University 2020-2021 Part 12 - Now they are second year students.....Hard work starts and getting more and more smart

[sammyjoanne]

Our last page: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4189210-University-2020-2021-Part-11-Final-Furlong-For-First-year-Freshers-Then-Freedom-Follows?pg=8

As you can see from the last title, no longer freshers anymore. And now heading into second year, so this year it counts towards their grades, hence the 'hard work starts' and getting more and more smart as they go through their degree.... lol sorry I did try to be a be a bit witty with the title, but not as good as the last one, or the brilliant 'empty nests, warm vests and covid tests page' lol.

This thread is a follow on from our previous threads from when our dearest were freshers September 2020 to Summer of 2021.

Place marking. Thanks for the new thread @sammyjoanne

I'm here too. Struggling as my brother ha a just had a massive stroke - see chat - so probs not myself, but DD is back in Lancaster and seems to be managing. New adhd meds are working too so fingers crossed 🤞 for a good year for all.. apologies if I don't post as much as usual, I'm still here.

Dd seems pretty settled having moved in a month ago. Already had a nasty cold, not Covid. Has managed to swap onto preferred optional modules but now has two weeks' work to catch up

@aibutohavethisusername :) hope your well

@BCBG sorry to hear about your brother and his stroke. DH had a mini one this April and that was worrying enough. I really hope your brother gets well soon [flowers ]x Great news on your daughter, has she moved into her new home ?

Yes she's moved in with two other students into a house in the city. I hope it's going ok - I hear nothing!!

@LIZS I hear that cold is getting everywhere. Daughter had a cold as well. There is one going about which has a cough with sniffles, then it calms down, but then cough returns. Glad she has got the modules she wants and enjoys :)

DD been in new flat nearly two weeks now. Had a 're-freshers' last week (as first years are this week). Went to a couple of clubs and met her friends. She has a physics meet up with second years this week, and going to the freshers fair tomorrow to get some freebies and join some societies. She did a couple of societies online last year but its not the same, so wants a bit more in person groups.

@BCBG not hearing anything sounds like she's getting on well :)

DD more settled. She is resigned to staying put as there is no other accomodation to be had. Nearly everyone has a cold including the Monday night clubbers so it has been quieter. Only positive of being in halls is she is warm. She had been complaining that friends flats are freezing as they aren't turning on the heating so you need to wear your puffer coat to visit. She's taken an extra module this term (switching degree so catching up) so is going to be busy plus has an internship at cop26. Just worry that she has too much on this year. However if she gets thru this term she should have an easier second term.

How interesting ClerkMaxwell she is having an internship with cop26. And too true at least its warm in halls and can use their electric :)

Thanks for new thread @sammyjoanne , and hope your brother is doing ok @BCBG.
Ds is loving being a freshers rep, way more than I thought he would. I think it's given him a sense of purpose and of course lots of socialising opportunities. He is looking forward to joining clubs this year too. I'm glad he bought a bus pass as he's been back and forth to campus several times a day over the last week. He's also joined the gym again which will be good to fill in time between lectures, and more incentive to go in rather than watch them on line! Hope everyone's dc are doing ok

@specialted, how did he go about getting the bus pass? Did he go through the uni, or get the smart card then load it up with the student bus pass? Glad your DS is enjoying the freshers week, and the gym is ideal as well, especially when there's gaps between lectures :)
DD is going to go to the freshers fair tomorrow to have a look at the societies and sign up. looking forward to lessons next week and finally meeting some more physics students. She went to morecambe today with a friend and ate at the Station Promenade. Does nice gammon there.

@sammyjoanne he looked on line and bought the uni 1-2-3 term pass through the stagecoach website I think? The three term one was the best value although felt like a lot to spend all at once! Will be v useful though and means they don't have to think about how many journeys they make. Think it covers morecambe too.

@specialted, thanks Im facetiming DD tonight so will let her know :)

Spoke to DD. She got her bus pass online 1-2-3 term pass and it got delivered in 2 days which was very quick. It does cover Morecambe and goes as far north as Carnforth.
She signed up for the badminton society, harry potter society and physics society. Started in person yesterday. Did scientific programming labs using python programme, then went to the library. Her friend has also sorted out her laptop as it was not connecting to eduroam, and he managed to sort it :) She has a meeting with her supervisor. Also a meeting with the person who gave her internship this summer, and he will give her contacts for next summers possible internships.

Thanks for the new thread!
DD also at Lancaster and has settled well into her new house (just off Bowerham Road). Been there three weeks now. Enjoyed freshers last week and has continued with WhoSoc and going to brass band tomorrow. Looking for a choir and dance class as well, and has a trial climbing session tomorrow.
First full day on campus today (only a year overdue!!) which seems to have gone well. She also has the cold virus that's doing the rounds and has bought the bus pass.
First visit to Sugarhouse last weekend which she really enjoyed but was too intimidated to go to the bar so consequently was very dehydrated the next day

@choirmumoftwo hey Choirmum, your DD was county if I remember right? She did well being off Bowerham road, right on the bus route :)
DD is in the city centre couple of mins away from the judges lodgings just off Church street.
Hopefully she will get a drink next time at Sugar, even if its a bottled water. Oh and that virus, it really is doing the rounds at the mo. DD had it a couple of weeks ago, DD2 and DH had it and also my boss. It seems to be getting round everyone at the moment.
Brass band sounds like fun. Glad she had a good freshers round 2 :)

This was Sugarhouse queue on opening night on the 29th. DD said it took hour and 40mins to get in the door. DD got bongos bingo on Monday at Sugar and its a sell out. hope she doesn't have to queue for that long again. Heard on same night Glow nightclub has 'Dick and Dom', those kids presenters from a few years back lol

Good to hear everyone's news. Ds enjoyed freshers week but got wiped out by freshers flu for the second half. He's still got it now but luckily managed to get to lectures ok on Monday. He sounded so much more engaged and animated now the lectures are face to face and he said campus was busy for the first time ever. He's loving being in the centre of town, especially for going out. The bus stop is one minute away. Think college football social is tonight and trials to tomorrow (ds was worrying about feeling hungover). I hope he'll actually meet some course mates this year!

@specialted facetimed DD briefly tonight. enjoying lectures and labs. She mentioned a 'pancake man' who comes on a Tuesday to engineering building. Apparently the pancakes are going down a storm.

Well brass band was a huge success, as was the trip to the bar afterwards (in true brass band style)! It's so good to see DD doing what she loves and as she should have been doing this time last year.
I suspect she'll be worn out this weekend!

@choirmumoftwo that's good to hear. So glad they are all finally getting a normal uni experience. Looking back I do wonder how they survived last year! I guess it was a year of learning to exist independently and be resilient and coping with everything that came their way.

Found this thread hope everyone is ok

DD in second year. First year was traumatic, suicide in her flat. It affected her more than she realises. I can barely look back over it. Trying not to worry as much this year. She is finally getting a full day in campus tomorrow. Fingers crossed it stays open.

My DD is starting second year as well.
She sent me today “life is fun. I love uni”.

This year going much better than last year. She was in tiny accommodation and the noise of neighbours and illegal parties outside her window made her uncomfortable. The shared kitchen was a nightmare. Now we have her in 1 bedroom flat all to herself, she is much happier. It’s busy now for her as the coursework for the semester is due this week...three essays and one presentation....only two left to do both due tomorrow. She’s joined a few clubs and met lovely new friends as well.

@Thatsnotmine very good thanks, hope you are too :)

@Cleebope2 my word, that must have been truely awful, I hope shes has someone to talk abut it at the uni. To have a full day on campus will remind her how fun uni and learning is, im sure of it :)

@PlanDeRaccordement sounds like she has found her happy place then, thats great :) What uni is she at if you dont mind me asking?