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.

Am ignoring the press this year complaining about too many high degree results being given - I've seen how flippin hard my DS worked !

Tbh I think there is a problem with degree grade inflation - it's actually a bad thing for the students like your DS who've worked their socks off and really deserve the high grades if too many others get them too. It devalues the currency, IYSWIM.

As to standing on their own two feet - well, that's all well and good if they've got solid ground to stand on. And if they're not unwittingly standing next to a precipice you could help them avoid.

Congratulations on the really excellent marks to all the dds and dss of Errol, Stranger, Eve, Marbles, Xenia, Tilly, Sleep and all the others. We do seem to have a whole bunch of high achievers! I hope you and they all have fantastic summers.

After ds1's experience, I agree that a first is an outstanding and exceptional achievement and due to grade inflation my arse. Today he went to review his marks with the head of his department. Although less than 1% away from a first, that grade is made of the composite marks throughout his entire degree and integrated masters so he'd need to show he'd been wrongly graded by a significant amount on any one paper to up it by 1%. On the particular report he felt he had been unfairly marked down, 2 professors had independently graded him roughly the same mark, so it's hard to argue that it was unfair.

Meanwhile ds2 is back in lectures at uni and getting used to living with a household of guys, after sharing with extremely clean and tidy girls last year. He is struggling with mess never bothers him at home and people leaving their washing up soaking in the bowl. He has told me he is going to buy his own washing up bowl and keep it under his bed. (I think he's going to be that flatmate. There's always one .).

Haff

Half I like his style.

Still awaiting results here must be one of the latest in the country.
I wonder if the proportion of high grades has anything to do with the high failure rate in year two which is in effect removes those who would have got a third/pass and reduced the number heading for a 2:2.
When I did my degree many moons ago about 90% of the intake completed the degree with at least 10% getting thirds/pass.

Well I am definitely being tiger mum today - landlord has deducted £200 from the deposit for cleaning - apparently shower, windows and under beds needed cleaned!! And £100 for blu tack on walls.

The house they left was cleaner than when they moved in.

Crafted an email for DS and his mates to send asking for the agreed before condition, evidence of what needed cleaned, copies of all invoices for work completed and lodged a complaint with deposit holder.

DD got her second semester results and was thrilled to get a high 2:1 and a first. She barely passed the first semester exams after her long term partner dumped her 2 days before she took them 😡. I am so proud of her though, because she was talking about the grades she needs in year 3 to pull her marks up to what she needs for her next step.

Her resilience was at rock bottom a few years ago and to see her being so positive about a negative situation was fantastic. I still want to punch him though

Re the rent deposit - I was worried about this happening, but DD was only deducted £30, which I thought was fair. My sister is a student landlord and didn't deduct anything even though her house was trashed.

I have no idea if DD (well DH!) got the deposit back, but she said her old landlady was nice, so hopefully! A friend of hers from their sport back home has taken over the house with her mates. And DD has sent pics of her new room in their new house - it's massive and has a sofa in it!!!

I've been pestering ds for ages to give me the details for setting up a SO for his rent for yr 3 flat - we pay his rent direct as we have done for our 2 dds
Finally he's sent me details of letting agency with e mail they sent him and his 2 flatmates back in May regarding bank details which apparently hadn't shown up in his in box
Phoned the letting company and they were lovely....woman I spoke to has 3 sons so knew the problem I was up against re disorganisation
All sorted now
Now only have 1 child left at Uni ....dd is graduating on Friday with a First Class Hons ....which is incredible as she has dyslexia and dyscalculia and school had previously written her off , before she went to college and did BTEC which gave her the confidence to proceed to Uni

Thats fantastic Stop - well done to your DD. What is she planning to do next?

Congratulations to all the DCs with their fabulous results. Isn't it lovely to see them flourishing and becoming young adults?
I totally agree about the need to be quietly supportive long after the Mumsnet cut off of 16 or 18. We really like the parent/ adult child relationship that's developed with our lads.
Love the washing up bowl under the bed. 😂
We're on our last weekend before DS2 goes to Australia. He went out with his brother and some mates last night to a retro games arcade which was a big success. We had an open house last weekend so he just wants to chill out this weekend.

That’s amazing Stop , well done your daughter.

DS is also badly dyslexic and similarly written of at school.

Well Done to your DD Stop, how lovely for her (and you too of course! 😃).

Dd has a wonderful few months of traveling adventure ahead of her before settling down to the corporate world!....she has a 3 week trip to Shanghai , organised via the study China programme ...she'll spend the week in classes at uni learning Mandarin, with various cultural trips arranged ( our eldest dd has been teaching English in China for the last 2 years , so is planning to meet up with her sister)
She's only home for 3 days , then off to Bali for 3 weeks with Uni friend , back home for 2 days and then traveling for 5 weeks round S America, with boyfriend...visiting Peru, Bolivia and Brazil....then home for a month and has then secured a 5 month ski season job in France!
She's saved money from her placement year and also had registered with a casting agency and done some 'extras' filming work as a student to fund her traveling ...I'm sure she'll do well in whatever career she eventually chooses as she's extremely focused and willing to get her hands dirty!

I am in awe of all your DC travelling around and exploring their world. It all sounds so exciting.

It does sound awesome, in all senses!

DD is back off today for her 8 weeks of work, and planning to go straight from that to Italy with some friends for a week.

That sounds fantastic, Stopyourhavering. China has been on my bucket list for decades. I loved the Terracotta Army exhibition at the British Museum a few years ago and would love to see it in situ.

Wow Stop, she is definitely not letting anything stand in her way! DD has just been travelling in Peru and Bolivia and loved it

big ..dd is planning to go to Machu Pichu , Death Road and the salt flats in Bolivia ...she's been going to gym to get fitness levels ready for the trip, but is aware mountain sickness can affect even the fittest ...she is a-bit of an adrenaline junkie!
Fortunately we live in quite a mountainous area , so she's been doing a fair bit of walking ...just kitted her out with some new kit as a graduation present!
We're actually away on long haul holiday ourselves when she returns from Bali, before heading to S America, so she's going to have to be fairly organised in her packing ...she does like a challenge!
We seem to have raised very adventurous dcs!...dd1 went out to China 2 years ago knowing no one , and has her own apartment and scooter and has fully embraced the culture....however she's coming home in October as her bf is here and she is now hoping to get a teaching job
In U.K. ( I've been quite ill while she's been away and my dB died just before Christmas, so she feels it's time to come back)
Ds loved his month volunteering abroad in June and is already planning on returning next year
Dh and I didn't have opportunity to travel long haul when we graduated , so are now following our dcs example and exploring further afield while we still can!

They all seem to be doing well. one of my twins got most of his deposit back and the other apparently is not getting much back but not sure of the amount yet which doesn't surprise him given damage to the sofa etc. I did say at the time is it really worth our paying for the deep clean if you aren't getting it back anyway but they went ahead and had the cleaning done. I hope what they get back is more than the cleaning cost.

Stop, make sure she takes or uses a lot fo sun cream. My second daughter got very very burtn up high in central America at this stage. I think it didn't feel too hot as they were so high up in the mountains but it was the worst sun burn she has ever had. She was saying this summer she wished she had been more careful at that time (she is now a very sensible London lawyer).

Meanwhile I have home boys this summer and their friends who seem to think this house is the best thing since sliced bread - we have one of their friends staying about 4 - 6 weeks; another came a night ago but just for a night; another girl was here last night and today and their school friend is virtually living here. One goes to bed about 4am which I was just saying today is not really that good for your health (never mind even though he's quiet I do hear him and I have to get up by 7 for work every day too so it is not as if I can sleep in).

I need to pin mine down to do some admin things but everyone is always rushing somewhere - loads of trips to play tennis - I paid for them to rejoin our gym for the summer; lunch out - the ones staying are out now on that and the other twin has gone further into Londonw with a school friend to meet other university friends for lunch near oxford st. At least it's peaceful for a bit now.

Stop, my DD did Machu Pichu by train? as they didn't look to book the trek a year in advance and the train was cheaper though still expensive. I dont remember her mentioning death road but the pics from the salt flats looked amazing. Also lots of other places if your DD wants any other ideas!

Brilliant results everyone!
Dd1 passed all her practical assessments first time so I got to pick her up yesterday, week early. Her new house looks lovely and is nearer the dental school than this years.Not sure if shes getting all her deposit back but fingers crossed

The travelling is impressive. DD got late tickets to the football world cup semis, but had to travel on her own from Geneva and stay in an AirBnB. She was a bit nervous but managed fine and had a great time. China or Machu Pica though are a step beyond. (I bought her some "gap yah" trousers when I went to Asia earlier in the year, so she would not look out of place on campus in the summer. I apparently did well as several friends had identical pairs even though they had been to different countries.)

DD allowed me to write a (slightly passive aggressive) letter to the letting agent pointing out that the 10 days had passed and that the deposit needed to be released and that since the flat had been properly cleaned there was no reason for any deductions. We got a similarly passive aggressive reply, and a claim that they had authorised the release of the deposit on the day of the deadline (without telling DD) without deductions.

It's a fair amount of money and a couple of the flatmates were not well off, so worth doing. I find this idea that 18 year olds are fully functioning adults and capable of managing completely on their own, strange. In the past year I have given rental advice to my next door neighbour, my builder and the guy running the fruit and veg stall. Why would I not help my children, if they ask for her - which they both did. Indeed DS asked me to read through his US tenancy agreement - really long and detailed with lots on cockroach prevention.

And in the same way as I would keep an eye on a friend who was going through a tough time, I would want to be sure that DC were OK and would reach out if I felt they were struggling.

As it is DD has grown hugely in confidence in this last year and is far less likely to ask for my help. Luckily others have taken on the utilities, as this was a thankless and time-consuming task last year, and her new, nice, but amateur landlords have failed to take an inventory and have acknowledged the flat is not clean, so will not be able to make deductions next year, though DD recognises that they should not take advantage of that trust.

Its clinical next year, so the end of being a proper student. I think DD is ready to move on. Because of her gap year some of her friends will be starting work and earning money, which will further encourage her to stop seeing herself as a student.

Needsmore, I'm intrigued, what are gap yah trousers? 😂

Cheap light cotton type material. Elasticated waist and possibly elasticated ankles like hareem pants. Batik print, possibly with elephants. Rough cost £5, so a cheap present.

Essential wear apparently on a hot day in Bristol, but also serve as lounge pants.