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Original poster

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

998 replies

chopc · 13/01/2022 20:42

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

OP posts:
Longtimenewsee · 24/03/2023 14:12

dd not home till the end of next week. She’s had a lab report and a summative that she decided to stay and get done before leaving . She also wanted to make a start on organising her files in readiness for exam revision. TBH her room at home isn’t great for studying so spending the days in the uni library to crack on makes sense. I think she’s managing to get quite a lot done.. so that’s good… but It will be really lovely to have her back . 😊
Exams finish later for her this year and then she has year 3 prep and some workshops and year3 lab practicals.
it’s a shame but I think that potential workload rather than interest in content will be the deciding factor for her module choices for year 3

Pumpkintopf · 29/03/2023 00:04

Lovely to catch up on everyone's news!

DS came home Saturday, it's lovely having him here. He's busy working for his exams when he goes back though and DD busy revising for her A levels so there won't be much relaxation going on for them over Easter.

We'd usually go down and visit my parents in Devon over Easter but have decided this year we'll stay put and let the DC do what they need to do.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 30/03/2023 14:29

@Jng1 I hope your DS managed to sort his group work out it is so frustrating when other students don't pull their weight.

@BigWoollyJumpers Sorry to hear about your DD's struggles. At the end of the day all we want is for our young adults to be happy. Hopefully as the end of year 2 comes to end year 3 will start on a brighter note.

I hope everyone enjoys having their DC home for Easter, we are picking DD up on Saturday and I can't wait to see her. Facetime is no substitute and I need a hug!

KnittedCardi · 30/03/2023 14:54

Such a lovely group. Thank you for your messages. Honestly, everything else is pretty good. Course is fab, results mid 70's, so excellent, worst grade was the group project..... Of course!

DD and BF still going strong. Driving lessons going well, test in May down in Exeter. Excellent teacher if anyone wants a recommendation.

Just so looking forward, as @Dobbyismyabsolutefav says, to hugs.

She has lots of shifts on at the cafe, in fact had to turn some down, as she wants some down time. So that's nice too as she has a couple of good friends there.

Happy Easter everyone 🐣

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 30/03/2023 16:04

I agree @KnittedCardi such a supportive group. Happy Easter everyone.

bendmeoverbackwards · 31/03/2023 11:14

@BigWoollyJumpers sorry to hear about your dd's friendships, it's so hard to see our dc struggling. Does she have friends from home she could catch up with over the holidays?

bendmeoverbackwards · 31/03/2023 11:21

We are off to visit dd in Prague tomorrow! Me, dh and dd3 are going. I wanted to go at the start of the holidays (dd3 breaks up today) so when we get back on Tuesday dd3 can start focussed GCSE revision. Need to pack today!

It's not good news about dd's failed exam submission. It appears that the only option is a resit BUT it will be capped at 40%. So unfair.

KnittedCardi · 31/03/2023 13:07

@bendmeoverbackwards Yes, she is planning to catch up with a group. It's her bday too, so hopefully they can plan something.

Prague, how lovely. Have a super time.

That's so disappointing about the essay. So inflexible. She must be gutted.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 31/03/2023 14:46

@bendmeoverbackwards Ah that's tough going with a re-sit then a cap. I understand the uni's stance but for a first offence it still feels rather draconian.

Have a lovely time in Prague.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 28/04/2023 17:07

Well he went back to Durham then 3 days later had to return for his summer internship compulsory meet up to show his right to work documents, then promptly left again so I saw him for a fleeting few hours. Was good enough to get a fix from it though.

Now it is just revision and then the dreaded exams. I am decorating his room in his absence, he has chosen everything duvet cover wise, paint, wall art etc so I will be cracking on with that next week then changing out his desk from there. He doesn't need it anymore, it was put in when he was 6 and had adjustable legs so grew with him. He used it to work at and get away from the tornado that was his younger brother. It does feel like the end of an era with that.

Ds2 is in full revision mode for his year 12 exams later on, they are doing practise work now to nail their exam technique. It all feels like it is going very fast and before we know it second year of uni and year 12 will be finished. It is making me feel very old and sad too.

I hope Prague was lovely @bendmeoverbackwards and fingers crossed for Ds3's revision and exams.

Longtimenewsee · 29/04/2023 08:50

Hope all Dc are good.

Dd wasn’t here long for Easter and spent much of it studying. She gave herself 2 days off so we did go on a day trip and squeezed in a couple of cafes when she met me after work a few times.

Bedroom makeover sounds good @OnTheBenchOfDoom . That will be really nice for him to come back to.

Once her dreaded exams are over, I am meeting up with dd in a different city for a nice meal and as much shenanigans my tired bones will allow . V much looking forward to it .😊

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 29/04/2023 16:56

@Longtimenewsee that meet up sounds lovely, especially the shenanigans Grin I totally get the tired bones bit too.

Ds is just desperate to be home so he can relax before his summer internship. He is staying in the same room for uni so not much packing up to do either. He worked all the way through the holidays too as he had work to submit both this week and next.

Ds2 has some summer schools he is looking forward to.

Original poster
chopc · 01/05/2023 14:55

Hi Peeps! DS2 has one piece of work to hand in at the beginning of this term, has one exam and then he is done for the year

I certainly don't feel like I have got my money's with with Durham History!

Apparently the careers service of elite universities meant to be good. Hope that's true and he just hasn't benefited yet ...

OP posts:
Original poster
chopc · 01/05/2023 14:58

He finishes his exams sooner than all his flat mates and was going to come home for a week. But as we are all working and at school he thinks he will find more to do in Durham......

I am taking a hands off approach. One of our friends DS did nothing in terms of paid worn nor work experience until after he graduated. Applied for a few graduate schemes and was successful in one ......... so am hoping my DS will follow in the same directions as he knows exactly what he needs to do for his future. I can't do it for him . And he has all the tools necessary to make it on his own

OP posts:
OnTheBenchOfDoom · 04/05/2023 12:27

@chopc he'll find his way. It isn't like he is giving it all up to busk on the bridge. They really are still so young and let's face it when again will they ever have this amount of time off for a summer? Even with Ds doing a summer internship he still has a month off before it and month off after it! Dh and I were muttering about how we never felt like we had that amount of time off when we were at uni then laughed at ourselves for how old we sounded; tantamount to back in my day opinions. Grin

Shall I throw a bomb into the thread? Anyone watching the coronation? Any flag wavers? I shall be having a lounge carpet picnic as we do when watching things like the Oxford and Cambridge boat race every year and watching some of it. I will look forward to the next one more than this one, but still I love a bit of pomp and ceremony, the guards, the horses. Feels innately British. Dh isn't interested at all in the ceremony just the picnic food we do, same with Ds2. I have told Ds2 he needs to watch a teeny bit of it for the historic moment significance.

Notagardener · 04/05/2023 16:31

Dc2 actually lives in central London and have told her to watch a bit
....

Chops , dc1 did same degree as your son, qualified last summer Went abroad for volunteering and now about to start his first graduate job...with only 4 weeks A/L a year 😁

BigWoollyJumpers · 04/05/2023 17:01

@chopc DD is the same. She went back on Tuesday, essay in on Wednesday, which she did all the reading for when she was at home, and then Friday they get their exam questions, and she has a week to complete, then she's done!

Anyone's DC got any idea what their plans are going forward? DD did think she would like teaching, she spent a week at her old school over Easter, and had a great time, but now not sure. All the teachers said do something else first, and then if you really want to, go into teaching late. This is a private school too, so not so messed up as the state sector, but even so...... it's such a shame teaching is not seen as a valuable career at the moment. Certainly not a well paid one.

Soooo.... she is now thinking of a Masters, in........ Theology (!!!!). Gobsmacked. Also, what on earth will she "do" with that? What can I say, she just loves History, Religion, Source materials. Perhaps she be a religious medieval manuscript archivist, bit niche? 😂

SeasonFinale · 04/05/2023 18:36

DS applied for between 50-60 internships and got to final interviews in a few (8-10?) and secured one he particularly wanted at Big4 in London. He is rather hoping he is one of the 80% that secure a job offer so that he doesn't gave to go through all the testing again in his final year.

Where is your son's@OnTheBenchOfDoom ?

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 04/05/2023 20:06

@SeasonFinale well done to your son. He was clearly very determined and it paid off. Fantastic to have the Big Four on your CV. Hopefully he will be successful for a job afterwards. The summer internships do seem to be a way of sifting out who they want to take on.

Ds2 has a summer programme with one of the Big4, he enjoyed the application process tests, weirdo that he is.

Ds1 was looking for an internship at home. We live near to a large city and he wanted to get one at home not just for the summer but for the possibility of a graduate job afterwards and to live here and save for a house deposit. He applied to a very well known large tech company and landed it. There were several stages to get through including a demonstration of skills whilst they monitored what you did on the team, what your thought process was of how to tackle it. Then feedback and and the offer of the internship. He found out before Christmas so it seems like ages ago. He is desperate to put all his theory knowledge to a real life situation.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 04/05/2023 20:22

@BigWoollyJumpers gosh a masters in Theology. Sounds lovely, especially if she does get to work with religious manuscripts in the future, even if it is just wishing it might happen. I think just do stuff you love and hopefully it pays enough to keep you happy at home too. Teaching can be very difficult although I imagine from conversations with friends that private schools are better due to class sizes, extra curriculars and funding. I volunteered in a primary for over a decade working with low ability children which I loved. We used to stop children doodling with whiteboard markers because the school couldn't afford to replace them if they ran out quickly. Same with glue sticks. Teacher pay isn't the best either.

Original poster
chopc · 04/05/2023 22:41

Thanks for the words of reassurance and well done to the DC's who have secured internships!

OP posts:
Longtimenewsee · 05/05/2023 17:35

@BigWoollyJumpers i think there is plenty of time to be sensible , I’m all for chasing a passion ( at least she’s got ideas!) . if you can make a career out of your passion then you are very lucky indeed.

Original poster
chopc · 05/05/2023 22:38

On the other hand who will fund the masters?

I am not a fan of qualifications for the sake of it. No study is wasted but when you factor in how much it costs, the decision to do a masters just because you fancy it cannot be made lightly

OP posts:
Notagardener · 06/05/2023 00:35

Chops, I agree. Not sure why many post-grad courses are so expensive....
Dc1 thought about doing one but after further discussion decided to start a job and hopefully get a better idea what course might be useful/he might be interested in etc

Longtimenewsee · 06/05/2023 05:38

Dd half heartedly applied for a few internships but actually didn’t really have the time to commit to applying . Her course is too full on. She has however managed to get onto a 1 year + mentoring scheme involving big companies which she is really excited about and which I think might provide her with a lot of opportunities to find out more about what she can do with this qualification and make connections to where it might lead. Quite frankly she hasn’t got a clue .. she suddenly got into science and switched onto her science path ( from music) quite late into her school life.

i agree about not doing qualifications for the sake of it .. and there is much to be learned from any job / travel while you are finding your feet …but if you are lucky enough to have already found a passion for a particular subject area then I guess that’s who the courses are for.