Class of 18. No need for new school shoes

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Old thread:www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3478916-Class-of-18-now-in-2019-blimey

A thread for those of us whose kids left school/sixth form/college a year ago. Friendly chat :)

What's everyone up to then? Will I be here on my own next year as DS enters year four, hopefully a normal one where he gets to live in his flat all year and put shoes on to go to lectures.

DD will still be there (hopefully) Knot. Not making too many assumptions at present for some personal reasons.

She also said yesterday that there was word spreading round re her uni was making plans to start the first semester on line, and looking at second semester in person. I'm guessing there is probably an element of truth in this from the point of view of needing to plan.

I have a DS2 also heading off to uni in September.

I will still be lurking.

DS has had a couple of graduate scheme interviews. Got through to stage 5 of 6 on the Civil Service Fast stream but didn't make the cut because they said he wasn't as animated as they would have liked on the final video interview. He is very very laid back so was being himself. He also got through to the final stage for PwC. They have asked him to reapply in 6 months. Apparently he did nothing wrong - had a 20 minute phone call from them to give him feedback. His interviewer said competition is very fierce. More so than previous years.

He has been offered a place to do his MSc at his current university - he has accepted it as he said he doesn't want a year spent aimlessly so would rather do something he is interested in and then crack on with new applications for schemes when they re open.

Me... I'm hoping the weather gets slightly better so I can get on with some more planting.

Ds will start as a trainee chartered accountant in September so no more uni threads for me until his sister starts in 2024. ( I will no doubt lurk to see how you are all getting on)
She wants to study medicine so the application process is going to be somewhat more stressful than She is involved in a few STEM projects and on a waiting list to volunteer with st John’s ambulance but no doubt there is more to do!

DS applied very late on for GS's so missed out on a lot as they had already closed.

He has no determined career path in mind yet. He just went for things he thought sounded interesting - so quite a wide range 🙄 . My DSis works in broadcasting - he's hoping nepotism might help him get a foot in the door when stuff opens up next year. Who knows which direction he will go in.

So many students graduating and competing for positions, seems there are fewer opportunities right now too.

DS is currently writing his dissertation. His last exam is on 17 May.

He wants to work as a primary TA for a year. He hopes that this will help him to decide whether he wants to apply to do a PGCE.

I will be lurking next year too.
dds HND course is going well and also has new part-time "keyworker" job too.
Because her HND course is based in an FE college with only 6 people on the course, it has been relatively normal this year apart from lockdown from Jan - March.

I will be around next year as Dd has moved to part time hours and still has quite a few years to go.
We are still hoping to move to her university city before next academic year starts but things have been delayed by lockdown so it seems a bit ambitious now.

She may be able to continue to study remotely for the first term but we will see how things go. I want to avoid renting up there if possible.

I'm definitely still around. DD's course is 5 years, so a while to go yet. She went for a summer internship and got down to the last 9 for 4 places but didn't get it. Her MH took a bit of a dive, so I'm concerned for her future again. She is bright and beautiful and funny but just doesn't see it. She's had 4 months at home and I worry a little that she'd stay forever if she could. I hope I'm wrong. I probably am!

We have a puppy. We'd been on a waiting list for about 18 months so I do find myself saying that he's not a lock down puppy whenever anyone speaks to him. I do keep calling him by the old dog's name. Worst was at the vets. The poor nurse's face when she went to check him in was a moment to remember. 🙄😂 He is adorable but I do remember that this stage is why we have had older dogs since our last puppy 30 odd years ago.

Thinking of the young people here who are facing challenges due to disability and/or health difficulties (physical or mental). DS is completely well now, but his five years of illness contributed significantly to the number of grey hairs I now have.

@Hardwickwhite - how exciting about the puppy!

DS is planning to live with us next year, to save money. He had an interview this week. He really likes the school, so would love to be offered the position, but obviously it will depend on the calibre of the other applicants. If he does get a TA job and then goes on to do a PGCE then this would be sort of the teaching equivalent of the placement year that some courses include.

oh! we are still chatting here. I need to catch up with you all tomorrow.

Yes kitten you do need to pop back, I'm starved of human interaction and every little helps. I saw you on the changing rooms thread and considered asking how you were. I've had two opportunities this week to give feedback to M&S on my recent "purchase" (returned as too long) and used them to ask why they can open toilets but not changing rooms.

DS is having in person tuition and a covid test twice a week. I didn't think he'd bother but there is an inducement with a stamp card. It's a free drink one week and a cookie or brownie the next week. As his building is literally next door to the test centre he thinks it's worth the effort.

It's so quiet without him in the house, I have Alexa playing coffee shop sounds for most of the day so I know my ears are working.

Just popping back in to update that DS got the job, so he is sorted for September. Until the next stage of PGCE applications...

Well done Knot on feeding back to M&S. It is notable how the brands that have been struggling over the past few years are the ones that don't want to seem to open.

Thats awesome news Bronze! Well done to your ds.

I'm doing pretty well now thanks :) I had a really rough few months but have come out of the other side sort of intact. I am really enjoying the new limited freedoms we have.

dd has a summer placement relevant to the area she wants to specialise in. It feels a bit miraculous really, given the climate. She has been back at uni for a couple of months. Her college are being really strict about not doing in person tutorials until May 17th. Revising for 3rd Year exams - if she does as well as she hopes she will then stay on for her masters.

Its so odd really how some of our group are already coming out of the other end of uni and into jobs. How on earth has that happened so quickly? Surely they only just arrived there?

DD plans to stay on to do a Masters but is struggling with the enthusiasm to write her dissertation.

Someone remind me again about funding for Masters. When I've looked on the government site it seems to me that the application process is not yet open for September 2021 or have I fallen through a crack in the timey wimey thingy?

I think you can apply for a loan from the end of June.
dds course is an integrated masters, so hers comes under the undergrad scheme.

I had forgotten this thread! DD finished her Diss in April, and is working on her last couple of essays and prepping for final exams. She cast a wide net for masters courses as she had no idea how successful she might be, and is now distressed that she has to choose ("Someone was supposed to choose for me!") hahaha.

Ds’s finals start on Monday.
Good luck to everyone with third year exams!

Good luck to your lad Shanghai!

Good luck to all with exams. DS has finished being assessed except for his year end recital. He seems remarkably unconcerned about this, it's "fine". I was hoping I might get an invitation but I don't want to be pushy and actually ask.

Good luck to all with exams! DD is three down one to go. The way they are doing them real seems to be suiting her.

Nearly there Perhaps!

Dds exams aren't for another three weeks. So still in full revision mode.

DS has submitted his dissertation and completed his last exam! I'm proud of him for managing to complete the course under less than ideal circumstances, and also feeling quite relieved that it's done and the outcome is now out of his hands.

Good luck to those facing exams / assessments in the next few weeks.

DD has her final exam over tomorrow and Friday. She seems quite stressed over this one compared to how see seemed to breeze into the others.

She will start a tutoring job as soon as her exams are over. I think it will be great for her to earn some real money and keep busy. A real confidence builder.

Her university is one of those who have already said lectures will continue online, but they have yet to fully explain how they will make up for a years worth of labs!