Rather dumb Dissertation question

[Southdevondelight]

DD (only child) has just started Yr 4 after 12 months work placement. Neither I nor late DH or actually anyone in our families has ever gone to university, so I've no real knowledge and feel a bit stupid asking about dissertations. What exactly are they? Do you just choose something related to your studied topic? DD's timetable shows dissertation work against several modules so does that mean separate ones for each subject? She's not really enjoyed uni to the full, although thrived at placement and is now already stressing at the academic workload ahead so I'd like to understand as much as I can about these dissertations.

Thanks for explaining that sashh. I am learning a lot from this thread. Maybe I could try for university myself as a (very) mature student!

EastMids2

Go for it. I was 32 when I went.

At one point we had a mother and daughter in the same year.

Or maybe collaboratively we should write a book, Uni for parents with no experience.

Keep plugging on EastMids you're doing a wonderful job.

EastMids what you're missing is that this tactic won't get you the best grades and would require more effort. Especially as for a dissertation the supervisor may well agree to read a draft and give comments (mine did).

But if she's trying to work out whether she will get any degree she needs to be doing as much of the work as she can and hand it in. There's a lot less work required to pass everything then to get firsts in some things and fail others. But she does really need to go and see her supervisor. Even if she doesn't mention not thinking she can do it or anything, she needs to be on the radar and discussing a plan.

And if you fancy a career change, or a challenge doing a degree part time, go for it.

She really does need to talk to someone because she will already be on the radar as a student at risk of failure and the staff need to know that she is someone who needs help rather than someone who is not trying. University staff, for the most part, will go out of their way to help a student who is struggling but doing their best.

It would be shame as she has done 3 of the 4 years to drop out now. My twins had to submit dissertation topics before they started year 3 (so by end of last term July 2019) so it might be a good idea if she agrees her topic quickly once term starts so that is over with. Just break it into bits starting with writing all the deadlines down for it and sticking to them and working to submit things earlier than the dates given so nothing feels pressured. Make sure she knows all the dates and also how many words she has to produce. Then pick a topic she is interested in or if not interested in anything much one that is not too hard to write and then research it and then write it in parts.

If she has a particular tourism job she wants to do may be make the dissertation relevant to that so that in job interviews the dissertation puts her at the front of the queue for jobs.

The post is from six years ago.

I've just noticed that, Ellmau - I'd love to know how the OP's daughter is doing now! I wonder if @Southdevondelight aka (I think) @EastMids2 is still about?

OP (me) is still about - and very surprised to get a message from Mumsnet saying I'd been mentioned in a post! Anyway, quick update - DD plucked up courage to talk to various uni people and get support. She still struggled and didn't get very good marks but just scraped through and graduated at Gloucester Cathedral, with me watching on and trying not to shed tears. She took up the offer of a job from the hotel placement, stayed there for 6 years before moving on to management at a large private hotel in Worcestershire. University wasn't quite the experience she imagined and a lot of mixed emotions but she did it, the first in generations of our family, and I can't tell you how proud I am and her dad would have been too

In that case I am glad I made the mistake of not realising it was a very old thread. Sometimes it is really n ice to hear the end of the story and I am so glad she graduated and the first in her family even if it was not that great an experience. My son who didn't do that well on his degree nor take much part at all in university life, says even now he is glad he stuck it out and graduated so I'm pleased too.

Thank you for the update, SWnewstart. I'm so glad that your daughter is doing so well, and congratulations, belatedly, on her graduation at Gloucester Cathedral, and her successful career!

Started reading without noticing the date, realised I’d posted on this 6 years ago! Lovely to make it to the end and the update Congrats to your wonderful DD, @SWnewstart! (And to you too!)

I've read the thread from start to finish, am in awe of you op, the way you stuck by your dd and supported her is fantastic. And she graduated and now has a good job, wow!! Am so happy for you both.
This thread has been brilliant forme to learn from too, we never went to uni and now both kids are going, one starting one in final year, so very relevant to a clueless mum!!

What a lovely update OP. I’m so glad things worked out for your daughter.