New Uni starters 2015 (continued from Preparing for Uni)

[circular]

Thought we needed a new thread to continue from preparation.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2466997-Preparing-for-Uni-in-2015-continues

Suspect all have arrived by now...

Quietly - that is an amazing achievement for your dd to do 4 essay based A2s under those circumstances - you are rightly proud of her. I do hope she gets the helps she needs with her exam arrangements. How very stressful for both of you!

Quietly brilliant she gets this help. I hope it is useful for her.

Regarding Exam requirements - help her write to SEN dept or whatever called in your uni and be persistent. My DS needed a bit of guidance on who to send to and what to say. He wasn't great at checking the details - I was!

I may be looking on the bright side but most unis are better than they first appear - they are all geared up to help now and we found when one dept. didn't help we went to another until correct assistance was given.
Good luck!

Just quickly catching up.
Hope all those that had exams now have results and did OK.
DD's results were OK, but worse than she thought. Not been organised enough to get feedback though.

Noted some comments about the weekly sessions for those with SEN.
Is it normal to get regular slots?
Getting very frustrated here as DD entitled to 30 sessions a year as part of DSA. Has to book them individually, as and when she needs them. As her disability affects her organisational skills she never gets them booked!
Not allowed to book more than 1 or 2 in advance, in practise so short staffed, nobody gets to use them all.
Does this sound right?

Spoke to Ds on the phone and he has just entered himself for end of 1st year exams. Where has the time gone?

Circular - DS is able to have some sessions - SpLD (dyslexia) via DSA. I think he went to the first one but if he had wanted more he would have had to book them himself. Ie he wouldn't have got regular slots booked for him. Can't tell you whether that is typical though.

circular sounds the same system as my dd but she manages to book the same one every week when she goes - I guess the lady always has a space at that time (luck maybe or that everyone is settled into this terms modules). Guessing next term when her modules and timetable change she will have to rearrange a suitable time! My DD didn't get any the first term so she just books a weekly one so she will use them up! It's a bit mad though when your DD needs help with organisational skills and they expect her to book or remember to book - frustrating for all involved!

Does anyone else feel a bit rubbish right now? My daughter's fine - and I'm at the point where I'm anticipating her return as the second term will be over before long.

I told myself my life would change after she went. Yes, I have applied for a couple of new jobs. Shortlisted for one, no reply as yet for the second one. And I am continuing to bash away on a freelance project. But basically things have stayed very much the same.

There is this nagging sense of Could Do Better....

Re: support sessions via DSA

My DS has a regular mentor session. I actually rang them myself a few times to make sure this was organised. Now DS liaises with service. You do have to make sure unis are accountable to deliver what is entitled - they are big organisations . Students can slip through the net. I think you have to chase them up.

circular - precisely for organisational difficulties - the service have arranged a regular slot for my DS - to be remembered!

I would call and raise concerns - not good enough on their part. I know it is all about student independence and responsibility but this is a transition year for them.

Does anyone else feel a bit rubbish right now?

Yes but I think it is more to do with the younger two doing A Levels and GCSE's. The ones at university seem fine at the moment.

Don't be too hard on yourself Marianne. As long as everyone is healthy and coping that is the main thing. Sounds like you have achieved a lot.

I agree - don't be hard on yourself Marianne - they haven't really been gone that long. Still plenty of time for you to achieve what you want. I guess I wasn't really anticipating anything to change at home for us (other than a great big hole where dd normally is!) I made a big career change about a year before she started university, in part to help fund her going to university.

We are collecting dd on Saturday next week and she will be home for 5 weeks for Easter. The day after that we are collecting a puppy! The house is very quite without dd and ds (15) is in his bedroom all the time and dh goes away for work a lot - so basically I am replacing dd with a dog

Thanks Voilets May need to step in.

MrsBartlet I'm stuck st home with an ill child who doesn't attend school and is very closed down so no company there and I'm so tempted to get a puppy BUT every time I even think about it my 3 cats give me the stare!!!! . How exciting though for you - what type of puppy are you getting?

He's a cockapoo, quietly. I am saying that in hushed tones as there are lots of people on the doghouse board who will disapprove. He is adorable. We don't have any other pets but still prepared that our world maybe about to be turned upside down.

Oh my friend has the same breed and she is called Lola - they did gun dog training and she is an amazing dog and very well trained but also a lot of fun and very friendly x

I have a friend with one as well and he seems lovely. We are already signed up for training classes - can't wait to get him here!

I had to google cockapoo. Wow! How cute !

I feel a loss and a bit under valued at work - not quite wanting to branch out for promotion yet.

There is also a sense of achievement, I got one to uni and he's coping - just about ! And I do feel a bit more freedom is nice.

There are silver linings to the emptying nest.

I do sympathise though that it can feel at times a bit flat after the hullabaloo of raising children

They would disapprove of me more MrsB I have as you can probably guess by my name a Pug. My hairdresser has a cockapoo, she is adorable.

DS seems to be doing ok. Booked his train ticket to come home on the 17th for three weeks (we will take back).

This afternoon I was busy hoovering and didn't hear him come in!! He thought he would surprise me for Mother's Day! Bless him. Thing is we were chatting five mins before on what's app. He was hungover, got in about 4am this morning, woke up to find himself fully clothed and looking at a dodgy kebab on his bedside table .

How sweet Pug - enjoy having him here for Mother's Day!

I'm hoping wondering if ds will remember it's mothers day at all now he doesn't have my subtle hints and dh's less subtle commands to remind him. Let's see.

Haffdonga I was amazed to receive a parcel in the post yesterday which was addressed to me in DS's writing. I wasn't sure if I had circled Mothers Day on the academic calender that I sent him off with in September - but clearly I did .
Circular DS gets 2 hrs a week 1:1 support paid for by DSA. He seems to arrange this by e-mail direct with the mentor but mostly seems to stick to the same time of 1 hr sessions twice a week - unless she has something else on, when it gets cancelled. It is mainly for support around study skills and organisation but I'm not sure how helpful it is really. Think DS just likes the security of knowing there's someone to chat things through with twice a week - he had a similar arrangement in 6th form.
DS flying home for Easter in 2 weeks time but has to go back a few days before the start of term as they are all going to a birthday party!

Operation Mother's Day organised from afar by hyper-organised dd2. Each sibling assigned a task by skype.

Ds managed to remember to phone for mother's day. Apparently he is going to see Mary Berry at the Union this week. Do you think I've spawned a hipster ? . No, nor me.

Well, I got a Happy Mothers Day text. He remebered.

Text then call with apologies for parcel not having arrived, also ordered something from DD2 that hasn't arrived.

Surprised she's remembered at all, in headess chicken mode with work as hit the 'everything due in next week but nothing started' scenario once again.

Parcel arrived from DS with my favourite chocolates in. Am amazed I was convinced he forget mother's day altogether.