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Higher education

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

Original poster

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

999 replies

chopc · 19/09/2021 22:28

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

OP posts:
raspberryrippleicecream · 02/01/2022 18:15

I'm biased obviously! It was lovely for him to do though. He also plays an instrument, and 'depped' or deputised for one of the regular players at three of the uni graduation services before Christmas, which paid really well!

raspberryrippleicecream · 02/01/2022 18:17

I'm glad he's earning some money as he's just informed us he would like to do an extra intercalated year, studying a different related subject, taking his four year integrated Masters to five years.

Original poster
chopc · 02/01/2022 18:57

@raspberryrippleicecream I am not a fan of prolonged study unless you are going to be an academic .... but it's good he plans to pay his way

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Notagardener · 02/01/2022 19:28

sorry, so much happening with all the dc on here. Happy New Year and lets hope things will not be too bad for them. Dc is already back in London.

Chopc, why would you not do an extra year?? Obviously costs is an important factor, but otherwise I think they will have time enough to work.

I think I did the same degree as you but in a different country where it's 6 years. I am always puzzled to hear someone going to uni for just 3 years...

Original poster
chopc · 02/01/2022 19:36

The way I see it studying for example at university is a route or a stepping stone? Cost is an important factor but there are also other experiences to be had rather than continuing to be a student

I am all for masters/ PhD but not for the sake of a masters/PhD and I think once past the undergraduate stage DC should aim to be sponsored for further study by a workplace ........

I could be living in la la land for all I know. Let's see how things work out

OP posts:
Notagardener · 02/01/2022 19:38

Well yes, it would be nice to get sponsored for it. That's (sort of) how I ended up at UCL Grin

raspberryrippleicecream · 03/01/2022 02:04

It's interesting reading different viewpoints.

DS1's PhD is funded, I think most are? He gets a bursary every year. No idea whether he will stay in academia afterwards, he may know. His ambition was always to study for a PhD, after his integrated Master's and had his offer in Jan 2020, before graduating in July 2020. However he has various friends and acquaintances who were not intending to go onto Master's/PhD's and decided to follow that route as jobs disappeared, and offers were withdrawn.

My god daughter did her Master's in a different field to her undergraduate degree and it led to a job offer she wouldn't have got without it, the Master's degree was in a specialism.

derekthe1adyhamster · 03/01/2022 10:18

I think that my DS must be the only one with exams in January who hasn't done any work over the holidays! I think he's planning on doing it all last minute........

AvocadoPlant · 03/01/2022 12:40

@derekthe1adyhamster DS1was exactly the same! All worked out in the end though. Smile

DD will be returning to Exeter next weekend, the time has flown by so quickly,
luckily she’s got a fairly chilled week this week, then time to catch up with friends and enjoy a quiet first week back as she has no exams until summer.

Majaso12 · 04/01/2022 10:41

Dd has tested positive for Covid this morning and feels really ill. She went to a night club New Year’s Eve so probably got it there. I told her it was Hugh risk going. We’ve been in contact with her so probably all going to get it. She wanted to go back to uni Saturday and is very upset she can’t now.

Original poster
chopc · 04/01/2022 11:09

Oh no @Majaso12 !
Wish her a speedy recovery!

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Majaso12 · 04/01/2022 11:18

High risk I mean! Now the worry is also if she can revise as she feels so ill.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 04/01/2022 16:32

@Majaso12 You are having a hard time at the moment. I hope your DD feels better in a few days and bounces back quickly.

Majaso12 · 04/01/2022 16:37

She’s managed to do some revision today, not sure how much she’s doing. She does feel quite Ill though with several symptoms. Had her booster 2 weeks ago today.

Pumpkintopf · 04/01/2022 22:06

Oh @Majaso12 I'm so sorry to hear your DD is feeling so poorly. I hope the rest of you are ok. Is her boyfriend also suffering? (Assuming she was with him NYE?)

Majaso12 · 04/01/2022 22:11

@Pumpkintopf. No her boyfriend went home before NYE. She went out with her school friends. None of them have symptoms. I’ve had a headache since yesterday but tested negative today, but will keep testing. Ds2 has some symptoms now. Hoping he doesn’t get it or feel too bad because he’s doing his masters and also has revision and exams in January.

Pumpkintopf · 04/01/2022 23:02

Rubbish time to be ill majoso - not that there's ever a good time! I hope
If you do catch it, it's mild and passes quickly.

Majaso12 · 05/01/2022 11:29

Thanks @Pumpkintopf.

Pumpkintopf · 05/01/2022 21:48

How's everyone doing today? DS is still home for now - working hard, has a friend from uni staying so that's nice. We're thinking we'll drop them back at the weekend and have lunch and a bit of sales shopping in London, attempt to turn the depressingness of January plus DS going back into something fun!

Original poster
chopc · 06/01/2022 05:55

Haven't seen much of kids this past week due to self isolation 😢. Feeling a little gutted. I believe DS may have finally got down to doing some work yesterday . He is planning to go up to. Durham in his car on Sunday. I am not sure if that's a good idea but we are going with it

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OnTheBenchOfDoom · 06/01/2022 17:38

Oh @Majaso12 as my Grandma would say it never rains but it pours. I hope she feels better soon. I can understand your frustration with it all.

We are taking Ds back Saturday morning and going out for lunch in Durham. He got a teeny slow cooker for Christmas so is delighted to take that with him. They have been told no face to face lectures for 2 weeks but hopefully back to normal after that.

I am honestly gutted he is leaving again. It has been lovely to hear my sons laughing together and doing their brother special handshake. I will be counting down to Easter. Hoping to see him before then but Ds2 is in year 11 so it is a busy year.

Majaso12 · 06/01/2022 18:09

@OnTheBenchOfDoom. Thanks. Her symptoms are a lot better. She’s feeling tired mainly now and slight cold symptoms. She got upset earlier with it all and with not knowing when she can go back to uni and fed up with being stuck in her bedroom. She’ll be going back most likely I think next Thursday which will be after 10 days, but weekend would be better. She’ll want to go back as soon as she can though. She’s revising but finding it harder than usual so not doing quite as much I don’t think.

@chopc. How many of your DCs have covid? We’re still testing negative at the moment, I was convinced I’d test positive this morning.

Pumpkintopf · 06/01/2022 18:58

Ah chopc that's a bit rubbish.

I think we're all going to miss the students when they go back 😢

Original poster
chopc · 06/01/2022 19:47

@Majaso12 just me 🙈

Luckily I have been asymptomatic and only found out on PCR testing at Heathrow after our holiday- so not sure if scrapping testing is a good idea

OP posts:
Majaso12 · 06/01/2022 20:07

@chopc. That’s good you’re asymptomatic, just annoying to have to self isolate.