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Higher education

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

Heading towards year 2 exams (uni 2017)

998 replies

brizzlemint · 21/03/2019 02:50

Starting uni 2017 continued.
Tales of radiators, errant boilers, tomatoes and potato mashers...oh and university students.

OP posts:
Xenia · 30/06/2019 19:48

Well done on the washing, Errol. Tonight 5 extra students are staying with my 2 (and the longer standing guest) and another of their school friends has just come to join their barbecue - so 9, but only 8 staying over night including my two. One of mine has to be up at 9 to drive back to Bristol with 2 of them to get moved into year 3 house so I hope he is able to get up early enough.

They all seem very nice so far. I am mostly keeping out of the way. I think it will be a night requiring ear plugs (although last night was just as bad as the local golf club had its annual dinner dance in a marquee which I never enjoy as you can hear all the commentary).

Malbecfan · 30/06/2019 21:19

Well done Errol. DD1 has been back for 26 hours and it's lovely to have her here again. No thanks to "Great" Western Railways, who should be renamed to Useless Western Railways. It was only 22 degrees here yesterday, nice but not too hot yet they claimed they couldn't run their trains at full power. My diesel car runs the same whether it's zero, 10, 20 or 30 degrees. DD was delayed coming back from her holiday but apparently BA were brilliant at keeping them informed and handing out water. She was then stuck at a small station somewhere in Bucks for 90 minutes yesterday. The toilets were locked and they refused to open them. She rang me in tears sobbing that she just wanted to get home. If it hadn't been DD2's prom the night before, I might have done the 3 hours each way drive, but a train randomly stopped at the station as I was consoling her and she jumped on that and amazingly made her severely delayed connection.

Today she has helped in the garden as a thank you for all the washing I did last week. She starts work tomorrow so we have been trying to work out transport logistics. She's trying the train (GWR again!) this week. Let's hope it's less traumatic.

latedecember1963 · 01/07/2019 09:10

Thank you for the good wishes, Haffdonga. He's just had confirmation that he's got all his chosen study modules so he's feeling more relaxed.

Less relaxing was him realising yesterday that he'd forgotten to cancel his rent standing order. Luckily his landlord is very good and has said he'll refund it later today. Once he gets it back he's going to message the landlord to say thank you for everything this year and ask what happens regarding the deposit.

Sounds like you've got a student B&B there, Xenia, but how lovely that your home is seen as the go-to by your childrens' friends.

Good luck for your son today, Eve. Hope all goes well.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/07/2019 00:15

I've rather randomly just found that
'Xenia is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship' - wonderfully apt NN!Smile

Xenia · 02/07/2019 12:25

Just one twin and his friend here last night so not so bad. The friend staying for 2 months I believe has a job but that doesn't seem to have started yet but would mean he was out in the day or the evening. I didn't know that Xenia meaning. My son is very pleased his friend is here as it would be boring without him so I suppose that's okay. His twin is back late tomorrow night from Bristol - the move in went well for the year 3 house and he managed to move his twin's house TV there too for safe keeping yesterday.

I was thinking about whty eh older ones never had people to stay for long periods. It was because when my oldest was at this stage we had a house full of 5 children including 6 year olds, a daily nanny here all day , a morning cleaner. It was just a full house whereas now I suppose it's very peaceful here.

Glad late's son could cancel the standing order. I did remind one of mine about that - but he (and I) had set them up for a fixed number of payments which then just end so we all seem to be okay on that front. I think if mine do further studies after they graduate it would be in London so probably this year 3 of university will be my last year paying rent for them.

Eve · 02/07/2019 16:07

..well DS and his car made the 5 hour drive to get to his placement location!!! phew

He only passed his test a year and then at uni, so has done very little long distance driving and we only bought him a cheap car as so little public transport where he is!

His flatmates so far seen OK , an unfurnished flat was all they could get so they are scouring sales ads and charity shops for furniture and DS is on a camp bed for the moment.

Called him last night and he was bored - I guess after the last 6 months of 12 hour days plus all the exam pressure he doesn't know how to do downtime. The area he's in is remote but I'm sure he'll find something to fill his time - hes talking about doing an ironman ( we suggested maybe try a triathalon 1st) .

ErrolTheDragon · 02/07/2019 16:50

You said he’s in the Northwest, didn’t you Eve - so am I, though that’s a huge area!

Eve · 02/07/2019 21:54

He is Errol - without being too outing - he’s on the coast and pretty far North. Grin.

He called today, he now has a bed and chest of drawers ( from a charity shop) and amazon are delivering a mattress. 😅😅

Xenia · 02/07/2019 22:38

Sounds good Eve.
Mine called the university today as his modules were all in term 2 (so no lectures or anything in term 1 september which is not supposedt o happen) but thankfully it was just a mistake on the options list - two of his modules despite saying term 2 are term 1 so that's a relief. He couldn't do 2 terms' worth in one term in Jan - April.

One of their school friends who lives near us who has been at our house most of this week has even driven to Bristol (not his own university) today to be with my other son and his friends who moved into their year 3 house yesterday so he was quite useful actually - he called round here first to pick up a rug my son wnted down there and a few other things as he is driving down in his own car. So it all seems to be sorting out. I think my son is back tomorrow night as both twins have things on on Wednesday, not least the dentist for a check up for one of them.

Stopyourhavering64 · 03/07/2019 03:33

Ds is back today, from a month volunteering abroad ....we're staying in hotel overnight so can pick him up from airport as flight gets in early - cant wait to hear all his news and a suitcase full of washing
I'm not entirely sure if he'll be able to get a job for rest of summer, as he starts back again very early September!
His sister is graduating in a fortnight with a first! and then is spending 4 months traveling from August onwards ( money earned from various employment over last couple of years + placement year ) She's just had interview for ski season job for when she returns from traveling , so hopefully that's her sorted for a while , and then she can look for more permanent grad post
Eldest dd graduated 3 yrs ago and has been working abroad ever since, but she is not renewing contract, so will be home early October
Don't think all 3 will be home at same time ,unfortunately ,but it's going to be a household in flux for next few months!

Xenia · 03/07/2019 17:47

Stop, it may not be work his getting a job just for a short period anyway and might be nice for him just to have a rest.

Both my twins got 2/1s this year - one just texted me so that's good as they will probably need a 2/1 for future jobs. I have the long term house guest here today and the other twin gets back here late tonight. A second guest is coming to stay apparently on Firday although the day keeps changing. I've been driving 2 of them about today as the other twin has the other car in Bristol until tonight. It sounds like his move into year 3 university flat has gone well.

dingit · 04/07/2019 16:32

Eve, my dd is on the south coast, as far south as you can go 😂

BestIsWest · 04/07/2019 19:15

We are back from our family holiday and DS is spending his time doing odd jobs for people/ sleeping/ going to beach barbecues in this nice weather. No job as yet but he does have some work experience lined up at one point. With luck he’ll pick up some kitchen work or bar work, it’s what he’s done the last few summers.

SMaCM · 07/07/2019 10:49

DD has driven to a uni friends house where they are all having a little holiday reunion. She was up until at least 4am this morning.

I still find it strange that my 'little girl' can drive a car for a couple of hours, to stay with someone I've never even heard of, let alone met.

Malbecfan · 07/07/2019 11:30

SMaCM, me too! Both DDs are home now. DD1's first week of her internship has gone ok, although getting the train into the (small) city has shown her again how inept GWR are. DD2 went to Paris with 3 friends for 4 days. I was really worried about her as she's only 18 and has never been away without us unless it was a school trip. But she has had a brilliant time and proved to herself and us that she can manage.

DD1 met up with some schoolfriends yesterday who are both at Oxford, so waiting for their results. They had a lovely afternoon together. Now she is agonising over whether to graduate next year or go straight to the masters year. The main stumbling block is that the BSc hood is much nicer than the masters one. I kid you not!

bigTillyMint · 07/07/2019 12:23

Sounds like all the students are enjoying their summerSmile
DD is back from a fantastic time travelling and starts her work experience tomorrow - hence trip to Primark yesterday for some suitable dresses.
She is a bit annoyed as, a bit like Haffdonga's DS, she was one mark off a first for this year which counts for 40% of her final degree. I guess it's more frustrating knowing you are so close!

ErrolTheDragon · 07/07/2019 22:38

Now she is agonising over whether to graduate next year or go straight to the masters year. The main stumbling block is that the BSc hood is much nicer than the masters one. I kid you not!

GrinDD was jestingly complaining that the BA hood was the nice furry white whereas MEng is some sort of ugly orange. Nevertheless it's pretty much unheard of for the engineers not to go straight on. I got the impression it makes a difference to student loans - integrated masters with no Bachelors graduation is still classed as undergrad and all one loan, and the fees are capped at the undergrad level.

latedecember1963 · 08/07/2019 08:54

That's an interesting observation about the fees, Errol. I'll mention that to DS2. At the moment he's thinking he might get a job for a couple of years and then do a Masters but your point is something else for him to consider.

Needmoresleep · 08/07/2019 12:30

LateDecember. Have him look at Imperial. The fees are eye-watering. It is a pity as some students might want a year or two off, or might want to "trade up" ior find a department that specialises in their interests.

Masters are effectively required for those wanting to work as economists, but are not integrated. I think we ended up paying about £24,000, which is less than Imperial and which included a 10% for being an alum. Not surprisingly DS was the only British student out of 39. Masters fees are a real barrier to the less well off.

DD is home. She finished late, cleaned and moved. We then managed to secure tickets to the women's World Cup semi finals in Lyon. There were not many transport or accommodation options left so she had to travel from Geneva and stay in an Air BnB, all at short notice and on her own. I was quite proud of her till I remembered that lots of her peers are about to study abroad next year.

She will be spending this week volunteering on a residential scheme for disabled people. She has to be back at the start of September, so not a lot of time for work. Luckily her previous employer is happy to have her work on a causal basis as a kitchen porter.

Another money saving tip...return the Virgin media box, otherwise they charge you something like £190. An assertive email over the weekend reminding the agent that they are supposed to return the deposit within 10 days, garnered slightly passive aggressive response, along the lines of "we have already authorised its release - without deductions - did we forget to tell you."

fiftiesmum · 08/07/2019 17:00

An MSc is higher than something like M.Eng or M.Chem.

Haffdonga · 08/07/2019 17:23

That's interesting fiftiesmum . Ds1 has one of the latter but we had always been told that different unis call their degrees different names but a masters is a masters is a masters. Is it because an integrated masters only takes a year, so seen as somehow lesser?

fiftiesmum · 08/07/2019 17:56

No an integrated masters takes nine months whereas an MSc takes twelve. In some subjects there is only a four year course (M.Pharm springs to mind) and people do the MSc in addition

Needmoresleep · 08/07/2019 19:35

DS' Masters took about 10 months, including a maths preparatory summer school. There were clear warnings in the prospectus that it was not recognised by the EU, I think because it was so short, but as it was genuinely well regarded by everyone else it did not matter. It was very hard work though. That said that Oxford alternative took 2 years.

My understanding was that a Masters is a Masters.

ErrolTheDragon · 09/07/2019 00:42

I think with engineering it's a bit different- MEng seems to be the norm for U.K. students of the required ability who want to be chartered engineers . The MSc courses seem to be mostly taken by non-EU students.

Back in the day, I'm not sure anyone did an MChem - I think the increase in the number doing degrees at all has led to more doing a masters, and the loan structure makes integrated masters attractive. In my day if you had a first or high 21 you'd get a full grant and go straight on to PhD, relatively few did MScs.

fiftiesmum · 09/07/2019 10:26

The other difference is that an integrated masters is 120 credits for the masters of one academic year (or eight months) and the MSc is 180 credits for the year (twelve months) and then graduation in December

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