save her a packet

Oh yes a door wedge evenif just for when moving gear in as the doors often have very strong closer as fire regulations req them. Great fro leaving door open to say hello to everyone passing, do not leave wedged open when not there though.

Some sort of lanyard for keys, stretchy ones good as often all the doors (sometimes 4, outside, floor, coridoor and room, oh and then kitchen lockers) have locks on them and its a pain forgetting to lift keys all the time, hook lanyard on jeans first thing and keys attached all day.

Thanks for all replies!

Laptop sorted (DHs' redundant one - v good spec just too heavy to carry round clients all day!)

I'd thought of underbed storage boxes and of packing them rather than a suitcase (less unpacking time) Mixed box of VK already priced!

Over radiator drier now top of list!

Sending her to open new bank account tomorrow at NatWest (free 5 year railcard allows me to back out of the promise I made to keep buying hers!)

Have lists pinned everywhere! I am also trying to get her to promise to write a proper letter or two to her youngest siblings (9 and 12) I am sure texting and facebook will be fine for the 16 year old!