Another path ....... and it goes on

[chopc]

New thread

Apologies if I didn't tag anyone or your username has changed since. I copied and pasted from last time

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - Biochemistry
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - Open
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -modern languages
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@Notagardener LSE
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL - History
@raspberryrippleicecream ? -Maths
@derekthe1adyhamster Birmingham- Computer Science
@Vargas -Durham -Geography
@AvocadoPlant Exeter -History

Link to previous thread

Another path- the first year ...... www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4452922-another-path-the-first-year

Thank you for the new thread @chopc This is such a lovely friendly supportive group.

Thank you @chopc for the shiny new thread.
Lost the previous one, how is everyone getting on?

DD coming home today for a flying visit, she’s completed her last essay, but still has her intern work until the end of term to keep her occupied.

Thanks @chopc

Link to previous thread above @AvocadoPlant

Thanks Chopc.

you can probably update DD on the opening post next time. She has declared a major at this stage. They have 2 years to decide.
She is doing Applied Maths and Economics as her major but with lots of random other stuff. Last year she did Palestinian History and Neurology of human hearing for fun.

DD taking a year out. Says she will return in September but hm, let's wait and see...

DS continues to love his time at Durham but is gearing up for his year abroad.... in Kyrgyzstan! That'll be interesting.... as well as cold.

Hello! <placemarking>
Exeter - Drama/Film

I haven't posted much recently, but I still pop in to catch up on people's news 😃

DS really is having a great time now, and I can't believe he's almost 2/3 through his degree! Getting good marks and seems involved in so many things. Seems to have a nice group of friends as flatmates next year.

It's honestly a huge relief as when he started in 2021 he had some major wobbles and we spent a lot of the first two terms supporting him and encouraging him to stay and he now says he's so glad he did!

Checking in. DS's exams start Monday fir 2 weeks. Hot on the heels of 3 sunmative essays. And surprisingly one submitted (of two) post marking boycott has been marked and grade uploaded.

Thank you @chopc for the new thread, I name changed to BenchOfCompany rather than doom for this thread.

Well, we unexpectedly ended up in Durham today. Ds's laptop was dead, dead I tell you. He does have a service package in place but he is home in a week so instead we drove up and delivered him his old laptop and just in case his desktop tower from home. He already has a monitor up there. He has to log on to his online exam on Monday and his last one on Thursday so this was a belt and braces approach. Plus he needed to be able to access all his revision notes this weekend too which of course he needs a computer for.

We are so glad he is close enough to drive up to him with relative ease. We are so looking forward to him being back home for summer. He will be assisting Ds2 with his maths and computer science revision for his end year 12 exams and his summer internship doesn't start until July so has some time to relax before that.

@ChimneyPot I do think that the US system of allowing them a chance to try a lot of different modules out is a great idea before committing to a major.

@MidLifeCrisis007 wow, that is far away. Are you planning a visit?

It is lovely hearing everyone's updates. I still cannot believe that 2nd year is almost over and then just one final year to go.

Waves @Jng1 Glad to hear your DS has had a good year my DD has too. Infact last exam today so she has has been in the Impy this afternoon with her friends enjoying the sunshine.

Lovely that others have popped back on this thread. Where have the two years gone.

Hi everyone! 👋🏻
Thanks chopc for new thread.

DS finished his eoy exams on Thursday. His turn now to look after his gf who has hers next week.
He felt they went well so fingers crossed no resits. Your poor DD majoso that panic attack sounds awful.

Is everyone else sorted for accommodation for next year? DS and housemates were keen to renew theirs for another year but the landlord wants to up the rent by £450pcm!

For those who's DC have finished exams or will finish very soon - is that the end of their academic year?
DS finishes next week and that's the end of his. No other work to be handed in and no further lectures/ seminars etc

Accommodation needs to be paid up to July irrespectively and there is a gap before next years starts ........

@Pumpkintopf DS and friends sorted next years accommodation back in Oct when the Durham accommodation frenzy was with people queing overnight for places.

They also have an issue one of the lads have moved their GF in and not paying any additional bills and taking up more freezer space etc . I guess these things happen and to keep harmony no one says anything.

Has no one else's DC at Durham been affected by the strikes? DS is happy at Durham but I don't think it has been the best academic experience. He has pretty much been left to it with very little guidance and not much marked work with useful feedback

Pumpkintopf, dc1 and 2 live in London and as you know it's expensive.
Dc1 went abroad after completing his (London-based)study and now looking for somewhere to live again in London. He says rent prices have gone up a lot from last year.
Dc2 pays £900/month. As per dc1 that was
In 2021 a lot
In 2022 to be expected
In 2023 cheap

DD’s last exam is 24th May and then she has lectures and workshops until 9th June. She has lots of things planned with friends ( seaside, clubbing, college day, Edinburgh trip etc) and a 2 day ‘conference’ for the mentoring scheme she’s on. We are picking her up around a week before term ends as she needs to get back for a summer job. Term officially ends on the 23rd June i think.
Dd loves the post exam/ before term ends bit in Durham .. it’s the one time she gets to enjoy without any looming work or deadlines.

She’s staying in the same accommodation. It’s going up by £12 per week for next year.

dd hasn’t been particularly affected by strikes with only a few disrupted sessions in year 1.. none this year.

She’s not impressed with the quality of the delivery of the course . She says there are a few really good lecturers who deliver content well , communicate well , respond well to any queries and provide decent feedback . However, there are quite a few who dont seem interested in teaching, don’t bother delivering some of the content ( talk about their own research), ignore any attempt at contact and provide little or no feedback. On the whole, she hasn’t been impressed and she’s found it really stressful , has felt largely unsupported and on the back foot -sometimes trying to fill in missing content . The dept seems pretty remote and switched off to me . She loves the place and friends and her college but says she should have chosen differently re universities if she had her time over.

@MidLifeCrisis007 . Is your Ds’s year abroad next year? ( year3) and is it part of an integrated masters?
dd has year abroad in year4 ( which seems strange to me ) but I guess she is with her flatmates till the end of their 3 year courses

No - not an integrated masters. He's doing joint honours Russian and History.

Obviously Russia is out of bounds though.

@chopc DD had her last exam yesterday so that is it for year 2, no more lectures or anything else. Rent is paid until 20th August.

@Pumpkintopf DD is moving house next year as the landlord is putting up the rent £20 per person p/w which the others can't afford but they are staying as a group of six. A real cheek as they have had so many issues, the house wasn't ready when they moved in, mould on walls within 6 weeks, leaking toilet for 4+ weeks. It was so cold in the lounge in December I asked the landlord if we could put up a curtain rail he even said no to me! They have only been allowed blinds in their bedrooms - crazy.

DD is happily planning her social life kicking off with a Eurovision party last night. She has taken her car to uni this term as the house have lots of days out planned. Then she is off on a girls holiday for a week. She is coming home mid-June for our family holiday. Afterwards will probably flit between uni and home as boyfriend is staying at uni to work over the summer.

We went to see DD yesterday for the day. She broke down in tears when we arrived, is feeling very emotional and sad she said. She’s trying to think of the positives - that she has more time to revise and can revise bits she didn’t have time to. The trouble is, she’s going on holiday abroad at the very end of August with her boyfriend’s family and I think that’s very likely when the exam will be, even though the tutor said it would be in September.

She’s meeting her tutor Monday to go through mitigating circumstances and about getting help for her anxiety. It sounded awful in the exam, she did one essay and then went on to do the next one and panicked about time (have to do 4 essays in 3 hours so no time think), said everything she was thinking to write was all merging into one or something and just couldn’t get it down on paper. When she got back, she looked up what she was going to write and it was right. I think she needs to get help to try and control all the negative thoughts. She is now worried she’ll never be able to do an exam again and will always be thinking it’s going to happen again. She’s going to ask if she can have extra time in exams, but doubt they’ll give her that.

She has similar problems going on tubes when it’s busy and has fainted before.

@Majaso12 - you should get her to see her GP. If she has a formal diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, will that enable her to apply for student support and get the extra time if that's what's required?

@chopc Thanks. Yes told her she needs to make an appointment with GP this week.

Annnnndddd.... Another failed driving test. Oh dear.

She was so unlucky, even her driving instructor said the examiner was harsh. Only two minors, but one (arguable) major. She waited to pull out around a cyclist, saw a good chance, but then had to pull in again, no panic, all safe, and something we might all do. But judged to be risky I suppose. She is on testi app, has booked a test on the "Isle of Bute" - hilarious, and will try to get a cancellation in Exeter asap.