Class of '18 Best foot forward through the autumn leaves.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

old thread was getting big....

TheFirstOHN well done him!

Well done TheFirst's DS.

One of DS's friends says he is struggling with the work on his course. He said he's not sure how he is supposed to do the essays and time management seems to be an issue. It must be strange to go from being directed by teachers at school and then to find yourself having to be independent and work it out yourself.

Dad handed in her first essay on Friday. New subject for her so will be interesting to see how she fares.

Well done to your ds First.

Fab news FIRST . Apt name you have now!😁

Ah first that's brilliant - well done your DS What a confidence boost for him.

One of DD's new friends has made the decision today to leave and take a gap year - the university has agreed to her starting again next year.
I don't know all the details but from what DD has said it sounds like she's been struggling with anxiety.
DD is feeling wretched and guilty that she hadn't realised how bad things were for her

That is good to hear TheFirst, it will be a real confidence builder for him.

That's really good TheFirst. Well done to your ds!

Lobster I'm sure she couldn't have known. People can be good at hiding stuff.

Lobster it really isn't your dd's responsibility or fault, you must remind her of that. They cannot possibly take on the role of counsellor/pastoral support at this age.
I think the Oxbridge students are particularily vulnerable to being swept along at 17 into the process, and there really doesn't seem to be the same opportunity to defer as there might be with other unis, as the schools are so helpful in the applications stages guidance etc. It would have to be a very motivated individual that would have the strength to consider applying to Oxbridge after A levels for the first time. Whereas that is fine/perfectly normal for the other universities. And it would tend to then disadvantage those feeling acute imposter syndrome/not ready for the leap, yet boxed in by their tremendous luck at having a place at all.
I think it is great Lobster that they have given your dd's friend a chance to breathe.

First how reassuringly wonderful he sounds very conscientious, and perhaps he didn't realise how well he is doing academically till now. I hope that gives him a bit of confidence.

Conversely my ds told me the essay he just handed in was bad but "look on the bright side mum, at least I handed it on on time^. Oh dear yet to get the mark for it, lets pray he is wrong...

Starfleet on one of ds's modules they have to give in an essay plan or show one, before they even start the essay. I think it is very structured in that way at his university, a former polytechnic, and I've heard the same from someone else whose child is at Winchester. Possibly without that input they would all founder. Whereas I've never heard that before about Warwick or Manchester for example. -anyway, all I can say is thank goodness they do ask for a plan

Thank you for all the kind comments about DS1's grade. Sadly he is not consistently conscientious, but he is capable of a high standard of work when he is well, and I'm glad he has been reminded of that, to help keep him going.

HesMyLobster some people are capable of appearing as though they are OK, even when they're not. It sounds like that was the case here, and your DD couldn't have known.

Nettles - DS was telling me this evening that he has been set an essay and he has to discuss the plan in his tutor group later this week.

His friend is on a different course - with very few lecture hours, I think maybe the amount of independent study required is also what he struggles with.

Just popping my head in.

DS1 is coming back for a long weekend (for his girlfriend's 18th). Due to things he has been invited to, my work commitments and choir commitments, I will be seeing him for less than an hour in total. And half of that will be while I'm driving him to his girlfriend's house.

Speed visit First!

2 1/2 weeks and dd is back home for Christmas.

4 weeks until Christmas break for DD2 but not back until later in January.

She isnt well at the moment, been told by the doctor to stay home for 5 days. This paniced her as she is always worried about falling behind in anyway.

We spent a while reassuring her that the uni will have a process for dealing with this but that she has to let them know now, not leave it hoping she feels better.

I have arranged shopping to be delivered rather than her dragging herself off to the supermarket. Took a bit of persuading but she agreed in the end. She wants to be independent and prove she can cope.

I'm sorry to hear that Gnome. I hope she feels better soon. She does need to let them know.

Thank you OYBBK. If it's not one thing it's another!

I have asked her to contact me when the shopping gets delivered so will then reinforce the message that she needs to let the uni know. If nothing else they wont want her in spreading whatever ghastly plague she has caught.

DD1 was also reassuring her that it is okay to take the time to concentrate on getting better.

Gnome DS was off for five days straight. When he had his routine meeting with head of year he apologised and was told that there were some with worse attendance with no explanation - at least he was engaging with the course. Sickness happens, somewhere or other there will be a form for it.

I hope she is better soon, I found it really difficult that it was happening at a distance because you can't see them getting better.

Side note - With all the current political chaos, maybe it's a good idea for people to remind their dc to make sure they are registered to vote in their university town as well as at home. That way they can choose where to vote in a GE.

Esther McVey gone

wrong thread.

gnome I hope she is resting - it is easier if GP sanctioned I think. Sickness happens so there will be ways for her to catch up.

Knittinganewme and NoHaudinMaWheest thank you.

The care package from home (via Tesco) cheered DD2 up.

Fortunately DD2 has been an attentive student so far. Not much choice really as sometimes she really is the only person in the lecture theatre - no chance to have a quiet snooze or play on her phone!

Hopefully they will make the necessary adjustments so that she can catch up relatively easily. This is the downside of a course with lots of contact hours.

GnomeDePlume I hope she starts to feel better soon.