University traditionally provides a person with some of the best years of their life, but the packing and organisation in the run-up to it can be both daunting and stressful. We’ve asked family expert Allison Crisp for some tips to give to budding students getting ready for the big jump to adulthood. We can also advise on applications, choosing a university and taking a gap year, so call one of the Family team if your son or daughter could use some assistance.
The important stuff
Make sure you take all personal documents, such as your passport, important phone numbers, bank account details and national insurance number. ‘Not the most fun part of the packing process, but probably the most essential,’ says Allison. ‘It is crucial that you take all of these documents with you, as you’ll never know when you might need them. So when someone suggests an impromptu trip on Eurostar, you’ll be glad you brought along your passport.’
Additionally, there will be a lot of people wandering in and out of halls, especially in the first few weeks, and it’s a good idea to check that your more valuable items are either insured on your home insurance or separately covered. Call one of our lifestyle managers for advice on this.
Kitchen
Most students bring along almost every kitchen utensil conceivable, so it might be worth waiting until you’ve met your flatmates to see what everyone has already got. There are some kitchen items you can never have too many of though, such as plates, bowls, cutlery and glasses.
Moving into a new environment can be overwhelming so make sure you’re well-equipped with wine glasses, shot glasses, bottle opener with corkscrew and maybe even a cocktail shaker for good measure. Then you’ll just need a half-decent bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, and you can be the first in the building to throw a flat-warming party. Allison comments: ‘A bottle of wine and some biscuits can be useful tools for sharing and making friends quickly.’
Aiding academia
Of course, after the first few weeks of relentless socialising, you will have to start thinking about work. To turn your bedroom into a sanctum of study, you will need a sufficient amount of pens, notepads, folders and Post-its. When you’ve got your reading list for the first semester, send it to us and we can track down all the books on your behalf.
Health
‘It’s easy to slip into an unhealthy way of living at university as, for most people, it will be the first experience of living independently and having to look after yourself,’ says Allison. ‘It is important to keep a balanced diet, and to avoid falling into a life of fast food, as so many students do.’ Our lifestyle managers can source you the best student-friendly cookery books, as well as recommend restaurants in the area that serve healthy cuisine. Other than this, it’s essential to bring along all the appropriate medicines to avoid getting the infamous ‘Freshers’ flu’.
Keeping tidy
A tidy room is a rare thing at university, and if you’re finding it hard to stay on top of the clutter we can send you hints and tips on anything from doing a full spring clean, to getting a stain out of the carpet. If it’s all too much, our home team can find you a cleaner in the area to do it for you, but we still recommend bringing along basics such as cleaning wipes, Febreze, and a door wedge for keeping your room ventilated.
Electrical appliances
Moving out will almost certainly involve purchasing a whole array of gizmos and gadgets. Our retail team can help you get the best deals on items such as laptops, printers and mobile phones, so call us to discuss what the best products on the market currently are.
Clothes
On top of all the usual clothes, there are a few items of attire unique to the university way of living. Fancy dress is a big part of Freshers’ Fortnight and most universities follow a similar programme of events. Take a white sheet for toga parties, your old school uniform for the school disco, red, green or yellow clothes for the traffic light party and a V-neck jumper and cap for pub golf. You‘ll also need black tie for the Freshers’ Ball and other formal occasions, and flip flops, which for some reason can be worn all year round at university.
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