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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Who else has DC approaching Uni finials? Graduations to hopefully celebrate?

77 replies

Milliways · 20/04/2016 17:20

I was on the first empty nest threads with my DD, and now my DS is approaching his final weeks!

Anyone else with finals looming? How are your DC coping? Do you have their timetables like when it was A levels too?

I must say, I am so proud of DS for his work ethic and the hours he spends in the library each term. I truly hope he gets the grades he deserves. He needs a 2.1 for his job offer.

That's the next thing, trying to find accommodation for a new job is worse than Uni halls, having to maybe share with total strangers in a professional share etc as no way can they afford London prices on new entrant salaries (unless you are my friends DD who got stupidly high wage offers from Google and Amazon! DS is very fortunate to have a job offer, but the wages are not in the skyhigh bracket :) )

After he graduates I will have a totally empty nest as both didn't return after Uni.

Will you be buying a new outfit for the Graduation day?

OP posts:
bojorojo · 14/05/2016 21:04

As I said up thread, my sister did not go to her graduation at UCL. She does not regret it, but she should have gone because our Mum had made sacrifices for her to go to university and it is, sadly, a hall-mark of a self-centred person if they cannot allow their family to have a special day. He should go and let you enjoy the day, estyourveg. Growing up is thinking of others - not just yourself (and saying "Thank You" Mum!)

Stopyourhavering · 15/05/2016 09:24

Gown ordered and photos booked, new dress for me too!.. Hotel booked...just need to get a dress for dd .....any suggestions where to get a suitable black dress for graduand?
Just waiting to hear what final degree classification dd has.....most likely a 2:1 as no final exams, just a dissertation which has been handed in.....then need to start looking for post grad accommodation in Edinburgh!

mumeeee · 15/05/2016 15:15

DD3 is nearly there. Dissertation handed in last Tuesday and she just has one more assignment to finish due in on Monday 23rd May.

She is ordering and paying for her own gown the same as her sisters did. I think she has already got a suitable black dress.
DH has already booked our accommodation as we are staying the nights before and after her Graduation.

So I hope she does Graduate now.😃

Ohtobeskiing · 16/05/2016 16:23

I met up with ds this morning to go suit shopping. We didn't manage the suit (they didn't have the right size jacket in stock - he's tall and thin with ridiculously long arms) but we did manage new shoes and lunch Grin

Original poster
Milliways · 16/05/2016 20:15

That sounds like a lovely day OhToBeSkiing :)

I found a new dress at the weekend so that was good, now the fun of finding shoes (had a foot op not long ago so shoes are a pain-literally!) DS had 2 new suits for his work experience last Summer so hopefully they will still fit!

OP posts:
Ohtobeskiing · 27/05/2016 07:00

Well that's it - dd has finished! He sat his last exam yesterday (which he felt went very well), so now all he has to do is wait for his final result. Three years have gone so quickly!

alreadytaken · 28/05/2016 10:36

part way through finals now and I'm told one paper wasnt good but they are holding up, as are the friends who have had problems in year.

Accommodation and parking booked and wondering if we should provide champagne for graduation day or if we can get away with something cheaper. We sent them off this term with a couple of small bottles to celebrate the end of exams.

mumeeee · 29/05/2016 07:07

DD3 has had a set back. Some of you may have read about it in my posts on the empty nest thread.
Anyway unfortunately she won't be graduating in July now.
She has had extreme anxiety and other mental health problems and wasn't able to finish her last assignment properly.
She spoke to her tutor last week who advised her to submit what she had and to apply for mitigating circumstances. Which she has done. If it is accepted she should have another assignment to do over the summer and hopefully graduate in September

eatyourveg · 30/05/2016 09:25

Sorry to hear that mumeeee I hope your dd can access the help she needs and the uni accept the mitigating circumstances. Will she feel calmer doing the assignment at home over the summer rather than at uni? Wishing her well and that she gets to graduate in the autumn.

alreadytaken · 30/05/2016 10:54

sorry about that mumeeee but she's very close now and hopefully will graduate soon.

Wonders what everyone has planned to celebrate - we've booked a meal after graduation.

mumeeee · 30/05/2016 13:00

Thanks both. She actually wants to stay up in her university town as can access resources at university over the summer and also has friends up there

Ohtobeskiing · 31/05/2016 11:18

Sorry to hear your dd has been having a hard time mumeee. She is so near the end I hope she manages to get the last bit of work done over the summer. Is she getting help and support for her anxiety problems?

fussychica · 31/05/2016 12:51

Sorry to hear that mumee, I'm sure it will all work out in the end. Hope you can all still enjoy the summer.

mumeeee · 31/05/2016 13:55

Thanks again for all your support. Yes she is getting help for her anxiety problems most of her tutors have been very supportive. She is in regular contact with the Disability team and her student liason officer and has also had some sessions with the university counselling service and has been to her own Doctor.

mumeeee · 31/05/2016 18:43

Some good news. DD3 heard today that the mitigating circumstances have been accepted

eatyourveg · 31/05/2016 19:08

Wonderful news! - hopefully now one bit of pressure is off, the longer submission deadline will help reduce at least some of the anxiety she has experienced.

goinggetstough · 31/05/2016 19:35

Excellent news mumee. Good luck to her.

Original poster
Milliways · 31/05/2016 22:15

Yay Mumeeee, fab news, you must be so relieved :)

DS has exams tomorrow, Thursday and next week, then all done.

OP posts:
mumeeee · 31/05/2016 23:42

Thanks all. Eatyourveg yes we are hoping that it will reduce the pressure and some of her anxiety.
Good luck to your DS Milliways

Original poster
Milliways · 08/06/2016 22:49

DS has finally finished and the partying starts now :)

Only a few weeks and we get the results !

OP posts:
Original poster
Milliways · 29/06/2016 18:48

He got a 1st! Grin

OP posts:
eatyourveg · 29/06/2016 19:54

Fantastic Millways! Congratulations to your ds. Results here are due Monday and he's still adamant that he's not going to the graduation ceremony. Probably too late to order a gown now anyway.

Original poster
Milliways · 29/06/2016 20:36

Fingers crossed for you EatYourVeg, hope you get to celebrate whatever he decides.

OP posts:
mumeeee · 01/07/2016 09:51

Congratulations to your DS Milliways.
eatyourveg your DS should be still be able to order a gown if he does decide to go to the Graduation ceremony.
We have another year to wait now before DD3 graduates. She is now going to repeat the failed module next year. She will do it in the 2nd Semester and because she was granted mitigating circumstances it will be counted as a first attempt.
She past everything else.

eatyourveg · 01/07/2016 17:36

Results came out today - ds was 2 marks short of a first - he is very quiet and moping about the house so I guess despite him gaining a very good degree he is feeling disappointed - dh and I are delighted with his result but he's even more determined not to go to the ceremony. I read on his uni website that there is an opportunity to go back in September for a photo opp - gown hire is free - no need to book, just turn up apparently so perhaps I may get something to frame and put on the mantelpiece yet.

Hope the rest of your dc are pleased with their results and you all enjoy the ceremonies.