Heading towards year 2 exams (uni 2017)

[brizzlemint]

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

I guess maybe also put into the pot that taking a stand alone masters could attract funding thereby making it the cheapest option/ arguably more prestigious - probably only relevant to science students though.

Not just science. There is some funding out there for social sciences, and I assume other subjects. Oxford, which is relatively rich, does offer funding for economics...but unfortunately not to DS. The LSE did offer him UG teaching, though almost certainly not enough to cover their huge fees, but the course was so compressed it would be difficult to find the time.

I don't understand what is meant by "credits". Many stand alone Masters seem to run Aug/Sept through to June so 10 months. .

Do employers actually look at the 'credit' numbers?

A funded postgrad qualification is a different matter. If you're doing worthwhile research someone (be it a research council or industry) should be stumping up for it.

Yes I know Needmoresleep but it's thinner on the ground by some way, no doubt about that.

Most university courses are module based and each module is usually worth 10, 20 or 30 credits and most student will do 120 credits per year (bachelor's 360 in total, integrated masters 480) for some courses you pass the year on 100 credits as long as the average is above pass mark and the "failed" mark is not that low.

How standard is that?

DS had to get 5 firsts out of nine courses (first year counted as one, and four courses a year in the remaining years) and I think there was some scope use some sort of average. We never heard about credits. Ditto Masters seemed to be scored Distinction, Merit or Pass.

I get the impression credits may be relevant if people want to switch courses (in some fields) and/or institutions especially if abroad. Maybe they're relevant on very flexible modular courses too?

Quite common in many universities.
A lot of the integrated masters have big projects making up a sizeable part of the final year which is a good way of getting stuck in to something substantial (although for my DN it was almost 50% of the marks for the year and was group work which can end up with one person doing most of the work while the other people spend their time doing their individual work)

Done some Googling in case it is relevant for others. Credits seem to relate to the Bologna process, and so may be important for those wanting to go on to further study in Europe. None of LSE's Masters are articulated in terms of ECTS credits. Apparently this is not a problem for those wanting to go onto the UK or the US. There were a lot of Europeans on DS' Masters. It did not seem to put them off.

I assume individual University websites will list ECTS credits...or that these are not calculated/awarded.

Learn something every day.

DD just went to use her student overdraft at Barclays. They told her she can't have it, because she inherited some money from her gran, which was given on the request it was put into a lifetime isa.

The bank said, because she has access to this money, she can't have an overdraft. She's very sad (and she's changed to Santander).

That's mean, isn't there a big penalty for taking money out of a LISA?

Surely lots of non students have an overdraft facility for managing current account cash flow hiccups and aren't expected to raid their investments (esp not where there's penalties).

Doubtless Barclays has something in the small print of their student account T&Cs.

That's a pain SMaCM on her behalf!

How is that fair HSM?
DD has an "old" Barclays a.c. from sixthform days, but DH got her to get a Santander one for Sudent loan as it had a decent overdraft offer, thankfully.

DD is finding her work experience informative and has a trial shift in a local pub tomorrow for the hard cash

In most regards Santander is a bit shit but they seem to have better student accounts than most.

DS got his results today ! He called at 7 this morning to tell me before going to work ( I was fast asleep having been awake til 3!!) and has averaged 74% overall.

He seems to be settling into his placement year - though has very little actual work to do so quite bored , but a few people are back from holiday next week so hes hopeful it will pick up.

There is quite a group of interns I think about 20 in total - about 12 of them all went out for the day together Sunday - so finding there own entertainment.

DD got her results too. She is very pleased, got 72 for this term and 74 overall for the year. I made a celebration cake for when she gets back

Thankfully she passed that awful exam that had people in tears. She thinks they must have moderated the marks in a big way. She didn't even answer a lot of questions and still got 68.

Well done Faith's DD.

DD did OK in her bizarre exam. It was the first time she had taken an exam in that format (a sort of practical role play thing, apparently common for med students) and got a bit flustered. Results seemed to be a bit all over the shop. One friend did really well, another only just passed. The concern was that the University failed to change the scenario over the two days, so those scheduled after the first morning had a good chance of knowing what was coming up. (They had all assumed there would be changes and apparentlyhad not been warned not to talk). Given how close her friend came to failing, she assumes some who sat it early won't have passed. It will be interesting to see what they do. It seems very unfair.

A relief for DD though. She was in an early batch so took it under proper exam conditions and knows she can do better another time.

Finally found somewhere with internet access. DS logged on to get his results and he got a first in his exams!! Sorry for the proud mum
moment but he works so hard and his exams were numerous and really hard this year. Must admit I cried.

Feel free! Congrats Marbles DS. It is such a relief to know that they can now relax and enjoy the summer.

Excellent Marbles.

DD had a learning day today - that you cannot get obscure currency at a moments notice (we told her so). On the plus side, we have our annual birthday spa day tomorrow. A whole day with no phones and nothing to do but swim, be pampered and float. Our chosen treatment this year was the Rasul mud thing. There's nothing like spreading mud on someone to make a connection - we haven't done it before.

I look forward to this day all year and hopefully she does too.

well done all round!

Am ignoring the press this year complaining about too many high degree results being given - I've seen how flippin hard my DS worked !
the press will soon move onto easy A levels and then GCSEs...

Do anyone of you ever look at threads on AIBU about difficult teen / parent relationships where there are many comments about they are 18 let them live their own lives / stand on their own 2 feet etc and really hope those commenting never come onto this thread and see quite how much support we as parents give, and how much support is still needed?

I just feel sorry for their DC Eve. Why wouldn't you give help/assistance when needed to (what should be) the most precious person/people in your life?

Don't get me wrong, my DC drive me up the wall at times but at the end of the day, I'm their Mum and if I can't give them my time or attention when needed, who the hell can?!

I know what you mean Eve. I wonder if those posters even have children. I'm glad to be in a position, financially and emotionally, to support dd when she needs it. I would do it at any age.

I agree, of course you should support your children. Even when they're not children any more!
Clearly being taken for a ride is not OK, but being there when they genuinely need help is what being a parent is all about surely?

DD has gone back to Brizzle for the weekend - to work and catch up with her mates

Congrats to all - so many high marks! DS4 also got a high First incl two 91's and was very pleased. He had thought this year's marks counted for 60% and found out on the day of his results that it was only 40% (I was dubious about the 60%).

Yes I didn't want to read the grade inflation article either :)