For those mum's waving someone off to uni for first time

BrokeBrunette

Amanda65 wrote: »

Eldest DD off mid-September to Birmingham and I am dreading it as I will really miss her, but also know that as a previous poster said that it is the next chapter in her life, and by her being succcessful there I will have done my job well :T

However it is not being helped atm as despite her offer being changed to unconditional in June following her art foundation results, and applying for the accommadationas soon the same day, she still hasn't received details of where she has been allocated (had to put down 6 choices :exclamati) or anything about her course, which is making her a little jittery and not helping with the nerves. Fingers crossed she hears soon.

Love the idea about the cake - think I'll take up a homemade chocolate fudge cake when we take her up - and have no doubt that the skills she has learnt working in a cocktail bar this summer will make her a popular housemate

my daughter hasn't received her 'welcome pack' or her accomodation choice either and she is the same - getting a bit worried, but she phoned the uni today and they said won't be until September and to just wait. So that's what we are doing. Just carrying on collecting stuff and after reading this thread I am definitely going to make a mammoth cake for her to take

slightlyconfused1

Hi

Thanks for the cake/beer idea.

My DS is going in the middle of September and I am lost trying to help him plan. He has a job at the local tesco already organised and so I guess the staff discount will make him popular!!

If anyone has any tips on what he will need I would be really grateful. He hasn't ha his welcome pack either.

BrokeBrunette

slightlyconfused1 wrote: »

Hi

Thanks for the cake/beer idea.

My DS is going in the middle of September and I am lost trying to help him plan. He has a job at the local tesco already organised and so I guess the staff discount will make him popular!!

If anyone has any tips on what he will need I would be really grateful. He hasn't ha his welcome pack either.

My daughter found a list on a website called The Student Room, under Articles and then search 'What to take to University'. Lots of good lists and advice and my daughter loves the website too.

ka7e

Oh, this takes me back. 3 years ago I was dropping my daughter off at Halls in London and they were virtually empty! She was starting a Midwifery degree and all the midwifery/nursing students started 3 weeks earlier than the rest of the campus. They all seemed to be allocated rooms in different "flats" or floors and didn't meet up until they started their course. Having a huge circle of friends at home, being on her own was one of the things she had never had to face before and the thought of it terrified her. But by the time Fresher's Week started they felt like they owned the place!

I also had to keep a stiff upper lip after dropping her off as her ex-bf drove us up - he was the only person with a car big enough to accommodate her extensive wardrobe plus all the kitchen equipment she had to provide.

One thing I did do, as I knew we wouldn't have any time for an emotional goodbye, was write her a letter and hide it in her suitcase. I just told her how proud I was of her and how much I'd miss her, but I was sure she'd love her new life. She's found out today she has passed her degree, she has a job lined up and moved into a new flat (and she still has the letter).

sammyjammy

It all seems a bit strange to me, my mum and dad dropped me off at boarding school aged 11yrs. I remember having to be pulled off of my mum and spent the first term reversing the charges in the public phonebox to cry down the phone at my mum to come bring me home. Its one of the reasons I didn't go to uni, I really didn't want to leave home again! Saying that I now live hundreds of miles away from all my family!

ciderwithrosie_2

slightlyconfused1 wrote: »

If anyone has any tips on what he will need I would be really grateful.

There's some threads on the Student Money Saving board with suggestions about what to take. Will he be catering for himself?

Savvy_Sue

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Dependent on previous training it might be worth offering a few washing instructions to sons off to university and pointing out what the funny symbols on the labels mean.

Really, the previous training should have started months ago, but it's never too late!

Another ice breaker is juggling equipment. We went to visit DS1 after about a month (so his little brother knew where he was) and found his was scattered around the kitchen. We met the lad in the room next to his that first day, with his dad, and met them again on graduation day: they'd been living together for a couple of years.

Little brother is off this autumn to our local Uni. He won't get accommodation through the Uni so he's flat hunting with some mates from school. I am watching with interest!

Oh, it might be worth looking at the Uni website for details of what's in the various bits of accommodation. DS1 never was sent much in writing, but eventually I persuaded him to look online, and we started planning once he knew what would and would not be provided!

pimento

slightlyconfused1 wrote: »

He has a job at the local tesco already organised

How did he manage that? My son will also be looking for a job but has been told that a lot of places won't take them on until they've moved in.

He going to a university that's a three hour drive from home so he can't go in advance and find a job either.

Do Tesco recruit without seeing you?

lotties_mum

January20 wrote: »

When you miss her, pm me and I'll remind you of all the annoying things that teenage daughters do... :rotfl:(I'm trying to make it easier on myself by thinking that my home will be tidy, will not be invaded by friendly but loud teenagers, I'll have complete choice on what I watch on the tv... )

My dd's second choice for uni is Falmouth and we live... in the North-East.:eek::eek:

My ds went off to Falmouth uni last year. He absolutely loves it. I can remember leaving him in his room with him not knowing a soul. By the time we had reached home(3 hours away) he was in the stannery with all his new course friends. The student mentors gather them up and take them under their wing, I think this is the benefit of it being a small uni. Also when we left him I didn't see one blubbing parent (or student).:rotfl::rotfl:

msmyth18

From a student point of view, yes please with the chocolate cake and unpacking and also if you 'rents' could provide a weeks worth of shopping.... but then please leave and let us meet who we are living with!

One lads rents just wouldnt and although they did cook us dinner it made it awkward... it wasnt until we were leaving for the guild welcome party that they took the hint!