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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

University 2019/20 intake: vacations, vaccinations, va-va-voom restored and virtually into their third year

990 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 18/06/2021 10:34

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OP posts:
blametheparents · 11/08/2021 19:42

DS has finished his summer internship and really enjoyed it. And he’s managed to save some good amounts of cash!
He’s going back to university early September. I’m really pleased that he wants to make the most of his final year. I’m sure he’ll enjoy being a ‘fake fresher’!

Ragwort · 11/08/2021 21:04

Decorhate, that sounds really encouraging, well done to your DS. Mine that made me chuckle, but great to have done the work experience. DS had another interview today (Zoom) so fingers crossed.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 12/08/2021 17:37

[quote icanbewhatiwant]@minesawine Ds is doing biology and has told me he doesn't want an inside job or to work in a lab. 🤷‍♀️[/quote]
I have a friend who studied plant biology and initially he did find work that involved being outside a lot. He travelled a lot too.

But eventually he became more of a bigwig in his university/industry and I suspect he spends most of his life in meetings now, which seems to be inevitable with a lot of jobs.

icanbewhatiwant · 12/08/2021 19:18

@ZZTopGuitarSolo Ds has no idea what he wants to do. Just not in an office...yes I can imagine him ending up indoors though.

Ds has been working his usual summer job (July until 3rd week sept) at our local grain farmers place, the previous 2 years he has worked in the lab. taking samples, checking moisture, looking for diseases and bugs etc. But this year they were short staffed outside in the yard, so he did a couple of days outside, backing the lorry drivers into the grain store, sweeping up etc. They asked if he wanted to keep the outside job for the summer, he said yes. He is preferring it outside. He has to start at 7am instead of 8.30am and finishes at 5pm which is half hour later. He also gets paid more per hour. So he's happy. The lab work will look better on his cv though if he wants to do anything lab. based. But seems he prefers being outside.

RampantIvy · 13/08/2021 09:07

I have been reading some of the comments on WIWIKAU Facebook page. It seems that there is more of a scramble for university accommodation this year. Are universities being greedy in accepting far too many students this year?

blametheparents · 13/08/2021 11:04

I guess that it’s maybe less a case of being greedy to accept more students, and more of a case of having had so many students achieve the grades for their first choice that now they have to take those students, but (essentially) there are too many of them.
But like when airlines overbook flights assuming / knowing that not everybody will turn up. Except, in this case they have!

blametheparents · 13/08/2021 11:06

@icanbewhatiwant - That sounds like a great summer job. My DS would love that sort of thing too. Just getting down and getting on with stuff.

RampantIvy · 13/08/2021 11:11

Actually, I think you are right @blametheparents. Several universities are offering prospective students £10k to defer until next year.

It's going to be difficult for the universities to teach the correct course content, especially in STEM subjects where prior knowledge is important, if students haven't covered the entire A level course.

Benjispruce5 · 13/08/2021 16:28

DD’s 21st is looming. Thinking of present ideas. Any of you got plans for your uni 21s?

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 13/08/2021 16:39

@RampantIvy

I have been reading some of the comments on WIWIKAU Facebook page. It seems that there is more of a scramble for university accommodation this year. Are universities being greedy in accepting far too many students this year?
There's been a scramble at DD2's university here in the US too. It seems to be a combination of students who took gap years last year, plus 3rd years not being able to study abroad as they usually would. Apparently this year's intake is huge compared to 'normal' years.
ZZTopGuitarSolo · 13/08/2021 16:42

@Benjispruce5

DD’s 21st is looming. Thinking of present ideas. Any of you got plans for your uni 21s?
I'm thinking of giving DD a trip back to the UK for her 21st, as it's such a long time since she was last there, and she's got a yearning to visit there as a tourist and really explore.
blametheparents · 13/08/2021 17:17

I’ll be watching the 21st birthday ideas with interest. Months til DS’s 21st so I’ve got plenty of time to think of something.

RampantIvy · 13/08/2021 17:42

@Benjispruce5

DD’s 21st is looming. Thinking of present ideas. Any of you got plans for your uni 21s?
The battery on DD's phone went so we bought her a new phone. She is such a foodie and requested a rice cooker and a tofu press!

Some of her uni friends came to stay, and she invited some home friends round also for a barbecue, then on her birthday they went into town for pizza and cocktails. She was a little stressed leading up to her birthday because some of her uni friends dropped out, most of them due to having to self isolate, but she had a great birthday in the end.

simbobs · 13/08/2021 17:45

I hadn't even considered that DS is 21 next birthday!!! How did that happen? No idea of any sort what to get him.

Oldowl · 13/08/2021 17:50

I got an inter-railing ticket for my 21st ...29 years ago. It was a fab present. DD's 21st is next month. I'll be watching with interest too!

Decorhate · 13/08/2021 18:25

Are 21st birthdays still significant? I thought/hoped perhaps superseded by 18ths!

Though we did do a family city break for dd’s in the before times...

bigTillyMint · 13/08/2021 18:33

@Benjispruce5, DD just wanted money Grin but I did her a goody bag with nice beauty bits, posh bottle of fizz, etc too. We went to Bristol and took her out for cocktails and dinner and then she had a BBQ with friends.

Travel tickets are a great idea for a 21st present!

ifonly4 · 13/08/2021 19:52

DD is one of the younger ones and yet to reach her 20th.

She's doing a four year uni course, with a year abroad. With covid a year abroad has been uncertain - with covid a year abroad has been uncertain, but risk assessment now passed, erasmus grant and accommodation sorted. DD can get into the country on a negative PCR now, but it was originally only doubled vaccinated who could travel there - doctor was understanding and agreed to that being done at five weeks, so she hasn't got to worry about that element.

RampantIvy · 13/08/2021 20:13

DD would have been one of the youngets, but she took a gap year. One of her friends celebrated her 20th birthday the other day. They all went out on Tuesday then they had a party at their flat yesterday. I'm happy that they are managing to do the the things that they couldn't do during lockdown.

Travel tickets are a great idea for a 21st present!

I agree. We paid for DD's post A level holiday with her firends for her 18th birthday. Another parent did the same for her DD.

Benjispruce5 · 13/08/2021 22:09

Thanks for your thoughts. She’s going on holiday late August with uni friends and I’m think of covering her coats. She’ll be back up in Durham on her birthday. She’s been working and volunteering so far apart from a weekend break to a uni friend’s house in Brighton and missed a break away with us due to work commitments.

Benjispruce5 · 13/08/2021 22:13

Coats? Costs!

bigTillyMint · 14/08/2021 15:56

DS isn’t 21 till next March. Bet he’ll want money. Doubt he’ll want a party - he realised PDQ that hosting a party was a lot of stress Grin - but maybe his gf will!

icanbewhatiwant · 14/08/2021 16:29

All big birthdays next here. I'll be 50 ds3 21 Ds2 18 ds3 13. Ds2 is November but the rest next year. DH sort of a significant age too of 65. Would have been official pension age a few years ago. But not for another year for him.

blametheparents · 14/08/2021 18:37

DS has been offered a graduate position off the back of his summer internship! He’s so happy!

RampantIvy · 14/08/2021 19:04

Well done to your DS @blametheparents