Class of '18 still nattering.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

forgot the old link hang on a mo...

Lonerica I don't think a degree is necessarily less onerous in Scotland.
It is true that if a student has only done highers and not advanced highers they won't have covered as much content as A level. I think in many arts subjects this doesn't matter because they are doing different content or different approaches or it isn't a school subject anyway.
In science, maths and languages it does matter and this means that for the first term A level students can probably coast a little and Higher students have to work hard to catch up.
After that it evens out.
Scottish degrees are longer mainly because students do outside subjects in the first two years which make for a broader degree and more rounded education. Whether they do one of two outside subjects depends on their main subject.
So for example I did Classics which meant Greek and Latin so I only had room for one outside subject each year. Dd is doing Linguistics so she only has one compulsory slot this year and can do 2 outside subjects. Next year she has more compulsory slots so only room for one outside subject.
However this only applies to general humanities and science degrees. If you are doing a more vocational degree there is much more equivalence to a similar degree in the rest of the UK.

Please don't tell me we are a falling into a 'My degree is better than your degree' mindset ffs.

yeah, that is a good point. Well caught Ursula!

Ughh. DD has too many bags of stuff!! She wants to practise putting it in the car tonight to check it fits! We'll get her there somehow!

On degree front, don't know about your DC but mine worry about doing their best and meeting the demands - one Science, one Arts. I'm sure as in life degrees are swings and roundabouts!

Sorry, I didn't mean to start a BA vs BSc degree fight. I am just concerned that DD is going to miss out on a lot of the social stuff because of the volume of work. Her extreme fatigue means she simply can't get away with burning the candle at both ends, and clearly, getting a good degree takes priority over partying all the time.

Of course lonicera - we all want to get it right for our DC. Helping your DD work out a choice that gives her a good balance is really positive. 😊

Did not know that about Scottish degrees - interesting. I like the option of choosing other subjects.
Inevitably science degrees require more contact hours due to lab work which has to be carried out in the lab! All of the reading for humanities and arts subjects can be done anywhere. Pre kindle days, one of my favourite locations was the bath.
Re working - my dad went to university in the U.S. In the 1950s and worked full time when he was a student. he often reminded me of this when I moaned about working every holiday!

Car is loaded! Think there is still just about room for the 3 of us . . DD2 is quite little . . ! 🤞

Thankyou Nettles for the shopping tip, I'll remember that. I do keep reminding myself that there are shops in Oxford and it won't be the end of the world if I forget/miss something!
The responsibility of packing without DD is getting to me. She had pretty much packed everything up before she left last week but has spent the last few days texting me additional items to add.

DD has definitely worked far harder than she's partied so far! 8hr days of tuition has left them all wiped out - a group of them went out to a student event in the city last night but were all so shattered they headed back to college after 1 drink - literally in bed by 10pm every night!
Next week is Freshers week though so might be a bit more emphasis on socialising!

DS is doing a science degree at Birmingham, and his science sessions cover 100 of the required 120 credits. The remaining 20 credits come from what they call a Widening Horizons Module, which can't be a course run by the same department that they are studying in. Sounds similar to the Scottish 'minors' system.

I am going to be able to do direct comparisons with DD doing an Arts degree in Scotland, and DS1 halfway through his MPhys in England!

DS1's uni encourages minors in most subjects, but Physics don't do them as the course content takes up all 120 credits. He will say himself that they have more contact hours but much less self study, worksheets rather than essays.

The Scottish aspect has been a learning curve for DD and me. She is only doing 40 credits in her main subject and had to choose 2 others of 40 credits. Greek being one. I think she could have chosen one option to be sciences/Maths. You can even end up with your honours subject being completely different. She has a friend who picked up Spanish in her first year and has opted for that, and another who started in Physics and ended up with Geography.

A friend's son at a different Scottish uni has no options to choose as his degree is full of compulsory units.

DD will choose 20 credits of modules outside her subject. She was looking at some of the maths modules but seems to think she covered the modules open to her in the further maths A level, so while she might get a good result it wouldn't be very interesting or exciting. She's thinking she might go with a language instead, but can't decide which one til she gets there and sees about timetables etc.

Lobster sorry to hear about your DH and subsequent transport problems. We're going on Sunday with a fiesta, which can't be much bigger than yours, but I have refused to entertain DH and dd2 coming along. I'm sure it will all be fine.

Lonicera, I'm not sure what your DDs BF is doing but my DS is first year history at St Andrews and is doing three modules, he has 6 lectures and three tutorials and everyone I phone him he's ploughing through a weighty tome, I'm actually worried he's not having enough fun!

lobster oh dear I wrong, it is not the High St, but Broad St. just in case you look in vain for a coat hanger shop in the wrong part of town..

DD is at a Scottish uni. In her minor subject they are totally back to basics because some Scottish students have not studied the subject since 2nd year (y8/y9), due to the way some areas choose their exam options. She has 21 hours contact across split sites and is shattered. Not too shattered to go out tonight kind you.

I'm nervous about tomorrow!

Relax. All will be well.

:)

All the best to those dropping off this weekend. May your trains run on time, your motorways be free of congestion and your tears be minimal.

OYBBK perfectly normal to be nervous. Just try to keep the tears in until you have left your DD. You know it's exactly the right place for her, but you're allowed to be sad for yourself while being happy for her. She'll be fine, will meet lots of like minded people and will have a ball. We'll hold your hand.

The public transport bit will be an adventure!

Good luck to everyone travelling and dropping off this weekend. DC will all be fine and we are here for the parents!

We are off to visit DD tomorrow, then on Sunday we are going to drop DS1 off for year 3. It goes very quickly!

Kitten can you mentally compartmentalise a treat for yourself for when you get home again, like watching a lovely film or a book (perhaps bought at the railway station!) It is difficult to switch off and think of yourself after a long journey at the best of times, but it is an emotional day. But you know she is in a lovely lovely place, and that at least will be a comfort, as Ellen says. I think some of us have dropped our children off in relatively grim settings...my heart sank when I saw ds's wardrobe for example and the broken bin in his kitchen, (although I don't think he noticed) and even the big snack machine in the common machine made me feel a bit odd. It is just a difficult transition. But when you are on the train you will start to feel a bit freer (nothing goes wrong in the first 24 hours surely?)

common room not common machine,oops.

Good luck to all going this weekend.
Not heard from DS since meal call on Tuesday. Hoping to FaceTime on Sunday.

ah, thank you :)

A treat is good idea and the old hand holding thing is appreciated. It's been a shocker of a few weeks. But dd has achieved her dream, she's excited now and I'm so proud.

She is in a lovely place. Her college has so much history and she has so many opportunities.

Maybe I can be shockingly uncouth and buy a tinned g&t for the journey home.

But two.

I set off for the WPUK meeting tonight with a g&t in my handbag but only made it as far as the bus stop.