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Higher education

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

999 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 30/10/2019 15:56

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?

OP posts:
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 30/11/2019 10:59

@Ginfordinner, DS did Geography too and I was quite surprised at the amount of research knowledge they were supposed to have learned (not sure from what source!), including statistical analysis.

Steve Carrell is someone I wouldn't recognise if he was sitting next to me on a bus, but I am very well aware of him as an actor. Isn't he the voice of Gru in the Despicable Me franchise?

Glad you're enjoying a lovely Thanksgiving weekend with your DD @HoldMyLobster.

At DS's school, they did an EPQ project at the end of Yr 12 and sat a Pre-U but didn't do an exam in the former. Not sure why.

Good for your DS, @Piggywaspushed.

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 30/11/2019 12:09

I'm inclined to agree with NewModelArmyMayhem18.

DD is above average, but not super bright, and only achieves through sheer hard work. I think she probably isn't as bright as some of the DC posted about on here. Quite frankly I'm surprised that high ranking universities like Durham are still regurgitating A level stuff. Newcastle ramped up the work and was introducing new topics weeks ago.

SchrodingersKitty · 30/11/2019 12:14

In terms of work load and level of work I think DS is finding Oxford very different from A levels. Some of his courses have been on material from a discipline he has never studied before, so that has been a very steep learning curve. The volume of reading has been huge (particularly a problem with his dyspraxia), but he's been getting enough of it done, if not all of it. His written work load has worked out to an average of 3 essays a fortnight, plus presentations, essay plans, joint projects each fortnight. As it's a joint course, the load is uneven, so some weeks are considerably worse. They are not yet grading the work, so he has no clear idea about how he is doing, but from what he says his tutors think his work is good.

The strike is affecting lectures but not tutorials, which gives him a bit more time to get on with work. His lecture load is something like 3 compulsory and 3 recommended a week. He has 6 tutorials or classes across a fortnight which is where the main teaching happens.

So all very full on and I think he'll be relieved when term finishes on Friday (so soon!). Though I am fully expecting him to have that 'fish-out-of-water' sense of displacement others talked about. I remember feeling so strange and different my first Christmas vacation.

Benjispruce · 30/11/2019 12:36

Please don’t base your opinions on lightheartedly chat with my DD about her personal experience. Also no judgment from me on why people got certain grades- just me thinking out loud. I get barely any information from DD so I’m probably adding 2 and 2 and getting 5!

Benjispruce · 30/11/2019 12:36

Lighthearted

simbobs · 30/11/2019 15:47

Actually, Gin my DD is at Newcastle and it was I who commented about bringing people up to speed. Her assertion was that (controversial opinion coming...) the privately educated students in her French class had been spoon-fed through A Level without really learning anything, and lacked grammar, vocabulary and oral proficiency. DD knows that she was lucky to be in a small group at school and have the input of a very good native French Language Assistant. Although she learnt a lot on the topic based side in her 1st Yr she felt that she had learnt nothing at all on the French language part of the course.

Trewser · 30/11/2019 15:55

the privately educated students in her French class had been spoon-fed through A Level without really learning anything

You cannot spoon feed anyone through French A level.

Ginfordinner · 30/11/2019 16:04

One of DD's friends is doing French. I wonder what her thoughts are. I have no idea what kind of school she went to.

ZandathePanda · 30/11/2019 17:38

Simbobs don’t worry it’s not controversial, there’s lots of research that backs that opinion up if you google.

For example:
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2015/nov/05/top-state-school-pupils-get-better-degrees-than-those-from-private-schools
The Sutton Trust do lots about it.

Interestingly Dd went to a state primary school and in Year 6 was asked by a Tory Minster’s wife, a classmate’s mum , ‘why aren’t you going to private school cos you’re bright enough?’ If was assumed that the bright ones went to the private school and the rest went to the local comp. Dd went to the local comp. I knew her primary class well of 32 as I helped out and, as a little village school, everyone knew who got Level 3/4/5/6 in Year 6. I would say there was no difference in whether they went to private or state - the more academic ones in Year 6 still got higher grades whichever school they went to. I think Dd had less contact time at A Level than her private schooled friends therefore perhaps did more independent study?

Ginfordinner · 30/11/2019 17:54

Anecdotal evidence only, but a friend of mine's son went to the same private nursery, primary school and grammar school. He never had the experience changing schools and friendships, then when he went to university he couldn't cope, and nearly had a breakdown. He had been with the same boys between the ages of 3 and 18.

She said that loads of his friends couldn't cope with the changes either and that they had all been spoon fed all the way through school.

I think our DDs had similar backgrounds Zanda as she went to the local village primary school, then to the local (rather good) comprehensive school. All but one in her year went to the comprehensive. The girl who didn't went to the private school in the next city, and I don't think her education was any better than the one that DD received.

I think DD had 10 hours per subject per fortnight at A level, but I can't be sure.

I think living in a village has resulted in DD not wanting a campus university. She really likes Newcastle. I think she will probably stay there, which I don't have a problem with.

Trewser · 30/11/2019 17:57

Having more contact time isn't the same as being spoon fed Hmm

Fwiw and in the interest of balance, I don't know a single student from dd2s private school that hasn't done extremely well at university. Can't think of anyone who dropped out, but dd1 (state 6th form) knows several that have dropped out already.

HoldMyLobster · 30/11/2019 18:20

Anecdotal evidence only, but a friend of mine's son went to the same private nursery, primary school and grammar school. He never had the experience changing schools and friendships, then when he went to university he couldn't cope, and nearly had a breakdown. He had been with the same boys between the ages of 3 and 18.

I do worry a bit about this for my younger two. They are in the local state school, but the way our system works, you're with the same students from age 3/4 to 18.

You do change location - different buildings for nursery, then grades K-1, then 2-4, then 5-8, then 9-12 - and there are up to 160 students per year, so their friendships have moved about a bit, but even so I wonder how it will be for them to go from a small town where they know almost everyone to a completely different environment where they know no one.

All the local kids were back from college recently, and some are really struggling with college having been a big fish in a small pond for a long time.

DD1 went through three different school systems (one in the UK, then our local US system, then a US boarding school) and she has had no problem with going to college 1700 miles away. She would have gone 3000 miles away if Stanford had accepted her.

It's all so new to me. I moved house every two years as a child, then was sent to the most awful comprehensive school, so going to university was not only unexpected but also an escape.

Witchend · 30/11/2019 18:35

Quite frankly I'm surprised that ... are still regurgitating A level stuff

There may be an aspect that people don't always realise they're learning new stuff.

I found with maths that the algebra at uni I really struggled with. It felt not just a huge jump up from A-level, but totally unconnected. Dd is saying that she loves it and it's no harder than A-level, what was my problem with it? I reckoned I was working at least a term behind on it-I understood the previous term just about as I went through the next term.
However I would swear that the mechanics side, wave motion and especially maths modelling was no harder than further mechanics right the way up to finals. It really didn't feel like it to me. However, on the basis that a lot of people said it was impossible, I think it must have been.
I remember sitting there with someone who had done exactly as well as me at further mechanics, and loved it at A-level (which I didn't) and him saying he didn't understand and me saying "but there isn't anything to understand. It's juts obvious." He then sat there telling me that abstract algebra was the most beautiful subject on the earth, while I shook my head and said I couldn't even get my head round it. Grin

So when people are saying that it's just recapping, which is what I'd have said the mechanics was, it may be that they aren't realising how much more they've been pulled up on the subject.

MarchingFrogs · 30/11/2019 18:55

DD is doing a degree 'with' French (as opposed to 'and'). She has managed to find herself a French bestie from her main subject, who generally declares DD's language skills to be satisfactory. DD is generally of the same opinion of the other girl's English, although there are obviously some aspects of the British education system that she finds intriguing. DD says a few conversations have been along the lines of, 'How do you know how to do X?'(something cooking related). 'We did it on Food Tech in year 8'. 'Food Tech? What is this? You do this in school? This is very strange'. Same goes for Textiles, apparently, although I can safely say that DD's skills in that line are minimal, to say the least, so her friend may not feel that she has missed much thereHmm.

MrKlaw · 30/11/2019 21:31

Just back from visiting DS at Bath - went down to see the Christmas market and we had a lovely few hours with him.

Blimey is it busy though - while place was completely clogged with people and they even had a Disney style queue for getting to the trains there were so many heading back. Definitely seems nice but the weekend isn’t a good time to visit - you simply can’t browse like you’d want to

Ginfordinner · 30/11/2019 21:41

I think anywhere that is a tourist destination and has a Christmas market is going to be ridiculously busy. Apparently York is just as bad.

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2019 07:28

Shove up on the feckless DSs bench @Simbobs! Mine is doing fine on the sport and socialising front, but has managed to get extensions for 2 essays.... I am praying he gets them done. Whilst I dont have access to his emails, I know he has thousands unopened and has failed/not bothered to get to see a GP, etc yet. ShockHmmConfused

No idea whether he is finding the course demanding or not (He hasn't complained) - he went to a state primary and comp and worked extremely hard (and independently - no tutoring) to get top grades. I hope he is able to knuckle down again a bit more next term.

I dont think any of the children he/DD went to primary with went to private secondary - nearly all went to comps, some to church schools a couple to grammars. This doesnt seem to have held them back at all Smile

DH is currently teaching in a prestigious private school (don't ask) - I'm not sure he'd say they are spoon fed, but they are drilled with copious essays, etc each week and nearly all seem to pay for tutoring outside of school Shock

And Gove? AngryAngryAngry
I think I'd rather have Trump Confused

simbobs · 01/12/2019 07:48

DS seems to be doing OK again on the health front so has been from home most of the weekend. He will have to go back to uni today and stay there, as he has now missed a full week. I wish I hadn't gone to get him in a way, but he was so unwell on Wednesday that I would have been constantly worried, and he wasn't able to get anything to eat, even if he could manage it.
It doesn't help that his phone isn't charging properly so I can't get in touch with him either. He brought some of his course material home and a flick through shows me that he is probably insufficiently engaged with his course. I so want him to stick with it and do well but I'm not sure it is right for him. I really need to talk to him.

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2019 08:10

Remind me what he is doing @Simbobs

Benjispruce · 01/12/2019 08:13

DD’s return home was worth it in the end as she had an interview for a Christmas job yesterday and got a call last night to say she’d got it. Think she’s relieved to know her bank account will be healthier in the new year. She’s going back today and can’t wait. She’s caught up on sleep, eaten well and given her liver a restHmm.
On the subject of schooling, DD went to state primary and secondary and had no tutoring.
Really pleased to be sending her back knowing she’s happy with her friends, subject and activities and knowing that I’ll see her again very soon.

Piggywaspushed · 01/12/2019 08:13

We are off to Lincoln next week to drink gluhwein and eat waffles see DS. DH is extremely impatient and Mr Angry in heavy traffic so approaching this with trepidation as we can't park at DS's accommodation.

Benjispruce · 01/12/2019 08:18

@piggy beware the Christmas shopping trip traffic at Lincoln. I still haven’t forgotten a 3 hour queue 20 years ago!

Piggywaspushed · 01/12/2019 08:23

This is what I am dreading! DS's accommodation is on one of the main roads in.

I suggested getting train but we are apparently taking a suitcase back with us. Still think it might be less hassle! Will talk to DH...

bigTillyMint · 01/12/2019 08:23

@Benjispruce, that's great all round!

DS is hoping to get a local bar job when he gets back. If not, he will probably pick up work from the agency he worked for in the summer. I hope!

Benjispruce · 01/12/2019 08:30

Sending DD back with a bigger suitcase today as she’ll need to bring more home for her Christmas stay. I was also fleeced in Boots for ‘essentials’ yesterday so she has a fair bit extra to take back with her.
I wouldn’t let the suitcase put you off the train.