The CDE of University Life (2019/20 cohort) - assignments, flat-hunting, Halloween and the end of their first term fast approaching

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread - Obvs the end of term is looming sooner for some than for others? I guess the Oxbridge posse will finish by the end of November or just into December?

I've been really interested in other people's thoughts about last minute working from perspective of students and fellow lecturers. My concern as someone who's been there done that, is that the adrenaline rush is addictive and it takes years to realise it is also pretty physically toxic.

From a lecturer's point of view I agree that many students do work like this, but just because they often do well doesn't mean they wouldn't have done better with a bit of planning and pacing of themselves.

Still, I suppose the first year is when they are supposed to be making these sorts of mistakes and sorting out what works for them.

DS worked out fairly early on that he can spend 4-6 hours on an essay, turn it in well ahead of the deadline and get a 2:1. Or he could fret till 3 a.m. on the day and possibly do no better.

I would quite like him to at least experiment with working a bit harder for a bit longer and aiming for a first. But he prefers to have time to visit friends, come home for weekends, play music and join charity events, and is relaxed and happy. Given how frantically stressed his older sib was (always a mix of firsts and fails throughout), DS may well have the better plan.

My DD and lots of others say students should make the most of enjoying their first year as after that marks count towards the degree and you basically have to focus more on your degree.

@MrKlaw, these are 4th year students. Generally first year is gentler to let students develop good time management skills. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it start its essay in good time!

@MrKlaw - you'd think. Actually DS has just realised that he has work for two papers this semester and what adds up to only one for each of the next two. The trials of a joint degree. It is a bit of a baptism by fire for him.

My DS has been expressing his frustration at the very different work habits of some of his fellow students. He's much happier working alone and has always been a very diligent worker, but some of his course involves working in groups and (according to him) some of the group don't contribute at all or they're late or don't turn up to presentations. He was completely mystified by this attitude but I did point out that these students are probably grappling with learning a whole raft of new life skills - as well as keeping on top of their coursework - now they're living away from home, whereas he is still at home, having his dinner cooked and his clothes washed as before. I've no worries about his academic abilities but he could really do with acquiring some useful life and social skills while at uni too and this is what I think he's missing out on living at home. So I say well done to all the DCs who are juggling all the new skills they are learning and still just about managing to meet their deadlines too!

@CharliesMouse .. my DS is at Nottingham and living there .. he is bumbling along with the laundry and food etc ... but gets equally frustrated with group work where people don't pull their weight !!! .. that would really annoy me too .. especially if grades get dragged down by a couple of slackers ! .. I'd say learning to work as a good team and not letting people down is a good life skill .. so I understand where our DS are coming from.

I'd say learning to work as a good team and not letting people down is a good life skill

I told him that he'll find real life is full of people who don't pull their weight and learning how to deal with them is a very valuable life skill @Alicatz66!

My DS had a couple of viewing of studios today and is really positive, there are a lot more available than shared houses so he has a lot of choice. The cost is around £120 - £130 pw. He says he is looking forward to being independent and living somewhere clean as his halls are really disgusting, and a bit quieter. He assures me he wont be lonely, which is my only worry about him living alone.

Dd is pleased. Written feedback from one of her first assignments rated it excellent and worthy of a First class rating so she clearly is managing to get to grips with the material and style of writing required.

Has anyone heard anything about getting a fee refund for no tuition during the strike?

There were no refunds for previous strikes and lost tuition time.

@DrMadelineMaxwell that's great news. Managing the work alongside the complexities of forming friendships, being adult and independent and everything else that goes with starting student life away from home.

@CharliesMouse I completely agree with you, my DS is also getting a bit frustrated by the ‘group projects’ he would certainly never take the lead on these things but turns up to everything and tries to contribute which seems like more than some.
DS is also just about coping with all the life skills stuff, but I do mean only just, it’s been quite hard for him. He’s currently going through the getting a house for next year process and thankfully has been swept along by his current flat mates, who he likes and is happy to share with, but no way would he have instigated the process.

DS gets a bit cross about group projects but says the lecturer is handing it well and does not mince his words when one of them is not pulling their weight or singing from the same hymn sheet. As someone said they will come across this in their careers. I have worked with shirkers it is annoying but part of working life.

I agree that the inter-personal dynamics of group projects can be hard for students to manage. I think a lot of lecturers like to use them early on in the first year as a way of getting groups to know each other, but I know from my own experiences with students that it can also set up a lot of resentments. At my uni we used to use them a lot more at one point (about 15 years ago), but we backed off from using them for assessed work beyond the first year as the stress for the students did seem to outweigh the pedagogical benefits.

I've been impressed that DS has been quite proactive in arranging meetings for group presentations with his peers - I would have expected him to have hung back more.

(For those interested in the result of the last-minute working I was backpacking about above, DS got the essay in with half an hour to spare, and thinks it went well because he was forced not to be overly ambitious with what he packed in. Tutor seemed pleased with it. DS now firmly addicted to the adrenaline rush, so the lesson of steady working almost certainly not going to be learned now! Oh well . . .)

Has anyone heard anything about getting a fee refund for no tuition during the strike?

www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18046179.essex-university-students-will-get-rebate-lectures-cancelled-strike/

Ooh will read @MarchingFrogs

My DS has been doing so well on the life skills, but rang me last night to say that yet more of his stuff his been stolen from the kitchen. I sent him off with 2 of everything and he is now down to 1 sideplate, 1 bowl, 1 mug and a spoon! Yesterday it was the food for his planned meal that had disappeared. Security claim not to have experienced this before, and don't seem to know what to do about it. Nobody ever sees anyone not living in the flat on the premises, which comes back to the slightly mysterious flatmate that is hardly ever there. There was a flat inspection today but they are not allowed to look in a student's cupboards, and the lad is claiming innocence. I think DS is being a bit naive and not forceful enough.

(For those interested in the result of the last-minute working I was backpacking about above, DS got the essay in with half an hour to spare, and thinks it went well because he was forced not to be overly ambitious with what he packed in. Tutor seemed pleased with it. DS now firmly addicted to the adrenaline rush, so the lesson of steady working almost certainly not going to be learned now! Oh well . . .)

I must admit, I often leave stuff fairly late to do because I know it will focus my mind on delivering what is needed rather than everything I could possibly imagine.

I run a fairly successful business working from home too [shameface]

@ZandathePanda, Bristol didn't offer anything last time.

Dd has text to say she has effectively finished for Christmas as of today due to her other lectures falling on strike days. She has a couple of essays but no more lectures.

DD has exams and assessed practicals before Christmas, and more exms after Christmas. Her course is tough going for her. Re group work - DD nearly failed her Citizenship GCSE because the other girl she was working with did no coursework at all, so DD had to do the other girl's contribution at the last minute and only got a D for the coursework element. However, she aced the exam and ended up with a B.

At university in the lab they have to work in pairs and one girl she ended up with wouldn't do any practical work at all. They were working with blood products and the other girl just wouldn't go near it. It makes me wonder why this girl chose biomedical sciences.

Have sent via Amazon DS an advent calendar. It is full of different types of nuts which I know he loves.

Dd has text to say she has effectively finished for Christmas as of today due to her other lectures falling on strike days. She has a couple of essays but no more lectures.

Blimey! When does university restart after Christmas?