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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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DD going back on 9th I think as term starts on 10th. They’ve been told first week’s lectures are online then gradual return to f2f over next 2 weeks which isn’t too bad. Just hope it’s no longer. Ridiculous on the other hand as they can still go clubbing!

Hello.all Been a while since I posted but nice to catch up with everyone. DD2 is going to do a masters so will have 1 more year of uni at least, she's got a house sorted just needs to get on the course she wants but her tutors are encouraging and she's getting mainly firsts .Worse case would be a 2 1 but her transcript should sway things hopefully.

@bigTillyMint that's a tough gig, with all those applications to make and studying to do. I can sort of understand why DS hasn't galvanised to action yet. There's a lot to contend with in one's final year.

Good to hear from you @RedHelenB and that your DD2 has decided to do a Masters.

I was looking for DS the other day and was shocked at the massive range in the fees. So prestigious to perhaps upgrade for post-graduate studies but only if someone has deep pockets! Oxbridge ones £15K(+) and some of the London ones even more expensive still! And I really don't think doing a full-time Masters is compatible with much in the way of working to support oneself?

DD has an in person exam on Monday. TBH I'm surprised that it hasn't been moved to online. They are expecting 300 students to sit in a lecture theatre to sit this exam. I think it is a terrible idea.

Gosh that doesn't sound good @RampantIvy. Can you imagine sitting in an exam hall – 'well ventilated' – at this time of the year?! Perhaps they're working on the theory that most students will have had Omicron by now? Let's hope they have (if the in-person exam goes ahead)!

DS has an open-book one coming up but no in-person ones that I've heard about.

That is surprising, @RampantIvy, given the infection rates. Maybe it is part of the herd immunity strategy! I am just waiting for DS to tell me that he has covid, as he surely can't avoid it this time. Two of his housemates now have it, and he shares a bathroom with them.

There seems to be a high percentage of student DC doing masters on this thread. I wonder how representative they are of this cohort as a whole?

DD wants to take a gap year then do a masters. The places she is considering for a masters are all asking for work experience in her field, and she doesn't have any.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18, DD did an MSc and worked a night or two a week (unless shut because of covid) which seemed to be just about manageable. Her friend has just started a part time Masters so she can also work part-time.

@simbobs, it does seem like quite a few of DDs (and DSs older) friends have done/are doing Masters. It was definitely worthwhile for DD as it is exactly what she is doing for her grad job now, but I’m not convinced there’s any point in doing one if there’s not a clear link to the career path they definitely want.

NewModelArmy, butting in here. Hope that is OK. DS took one of the expensive London Masters (LSE EME). Fees were pretty hefty, though not as much as Imperial, which even back then went as high as £32,000. Oxford fees were lower, but it was a two year course and once you included things like college fees, and allowing for the discount he got for being an LSE grad and the fact he could live at home, there was no obvious advantage.

Working was almost certainly not an option, other than a bit of tutoring or being a teaching or research assistant. (The LSE use Masters students as UG teaching assistants and those who can do the maths are in particular demand.) There is a long standing joke that Economics Masters students were only seen twice on campus. Once for registration and once for graduation. The rest of the 10 months were spent in the library.

That said it should be relatively easy to find some sort of career development loan, as many go onto well paid careers. That said, DS was the only Brit out of 39, so I assume others were put off by the additional fees and decided that they were not worth the investment.

ouch. DS is looking at masters and I think he's too late to get merged into the MMath at Bath (which would be one year funded by student loans). Masters loan is pretty small and doesn't have separate maintainence portion. So if he wants to do that he may need to consider having a year or two out looking for work and then going back. Not sure how much is coming from a desire to extend his university time given how things have been with the 'slow start' (strikes + covid)

@Needmoresleep your insights are most welcome! Yes, I clocked one at £36K (WTAF?!). Durham seemed much more affordable (of the top universities) at £8.5K for fees but even so.

Useful to know that minimum part-time work is compatible with doing a full-time Masters @bigTillyMint.

And the idea of a career development loan is worth considering too.

I do think that young graduates need a plan for their career when undertaking a Masters. I have a friend whose DD converted to a four year course with Masters tacked on for the final year (Bristol) who, two years down the line, shows no indication of having sorted out a career pathway.

DD stayed at Bristol for hers and got a discount (about £1K) as she had done her BSc there - I think other unis may offer discounts to their graduates too?

The problem is that DS doesn't want to stay at UEA, I don't think.

DR doesn't want to stay at Newcastle. She loves the city and has made lots of friends, but she says the department is really disorganised.

Ah! DD loved the city of Bristol and had friends still there which I think was the real draw - I don’t think she stayed because she thought the uni support was good

DD went back this afternoon. She had her grad scheme telephone interview at lunchtime. We went out for a walk with the dog as she wanted total concentration. It went ok but she’s expecting to not make the next stage as she feels she could have answered some questions better. I really don’t think I’d have gone through the process even if I had her abilities. I just have an aversion to jumping through hoops for anyone! It’s probably why I’m not a high flyer.

Well done to your DD @Benjispruce5 - the grad recruitment process is very tough. Just having the guts to attempt it is a major plus.

When I’d finished my teaching degree, I wanted to move to teach in inner London. My interview at County Hall for the ILEA was basically, are you prepared to stand up in front of a class of kids?

I honestly don't think I could have got a job if I had had to go through what you guys are describing. I had mostly nice, chatty interviews, with no expectation of having had any work experience of note, yet got a graduate trainee position with a major household name. I really feel for them.

It’s for the FCA so very competitive. She’s made it through seven stages but they have so many applications it’s ridiculously really. I hate to see her feeling like she’s not good enough. I’m so proud of her getting to where she is and they should snap her up but that’s just proud mama speaking .

Several not seven.

I doubt very much if DD could get through this kind of interviewing. She would crumble at the first stage.

With her health as it is she wouldn't be able to work full time. I do worry about her future. She would only be able to work part time.

I can imagine @RampantIvy and your Dd is to be commended for all she has taken on given her physical challenges. I hope that she can get her degree under her belt, get herself well and that in the near future she will recover fully.

Thank you @Benjispruce5. I hope your DD is successful with her job applications.

Echoing what Benjispruce says @RampantIvy - she is doing so well to keep going despite her health issues. It will come right for her in time

Thank you @bigTillyMint