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.

Second year is definitely going better than the first. And I am not stalking her on findmyiphone so much now she is safely ensconced in a student house with friends. But only 2 days in campus so far!!! And one was meant to be 9-4 and the tutor cut it to 11.30-2 on the day. Lazy dossers!!! £9000+ for what? For 2 years of nothing?? (Arts Uni)

I hope she has access to all the facilities cleebope2. And tutor should give the hours set on their timetable. She should keep a record in case it happens again and then take it further if she can.
I was a bit worried for DD's 2nd year accommodation. We come from a village and shes gone to halls which we found was great as you have security and it felt all nice and secure, to being right in the middle of a city, bar on the corner and you can hear the odd person shouting down the street when facetiming, having one too many no doubt.
She said halls was worse as people would be screaming and shouting on campus till 4am, but in the city it gets quiet at half 12, 1am, and she seems happy enough and loves the flat. She's had a busy weekend. Flatmates birthday party on Saturday, gaming night with physics friends last night, and tonight Bongos bingo at the local club. And shes got a 9am tomorrow.

Flat update. DD's flat of 8 will be coming to and end for third year. Three of them have placements/years abroad, and the other four of her housemates want to team up with another group who she gets on with, but are hardcore partygoers.
She likes a bit of a party, but not that much. So although she will always hang out with them, she says she wants a new experience. She's either going to Chancellors Wharf - the unis second year+ accommodation, private halls, or back to halls at Grizedale standard accommodation.
Other news, she's made some new friends in a group of 16 at DisneySoc, and for halloween social tonight, plans to dress up as Maleficent. And she plays badminton on Sundays at BadSoc. She's still meets up with her physics friends, too and has a gaming night once a week at one of their flats. 2 weeks time and will be seeing DD again :) . DD2, DH and myself are going to Chesters open day then off to Lancaster where we are staying the night at daughters flat with some airbeds and pizza :)

It's difficult about next year isn't it @sammyjoanne ? Ds will be on his gear abroad next year (gulp!) so I have no idea what he'll do when he comes back for accommodation. I suggested he try and meet some of his Spanish course mates then he could talk with them about it but he didn't seem keen. He is home this weekend, he's had tonsillitis that wasn't getting better and missed a week of lectures so I've whisked him back for some tlc and proper food. He'd only just got over freshers flu, seems like he's been ill all term so far! He's mentioned the huge step up of work this year, to be expected I guess but he's not impressed! He's enjoying uni life I think, I'm guessing their flat is pretty revolting as he was very happy to come back to a clean kitchen and bathroom. With a load of washing of course !

@specialted It is difficult, although DD is being proactive at the moment and looking at places. Your DS might want to check out if private halls might be good for when he comes back if he does not want to live with course mates.
DD was not keen on living with her physics mates either, so is going down this route and is making enquiries as to whether they do flat clusters of people who apply as an individual (she would not want to be put into a group that's already formed and got that bond).

And hope hes feeling better too,. This cold/flu bug thing is awful to shake off.

DDs BF went the private halls route for this year. She and DD were planning on returning to halls as RAs but BF decided against at last minute. She has had a positive experience so far. Was placed in a 5 person flat with 2 girls who knew each and two boys who knew each other (rather than with 4 friends). Says private halls better at matching students and policing noise etc. than uni. Not any more expensive than private (Edinburgh) as she doesn't mind an extra 10 minute walk/2 minute bike. If DD doesn't go abroad next year then I think she will join BF there.

That's good to know @ClerkMaxwell. Some private halls are really expensive in Lancaster. She doesn't want to go over her budget of £5800 a year, so it comes down to 2 or 3 choices. The rest are way over her budget.

Was at Chester open day yesterday with the youngest daughter. Course, a huge big tick, city a big tick, campus a big tick. Accommodation she was not sure about on campus, but loves the private ones that affiliated with the uni off campus.
The course has sold it to her though. It was animal behaviour as opposed to zoology, and every single module she is in love with. She hopes to find another animal behaviour course which is in the right city, so were having another look at unis online. Zoology she would still be happy with, but she realises the modules have to be right for her. Then went to DD1 in Lancaster and went for a meal. Stayed at premier inn, and then went to hers for a breakfast roll, and shopping in the city. Was nice to see her again, its been 2 months since we dropped her off. Only 4 weeks to go and will be picking her up again :) Hope everyone is ok x

@sammyjoanne, glad the weekend went well at Chester and Lancaster. We went through to Lancaster last weekend to see Ds to see how's he's getting on, his gf was over as well so was a good catch up. So lovely to see them. I was thinking then he's half way through this term and won't be long before I'm picking him up for the Christmas break. The weather was bad but we got a bite to eat, had a wonder round the town and then did the supermarket shop taking full advantage of having the car to get it back to his house. We stayed over too, still trying to find somewhere with parking close by. We have stayed at a place near Morecombe but it's a bit Fawlty Towers- but goes give us a laugh at their antics

@sammyjoanne Lincoln does animal behaviour, and the Uni is well located, all accommodation very good imho too, and Lincoln is a great place to study. I'd def recommend taking a look.

thanks @LisforLemon Ill let her know and to take a look :)

@Thatsnotmine yeah Morecambe's got a lot of B&B's. lol we had a similar experience at Scarborough, a bit like Fawlty. I've ate at the station promenade and the kings arms in Morecambe and both are nice places if you get chance to eat in Morecambe :) Glad you got to see your DS and GF :)

DD has signed up for her accommodation for third year. Through Hello student and one of the properties on Penny Street in Lancaster. They have 3 properties on there and they are value for money compared to the others. Damside near the bus station she saw was about 7k, which was far too much for her budget. And likewise for Caton court. But these ones she got a gold ensuite for around £5800, which is similar to her first year budget of a Grizedale college townhouse. She will be sharing a kitchen with 12 others, and will be placed with other single applicants, and small groups of twos or threes. She's happy its all sorted now and can relax. Looked online at Lincoln for DD2, very nice uni so will be one for the visit list :)

Gosh, so early, @sammyjoanne

Dd has submitted applications for the two schemes for studying abroad next year, will have to do some peer review of other applications and will know the outcome in January. Fingers crossed!

@LisforLemon very true it is early. With this years fresher cohort getting teacher awarded grades again and its being a large amount of student intake, she was worried that private halls / landlords would be snapped up.
Her other 7 flatmates: 2 are studying abroad, 1 has a work placement, 3 are joining their previous next door but one flat from first year (who are party goers and they secured their flat too) and 1 is the same as DD and does not want that kind of flat lifestyle, so is doing his own thing as well.

I really hope he gets in for the study abroad programme. I've seen some you tube vlogs where students have gone abroad and looks a really enriching experience :)

@sammyjoanne that's great she has got her accommodation sorted, asyou say she can relax now. Is her course three or four years?

@specialted its 4 years shes doing. Your DS is doing a year abroad :). Does he come back for year 4?

@sammyjoanne yes he does

@specialted is he feeling a lot better from his tonsillitis? And has he thought about where he's staying when he returns? I know a lot of private halls are doing viewings at the moment, and its not a bad option, they do take into consideration not to place you with freshers :)

@ClerkMaxwell How is your DD getting on in her accommodation? Is she liking it? @Cleebope2 has your DD had more lessons now? @LisforLemon are the schemes at two different unis abroad? DD2 is considering a year abroad but we dont know much about how it all works.

No, one is through her School (ie they have 2 places for her subject at one Uni - is different number/locations for different subjects) and the other it is up to her to find unis with suitable courses in her subject - she can list 5, she did 4. The process began in October with a series of seminars/Q&A sessions that you have to attend if you're interested. They take into account your best three subjects from first year (will vary at diff unis but some element of how you did is usual). She had to do personal statements.

Her choices were limited by: she wanted to stay in Europe for cost/visiting friends also abroad reasons, wanting to be taught in English (a lot do, especially in Scandinavia) and course content. Her School connection is Copenhagen and she has added Helsinki, 2 Swedish ones and Amsterdam - she learnt Dutch in her spare time for a year of two so had more to say for that option. Her German is almost good enough to have gone for but she doesn't need the added stress of teaching in German!

DD still not loving her accommodation/hall job but only two weeks of teaching left for this semester and then one more semester to go. She's hoping most of the clubbers go home at beginning of December as exams are online this year so no need to stay to end of term (21 December).

She's also thinking about a year abroad next year but doing an unusual joint honours so only two possibilities (both in Germany). I think her current uni is better than both options so she should stay put. However it is up to her.

Plan B is to move in with boyfriend and his current flat mate next year. It will be very cheap. However worry if they fall out DD will be out on her ear. Normally there is always spare spaces for singles but not this year and I suspect not next.

No still only in twice a week for short spells. In fact last week was completely free for ‘prep’ work and this week only one day on campus for filming work and no classes at all . I am peeved off but dd doesn’t mind as she has time to start a zero contract job at a nightclub! I am trying to switch off from worrying about it as it is her life not mine and put of my control. Last year I worried myself sick and I can’t live like that! She is happy this year and that is all that really matters. When I was at uni (88-92)my parents Knew nothing at all about my course or my life and maybe that is for the better!

@LisforLemon Sounds like the Scandinavian route is the best route to go down, and commitment to learn Dutch in her spare time for 2 years, thats amazing.

@ClerkMaxwell hope your dd comes to the right decision. My DD lives with 7 others and two have been dating a year. They live on separate floors, so they have their own space still and it seems to work well :)

@Cleebope2 That's good she's got a job, and she will be keeping safe im sure. Hope the teaching picks up more for her.

Thanks but teaching going downhill!! Nowonly 2 zooms a week and time off till Christmas to write an essay. When oh when will campuses open for lectures. Dire. Same for ds doing a masters in cybersecurity. Hardly getting to know anyone on their courses.

Very annoying about lack of lectures @Cleebope2 .
Think ds is doing ok, I too am trying to not get stressed about what he's up to this year. He seems happy which is the main thing.
@ClerkMaxwell ds is living with his gf and 6 others this year, I was a bit worried about what would happen if it all went wrong but so far so good. They lived in the same flat all through Covid first year so I guess they're used to being together all the time. Luckily they both have their own interests and are on different courses so are not in each other's pockets all the time. It is a risk though.
I can't believe they break up in four weeks. We are away for Christmas (although looks like it may not happen right now!), so will be a slightly chaotic weekend collecting ds and packing to go. Ds Will no doubt be exhausted/unwell from all the end of term partying !