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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

Previous thread

OP posts:
Benjispruce5 · 31/12/2021 11:32

@simbobs that’s a shame. Good luck to him in finding work.
Interesting responses to Covid in the house are that DD1 is pretty cool, testing daily but carrying on. DD2 is staying in her room, comes out wearing a mask to make a cup of tea. They’re so different. I’m somewhere in the middle but feel like a turkey that’s caught Bernard Matthew’s eye if I’m honest.

icanbewhatiwant · 31/12/2021 11:56

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I won't be asking ds1 how friendly they are. The girl is actually nearer ds2's age. They were always the same age for 6 weeks each year until the girl's birthday. So Ds2 turned 18 in nov. She turned 19 Dec. Ds1 is 20 (21 May) So ds1 was 2 school years above, so they knew each other through school, but met at playgroup.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 31/12/2021 12:28

Ha @icanbewhatiwant best not to know these things!

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bigTillyMint · 31/12/2021 16:08

Fingers crossed @Benjispruce5 - I know so many families where one has tested positive and none or only some of the others caught it.

Yes definitely best not to ask @icanbewhatiwant Grin

Benjispruce5 · 31/12/2021 16:44

Thanks @bigTillyMint but I’ve got a sinking feeling, about me anyway. Got a background headache and just don’t feel right. Surprised it’s come from D H though and not us school/uni dwellers.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/01/2022 10:26

@Benjispruce5 hope you don't get it but I think there's a certain inevitability about getting Omicron sooner or later, unfortunately. Take care.

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blametheparents · 01/01/2022 10:42

HNY to you all!

Here's hoping our young people enjoy their last few months of uni - for those that will graduate this year - and that they actually get a graduation! That would be amazing!

Benjispruce5 · 01/01/2022 10:44

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 Thanks. I’d rather get it now as I’ll most probably get it when teen starts back anyway and it’s easier to get it together. I’m still negative.

Benjispruce5 · 01/01/2022 10:44

Term not teen.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/01/2022 10:56

It took seven days from DD getting symptoms to me getting them. Agree it's better to all get it at roughly the same time though. Hoping it 'does and dusts' for families to get it only the once! DD still hasn't had her vaccination because she was self-isolating when we'd scheduled in an appointment to get her 'jabbed'. I went online yesterday to make one for mid January and none of the five closest vaccination centres had any current availability!

I was contemplating asking MNHQ to change the title of this thread to better reflect that many of our young people are only months away from finishing their first degrees.

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icanbewhatiwant · 01/01/2022 12:22

Ds1 went to the nightclub last night with the local girl. She went home this morn. So clearly doesn't want to spend time with Ds. He's now in his uni house on his own. She's not working until Tuesday so I thought she'd at least spend today there. The heating has broken down too. Now I feel mean saying I don't really want ds home after clubbing. I think he will have to come home now. I'm just worried about him bringing covid home to dh. But I guess we are going to get it at some point. He's not had his booster vaccine either. He had his second vaccine back in august. He was ill through a lot of December. So he didn't have it. He booked his booster online but had a 3 week wait. So it's being done 10th. I have messages to ask if he wants to come home.

bigTillyMint · 01/01/2022 12:30

DS hasn’t had his booster yet either. I’m hoping he’ll go to a local walk-in soon.

Happy New Year to everyone - hope our DC get a decent end to uni life this year, amongst all the studying!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/01/2022 12:45

Well at the moment it's probably not too bad for your DS without heating (but does that impact on hot water too?) because it's so mild @icanbewhatiwant, but I guess it will get colder as an residual warmth is lost over coming days? It's tricky trying to balance the needs of all family members, isn't it?

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Benjispruce5 · 01/01/2022 13:40

I’m so glad DH got his booster 3 or 4 weeks ago now at a walk-in as his appointment wasn’t until this week. So I’m hoping that’s why he’s so mild with it so far.
@icanbewhatiwant he could do an LFT every day and keep a distance for a week?

Benjispruce5 · 01/01/2022 13:42

Oh and DH did another LFT this morning ( I’ve told him off for wasting themHmm) and it was negative. He’s still in isolating once but I’m wondering if he had it earlier than we thought.

Benjispruce5 · 01/01/2022 13:43

*He’s still in isolation obviously

icanbewhatiwant · 01/01/2022 14:00

@Benjispruce5 yes he could do LFT's. It would be annoying though coming back with covid when Ds2 is about to return to school, I know he can go in if stays negative, though we don't know if rules will change. Ds3 doesn't return to school until 12th. Ds1 can come home if he wants. I messaged him earlier but he didn't reply. He's probably gone back to bed.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 03/01/2022 09:59

How are you all doing @Benjispruce5?

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Benjispruce5 · 03/01/2022 10:09

Morning @NewModelArmyMayhem18 DDs and I are still negative, DH barely any symptoms at all. Day 5 for him.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 03/01/2022 10:17

That's really good news @Benjispruce5! Fingers crossed!

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ifonly4 · 03/01/2022 17:48

DD currently on a year abroad with uni. We've spent all xmas being very careful as Germany wouldn't take her back for 28 days if she tested positive while here or on PCR before travel. They've eased their restrictions, so she can now travel back without a PCR and so far none of us have any symptoms/positive LFTs - phew.

icanbewhatiwant · 03/01/2022 19:14

@ifonly4 daughter in laws husband is German. He lives here. He can't get into Germany from here at the moment. They've actually gone on holiday to Mexico. He can fly into Germany from Mexico but not from England. So he's going from there. Perhaps they've changed that rule in the last few days.

MrKlaw · 05/01/2022 10:33

DS heading back on Friday. Assessment period so no formal semester 2 until Feb at Bath, and he has exams before then. I picked him up before Christmas to avoid the trains and bringing any 'surprises' back into the house, but he's getting the train back as we're both working and he doesn't want to wait for the weekend.

He's still thinking masters but I think he's missed the boat on transferring to an MMath. I like the idea of him at least banking a BSc first where the MMath doesn't seem to. Don't know for sure but I assume some of his housemates are hoping to stay on for a 4th year to actually get some University life, so if he can't get on the MMath and the standalone masters at Bath isn't to his liking, not sure what he'll do.

Then we have DD who is likely to take a gap year as she can't figure out exactly what she wants to do (something in games probably), all this research could have been done with School support but she's just not engaged with it. And she's having extra support from the school for maths to try and salvage something. At least that'll give us real results to use for applications, but I am concerned how much research she'll do without having the school available to help and guide.

RampantIvy · 05/01/2022 13:00

I'm taking DD back tomorrow. It's currently extremely cold, and I hope her flat isn't too cold from being empty for the best part of three weeks.

bigTillyMint · 05/01/2022 14:22

DS said he’s thinking of going back later next week as he has work to hand in as well as all the applications/assessments/video interviews he’s doing. I’m just worried he’s trying to stretch himself too far - DD had to go through an extensive application/assessment/interview process whilst doing her MSc, but it was “only” for two grad schemes whereas DS has put in about 20 applications so far. Which is because law is so bloody competitive Confused