University life for freshers (2019/20) - Christmas backpacking (or not) and festive homecomings with all the tinseltastic trimmings!

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Previous thread.

Thank you @LaBelleSauvage123
Student disability support at Newcastle is impressive. DD has been under the CFS/ME team locally, and they provided her with a letter for her to take to the disability services team at Newcastle. She didn’t put anything in place before she went, but sorted it out when she got there. She gets extra time in exams, they have provided her with a speech recorder to use during lectures so that she doesn’t have to wait two days before the lectures are put online and they have informed SFE who have contacted DD to say that she is entitled to DSA.

She had her DSA assessment in the Christmas holidays in our local town, and they were pretty quick in coming back to her with what she is entitled to – in her case £200 towards a laptop with the software she requires, a properly ergonomically designed office chair and desk, plus other ergonomic accessories. Quite frankly I am amazed that the funding has been so readily available.

In other news the fridges/freezers still haven't been repaired and DD is having to throw food out. She says the fridges stink. Fortunately she has some fresh veg that are still OK and some pasta and stir in sauces.

Ginfordinner that’s good to know. DS1’s dyspraxia has really improved since he was younger ( mainly because he’s learnt strategies to cope) and he really only needs to be able to use a laptop for exams. But if he didn’t get this concession it would be a disaster as his handwriting is very slow and, if he writes fast, illegible.

What does your DS need/look for in halls LaBelleSauvage123?

I've found the DSA system to be really good (got diagnosed with dyslexia when I started uni) - needs assessment was very positive and actually student finance have been very efficient (wonders will never cease) in getting my recommendations approved and the difference screen readers make to me slogging through academic texts is bonkers - I didn't realise it wasn't "normal" to find it so hard to understand!

and actually student finance have been very efficient (wonders will never cease) in getting my recommendations approved

I too was surprised at how quickly everything was processed. When funds are so tight for education, policing, the NHS etc I was so amazed at the speedy outcome, almost as if money was no object.

This is all very positive - fingers crossed for DS.
Gin - he wants self catering ( an avid cook like your DD) and doesn’t mind sharing bathrooms etc. The two halls he’s most drawn to are Windsor Terrace and Marris House.

Thank you for the recommendation for the ‘Too Good To Go’ app, I told my DS and he has his first meal to collect, a hotel breakfast for £2 .... not sure what it will be like but he sounds chuffed .

I've got DS signed up to the "Too good to go " App too !!! ... I've signed up myself !!!

You're welcome. Dd thinks it's great when she gets a treat of a meal she hasn't had to cook and saves money too. Sometimes she wouldn't have been able to buy the ingredients for that price.

Hello. Last few days been tough for my poorly Dd2 so thank you for all your messages. Still in hospital.
Dd1 is back at Uni for exams then will probably come down to be with her sister again. She was pleased to see her flatmates and have a catch-up. Fingers crossed for her exams.

Oh gosh Zanda - sending lots of healing thoughts your daughter's way, and strength to you all.

@ZandathePanda so sorry to hear that your DD2 is still poorly. Hoping that she turns a corner very soon. Good luck to your DD1 with her exams.

All good wishes @ZandathePanda. Just had a phone call from DD, feeling down. Wasn’t expecting that after she was itching to get back. Apparently nobody wants to go out, they’re all studying! who’d have thought it??? Now she’s wondering if she should have chosen a different uni.

Doesn't she have exams Benji?

DD and all her friends are studying like mad and not going out because they all have exams.

DD has a gap between the end of the exams and the start of lectures so she and her friends have planned days out. They have also started making plans for the summer holidays.

Sorry your DD is still so poorly Zanda

No, no exams! She’s saying the first year doesn’t count towards the degree so why are they being boring! I’ve said they maybe have exams or no money until the next loan instalment but she’s not convinced.I guess a month away from relatively new friendships is quite a lot. I hope it’s just a readjustment.

God I wish dd didn't have exams. I'm sure we checked her course and it was mainly coursework and practicals and presentations. She's had exam after exam and some of them have been really hard. She's not great at exams so I'm expecting the worst

Are your DC taking science and maths type subjects?

Sports science! Thought it would be a doddle!

Wondering if they pure science/maths degrees have more regular exams. DD taking Anthropology Bsc. I’m a bit worried now that she’s missed something

Yes, biomedical sciences. DD had several exams and practical assessments before Christmas as well. She hates failing, and although the exams don't count towards her degree they still have to pass them. They have to pass all their practicals as well.

I have been reading on the WIWIKAU Facebook page that several people's DCs are bored and unchallenged at university. DD is finding her course challenging as the work ramped up from A level recaps after only three weeks. They are saying that for some of them they cover A level work during most of the first year.

I will be flamed for this, but could they perhaps be at universities that have a high percentage of students who received unconditional offers or require lower grades to get in?

I can't see students saying that they feel unchallenged at Oxbridge/St Andrews/Imperial etc.

I would say it is unusual not to have January exams in most subjects, especially those that are not predominantly coursework.

My DS is in his final year, after a YII last year - he has always had January exams, as have most of his school friends (some of whom have now graduated) and other people (Relatives and friends DC) we know at uni. Whilst he is quite social, socialising is the last thing on his mind at moment - and his friends also doing final year - as these exams count towards degree grades, and there’s no such thing as re sits in final year!

Whilst first year results don’t count in final degree, they do usually have to pass all exams, and re-take any failed ones in the summer re-sit period, whether from January or summer. First yr results are also taken into consideration if they apply for a YII, or an internship, or an optional year/semester abroad. DS had friends who missed out on the latter due to poor marks in 1st year winter exams.

So, whilst your DD is lucky if she hasn’t got January exams, Benji, her friends who probably DO have exams are definitely doing the right thing by studying and not going out.

DS2 had exams before Christmas so straight back into lectures. I think he was glad that he had no work over holiday.

@Benjispruce Dd has exams-she says they're like mocks for the summer ones. They've got them a couple of weeks into term, with no let up from lectures.
They also have a project to hand in which counts towards first year exams
I wish they'd given them a total break over Christmas. She needed it and got really stressed about the work.

Is he in Scotland, Whatagoodidea?

I think Scottish unis tend to do winter exams before Christmas, we know a few who’ve gone to Scotland and experienced that. English unis tend to do Jan exams I think.

There will always be students without exams when others have them, they need to be mature enough to understand that their friends will put studying before social life at those times.

DS has found everyone is less social in final year, there’s a lot of pressure, not only exams but dissertations, projects and job applications.

Oh you don’t need to tell me they’re doing the right thing-I know they are. DD is at Durham and I don’t think they do unconditional offers. She needed AAB and got A*AA. She’s enjoying her studies and has had assessments in the first term for which she got 100% but no big exams . I’m sure it’ll become more challenging.