Starting lectures at uni 2017

[HSMMaCM]

The other thread filled up really quickly, with exciting talk of laundry, mattress toppers and lost property.

Here's where the rest of them settle in, get through freshers and the work gets serious.

slightly worried, DS has called DH and hes finding it hard.

He's very dyslexic and finding the delivery of the lecture difficult, lots of powerpoints, and a fast pace though them.

I think he needs to get used to it.. and will find his rhythm soon but am slightly worried for him.

eve He maybe able to access those lectures and PowerPoints online afterwards and go through them later at his own pace? Most unis post at least some of their lectures online and DS's do all.
Waves to Kath. DS also 2nd year science has some long days. He's also, reluctantly, starting to exploit career options. He has no clue what he wants to do.

Secret - DS doesnt really know whether he wants to work in his degree subject, but it is a subject that gives good analytical skills so scope for doing other things.

His dream job is air traffic controller, he got as far as interview stage in Yr 13 (so passing numerous test stages) but failed, not surprising since he only ever had 1 interview before then (had been lucky to get first PT job he applied to!)

He recently had an email inviting him to re apply to NATS in a year, and he will, it seems, skip some of test stages, so he will do that at some point and if he passes I think he goes on a reserve intake list, waiting for him to finish uni and them to have a spare training slot.

So he found out this week that NATS also do placements, some want specific degrees and he isn't sure how he will fill in application for the ones that accept any STEM subject but given his proven interest, we think he should try and so will look at form when he is home this weekend.

It is really difficult trying to think ahead at this stage isn't it - he is applying for a variety of placements and will take whatever is offered in the end, to get experience in his degree subject (or NATS!). And it is so time consuming - for him and us - I feel like a recruitment consultant, proof reading his answers for application form questions in my spare time! His sister is applying for PT work, so we also helping her fill in online forms, too!

Eve, one tip was to read through the lecture content in advance. This was certainly suggested to (non dyslexic) DS for maths options, indeed the recommendation was to spend two hours on prep. Presumably if you don't there is a danger you get lost within the first 15 minutes and get no benefit.

So I was interested that DD is also supposed to go through the content and learn the terminology prior to her three hour anatomy lecture.

University can be very different from school. DS said in his first year they covered half the content of an A2 paper in a single lecture. He had to work far harder than he ever did at school.

Dyslexic DD used to identify someone who took neat notes and ask to photocopy. I suspect she may be on the look out for similar peer support at University. She tends to pick up concepts quickly so there is a trade to be done!

DD has managed to drop the unliked unit and I guess swap to the preferred - all without any help from me or DH! And she did her first wash yesterday

Am in awe of the dyslexic DC who have to do so much prep - it is impressive.

Hmmm. 'Paper holder' ideas.....

One of those little clips you put a note in on your desk?
A ring binder?
Card / envelope folder?
Filing cabinet?
those 3 stacking shelves on a desk to keep paper in?
an in tray / out tray ?
some poly-pockets?
a lever arch or box file?
or
a toilet roll holder?

I googled paper holder images (of course it might be a toilet roll )

I'm loving the paper holder suggestions.

When I get to the bottom of it I will post!!!

Sent DD back on Sunday after a weekend at home recovering from freshers flu and the only communication I've had since is a photo of an infected finger. Not too sure how I should be feeling

Still trying to wrest invoices (fees/rent) from one of the twins. His twin has texted how you access them. Apparently he will send them later. No particular news or updates really. I think they are both doing fine. I must ask if the more musical one is doing any music who took his instruments. It would be a pity if he did none.

DS has just come home😀 complete with laundry of course. Not only has someone stolen his ham, they've had an entire tub of lurpak, 2L of vimto, cheese, bread and had almost a whole box of crunchy nut cornflakes. That's just not on.

DS looks well ( has a bad cough though) and he seems quite happy. I had the best hug ever. He's only home until later this evening, he's going out with his brothers to an activity then off to his GF.

Fancy stealing all that food though, their parents would be ashamed if they knew. I know I would be.

I think I love DD's housemates. They were all up in the middle of the night last night when she was poorly and called 111 and then an ambulance for her. Someone stayed up with her for the rest of the night after the paramedics left, to make sure she was ok.

It feels horrible that I wasn't there and she doesn't want me to go today (going on Sunday already). But it's another sign that she's managing without me in a scary way.

I just want to give her a big hug.

Oh dear , that sounds a bit grim! Is she ok? I would be going mental if mine had been that unwell - and she is about 3-4 hrs drive from home. We will hopefully see her in 2 weeks time. I know the dog is missing her. He keeps staring at the door at the time she used to come in.

I am equally disgusted about the food theft. I think he needs to call an apartment meeting to lay down some rules!

DD would not be impressed with food theft. So far her housemates all seem to be ok.

She has some ongoing health issues, but I've told her to insist they take her to hospital next time.

One of my older dd's had food stolen. They worked out who it was but the person got away with as they got up in the middle of the night to take stuff so it was difficult to catch them in the act. It got really annoying as they often opened a whole jar but just took a bit so it wasn't noticed immediately. Or they opened a new pasta packet and then resealed it after helping themselves.

It went on the whole year and often food went off because the seal on jars had been broken.

The hall seemed powerless to do anything.

She started keeping most of her food in her room in the end.

My daughter giving her brother her little room fridge has worked out well. On moving in day he almost decided to leave it in the car and I take it home, but took it in at the last minute and says it's been very useful given the ham thief. They are in halls in a block of 12 rooms (16 people). I expect someone just comes back late at night and raids the fridge when drunk.

I think if that happened to me I'd be tempted to spike some 'bait' with Bitrex.

Littleho he's going to do just that. He has a little fridge in his room at home that he's taking back with him too. Others in his flat have complained of food and kitchen equipment going missing too.

That is annoying about the food theft.

DS1's kitchen cupboards were able to be padlocked, which they all did initially but over time as they got to know each other, they didn't bother.

DS2's kitchen cupboards can't be padlocked and have no locks on but luckily everyone respects others' possessions so far.

Not sure what can be done, unless they are allowed a mini fridge in their room and keep stuff in there.

University of Nottingham provide mini fridges in the rooms - I was very impressed with that!

I am far too old for being a fresher, and am not a mum either, but I do have a massive bugbear about the food thefts - they have always gone on, unfortunately.

We got round them by dyeing milk with green food colouring and spiking the ketchup with pure capsaicin www.hotsauce.com/Pure-Cap-Extract-p/1154.htm. It only took one spiked bottle for the thieves to stop nicking. Never did it for the rest of the year.

DD isn't allowed a small fridge in her room, they are removed if they do have them. She's not mentioned food theft so hopefully it's OK. She's still ill, she's got a chest infection.