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?

My DD at Durham and registered with GP. She needed to get more medication so she went into the Uni medical centre this week and has an appointment for 2 weeks time. She didn't call but with my guidance on what to ask for (she was going to be a bity clueless) she managed to get what she needed. I suspect the receptionists will be well used to first years not really knowing how to access medical care!

And re strike, she said she has 3 out of her 20 contact hours affected but didn't say about any replacement lectures. I might ask her!

We chose not to register dd up in Durham and stick with our one here.
She very rarely sees a doctor-been about twice for non-urgent things in the last 10 years.
And our one here is very good with a waiting list-she wouldn't get back in even if she decided to live back at home

I spoke to our practice manager about it, and she said it sounded sensible for her, and they will always do telephone consultations (they're very good at that) and may well be able to sort out a Durham appointment/fax it through if she needed a prescription.

I went to see a show at the high school last night and lots of first year university students (DD's friends) were back for Thanksgiving.

DD doesn't finish till Wed so I was really surprised (and pleased) to see them all. One had come back from San Francisco and another from Seattle. It reminded me once again that I have no idea how American universities work.

She's home Wed and it'll be interesting and lovely to see her. I read this article and have taken it to heart especially the bit about not asking a million questions.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-lights/201711/college-students-and-thanksgiving-break

Well, I'm having to eat my words after complaining that DD was a snowflake. I went around to visit my Mum as I always do on a Sunday with my other sisters, and there was DD looking pleased as punch to surprise me. She'd got the train back and is home now until we take her back on Jan 5th.

Dh had a similar surprise when I arrived back home with her - and a bit of a shock too as we had a bit of a switch around this term.

DD2 has moved into DD1's room - which DD1 always knew was going to be the case.

We then moved our stuff into DD1's new room while our room was decorated and recarpeted. I took 2 days to sort, declutter and move my stuff back.
DH is a bit of a hoarder and has very much been taking a lot longer to move his stuff back. Great, as he's been ruthlessly (for him) decluttering and parting with stuff and, quite rightly, doesn't want to just shove it all back and not get round to sorting the rest. But not so good that he's still got a pile of stuff in her room and she's now home.

Lovely to hear both DDs laughing and chatting upstairs together - I've missed the sound of that.

Managed to speak to DD on the phone today. She is really struggling with her fatigue this afternoon. She has a cotton wool brain and needs to revise for exams.

(Although staying up until 4 am on Friday wasn't a good idea). Apart from that she sounds in good spirits, and has no idea what is going to happen about the strikes. The university is being very uncommunicative about it.

For those wondering why there isn’t much information about the strikes from the university, it is probably because they don’t know who will be on strike yet. There is no obligation on the staff to declare if they are striking ahead of time.

@DrMadelineMaxwell that must’ve been lovely. Is she home early because of the strikes?

My DD is not home until 13/12.

She is. York finishes earlier than some (6.12) and the strikes meant no more lectures. So she hopped on the train and came home. :)

@chemenger that’s almost worse than the actual strike. Just leaving people on tenterhooks not being able to plan for anything - even turning up on the day for lectures just to potentially be given the runaround.

Luckily, all of dd's lecturers have declared their intention to strike or otherwise. So no guessing whether lectures will be on or not.

Gin hasn’t your Dd had emails about it? My Dd has been kept in the loop by at least 2 emails so much so she’s been able to change train times to fit in with what’s happening. The students union sent an email out today too.

She’s at Newcastle like your daughter.

Of course, if there is a breakthrough in negotiations, the strike could be cut short (I think this is unlikely).

Your DC's vote could swing the election if they study at these Unis

Very surprised Lincoln isn't on that list. Very marginal.

Ah, just figured out it's because they are all Tory seats.

Yes she has justthisonetime456, but they don't tell her anything useful. All her lectures, practicala and seminars take place in the medical school, so maybe it depends on the subject. She has practical lab assessments and another exam coming up, so I hope they won't be affected.

I have two friends in medical schools in unis who say those lecturers are the least likely to strike. Though it may be different in other unis.

DS says he has no lectures and DD too - her lecturers were all on strike for the last ones 2 years ago too.

Humanities are quite open about it.

Oops pressed too soon. Humanities have given the students a fair amount of information.

Yes both of mine do Humanities

My DS still doesn't know whether his lecturers are on strike or not, but as his term doesn't finish until 20th he will stay until then. He has finally got around to looking for accommodation for next year, with a mix of old friends and new, but although the cost is reasonable it will be a stretch for some of his mates as it is far more than they are paying now, so we have suggested that he considers staying where he is but living with them. The trouble is that there are 7 of them and uni flats are only for 6. Tricky.

DS is Humanities at Durham too. He has no lectures this week due to the strike. He'd love to be refunded £500 in tuition fees but has accepted he won't get a penny back. He's using the time to focus on assignments - 2 submitted so far and 4 outstanding. He's happy he finally has his house sorted for next year.

My DD was hit by last year's strikes and had to teach herself the things that were missed, as they were going to be examined on them anyway. We were less than impressed.