Another path- the first year ......

[chopc]

Apologies if I didn't tag anyone. Hopefully have inckueded all current posters

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
@Notagardener LSE
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL - History
@raspberryrippleicecream ? -Maths
@derekthe1adyhamster Birmingham- Computer Science
@Vargas -Durham -Geography
@AvocadoPlant Exeter -History

@Pumpkintopf glad your ds is enjoying London. It's a great city to be a student in.

@MidLifeCrisis007 sorry to hear about your ds'. Relationships and break-ups are hard at that age, I remember my own like it was yesterday. I hope he gets through the hard bit quickly.

@bendmeoverbackwards your birthday celebrations sound fabulous and I hope the party goes well. Great that you were able to relax and enjoy the weekend.

I can absolutely understand how your DD's school refusal must be weighing on you - only natural for it to play on your mind and bring you down a bit I think. I hope you're feeling a bit brighter now.

Hello everyone! I have been reading although I haven't had the energy to post due to being extremely busy with work and study.

@Pumpkintopf lovely to hear about your DS enjoying London

@BigWoollyJumpers hope your DD heating sorted now?

@bendmeoverbackwards Glad you enjoyed your birthday- and sorry about DD3. It is such a worry. A parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child. Hope the party goes with a bang tomorrow.

@MidLifeCrisis007 sorry to hear your DS has been unwell and is now nursing a broken heart. When I was younger the only way you got over someone was to meet someone else ...... hopefully young people have more resilience when it comes to romance these days

@Majaso12 pleased your DD exams went well

@Stillcrikey @Jng1 nice to hear your updates

@Xenia I have been following your news keenly as DS also wants to go down the law route.

Durham peeps 👋🏽👋🏽 . DS's corridor has contributed to the Covid numbers I am afraid. So far he said no symptoms and he is more annoyed about the food

This is what Imperial have said:

Teaching arrangements this term.
You were informed of the plans for teaching this term before Christmas, and current these have not changed. However, as you will be aware yesterday the UK government announced changes to COVID restrictions. The College has to digest the implications of this and then provide guidance to departments before we can make any changes to our plans, and we will inform you if there are any alterations to your teaching.

Wonder how long they’ll take to digest the implications and provide guidance to departments!

chopc, I hope your son is okay on the covid corridor. On law, this week the first results for the new type of exams solicitors will do were out for the first year of those exams (SQE1 exams) which any student who goes into law who is not yet studying law (or who is but goes to a firm which is moving to SQE system) will do. The pass rate of those sitting the very first SQE1 exam was about 53% and the exam is 100% multiple choice. Most people will do a law conversion course over 2 terms and then an SQE1 preparation course in the 3rd term before doing it (in other words it will be very like a "law conversion" year for non law graduates who took another degree subject and for those who read law they will probably do a term of an SQE1 preparation course and then the SQE1 exam). I think the current law conversion course pass rate is about 60%.

As expected those with firsts in their first degree did best, then 2/1s and then 2/2s etc.

Anyway is just of interest to those who may go into law and for those going to bigger firms who might pay the course and SQE1 and SQE2 exam costs it will be very much as now - you apply whilst doing your degree (or many will) and they firm pays for the conversion course, SQE1 course SQE1 exam and then for the SQE2 course/and additional modules the firm prefers and then the SQE2 exam and give an allowance. Then people start their 2 years of training - qualifying work experience. So very similar to the system my twins are under before SQE exams came in.

The twins have now finished their January Legal Practice Course core final exams which is a relief as that hung over Christmas quite a bit, have a term of Skills although I thought it might be an easier term but there are 7 exams, advocacy and witness interviews to be examined on and prepare and proctored (observed) exams in some things like Accounts. The final summer term is subject you can choose - electives in 3 subjects and then they are finished with exams forever unless they have a resit in August.

Congratulations to your twins @Xenia and fingers crossed for results- the end is in sight then!

Thanks. I only rambled on above in case of anyone being interested in legal careers. As my oldest got her place at nursery school in 1987 it has been a long 35 years of various of the 5 children doing various tests and exams so this year 2022 should be the last even if they have to a resit in August (hopefully no resits). The twins' 2020 Bristol graduations (much delayed) are just before Easter 2022 - we have the dates now but not the exact arrangements/confirmation email yet.

@Xenia thanks so much for taking the time to explain the postgrad options. Much appreciated

@Xenia it’s lovely seeing your updates. I’m the youngest of five children and my mother had a child or grandchild in full time education for fifty years 🤣. There’s an 18 year gap between me and my eldest sister so by the time I was 9 the grandchildren had started to appear.

Also. It has probably been mentioned but it’s Cambridge offers day tomorrow. A whole year since out ‘other path’ threads started.
What a lovely, supportive lot you’ve all been. I don’t post much but I really feel part of this little community.

@Stillcrikey

Also. It has probably been mentioned but it’s Cambridge offers day tomorrow. A whole year since out ‘other path’ threads started. What a lovely, supportive lot you’ve all been. I don’t post much but I really feel part of this little community.

I was watching University Challenge last night and feeling SO glad to not have been waiting on a decision today.... it was a Cambridge college v another Cambridge college!

Popping on to see if Exeter crowd (or indeed anyone else who has visited), has any suggestions for nice city centre hotels?

Still even bigger age gap than I had therefore in your mother's case (although I do have 3 grandchildren already, the youngest of which is the cutest baby currently on the planet (I am biased) and came just before Christmas). So just as in the summer we no longer have to have holidays during school term time - a feature for me just about all my life as I married a teacher at age 21 when I would have ceased to be limited by term time.... I now have 2 grandchildren in full time school so if we all go away together we are still in a school holiday situation. Mind you last two summers' holidays abroad for 10 of us were cancelled with 2 weeks to spare in both years so I am not booking for this year. I have given up. I cannot cope with the uncertainty and constantly changing rules (never mind the complexities of sorting out holidays around my 8 descendants, numerous employers' rules and spouses)

@BigWoollyJumpers

Popping on to see if Exeter crowd (or indeed anyone else who has visited), has any suggestions for nice city centre hotels?

DD (year 13) and I went down to Exeter over the Christmas holidays to have a look around and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in the city centre that was cheap as chips and it was bloody brilliant for the price. Great room, nice comfy beds and free breakfast. If she goes to the Uni I shall return there.... why pay more for the sake of it? (A decent hotel in Durham City centre costs about 4 x as much as that did!).

@BigWoollyJumpers - following with interest. We’ve always travelled on to Exmouth (about 20 mins in the car) for a blast of sea air and walk along the beach. There’s a beachfront premier inn and some nice restaurants within a few minutes walk.

@MidLifeCrisis007- the holiday inn sounds like a good call, does it have parking do you know? DH is never happy to leave his car in a public car park overnight.

@AvocadoPlant - we paid £45.99 for our twin room at the Holiday Inn Express, Exeter. It was a steal compared with Durham prices! Yes, there is a car park, but I think you pay to use it as it seems to be shared with the adjacent office block. We took the train down.

That’s a great price!

Thanks @MidLifeCrisis007 - Will definitely use that for a one nighter. It get's good reviews too. We do use the Holiday Inn (not express) in Nottingham, and that is always pretty good.

@AvocadoPlant - Thanks for that tip. Probably not this time, but in the summer, we are planning a longer break, and that looks like a good plan.

I have actually booked somewhere called the "Queens Court". Smaller hotel with restaurant. DD is going to creep past and have a look. It looks OK, and gets good reviews. There seem to be a lot of pub/B&B, type places, and I must admit, never very sure about those......

We are actually waiting for the opening of the big Marriott (we have points to use!!) sadly not yet ready for bookings.

Hi - not sure if anyone remembers me, but I was on the previous threads. I had to get off MN for a while last year as apparently someone recognised me in real life Not that I’d said anything massively controversial in here (I hope)! but just felt weird. Also, DS was applying to C again on a gap year and, to be honest, I didn’t feel as if I could talk about it again! He filled in UCAS in an African country and then came back for the interviews early Dec. Good news is, he was offered a place this year. Totally different interview experience - which just goes to show the element of luck involved in that admissions process. Also, much less stressful applying this year as he wasn’t in the midst of coursework, mock exams or A-level cancellation uncertainty. He has been offered an unconditional place this year at a large college at C (last year he applied for a small one which only took 2 for his subject). Apart from that, he’s had an offer for Bristol which came back quickly. No other offers though. He did also apply to a US as another possible option. Thank god he got C this year as I’ve now heard Durham can be funny about re-offering? Also it’s going to be another brutal year all round for offers by the sound of it.

He’s off to the African country again on Monday as he can go back more or less for free (teaching in a school). Then he’s in another project in India from mid -March to end of April / May. He’s grown up a lot this year. Can’t believe how I was worried that Durham seemed so ‘far away’ this time last year. Now it feels just up the road .

Anyway, it’s lovely to hear all your news. I just wanted to drop by with an update.

Btw, when we visited Exeter, there is a great Moroccan restaurant near the cathedral . Can’t remember it’s name, but I’m sure it’s still there. We stayed in a small hotel near the railway station and it was good value. I’ll look it up.

Mid Life - hope your DS is ok.

Many congratulations @quest1on2 DS! Perseverance pays off!

Thanks chopc. He did say today he was sorry not to be going to the Durham St John’s in a way, as it seemed so friendly and kind of idyllic when we visited. I said, ‘Well it’s a bit late for that now!’

Congratulations to your Ds @quest1on2.

Massive congratulations @quest1on2. I saw your post on the aspirants thread (I was lurking for old times sake). How lovely that your DS is on that path after his year out. Well done that young man.

@quest1on2 so pleased for your DS! Well done to him.

@Stillcrikey hear hear. This (series of) threads has been a wonderful support over the past year and it's great to see how happy and settled our dcs are.