Whose teens are starting uni this September? What are you sending them with?

[Caramelkate]

My son is off to uni in September, but only arrives back in England from travelling 2 days before! He will be very jet lagged, so I'm not expecting to be able to take him shopping. What are you sending your teens to uni with? I'm thinking kettle, alcohol, mugs and that sort of stuff.

I have no direct experience other than a friend who did this last year with her DS.
Will your DS be in halls?

Hi kate - take a look over on the higher education section - we've got this thread running on there

Thank you. I thought there would be a thread somewhere!

Good luck. Friend's top tip is a doorstop to wedge their room door open and therefore people more likely to say Hi.

Call the university and ask for a packing list specific to the hall - different halls have different set-ups and different rules.

Eg my older teen needed to take an iron but the younger one - who goes in September - must NOT take an iron. The hall supplies irons and they are not allowed to have one in their room.

I have emailed them and there don't seem to be any restrictions. I'm not sure ds would know what an iron is though. I might pack one to confuse him.

Mine is but I'm in denial.

Hakluyt, I'm quite excited as I haven't seen Ds for months ( he is currently living in a jungle) so uni will be considerably closer with more wifi :)

Same Hakylut

Loads of help with this on higher ed threads.
Each uni is different and most kids take too much.
As long as he has bedding, basic crockery/cutlery, good initial supply of food and alcohol and some condoms he will get through the first few days and find out what he needs to buy and what he can share.

Toasty bags. They are great. Mine use them constantly. You may need to give him a demo before you go.

DD now has a massive pile of stuff ready for her shared student flat (1st year) - she has an ensuite bathroom

3 chopping boards
2 wine glasses
2 tumblers
shot glasses
glass for putting her toothbrush in
bathroom rug
potato masher - she insists she'll use it
wooden spoon
pyrex bowl
electric beaters
garlic press
kitchen scissors
lamp
4 pillows (her bed is in between a single and double)
cushion
fleecy blanket/throw
4 pillowcases
all-season duvet - a light one and a mediumweight one that clip together
satiny sheet (I made no comment )
duvet cover
2 blue cereal bowls
small knife
fish slice
grater
kettle for her room
iron - board but not iron is provided apparently
clothes horse
mini thing for clipping socks/pants on to for drying
metal sieve
tin-opener
cafetiere
pretty storage box
token amount of stationery

I've promised to buy her some pots and pans and donate small plates and Tupperware-type boxes.
I'll also get her a mattress protector and possibly a notice board.

She is counting the days down. I am trying not to comment too much.

Her uni is seven miles from our home. She was desperate to move out. She got a scholarship - which will cover half the cost of her accommodation. Luckily we live in Scotland so no fees to pay.

Oh and mugs and cutlery from home.

Wow, she is organised! My Ds would seriously turn up with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a tub of marmite. Hopefully he will find a girlfriend like your daughter and he will be sorted!

I am honestly a little worried as he has been working abroad ( South America/Asia) and his head is very much still there rather than planning for uni. His body is also still there and will be until 2 days before he starts. I am more like your daughter, and itching to pack and prepare!

The idea of a student ironing is hilarious !!
Toaster & kettle
Bedding
Don't buy them alcohol - they'll get it cheaper going out & will get to socialise

Glass for putting her toothbrush in.
Wow!

I know dementedma

If only she were as organised with her studying and money....

She's been looking forward to moving out since she was 15. She used to tell me that she'd rent a private, unfurnished flat on her own and furnish it nicely from IKEA. This flat is convenient for a uni that she isn't going to - most (possibly all) the others in it are going to that uni. Her boyfriend is going to a third uni in the same city but will be living at home. He went with her to IKEA (he needed a piece of furniture) and 'helped' her choose stuff for her flat. When I asked how much she'd spent, her BF said she'd got a lot for her money and the things ''we liked" were mostly the cheaper things anyway. He reckons he'll be spending a lot of time at DD's flat. DD is looking forward to this. Obviously it will all end in tears - probably hers IMO. I am quite fearful for her. She has form for being long-suffering with her friends (and BFs) whereas her BF has his head well screwed on.