What’s Nottingham like?

[jock156]

Taking my middle daughter to Nottingham Trent University tomorrow where she has been accepted.

I know absolute zero about that area/ county apart from Robin Hood & Brian Clough.

So any comments/ pointers/ notes etc.

My daughter is quite sensible and friendly but has only ever stopped out a night at a friends etc.

Even comments on University life

TIA

 

[sars]

Nottingham is quite the city, both my nephews went to university there and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[jock156]

Good stuff!

 

[lucasxdiniz]

I'm a UoN alumni. Nottingham is a great city with plenty to do, easy access to anything by tram. However, student areas like Lenton & events (bonfire night comes to mind) is targeted by scumbags that find it easy to mug students. Pretty sure it's still the most sexually active city in the UK, and consequently the one with the highest rate of STDs. Don't know much about Trent, I'm afraid, so won't bother going into specifics about campuses etc.

Also, tell her to get used to UoN students taking the piss out of Trent on nights out (although most clubs will have uni specific nights), some will just be friendly banter, but some true idiots with a sense of superiority who might get quite nasty... I never saw Trent students get nasty towards UoN students. Not sure how normal it is for different unis in the same town/city to have a big divide, but always felt like UoN v Trent was a bit over the top.

 

[M1k3yC]

Not sure how normal it is for different unis in the same town/city to have a big divide

There was occasionally a similar thing between Coventry Uni and Warwick Uni when I was there, albeit 20 years ago. It didn't affect me for the four years I studied at Warwick, though, so it was easy to avoid. I'm guessing you're more likely to run into that sort of thing if you're in a sports team because they tended to have wilder nights out and it was really obvious what uni they were at.

 

[TitanTim]

Pretty sure it's still the most sexually active city in the UK,

I miss my student days but that was a long time ago

Tim.

 

[paddy wright]

I’m sure she will be absolutely fine and have a great time. As you say she is a sensible girl, she will make friends with like minded people and spend 3-4 years creating life long memories!

 

[Argyll Andy]

I know absolute zero about that area/ county apart from Robin Hood & Brian Clough and Martin O’Neill

My daughter is quite sensible and friendly

So is mine but be ready for the sleepless nights for both “Dad I’m VERY stressed and I’ve an assignment due tomorrow” and ‘FFS I told her to let me know when she was leaving the club/getting a tax/got home and you’ve not heard a word and are still up at 5 in the morning ”

Saying that, she had a great time and after the initial stress of getting used to them being away and learning looking after their self’s it’s a great thing for them

The only piece of advice I’d give you Brian is that if she’s not used to being away etc like you say. If possible you go and visit her for lunch etc at the weekends when she goes rather than letting her come home. Two reasons, that initial period is when they’ll be bonding with her new flat/class mates and being away from home thats important. It also reduces the habit of coming home which can encourage homesickness. I always joked with my daughter it wasn’t home she was missing it was me so I’d come and see her for a couple of hours, during the day if possible, to allow her to do all her friends/student stuff at night. Kathleen and I also sometimes used to stay on a PI etc and go out on the Saturday night then catch up again with her for an hour before I went home on the Sunday and that seemed to greatly reduce the homesickness’s.

We’ve also done this with Kathleen’s two daughters and it’s pretty well been the same with them

 

[jock156]

Great advice from all of you guys, thank you!

Now curled up in bed at a hotel absolutely fecked from walking

Uni looks a great building and the surrounding campus

Quite a vibrant town centre and more than enough eateries

I was pleasantly surprised

Now have to look at Lincoln and the UEA which is our home patch.

 

[Pondrew]

Now have to look at Lincoln and the UEA which is our home patch.

My daughter is going to look at Lincoln in a few weeks too.

She has also been 'invited' to visit Oxford and Cambridge! (I've checked, she is definitely my daughter)

 

[Argyll Andy]

She has also been 'invited' to visit Oxford and Cambridge! (I've checked, she is definitely my daughter)

Difference is, she’s been invited to go, you’ll be invited to leave

 

[jock156]

Well thats Lincoln right off the agenda!!!!!!

 

[Nanu]

Keep away from Newcastle Uni.

Party City and will cost a fortune

 

[jock156]

Cheers Nanu but she didn’t apply there

 

[IRD]

It is a difficult time when they are choosing which university and the most suitable course. It is hard not to push them to do what you think is best. Finding the balance and helping them to make the most informed choice is difficult. One of our granddaughters is going to Durham in October. Thankfully she has chosen what we think is the right university and the best course. But all you can do really is help and support and keep your fingers crossed that it all works out. I hope your daughter finds somewhere where she is happy and also a course she enjoys.

 

[jock156]

Thanks We are taking a back seat in her final decision. I would honestly prefer she choose the UEA as she could still live at home but I’m keeping Schtum!

 

[IRD]

Thanks We are taking a back seat in her final decision. I would honestly prefer she choose the UEA as she could still live at home but I’m keeping Schtum!

The university ranking is important and the status of the course too. Especially if she is considering post grad work and further degrees. When you get all that sorted out off she will go. Then you will start to worry about what she gets up to whilst out of your sight. In my case and my wife’s we know the things we got up to whilst we were ‘studying’. I hasten to add not together as she was in London and I was in Durham. Just a thought Jock. If she does choose UEA it might be a good idea to encourage her to live on the university campus as the first stage of gaining her independence yet close enough to home if support is needed.

 

[B21]

Thanks We are taking a back seat in her final decision. I would honestly prefer she choose the UEA as she could still live at home but I’m keeping Schtum!

I’d concur with IRD that being away from home is probably the most single profound step in a person’s life and I think is a, probably the key benefit of a university education…the only negative is that for a small group of people there are possible issues of loneliness and isolation which could be a factor for some socially introverted people , although I knew many introverts who found themselves through that journey.

The networks, relationships and the widest sense of education will hold create profound benefits many of which may only become apparent many years later.

Compared to many locations it’s only a short train journey / drive home if required.

My home city is Nottingham…I still have many friends there and lived on the outskirts till a few years ago.

It’s a fairly middle ranking city in terms of crime and social issues.

As was said it’s got some great parts and then some not so…

FWIW I’d try and see that she gets at least the first year in Halls of Residence as a good way to start new relationships and networking.

I hope she has a blast and enjoys a healthy study / wider experience / personal development balance..

I’m concerned at how heavily focussed some parents / students are on grades at the expense of a wider , richer experience.

It was a long time ago but my University experience was the best thing that has ever happened to me

 

[Pondrew]

It was a long time ago but my University experience was the best thing that has ever happened to me

I imagine your wife is over the moon with that statement!

 

[jock156]

Thanks for the input chaps, its really helpful