Finishing year 13 in 2017 part 2

[user9512736123]

New thread as the old one is at 990 messages!

Meant to say non uni student accommodation.

I think it will depend on the University. Kent last year reassured me that they don't start allocating accommodation until later in August anyway and it wouldn't be a problem, which it wasn't. Maybe look at the Student Room and see what past experiences have been?

Fingers firmly crossed here too for people still going through it

tobee, can you say what what uni it is? Sorry if you already have.

Ooh thanks for swift replies. That's reassuring Mirabelle. It's Kent Liney. I looked at the student room and there were gazillions of forum threads and only the odd not very helpful reply. Looking at the student room always makes me feel about 402

The expense starts now - £400 parental contribution for stuff needed as a result of the assessment for SEN! Thank goodness I've got a bit of money put by.

Oh lord The Student Room Mind you my DS thinks we're all 'adorable' on MN.

@tobee have you seen this web page about U of K accommodation:
www.studenttenant.com/kent/

no idea if they are any good, we're not local to Kent.

Mirabelle can you recall the up-front deposit needed for the uni accommodation?

DD's was £300. But that was three years ago!

And yes, the expense ... DD starts year 4 in September, DS year 1.

We've still got a little Facebook group going if anyone is interested. V friendly and all anonymous. Was lovely seeing everyone get sorted yesterday.

m.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391

@Sidney how's your DS getting on?

Well if it is Kent the lady absolutely promised it would be ok and I think she said something like they didn't start allocating until 22nd August or 26th August to anyone, I can't remember exactly as was a bit stressed at the time as by that time it was quite late on the Friday afternoon.

But I think she was actually from accommodation dept. as a lovely man in clearing sorted everything out as things had gone horribly wrong after the exam board put the wrong grade through and things were dragging on with risk of losing clearing offers. and he said he would get accommodation to ring us which they did and I ended up taking that call. The accommodation is nice by the sounds of it or at least the one she's in.

It's staggering how they ever did it in my day. Anyone remember UCCA?!

Yes, DH had a summer job at UCCA doing clearing. The technology consisted of shoeboxes of cards.

Liney sorry but I don't know, I was only involved in the great clearing crisis as I think of it as her parents weren't around on the Friday. They dealt with deposits etc and I've forgotten what they said.

Shoeboxes with cards

I doubt that anybody dared to open a window or, worse still, use a fan!

Our expense started today with the purchase of a new bike for DD. The fulfilment of a family joke - years ago, she wasn't very keen on learn to ride a bike DH wasn't a cyclist so didn't think it mattered but I told him she'd need to if she ever went to oxbridge. Not dreaming for a moment thereafter that subsequently she'd be told by Dame Barbara Stocking (fab name for the principal of a women's college!) that she should bring a bike.

That is so lovely Errol She has done so well and that is indeed a great name.

Looking forward to DD's return at weekend. Her boyfriend's Mum has just kindly contacted me to reassure me the stabbing over there is over an hour away from them and security near them has been stepped up especially around railway and airport.

Freeda, thank you for asking. Absolutely no luck with Durham, they said there was no room on the course, nor on any other course. I feel we have gone as far as we can. He is really upset and it has rather taken the shine off his A*,A, B result. Even though his insurance offer is Leeds, and that is a great university too....

Errol I think there's only one nickname for that principal.

Thanks user. I had seen that site. Hopefully if it comes to it there will be spaces.

Thanks again Mirabelle

Sidney, I'm so sorry for your DS and you, and we've been through similar ourselves. But Leeds is, as you say, a great institution.

How are you holding up, yourself?

@sidney it was worth a try and as you say Leeds is a great uni.

His results were great.

Leeds was DS's insurance (except their offer was higher than his Firm, strange lad )

I have to say though that I loved Leeds when we looked around - their sports centre was gorgeous and felt quite sad when he didn't put it as Firm.

Everything happens for a reason but I think it's Durham's loss

@Errol is the bike a Pashley?

Sidney my nephew and niece are at Leeds and love it. One going into 2nd year and the other just finished his masters.

dd is all fixed up and her accommodation has been confirmed (four bed shared apartment). She has managed to get in touch with two of the others, but the fourth girl is a mystery . We have already done the big IKEA trip, but we are still some kitchen stuff pending until the fourth kid appears and they can all discuss who is bringing what. Dd spent the entire shopping day wandering from place to place ensuring all of her everything was matchy matchy. Given that she was paying for the bedding and twiddly bits herself out of her summer earnings I let her roam free lol.
Have already had an emergency message from the only other parent whose child is going to the same place to ask if we have room in the car for a fridge as it has to travel upright.

DS's accommodation offer arrived earlier and he has his first choice, so he's pleased.
We are having a shopping day next week.