Fighting our way through 1st year uni (starting Sept 17)

[HSMMaCM]

Continuing the previous thread.

Exams, assessments, essays, etc.

Support, or lack of it.

Will they all get accommodation for next year and can they cook a balanced meal yet.

Ono, is that true? DS tells me one reason why LSE student satisfaction rates are so low is that a significant minority end up having to repeat a year. Whilst bright friends of DC at Cambridge (medicine) and Imperial (engineering) have had to give up summer plans to resit.

My understanding is that medicine at least it is quite common to fail an exam somewhere along the way.

DD is not a perfectionist and normally has a keen eye for the minimum needed to get the result she wants. Though sitting in an exam where she had not mastered all the content was a real shock, even if the eventual results were fine. She really does not want to lose her summer, and the chance to repeat her volunteering at a camp for disabled, a holiday and a chance to earn. So hopefully the motivation to get stuck in to the work. Medics apparently go back two weeks before everyone else anyway.

Ringworm sounds horrible. As do grubby shared towels.

Ringworm is just a skin infection and caught early only needs a bit of cream for a few days - should be fine before he knows it! But Yes to washing towels

ono40 - If the ringworm doesn't clear up with anti-fungal treatment, consider the possibility of pityriasis rosea, which starts out looking very similar. I was convinced DS1 had ringworm a few years back (and it wasn't infeasible because we had a hobby farm, and so the kids had contact with loads of critters) but it turned out to not be that at all, and soon after the "herald patch" appeared, poor DS was covered in pityriasis rosea rash for weeks. Thankfully nowhere that wasn't easily covered by clothes, and it goes away eventually without any treatment.

DD has results from January exams and has scored a first overall with mixture of first and 2.1 for the first three modules! So, that's rather good isn't it?!

Enjoying the start of the second semester even more with some interesting new modules, and has even volunteered to help with a PhD research project, both practically and collecting some of the data.

With new flat for next year sorted too, and tickets for a music festival in the Spring, she seems very happy!

Brilliant news Juggling

We visited DS at the weekend - OMG, the state of his room Not much tidying goes on there...

Thanks Horsemad, it's great to hear her settled and enjoying life at her Welsh Uni 😊

DD said she'd have to plan when to Skype call us after she'd tidied her room a bit!

Great news juggling. All sounds very positive

Horse - DD has a very tidy boyfriend

Well done juggling Dd.

DS phoned tonight , he’s going down with a temperature , says a few of them have it. We recommended an early night.

He’s doing a law class this semester says the lectures are interesting but with his dyslexia is struggling with the text book.

Oh Eve. It's tough when they're feeling ill.

DS was supposed to be coming home this weekend but he's just announced he's not coming because there's a night out which is more important. I suppose he's got his priorities right so I'm trying to be pleased that he's having fun.

Thanks Haff, he’s obviously feeling sorry for himself as he phoned again this morning to tell us how he hasn’t slept all night and how ill he feels! Unfortunately today is a 9-5 day of lectures do no chance for bed.

Mine seem less ill than last term (so far). Poor son of Eve. one of mine just texted to say they got first in both of the January exams which is really good news as I was worried not enough work was being done and it can be a bit of a jump from A level to working more on your own university work. let us hope it does not lead to complacency.....

That's brilliant ZB! What a great start!

DS has to do a presentation on a different subject every fortnight. He has just told me he has decided he is going to do each presentation to music and compose a new backing track every time because then it will look like I've put loads of effort in
I did try to point out that the tutors may be more interested in the effort that's gone in to the content of his presentation, but he seems to think he's hit on a crafty way to disguise his laziness. I know he'll put far more time into the music than the actual subject matter.

Sounds like it will make things more interesting for everyone Haffdonga!

Maybe it will help him focus on the main points?!

It sounds like everyone is really settled at the minute. DS has just surprised me with a tea time visit and a v nice bottle of gin for my birthday. Lovely to catch up with him and hear all about his screen play and the short film he’s making. Less impressed by the lecturer who has apparently emailed them how to pass his element of the course so they don’t have to turn up every week!!

It suddenly feels like we’re on the final stretch.

Lovely gin for your bday Aunt P

We went to see DD yesterday - it was lovely but I couldnt stop hugging her

Glad to hear some of you are managing to catch up with your DCs 😄.
I caught up with 1 of my DDs this weekend and 1 the previous weekend.
1 (2nd year) has just text to say one of her modules is definitely cancelled on the strike days. This apparently affects her Monday and Wednesday timetable. She hasn't heard from others yet. The strikes could potentially impact her a lot as her course has workshops and labs. The other DD says she has been told they will be given 10 minutes notice of cancelled lectures! .....not sure how that will work

Student finance looks like it's ready to apply for next year. DD is just having a look at it.

Although with the news today, hopefully it'll be cheaper fingers crossed 🤞

My ds and (younger) dd have gone to stay with dd1 for a couple of days (is half term here). Never thought this day would come when I was sorting out all those fights when they were younger

That sounds great BackForGood - great way for younger sibs to get a taste of Uni life. I hope DS(16) will visit with me sometime soon - maybe when we drive up at end of year to help with transfer to second year accommodation - that might have to be two trips I think. Bring it all home, and then take it all back again!

DS's birthday today, first one he has had away from us and it feels weird without him!

He's home tomorrow for the weekend though, so cake and candles then! 😁

Horse, I haven't had to worry about that yet, as DD is a summer baby. However, if she is in her student house this summer....

On a happier note, she messaged us last night to tell us she's been made a peer mentor for next year. She really wanted to do it, so she's really chuffed.

Happy birthday for the son.
I spoke to one of mine yesterday who said all was well and no lcetures I think due to the strike although he does not have a huge number anyway and I might have got that wrong or he might have said he had none anyway. No recent marks or essays either now the Jan exams are over. It sounded all to be going fine. I had sent him an article I had published at university against noise in halls (I have been sorting out an awful lot of old papers including from my time at university). I think I wrote it all those years ago in quite a jocular style but I bet it did not go down well with my noisier hall occupants.

DD has finished one of her modules. No more lectures on Tuesdays for the rest of the year! A bargain at only £9250