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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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:
BigWoollyJumpers · 27/01/2022 11:44

@quest1on2 - Absolutely fantastic news. Congratulations. I too was lurking on the Oxbridge thread, but didn't want to impose over there!!

chopc · 27/01/2022 22:26

So Durham are planning another 10 days of strikes in Feb 😫😫😫

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Notagardener · 27/01/2022 22:35

10 days????

chopc · 27/01/2022 22:43

If this is accurate :

Another path- the first year ......
OP posts:
Notagardener · 27/01/2022 22:46

Does Durham have reading week in February??

AvocadoPlant · 27/01/2022 22:56

Oh dear that’s not good news!

chopc · 27/01/2022 23:04

I haven't heard of a reading week. I am hoping it's incorrect reporting. That's almost half the month! First two weeks in Jan was online then DS had Covid and now this ......... resilience has been tested to the core over the past two years

OP posts:
Notagardener · 27/01/2022 23:10

I'm just hoping those 10 days would include reading week. Have asked DC in London about it but not heard back yet

chopc · 27/01/2022 23:20

@Notagardener this strikes may be specific to Durham?

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AvocadoPlant · 28/01/2022 07:29

Looks like it’s widespread disruption across all those universities affected by strikes last term.

inews.co.uk/news/university-strikes-students-unis-days-ucu-1428056/amp

Notagardener · 28/01/2022 07:57

Wow, great. Well, at least both London DC have reading week w/c 21st Feb. DC1 is in year 3, assessment finishes 1st June. Well, he had at least one full normal term in year 1 term 1....

chopc · 28/01/2022 08:11

I understand and support the reasons. I don't understand how academics can take part and not teach for 10 days ......... as a one off last years I was supportive.

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chopc · 28/01/2022 08:11

I bet he paid normal fees for all three years though @Notagardener

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Peaseblossum22 · 28/01/2022 10:30

@chopc but it’s not a one off , apart from 20/21 there have been strikes for I think the previous 3 years. If you are a third year every single year will have been affected.

I largely sympathise with their grievances however the UCU have been appalling in their strategy especially the lumping of various grievances together . They have really achieved very little and after 4 years you would have thought that the message would have got through that the universities are not remotely bothered by strikes , the only people affected are the lecturers themselves and predominately the students who are just pawns in the whole situation.

Peaseblossum22 · 28/01/2022 10:31

Durham doesn’t do reading week because it has shorter terms anyway and uses terms rather than semesters

chopc · 28/01/2022 11:37

@Peaseblossum22 gosh yes. I was just being selfish and thinking of only DS year

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BigWoollyJumpers · 29/01/2022 12:28

No reading week for DD in Exeter this term, nor strikes thank goodness.

She has just tested positive for covid though! Finally she gets up the courage to go clubbing, and...... oh dear.

Her flatmates were really mean. They tried to insist she couldn't use the kitchen, last night she hadn't had dinner at 9pm. Finally they relented and said she could go in with a mask, and windows open, and with them out of the room. Which was what she suggested all along. It was the girls being really stroppy, the boys were actually really chilled about it.

Anyway sorted now I think. They have all relaxed a bit. The stress last night was unbearable. DH was livid, and was all for going down and sorting it out. Scary!

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 29/01/2022 12:42

@BigWoollyJumpers I'm sorry to hear about your DD it sounds as if covid is rife at Exeter at the moment.

My DD is less than impressed that one of her flatmates has covid and hasn't told them and has been mixing with them in the kitchen. She is resigned to thinking that she will come down with covid after avoid it in our house over Christmas. She told me last night if she catches covid over her birthday and missed out this year after having her 18th in lockdown, not even the rule of six, she will very fed up.

Loving hearing everyone's news although more strikes at Durham are shocking.

BigWoollyJumpers · 29/01/2022 12:48

My DD is less than impressed that one of her flatmates has covid and hasn't told them and has been mixing with them in the kitchen

That's the other side isn't it? Even worse that you don't know when someone has it. I have a friend whose daughter is immunosuppressed and lives in a London flatshare. Someone did that, and now she is really ill.

BigWoollyJumpers · 29/01/2022 12:50

@Dobbyismyabsolutefav - Just seen this, you are right, definitely a spike.

Another path- the first year ......
Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 29/01/2022 14:03

@BigWoollyJumpers My DD would be absolutely fine with her flatmate using the kitchen to cook as the others could make themselves scarce. However, to knowingly go outside and also mix with your flatmates without telling them you are positive is ... well words fail me.

chopc · 29/01/2022 14:38

@BigWoollyJumpers hope your daughter makes a speedy recovery and is not too unwell with it

@Dobbyismyabsolutefav the lack of humanity in some people .........

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AvocadoPlant · 30/01/2022 08:01

@BigWoollyJumpers hope your DD is soon better. Her flatmates over-reacted, I’m guessing it’s the first case they’ve had in the flat. I hope everything is a little calmer now.
I don’t know whether the uni welfare team can help out with food?

Re the spike in cases at Exeter, DD told me “things are starting to be cancelled” but didn’t elaborate and as she was texting me during a lecture, I didn’t press her on exactly what she meant but am hoping to have a chat with her today.

BigWoollyJumpers · 30/01/2022 11:40

[quote AvocadoPlant]@BigWoollyJumpers hope your DD is soon better. Her flatmates over-reacted, I’m guessing it’s the first case they’ve had in the flat. I hope everything is a little calmer now.
I don’t know whether the uni welfare team can help out with food?

Re the spike in cases at Exeter, DD told me “things are starting to be cancelled” but didn’t elaborate and as she was texting me during a lecture, I didn’t press her on exactly what she meant but am hoping to have a chat with her today.[/quote]
Yes, first case. Her flatmates don't generally go out at all, so a little different from standard students. They are not happy she went clubbing! Anyway, it's a really interesting window onto human nature.

It's her girl friends who have been silly about it. The ones she thought of as her best friends. Meanwhile one of the boys, who is really quiet and keeps to himself, but is lovely, has checked on her every day. Another girl, who isn't popular in the flat generally, as she is a bit loud and in your face, has dropped off chocolate at DD's door, and offered to pick things up for DD. She has even offered to sit in DD's room if she is lonely as she isn't bothered, and did the same for her mum when she was ill. How lovely is that??

DD is regretting going out a bit, but honestly, she could actually have caught it anywhere, lectures and seminars, the gym, the coffee shop. If it is so prevalent at the moment who knows??

She is generally OK though. At the moment it is just like a normal cold. Just sad she has to be in on such a beautiful day.

bendmeoverbackwards · 30/01/2022 18:54

Sorry to hear about your dd @BigWoollyJumpers hope she has it mildly and tests negative soon!

We took dd back to Bristol last Sunday. Went ahead with my party on Saturday night and it all went well, I had a lovely time. Dd went on to a bar after the party with a friend Hmm She hadn't packed yet! We didn't leave home till nearly 3pm on Sunday FFS! At least she had the decency to be apologetic and I didn't mind too much as it was lovely to have her there for the party and she gave an excellent speech with dd1.

Just us and dd3 at home now. Feels very quiet Sad