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. How have your ds’ exams gone? Dd had one Tuesday and seemed happy with the essay questions, but said the multiple choice was much harder than the 2 practice papers one they had and they were definitely trying to catch them out. Later that evening she was texting me saying she’s remembered some she got wrong, that she was being stupid in the exam and think it was nerves.

Dd has had some bad experience with some group work, where it was her and 2 international students. They basically left her to do it all and what they did do, which wasn’t much, didn’t make sense and they didn’t put much effort in either so she had to redo theirs. All one seem to do was try and cut the word count down by taking out words which then meant it made no sense, or suggesting things for dd to do, wouldn’t do it themself. It definitely caused her a lot of stress. She got good marks for them, but it’s not fair the other 2 got the same mark with barely any work.

@Pumpkintopf The module she had just finished was titled "Heaven and Hell" and they basically covered the Eschatology of all beliefs from Homer onwards. DD did classics at ALevel, so ahead of the game there, but then they come forward to early Christian stuff, Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, Augustine, Bede, Dante, etc All good stuff! Taught by Morwenna Ludlow, priest, theologian and professor. DD thought she was excellent.

DD now moved on to "Religion and Holocaust in Public Memory". Not a module she actually chose, but was allocated to, but just had first lecture from a visiting Australian lady from the Holocaust museum in Sydney. She said she could have listened to her all day.

Really can't fault Exeter History/Theology depts.

Hi everyone, just trying to catch up everyone's news! Hope everyone doing exams are finding them ok.

Dd (History) is on the second week of exams and they're not going well at all. She's stayed at home after Christmas and has been working at the local library. Whenever I pick her up, she's very downhearted, says she's stupid, her brain won't work, wants to drop out etc. I am so upset for her but nothing I can do to help other than offer support.

Hey @bendmeoverbackwards how's she doing now?

DS is very down. A piece of work he spent hours upon hours working on was downgraded by 10% because his references went over onto a second page 🤷‍♀️. He claims this was not made clear (it would imagine there should be guidelines somewhere and have suggested speaking to his tutor to clarify). Very hard to see him so fed up though, he feels imperial just try find ways to trip him up I think, and never on the substantive content of his work, more nit picky stuff. But then again attention to detail is important and I guess they have to train them somehow...

In other news, DD has amazed us all by getting an offer from Cambridge. I hope that's ok to mention here - I'm certainly still a bit scarred by the process with DS! - but I did want to tell you all as you feel like friends on this thread

@Pumpkintopf congrats to DD. Excellent news for Dd. How does DS feel about that?

Sorry to hear that. Is it anything in particular? DS still enjoying it down there. I am a bit worried about the number of strike days and how that will affect their assessments at year end bearing in mind its all new modules from this week so impacts more widely on those doing year long ones.

@SeasonFinale I hope he's ok with it. DD told him herself and he congratulated her so hopefully it's all ok - he is loving London so hopefully no regrets that he didn't end up in Cambridge.

Dd on the other hand was always adamant she didn't want London. Hopefully all will go well, some big hurdles ahead for grades etc!

@bendmeoverbackwards How are things going now? The work in year 2 is definitely ramping up.

That's harsh @Pumpkintopf on your DS our teenagers take these matters very seriously. My DD was annoyed with herself recently as one assessment was 1% off a 2:1 honestly you would think it was the end of world. She desperately wants to do well which is great but as the majority of her marks are higher she needs to accept minor disappointments too.
Huge congratulations to your DD, your must be very proud.

Congrats again @Pumpkintopf 'a DD

After mild PTSD after DS1's whole 6th form experience- because we moved country so he could finish his schooling in UK and everything was going so amazingly until the pandemic struck and bit by bit all his dreams disappeared or became unassailable..... ending with the Cambridge rejection

However I don't know if this is better or worse but I have changed as a parent since then

I do not stress about DS1 applying for internships and the possibility of a training contract ...... he is a solid young man who will find his way

DS2 in year 12 has no idea what he wants to study at Uni. But that's also OK. He will do his fave subject and again we have given him the tools to find his way

DD3 wants to go to performing arts sixth form. Even a year ago I may have insisted she pursues this after having her basic academics. But now I think sod it. I will support her to pursue her dream and if she is in a position where that's not going to give her a living we can are in a position to support her to do AL later on or get whatever qualification she needs in order to get a job

By the age of 33 I had had three kids, finished my GP training, got my post graduate qualifications ...... I feel as though I had rushed through life, when I could have taken my sweet time and been less stressed .........

Chop, I have also learned (the hard way) you can give them the tools but you can't predict what they do with it.
Dc1 completed uni course and on a "gap year" abroad with no further plans. Dc2 would have been in year 2 but also taking a break (she says she is still planning to join uni in Sept)
Dc3 has developed MH issues and no idea of she will ever be able to go to uni.

Oh gosh @Notagardener

Your DC's 1 and 2 will be fine . I know it's easy for me to say but from what you have said about Dc2 I think she will be fine and DC1 has completed their degree and have a solid foundation. He will start doing some work which will lead to something else and he will find his path

I am sorry to hear about DC3 mental health issues . It is so tough to deal with

I hope you are getting enough support

Hi all,
sorry to hear of DCs problems with exams. Dd also had one disappointing result in a test she thought she had aced and Gosh it really wrong footed her just before her main exam! She just began doubting everything she thought she knew.
dd seems to spend so much time writing lab reports and prepping for the next lab. Then the rest of any free time seems to be spent studying in the library.
She mostly just seems knackered tbh.
Shes just about kept up with one society .. and it really helps her mental health. Also having lovely flatmates has helped enormously.
i hope Year 2 term 2 gets a bit easier for all of them !

@Pumpkintopf sorry to hear about your ds, that's so disappointing when he's worked so hard. Hopefully it won't have too much impact on his final mark.

Well done to your dd, that's great news! Which college and what is she studying?

My dd seems to have perked up a bit. She got all her exam essays in last week, was moderately happy with them, then got a good mark for a piece of work she did before Christmas which she was happy with. She went back to Bristol this weekend to see her friends and celebrate her birthday. Our big news here (can't remember if I've mentioned this or not!) is that she is off to Prague on Wednesday for a semester abroad. I've been helping her with all the admin, applying for the visa was a buerocratic nightmare (thanks Brexit!). It hasn't really sunk in yet that she'll be away for 5 months!

@chopc I remember you talking about your dd and performing arts. Does she know where she wants to go? I agree with you about supporting them if finances allow. My oldest dd is now in her third year and will be graduating in the summer. She's slightly terrified at the thought of leaving education and starting work. Plus all the stress of auditions, head-shots, signing up to things etc.

@bendmeoverbackwards will dm you

Dd has been worried because of a gland in her neck that she’s been to a doctor about at home a couple of years ago but he wasn’t worried then. She thought she felt more glands and can feel one the other side. She’s been getting a lot of headaches, and then recently her throat feels like it’s closing up and she feels like she’s going to choke. Also been feeling spaced out. She went to the doctors today and she’s having a blood test which she can’t get until Friday, doctor said if she has it tomorrow, he can get results Friday because he’s then off for a week. It’s made us panic because he’s testing antibodies, for glandular fever and lymphoma. The fact he’s mentioned those, has made us worry.

Hope you get results soon @Majaso12

@Majaso12 Totally understandable that you are worried. Hopefully your DD will get her results soon and then you will know what you are dealing with. Take care.

Just hope it’s a precaution and not that the doctor thinks it’s a possibility. I managed to find out by phoning what blood tests she’s having and all the receptionist could see was full blood count, thyroid, liver tests and ferritin. Said on their reactive lymph nodes as well. Thought there was a specific test for glandular fever.

Sorry to hear about your worries @Majaso12 . I hope your Dd is ok.

*there not their. And testing for leukaemia.

Oh @Majaso12 that's such a worry- I hope the results come quickly and are all ok

Thanks for your messages. The doctor did say her glands are 1/2 cm and they usually worry when they’re 1-2 cm. Think he felt one both sides. She fainted today having the blood test. She’s never been good having blood tests.

Oh @Majaso12 Im sorry to hear, what a worry. I hope the results come back quickly.

Hoping for good news @Majaso12