Thread 39 - Covid Cohort - Our Adult Children Now Post 18

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Be warned there might be lots of 'Uni Freshers' chat this time of year. My experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and support to be had !

Just got back from Tallinn. Had the loveliest time with my mum.
Dh says Ds1 has paid £2500. WTF!

Will now go back and read and catch up.

@Fruitygal just read back about matriculation at Durham. DD wore a flowery dress with opaque tights and DM brogues. A friend lent her a coat that was smartish. Looking at the photos there was a mix so I wouldn’t worry too much so long as not jeans etc. I remember all the additional costs at Durham. I was shocked as I had the same picture of struggling students and how they were shy to buy outfits for each ball or occasion, not to mention the tickets.

• supposed not shy

Anyone else not been given accommodation yet ? We are two weeks since applying as DS insurance at Loughborough and I'm unsure why it's taking so long. He's sent an email and not had a reply so he's going to call tomorrow. He's due to start in two weeks time and I need to book time off work for move day. I think he may end up in a broom cupboard at this rate .

Glad you enjoyed Talinn @Oblomov22 we had a lovely day there a few years ago on a Baltic cruise.

Well done to DD @kiwiandcherries

Right, there really is a lot of admin for DS to do now, annoyed as we have had a some free time over the weekend when we could have done it. He has done the accommodation induction and found his induction week timetable and ongoing timetable, need to get all the Office365 stuff set up now and bookmark the portal, gateway etc. Then book all the DSA stuff and start a bit more practice with the softwares (we were going to do the latter tomorrow anyway after we finish rucksack shopping). He can register for the student discount sites now he has his email address too, also needs to register with the GP up there. Gawd.

Well done @kiwiandcherries Dd!!

Congrats Kiwi dd 🚗

@crazycrofter & @Heifer
Ds1 says he's done all the logging in, photo, and IT stuff. He said it was a major pain, he needed 3 different log in's and passwords, different hubs. He said some students might struggle with it!

We all are just awaiting email tomorrow, 6th re booking moving in day, right?

DD is off to a final party with her school friends. They are all dressing up as the profession they want to do in the future.

Congratulations to @kiwiandcherries!

FYI from earlier today Notts people

@Benjispruce4 thanks for this! We are lucky but feel for the single mums and people on benefits and low incomes ......when they said cash, credit card at the till ?I was tempted to say....kidney? in IKEA last week !

Perhaps those with full loan should get £1000 on 1st September to allow deposit payment.

@Oblomov22 £2500 sounds scary?!?

@collywobble 3 friends don't have Loughborough accommodation yet and were the uni as insurance

Thanks @Fruitygal that's very reassuring to know. I don't know anyone else going so you have calmed my nerves.

Pleased with DD and DH today left them a few things to get done while I was at work ....

They managed to do the list and more ...

Towels - super soft (none left in the right colour and softness?!? on Friday in Sainsburys)
DSA called and delivery this week with training on software next week
Chased medical results and new prescriptions and sorted
Gown and Freshers wrist band and T shirt ordered
Some Amazon stuff sorted
HSBC account has converted to student with O/D in place

Leaving just things for tomorrow as out with friend ...trying to alternate days so not too intense about uni ...

Are there other unis apart from Nottingham that have had to pay a deposit? We've not...unless it's been missed

Not a deposit, but DD had to pay £300 of first term's rent in advance. (ARU.)

We paid a £300 deposit for DD’s accommodation last week (Exeter).

£200 here - Durham - both my other DCs paid a deposit but some don't - think surrey or sussex don't

@kiwiandcherries congratulations to mini kiwi on the driving test xx

@kiwiandcherries Joining in to Congratulate Mini on the driving test.

No one to post about Warwick with here, where are you? i know there's at least 3 of us from the list.

@NCTDN yes we were asked to pay £250 upfront. Leicester.

@kiwiandcherries congrats on the driving test! We have finally rearranged DS’s test for the Christmas holidays so 🤞

We haven’t heard back from hsbc, last text we had said 10 working days, i think it’s been about 8, DS is on holiday but he was texting today so I asked but he’s heard nothing from them and nothing in the post. How long have others waited roughly?

We have paid deposit of £250 to NTU private accommodation. Still waiting for £200 to be returned from York!!

@Fiddlersgreen DD already had an account with hsbc so just a conversion and was 5 days I imagine longer if new.

Me too!

Thanks everyone 🎉 🚗

We haven't had to pay a deposit for accommodation but need to either pay in full or set up termly payments by a certain date.

No deposit at UEA. Have set up monthly direct debit for rent, but none paid yet.

DDs under 19s TSB bank account has automatically converted to a student account - she had to opt out if not wanted. However trying to set up a Barclays current account to help with budgeting not so easy! Tried to do it via app, but it wouldn't verify her ID, and said she had to go to a branch. Did that yesterday and they said she had to have an appointment - 27th September! Luckily another branch can do it next week but she won't have her card before she goes.