Starting Y13 (y12 support thread contd) - number 3

[Littleham]

Thread continued folks...

Brilliant news for your dd hellsbells. That is so weird about Exeter.

Keep up the webwiz. Hope it turns out well for your ds.

Seems it is Swansea then for the teashop muffin!

Polkadot - the fresher's thing depends on their personality a lot. My dd just did the societies and met people. She avoided the clubbing bit.

Fantastic news Circular. Well done for surviving two application processes! I had no idea about CUKAS. What will she do if she gets an offer from her two top choices under both systems?

thats brilliant circular
will your Ds be popping to southampton on his own horsemad?

Hi all. Is anyone else thinking of getting their ds/dd a laptop to take to uni with them? We are thinking of getting dd one for Christmas, any suggestions as to what would be essential/ideal?

My dd has one of those small portable ones. One thing they do need is an extra long Ethernet cable. She also has a cheap printer which has been invaluable.

You'll probably get a better deal if you wait till she is actually a student - educational discounts are bigger for students than for school kids. Plus, prices drop after Xmas. DD1 uses a macbook or iPad at all times anyway, because of being dyspraxic, but we will upgrade one or both of them (she's currently using my cast-offs) when she starts higher education, so that she gets maximum discount on the price.

Ok, extra long cable and printer will go on the list, thanks.

Rabbit do you know when do they become HE students (as opposed to school students), is it when they accept their offer?

Hello fellow mums, mind if I join you? I have been reading your news with interest over the past month or so and thought it was time for me to stop stalking and start contributing. Great news on all the offers and interviews :)

I have a DD in Y13 and a DS in Y11. DD has applied to Birmingham, Bath, Surrey and Swansea (all pretty good tea shop contenders I think) to study Chemical Engineering. She is keeping one in reserve, partly because she doesn't really want to go anywhere else. She has received an offer from Brum so far (A*AA) and has had acknowledgements from the others.

Your posts have helped to keep me sane during the stressful pre-application process. Not at all stressful for the DD, just for me ;)

Fair - Dunno. I think it's before they arrive, I don't think you already have to be living in uni accommodation. You probably get some kind of student ID to help you buy your swag.Students about to start uni get ALL SORTS of offers bargains and deals. It's worth waiting.

Thanks Rabbit, sounds like it might be a good idea to wait then.

Oh, and hi to trees, sorry meant to say that. I have a dd in y13 and ds in y11 too

Fairenuff - I do know that they can't apply for the student bank accounts until they have the formal confirmation of place letter from the university in August, so perhaps it is the same for the student deals.

Welcome trees Bath has got to be top for tea shops on your dc's list!

I know our apple store is always HEAVING the weekend the students arrive.

Littleham- Do you know if uni's do a teetotal/non cubbing, pubbing society's do they exist? Cos I think my dd would join it but would suspect this club might be on thin side with members??.
We getting our dd a laptop for Xmas she has a tablet and net book but we noticed she needs a disc drive to update some of her other tech stuff, which net book doesnt have and a physical keyboard she's long sighted the tablet keyboard cuts half her screen not good for long time use. We intend to buy 15" laptop with student microsoft office suite bundle budget £450. Its probably be a Samsung, Acer, Asus brand as they seem to bung in a lot more ram and techy stuff for on a budget. Thinking John lewis as they have 2 years guarentee on there computer stuff.

Fresher's week did seem to revolve around drinking and clubbing (not sure why as loads of students want an alternative). I don't think there is a tee total society at dd's university but there are countless other societies to join.

Once the societies get going it is different. For example, a particular society might meet for an event and then go onto a club. In that situation my dd goes to the first bit and not the second (there are always plenty of people to travel back to hall with).

It doesn't have to revolve around drinking. My best friend's daughter is at uni here and doesn't drink and hasn't had a problem with her social life. I didn't either in the days of black and white, and I never drank either (except gallons of diet coke).

Thanks all, and welcome Talkstotrees

cathyandclaire - she really is 50/50 on CUKAS vs UCAS. Quite quirky, not a drinker, but does have a social life when time permits. Prefers the less insular environment of Uni, more opportunities to pursue other interests and to some extent the social side. But performance is her strength, is concerned she will not get the level of performance tuition she is used to at Uni. She also worries about some of the more academic modules which could be heavier on the essay writing at Uni. And of course her grades may not get her where she wants to go. I think there is going to be much attempted influencing from her music school to go for the conservatoire. Possibly from school too, as nobody else applied this year.

Littleham - not survived both systems yet, still have UCAS to go Arghhh.
Can only hold one CUKAS offer unless first choice is a reserve offer. Her 2nd choice was, so that will get dropped. Not sure how it works with the guaranteed accommodation if you hold offers for both until results day.
Not sure what UCAS offers she will even get - all 5 aspirational choices

Rabbit If your DD declares her dyspraxia when applying, she will possibly get assistance for her laptop and other items specific to her dyspraxia. Maybe even free? There's much more support offered at Unis than at school for learning disabilities.

Littleham- thanks for the info on societies, its probably the freshers week that is of concern for me, my dd don't like noisy rowdy places much prefer to go to a restaurant nice meal, theatre or cinema she's been around us old folks too much. Wonder if she doesn't go to them will the other students single her out to be a anti social nerd, so to speak and so will treat her different. Or we should encourage her to go against her will just for the experience. She can go back to her own way of life after fresher's.
Rabbit- Im hoping dd will meet kids like her and there not all drinking and partying variety. Otherwise I think she might not enjoy uni life it would feel too imature for her liking. Hope my last comment isn't offensive sorry if it is but not meant that way for others who enjoy it, but she really doesn't want to be drunk and disorderly be sick in the street to be accepted.

polka I suspect there are loads of students that have very similar ideas for socialising as your DD. Many on this thread, mine included, for starters. They will find each other.

She will meet others like her, but it will happen more slowly (& she needs to join things). So my dd has acquired friends from orchestra, language clubs, her course and gradually from adjacent flats (they have just started a dvd night which rotates between flats, so they have something to do while others go clubbing).

Also remember that quiet people actually need down time by themselves. She won't get left out - top tip join the face book pages of societies as everyone gets included in the invites.

Hi waitingaround, I think DH is giving him a lift and they'll prob drive down the night before as train involves going into London and the faff of commuters!!

There are Chem practical re-sits at school the same day though which he really could do with doing to bump his grade up, so although he's booked in at Soton, he might have to rearrange.

Hi all.

Could I ask if any of you have any advice? Nothing from Year 12 parents yet.

My thread

Thanks.

Have replied over on your thread.

Thanks Littleham.

Great news Circular's DD!