Reality of University Life - Moving Away from Home

Zinger549

If you look in to private halls. (Unite, Prestige ect). You can stay in them for the 2'nd and 3'rd year as well.

thegreenone

Have you spoken to step-child's school?  They may be in contact with former Year 13s who are just completing their first year and would be willing to come in and talk to the current cohort about the ups and downs of the first year.  If not, any Newly Qualified Teachers who could spare an hour?

There may be student cookery classes in the area, if SC can be persuaded to attend.  Shopping and cooking would be good.  Perhaps give a set day for SC to do their laundry each week now?

Edited:  Or, would the parents of his friends get together, with you, to take it turns to do run a cookery group?  Is anyone an accountant/book-keeper?  Or even someone who knows their way around speadsheets to show the 18y/o's how to keep track of their money.  That might sound a bit old-fashioned "well der, I'll just look on my app" but they need to know that the £K that has dropped into their bank account has to last a whole term not one month! 

Sorry, just some thoughts and that hearing stuff from other parents might work better than hearing it from their own.

elsien

Zinger549 said:

If you look in to private halls. (Unite, Prestige ect). You can stay in them for the 2'nd and 3'rd year as well.

Except these are not cheap and finances appear to be one of the primary issues? 

Zinger549

elsien said:

Zinger549 said:

If you look in to private halls. (Unite, Prestige ect). You can stay in them for the 2'nd and 3'rd year as well.

Except these are not cheap and finances appear to be one of the primary issues? 

Depends where you're staying. All bills are usually included.

silvercar

IanDudley said:

My son went to Uni three years ago and moved to the other end of the country, it has been the making of him and he's really grown up as a result. Yes it's daunting, but also very fulfilling.

Specific piece of advice, in most Uni towns accomodation is very scarce. In year one many Unis will guarantee an accomodation place, and I'd advise taking it as while it might not be the cheapest or best, it will be more reliable and hassle free. (note many of these guarantees are only if you make them your first choice, not if you get in via clearing)

BUT, you have to start looking for year two accomodation almost as soon as you arrive at Uni, and definitely before the first Christmas. This might seem insanely early to be looking, especially as they will still be making friends and working out who they want to hang out with. But in popular towns like Manchester all the good property will have already started to be signed up by Chirstmas, and by Easter the remaining choice can be very limited. As with anything, if you are late to the party you will likely pay more and/or end up with a poorer property further away from the Uni and possibly in a less than desriable location. 

That’s what students are led to believe. Consequently it becomes a self perpetuating situation. The problem is that people rush to sign up for the following year before they’ve properly made friends. Then find themselves stuck with people, often just because they were on the same corridor in halls, who they dislike before they’ve even moved in together. 

Both my kids fell for this myth in years 2 and 3. Then they both decided to stay on for a 1 year masters, only signing up in the Summer. They both managed to find fairly decent accommodation with people they knew. Interestingly both lived in accommodation for 3 people rather than the 5/ 6 that they had shared houses with. So maybe the larger houses do get taken first, but there is still plenty of accommodation around. Private run halls were also an option.

QrizB

silvercar said:

Both my kids fell for this myth in years 2 and 3. Then they both decided to stay on for a 1 year masters, only signing up in the Summer. They both managed to find fairly decent accommodation with people they knew. Interestingly both lived in accommodation for 3 people rather than the 5/ 6 that they had shared houses with. So maybe the larger houses do get taken first, but there is still plenty of accommodation around. Private run halls were also an option.

My son didn't fall for the myth, but only because he was dreadfully disorganised (he's improved a bit since). He didn't arrange 2nd-year accommodation ountil the 3rd term of his 1st year, but still managed to find a room in a reasonable flat with some nice people.

He's currently on industrial placement for his sandwich year, in a room in a shared house in a strange town that he arranged at about a fortnight's notice. Also enjoying himself and with decent housemates.

LightFlare

Pretty sure [Deleted User] isn’t coming back

QrizB

LightFlare said:

Pretty sure [Deleted User] isn’t coming back

It's always a shame when that happens.