Some of our young people are half way through their degrees (2019/20 intake): lockdowns on repeat, light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations (?) and the legacy of COVID-19

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose is all I can say!

DS went back today. Forgot his new glasses so had to come back.

Took his festering ingrowing toenail back with him, though...

That sounds grim @Piggywaspushed!

DS now prowling around waiting to see whether their tutor honours his promise to let his group present first. It is entirely ridiculous to make students do this work between 6 and 9pm, especially on the day that the pubs reopen! DS and friends have a table booking at a local pub which is contributing massively to his angst.

That's a pain for your DS @Piggywaspushed (to have to go back home for his glasses). On the same subject, DS arrived home with his stuck together with sellotape despite me telling him he needed to get a new pair back in September!

Did your DS's group get to present first @simbobs? I do hope so.

Good luck on sorting out the toe. My son sent me out yesterday when I was popping out to the shops to buy larger new toe nail clippers with rounded end. It was very specific but Boots had it. So hopefully his nails will be okay. [Twins are doing their final law exam at this very moment so exam freedom (other than course work due on 19th) is in prospect until September..... I feel like I have been running an exam centre here, keeping things quiet, not doing any noisy jobs, lawn mowing, obviously trying to keep them happy too =- different world with typed on line exams these days never mind that they are here rather than out for hours in a huge exam hall giving parents some peace. May be those institutions not having to hire exam halls this year could distribute the saved money to each parent hosting a child at home doing online exams]

Yes, he managed to get it all done @NewModelArmyMayhem18. Phew! It shows how technology can let us down through no fault of our own. We have been having broadband issues off and on for ages in our village. Now for the next lot of essays and revision work, though apparently nothing is happening today.

Just popping in here to say hello, the UEA thread seems to have gone very quiet.
I’m in the UK currently doing quarantine, but DS2 is coming to stay with me Wednesday night as I should be able to go out from Thursday I can’t wait to see him, it’s been very stressful.
DS1 is back at uni, he’s getting f2f as it’s a practical course, he hope to be in at least twice a week.
Can’t believe the current guidelines for students, not starting back till May 🤬

@Itscoldouthere great to hear that you are back in the UK but hoping that your DS2 is okay (as you mention stress). By the time it gets to mid-May the current academic year will be all but over won't it?

and what does ‘open’ mean? if it means student union etc it may be worth it for those that finish exams early etc. If just selected lessons then less useful

Both my DC say that there is no more f2f during the next term, other than possibly one week, so pretty pointless for them.

Been away from this thread for a while, sorry !

Mine so pleased to hear your DS has got a placement, that's fantastic, my DS hasn't had any luck yet .. did your DS engage with the Uni at all? I kept nagging suggesting to my DS to get involved with the careers department (or whatever they are called) as there were virtual placement fairs etc but I am not sure how much he did.

He has got a place at Camp America so that is exciting but still trying to find some work experience, he will take the third year 'out' whatever happens, and hope that when he returns in Sept 2022 things might be back to 'normal' as far as possible.

Meanwhile he is enjoying playing lots of cricket for the Uni team . He's been back for a couple of months and enjoying living in his shared flat, he has remained very positive for which we are really grateful.

Slightly random question - when did we do open days etc? I think Covid has messed things up with virtual open days etc but my daughter is year 12 so I think are kind this time we’d be looking at open days this summer during the holidays (when students wouldn’t be on campus so they can show accommodation l)?

She’s not even got a long list let alone a shortlist but I wanted to understand timing so we can at least be ready for it

@MrKlaw I reckon some universities are starting to organise proper (on campus) open days (with a caveat about going online if the timetable out of restrictions doesn't go according to plan). A quick 'Google' has shown QMUL doing some at the end of June/beginning of July. UEA seems to be arranging virtual ones still (3 July).

@MrKlaw we didn't look until year 13 only because ds1 didn't plan to go to university. Then changed his mind. Are you on the year 12 thread? Lots of us from this thread are on the year 12 one too.

[quote icanbewhatiwant]@MrKlaw we didn't look until year 13 only because ds1 didn't plan to go to university. Then changed his mind. Are you on the year 12 thread? Lots of us from this thread are on the year 12 one too. [/quote]
No - was looking for one. Could you share a link?

@MrKlaw, both mine started looking in the summer of Y12 (and then chose the unis that their then bf/gfs were at because they got to know them and the city)

Thread 15 - Corona Cohort Year 12, 2021 Lateral Flow & Driving Tests www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4189006-Thread-15-Corona-Cohort-Year-12-2021-Lateral-Flow-Driving-Tests

@MrKlaw not sure if that is how to share

@MrKlaw, would this be of any use to your DD?
www.ucas.com/events/ucasdiscovery-389071

Thanks both - really helpful :)

Hey Rags I am really pleased for him but its been hard. He opted for work experience instead of normal study for this current term and is with a really good training consultancy, working on their website and developing training courses. He loves it and really likes not doing the normal course as he hates online learning. He got this through uni and has to produce 2 reports about his time with them. Although some summer internships were advised on the uni recruitment pages, he got his through LinkedIn, and its paid so I am very happy. I really worry about him finishing next year, with the huge competition and no industry experience on his CV. Now he has 2 organisations, which is great.

I went to see him in Nottingham this weekend and they are all having a great time. The city was packed and vibrant, it really felt like things are slowly returning to normal.

Mine that's interesting- I don't know if my DS had the same opportunity to do work experience this term (of course he doesn't tell me much ....) but it sounds as though your DS made a really good choice. My DS is still loving Nottingham despite the online lectures ... he's been back since Christmas with a small group of friends and now playing plenty of cricket. We plan to go up for a weekend towards the end of May .. I love the city too .

Rags I think your DS is on the 4 year course, mine switched to the 3 year and this term replaces the one year in industry. He really loves Nottingham and has even said he would consider staying after he graduates, but working and living is different to being a free spirited student with the bank of mum on speed dial.

@minesawine
I went to see him in Nottingham this weekend and they are all having a great time. The city was packed and vibrant, it really felt like things are slowly returning to normal.

That's great to hear. DS went to the pub on Friday night and had a good time. Nice to get out and about. And having worked in a pub since they opened it was nice to be a customer and have somebody bring him drinks instead!
Let's hope they have a bit of a brighter summer term.
DS has got his exam timetable. Yet again, he has taken the module that has the last exam for his course!

Checking in - haven't been on here in a while. I've been so pleased to hear about lockdown in the UK coming to an end, and lives starting to get back to normal.

DD has still not gone back to university. She might do at some point before the end of this academic year, but she has a big support network at home, and I think she needs it at the moment.

Good news is universities here are managing to get students vaccinated. August/September should be back to normal.

My middle daughter is just about to accept her place at university and goes away late August. Eek.

All students in the UK should have been offered a vaccine by the beginning of the next academic year - let's hope they take it!

My DS is still here, too. He still has work to complete and submit and an exam next week but is fitting it in around the landscape gardening work; think it should have been the other way around! That is one reason that he is living at home; the other is that he just can't bear living in the stye that is his student flat. Only he and his mate ever do the cleaning and he has had enough. Unfortunately, there has been a flat inspection and they are in trouble over that state of it. DS and his mate have pointed out that they are not living there, but I think fines are going to be issued and a cleaning firm brought in. It will be grossly unfair if he is expected to pay, especially as he has just paid a term's rent and stayed in the flat for just 2 nights.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo good to hear your updates from 'States-side'. From what I've heard most US States have been doing well with the vaccination programme?

Oh dear, that sounds a PITA @simbobs. Does your DS have it in writing that he's not been living in this term. Totally not fair to hold all responsible for some housemate's sloppy ways.