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

Lol @MidLifeCrisis007 how funny!

@Absolutelyshocked how are things?

They must surely know each other - given they're on the same course too!

Just popping on to tell you all that DD having sent off her UCAS form had an offer today from Birmingham. It's her top choice (although we persuaded her to include UCL and she has also applied for Cambridge- turns round and spits 😅) and she was so happy. I'm so pleased for her!

Amazing @Pumpkintopf ! She can now relax and focus on her AL!

Well done to your DD@Pumpkintopf

Oh how funny @AvocadoPlant @BigWoollyJumpers My DD wants Sylvan Road but her housemates can't stretch to that budget.

It is definitely a small world as DD was in a flat last year with someone's teenager on here! A series of coincidences confirmed it.

Love that some of the mumsnet students have met in real life 🥰

Well one contributor to this thread is now one of my besties - and we only met each other through Mumsnet! I've just come back from one of her concerts in fact....

@MidLifeCrisis007 that's so lovely 🥰

I too have made a really good friend who I hugely value through this thread. Yet to meet IRL with distance but hopefully 🤞🏻and no less valued a friendship for that.

Love that we are all still chatting on this journey.

@MidLifeCrisis007 and @Pumpkintopf How lovely.

This really is a very supportive thread and the Exeter crowd really kept me up to speed with various uni deadlines last year. Although I'm a bit disappointed that all our teenagers are not living in Sylvan Road next year😂

@MidLifeCrisis007 @Pumpkintopf That’s lovely.

I don’t have any friends IRL I can talk to about university really, none of my friends have dc at university now.

Dd is finding 2nd year a lot harder than 1st year and 1st year was difficult! It seems the lecturers aren’t anyways good at explaining things, so she needs to go over and over the lectures and try and teach herself, then she’ll say she thinks she gets it now!

@Majaso12 I can (on behalf of DS) relate to this - he was having to re-watch lectures two or three times over last year. This year because he's studied ahead a bit I think he's doing ok so far- long may it last...

Anyones dcs applying for summer or other internships?

@Pumpkintopf . She’s definitely having to rewatch them more this year. Some have put complaints in about some of the teaching. She said you can tell the ones that have to teach as part of their research. Also, they’re trying something new out on them this year and instead of teaching 2 modules at a time, they’re doing 1 and then not doing the 2nd until the 1st one is complete. Dd said they shouldn’t be trying this out on for the first time on 2nd years.

She’s applied for placement years, won’t be applying for an internship unless she doesn’t get any placements. She’s had one interview and has another next week.

@Majaso12 I am surprised as wouldn't you have your DC's friends parents to talk about them with?

@chopc.Don’t really talk to her friend’s parents. Didn’t really get to know her school friend’s parents that well. I talk to my friends about her at uni but they don’t have any at uni to compare with, except one friend whose ds is having another go at uni aged 27 and is in second year now.

@chopc name wise I was BenchOfDoom but changed it to feel more cheery but hopefully it has been obvious it was me and I did mention it at the time for continuity. I love the opening post that shows where everyone's child has gone and what they are studying, plus I scoured it recently as Ds2 wants to study economics so I was seeing if anyone's child was doing that but alas not.

@Pumpkintopf well done to DD. Brilliant to find out so early on especially when it is her top choice.

@Majaso12 I am the same really, absolutely none of my friends went to uni and their children all in their mid to late 20s didn't go either. My other friends whose children are the same age as my youngest probably won't experience their children going. One is probably going straight into the armed forces after A levels and the others aren't doing A levels but vocational qualifications so are looking at jobs in 2 years. Only my niece and nephew went to uni, my niece is the same age as Ds1 so I can speak to my sister but our at uni children are like chalk and cheese. My niece is a big party girl and very social whereas Ds prefers more quiet evenings and has a smaller group of friends.

I keep worrying for @Absolutelyshocked and her DD. I hope everything is ok.

Half term next week for us, hurray! Anyone got any nice plans?

What a shame there isn't a "like" button on Mumsnet

Yes I was aware of your name change @BenchOfCompany

Thanks for the explanation both @BenchOfCompany and @Majaso12

I was a recent name changer....
I met up with dd briefly and I think she is ok...

Did you mean to revert back to your old username?

So pleased your DD is OK though

Yes, this is the name you "know" me under. But got deleted details that RL people might recognise...
Looks like she is just taking a "gap year". We will see.

@Notagardener that does sound like a relief. Does she seem ok in herself?

@Notagardener . I’m glad your Dd was ok

Not been on here for ages so just catching up on everyone's news. Good to hear that I'm not the only one stressing about accommodation. DS (Exeter - economics) has just signed to stay in his current house for his 3rd year. Luckily the landlord has only increased it for them from £150 to £155 exc. bills, even though he re advertised it at much more. It's a typical student terrace and definitely no frills. But he seems very happy and it's only 10 mins walk to the Business School.

He says that the work is more intense this year. He was awarded a Dean's Commendation last year (which I'd never heard of previously), so I hope he doesn't become complacent.

The next step is summer placements. He's made an appointment at the careers office, so we'll see how helpful they are. He says that he doesn't want to go to London but I'm not sure that he'll have a choice.

Is she OK to though @Notagardener . Out of character of her no? If I recall she had a good first year?

@Notagardener good to hear your update, hopefully your DD will be feeling better as things become more settled for her and she can see a way forward.

DD has driven back to Exeter after a lovely weekend at home. In spite of some ongoing discussions about where, and who, to live with for 3rd year, DD is staying very calm.

She is also managing her time between a second internship at the uni taking c. 15 hrs pw, and keeping up with her studies. Plus a lot of socialising!

Wave to all the Exeter peeps x