Another path ....... the journey begins

[chopc]

Hello @321zyx @AvocadoPlant @bendmeoverbackwards @BigWoollyJumpers @Braveheart35 @calculatorqueen @ChimneyPot @Dobbyisahouseelf @Eastisup @jano69 @Majaso12 @MidLifeCrisis007 @NCTDN @Notagardener @OnTheBenchOfDoom @Parsonage63 @Pumpkintopf @Peaseblossum22 @quest1on @Peaseblossum22 @SATSmadness @SeasonFinale @Tenpastseven @Vargas @Xenia

Apologies for anyone I omitted to tag

Thanks for the new thread @chopc 😃

Thank you @chopc, nice to have a shiny new thread.

@eggsandwich just read your update on the other thread. That sounds great, which accommodation is your dd in?

Hi all! Checking in 🥰

@Majaso12 how's your dd? What decision did she make on the driving?

@ChimneyPot hope your dd is feeling better?

Pumpkintopf she’s fine, but fed up with practising driving and wants a break from it. I feel it has ruined the Summer a bit. How is your ds getting on with driving and is he ok with his accommodation now? She still hasn’t found out her room number. Two halls have found out theirs. She said they are meant to get their timetable tomorrow, but whether they will.

Thanks for new thread! Sounds like lots of dcs getting ill. Ds is just getting over his cold, but the cough is lingering...hope it's gone by the time we drive up to Durham this weekend.

Hello. I’m here.
Thanks for the new thread. 👍. Love the title.

Smashing, thanks chopc x

@Majaso12 he's got four lessons scheduled this week. It's touch and go whether his instructor feels he should sit the test - they're going to make a decision at the end of the week. A break is probably good for your dd, she sounds eminently competent and will hopefully breeze through her test at Christmas-if thats the plan? I can understand how it cast a bit of a shadow over the summer. Such a shame to have the fun sucked out of a skill that brings such freedom.

DS seems genuinely fine about his accommodation despite his school friend getting Southside. I'd have liked him to have avoided the commute but it sounds straightforward and no doubt there will be plenty of freshers doing it- hopefully he will bond with some on his course and travel and chat together. No room number or anything yet, and no instructions on moving in arrangements- you?

He had an email from his department saying yes, timetable tomorrow, same as your DD. That'll be interesting if it does in fact arrive! Most of his friends departed this weekend for their unis - Imperial is very late starting isn't it?!

Well, DC has already been a whole week away ,(with plenty of messages such as "should I buy a green or pink one" and my unhelpful reply "blue") Starting Freshers this week

@Notagardener

Well, DC has already been a whole week away ,(with plenty of messages such as "should I buy a green or pink one" and my unhelpful reply "blue") Starting Freshers this week

😂😂

chopc
Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - Biochemistry
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - Open
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -modern languages
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@quest1on - gap year
@Maggiethecat gap year then Bristol- English
@Notagardener LSE
@olliepolly -Edinburgh- Physics
@321zyx -Durham-History
@Dobbyisahouseelf -Exeter-Geog
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL - History
@Eastisup UCL -History
@Peaseblossum22 Durham -English
@raspberryrippleicecream ? -Maths
@derekthe1adyhamster Birmingham- Computer Science
@loofah2 UCL ? Subject
@rosyposybluebell - Edinburgh- Archaeology
@calculatorqueen -Exeter- Economics
@Engley LSE ? Subject
@mangoguava -Durham- Law
@Jng1 Exeter - Drama/Film TV
@Vargas -Durham -Geography
@AvocadoPlant Exeter -History

Just a reminder

@Notagardener that's interesting- my friend's son going to LSE was dropped off yesterday- what has your DC being doing for a week?

Is there a freshers programme at LSE? My friend wasn't sure what they have planned. Another shock was that the third term is just exams

bendmeoverbackwards
Hi, my dd is at Orchard Heights

Pumpkintopf Will you be able to move your ds’ test without losing the cost? I think as long as it’s moved at least 3 days before, you won’t.

She has had to let them know when she wants to move in now and chose Saturday 2nd 1-5 pm. I’m surprised she didn’t have to choose say a half hour slot, so assume she can arrive anytime between 1-5 pm. Hopefully we can arrive any time because we’ve got quite a distance to travel so difficult to know the exact time we’ll get there. Doesn’t say how many can go in with her either, whether they will closer to the date. Really hope can go both go in with her and are not rushed.

All dd’s friends have departed now, except one who is going to live at home and commute every day and a couple decided last minute to defer. I’m hoping she gets a lot of f2f as I know she’ll be upset if she doesn’t. She doesn’t want to be sat in her room doing mostly online. All lectures I think will be online, not sure how long for.

Chops, yes there are things planned, not that I have all the details, but there are some "serious" things as well, such as enrolling. I seem to remember seeing a timetable and that she has an afternoon slot.

Dd is in one of the intercollegiatete accommodations, and moving n date was last week Sunday. Having sais this, she mentioned there were not many in her flat, maybe 3 others out of a flat of may 12-15.

Oh, and she wouldn't get bored in London on her own anyway :)
She also (unexpectedly) started work that she had applied for earlier in the summer.

Although my sons are a bit older I am still interested in this thread. Good luck to everyone whose children are starting this term.

My sons (post grad law) have had one full proper week so far after their introductory one. They are in a group of about 13 students and have five two hour seminars a week in person face to face (no masks in class although one girl chooses to wear one and one lecturer does). So that is 10 hours a week in person (more than most under graduate degrees) with usually 3 hours preparation at home for each of the 5 seminars on the other days. They opted for 2 days a week so everything is on those same two days. This is not comparable of course with under graduate studies and when I was doing my twins' equivalent course in the 1980s my group was 50 people in a lecture (and smaller number in seminars - I was just reading my diary yesterday to remind myself of my law subjects in those days in the equivalent post grad year).

My son went to LSE halls yesterday.I was very impressed.Well organized.Balloons saying Welcome and Home.
Lots of refreshments for DC and parents.
Met his flat mates all very normal and super chatty and friendly(he was worried he may not have very sociable people around).Room ok.I think most students moved in Sunday.So felt busy with students.
They all gathered around for talks and were then going to have dinner together.
Spent 3/4 hrs- We met other parents/students.
He had a lovely evening and I left him feeling much happier and that he will be ok.Fingers crossed -its early days.Some students with sports gear- jogged our memory -DS totally forgot to take his tennis racket for trials on Friday.So will be dropping off-thank goodness not that far.
Hope all your children recover from their colds and are settling in well.

With all the stress about accommodations not necessarily being our first choice, did anyone see the young man on the news this weekend who is an undergrad at Leeds and is placed in Hull !!!!!!! I think they said this applied to some clearing students and they are offering a 10% reduction in rent and free buses, but even so....... an hour commute .

@Xenia so second attempt was successful for one of the twins in his law conversion?

So I know the path to becoming a solicitor has changed and you no longer need a training contract - after your sons complete this year, what path will they take?

Engley That sounds a lovely drop off.

Text this morning from DD - she has succumbed to the cough/sore throat too. Took an LFT and negative, but she is thinking about getting a PCR as she is a bit health anxious. Worried now it will be positive and she will have to isolate. You can't win really can you?

DD seems to have a lovely full week though. Having already had three lectures last week, she has at least one thing on every day, and has a completely full Thursday, so on the academics side, really busy, f2f teaching, which is a relief (barring a positive PCR!).

@BigWoollyJumpers hopefully it is just freshers flu. Do they have anything set up for students who do have to quarantine?

DD is continuing to have a fabulous time at Brown, though I believe there is some actual work going on too. Two of her classes seem to be very easy to start with as she has covered the material at school. She needs the class as a prerequisite for other courses but I think with A level rather than leaving cert she could have placed out of the class.
She is happy enough to have 2 classes where she can do the assignments perfectly with minimum effort for now while she concentrates on her other classes and social life.