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

Just a bit of housekeeping, Ds hasn't had any email from student finance to remind him to apply for student finance for year 3 so he has just logged in and done that now. I don't know if anyone else is in the same boat with no email or whether Ds just missed it but it is done.

@Longtimenewsee Dh did a degree in engineering and knew about 1 month into his year in industry that this wasn't for him, still finished the degree but obviously spent his third year looking at all options and working out what he did want. I met him just as he was going into his final year. I had graduated the year before. I fell into a job in the civil service so not related to my degree at all but good money, Mon-Fri, office hours, what wasn't to like?

We have always told the children you don't have to have your life figured out, you can try jobs and see what you like or dislike about it. They know that they can fall and we will be here to pick them up. I always had that with my parents so it lets you try things without always having to choose a safe option.

Absolutely @OnTheBenchOfDoom , I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up too 😁.

dd did student finance over Easter and got confirmation a few days later. It sure hasn’t kept up with inflation has it!- she’ll have less spare cash to play with next year and will need a decent summer job if she wants to live it up a bit . I thinks she’s glad she’s staying in same bills included accommodation… it’s starting to look quite reasonable now

My DH and I are both in careers we love . Once when I was in between jobs I did actually think it was an opportunity for a career change. However I realised that being a doctor is a part of my identity and I will always need to practice medicine. I am now however doing three different roles and absolutely love all three

My eldest and youngest have clear ideas about their future- whether they can make it happen will need a lot of luck.

My middle one has no idea what he wants to do even at Uni which is proving to be rather stressful for both him and us

I am still enjoying reading about all your students. I had totally forgotten that most of them have 3 year rather than 4 year degree courses.
@BigWoollyJumpers I was at a talk by a medevialist when visiting colleges with DT1 and my immediate thought was who funds a PhD in medieval literature and what do you do with it.
DD will be home from the US for about 10 days before going back to do some sort of financial internship in New York and she managed to organise to house sit for a college friends family so she won’t be paying rent.
She already has next summer internship set up too, another financial thing but totally different apparently.
It all went over my head.
My twins are planning to do English Lit& Politics and Musical Theatre respectively so at least I can understand those.
If all goes to plan my 3 DDs will be living outside Ireland from the Autumn so I have warned DS I want him to study within sight of home. He is only 12 so I have time to convince him.

@ChimneyPot Ah ha, I have an answer to who funds PHD's for those kind of things.... I found DD's ideal job at the British Library, the current job holder is being funded. I also found some fun jobs at Historic Palaces, Hampton Court etc. With DD's additional expertise in Drama, I could see her as the next Lucy Worsley 😁

Had an awful day and night. Dd had panic attacks all day yesterday and rang me 12.15 am in a state this morning. She had an exam this afternoon. I phoned the uni and spoke to someone about her anxiety and they made a note of it. I really thought she’d be ok and she seemed calmer this morning. She ended up having a panic attack in the exam and had to leave. Now she has to redo the exam in September. She was meant to be starting her placement at GSK in September. So worried what will happen now. She had an exam Wednesday and did go blank on one essay questions but did the others ok.

That’s really tough @Majaso12 if they have anxiety they can be triggered so easily by one bad question/exam

I have been through it with one of my twins.

Loving everyone's updates. Sorry to hear about your DD @Majaso12 that sounds really tough.

My DD has her final exam tomorrow and then she is all done for year 2. Like others she has no idea what to do career wise. A gap year so she can concentrate on grades then a summer internship and some travel might be on the horizon.

@chopc I think we might need a new thread and name!

Sorry to hear that @Majaso12 Your poor girl. DD has suffered for years with panic attacks, but after a lot of counselling has managed to subdue them somewhat. It's really hard to overcome.

@ChimneyPot Goodness me, you will have a very quiet house come Autumn. Will your DS miss the girls, or relish the peace and quiet?

@KnittedCardi. How did your DD access counselling? Her tutor said the university will put things in place but I’m worried how good it will be and she needs to start quick. She had chest pains and symptoms over Easter and I wish I had made an appointment to see a doctor then. She had her first one years ago when we were in the cinema and we thought she was having a heart attack and we called an ambulance and she was taken to hospital. She was a lot better when doing A levels. It starting again at university but has got worse this year. Should have reached out for help sooner at university.

@Majaso12 DD has had counselling for some time, on and off, and for various issues. She actually hasn't accessed any at Uni, she did look into it, but frankly they are overwhelmed, and she knows of others who got access, but weren't impressed. She was thinking of approaching her last home counsellor, and having a catch up, over summer, as she still struggles with some things.

We originally went private, and paid ourselves, as our GP said not to bother with CAMHS. I did some research on-line, looked up local folk. Specifically I chose a clinical psychologist, as we needed someone more than just a counsellor. Spoke to a couple, one lady was fab but going on maternity, and she suggested a friend of hers, who was wonderful, and just right for DD. We were lucky, as I know others have had to chop and change before they found the right person, and it can be expensive. We were paying £90 per hour. We now get cover from DH work BUPA, so even luckier, as we now don't have to pay.

Long story, but DD really did benefit.

Sorry to hear about your DD’s anxiety @Majaso12 . Panic attacks are so vile.
i hope it eases for her soon

@KnittedCardi. Thank you. Worried it’s too late for this year. She needs to be able to do the exam in August/September. Then there’s the worry of her placement at GSK which starts on 4th September. She needed a break over Summer, but will now be revising. Feel so upset for her.

@Majaso12 it IS upsetting. Poor DD

Try www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

DS also asked for college counselling last year and but they were "too busy". In the end I think he got better by himself. He is in a much better place this year but that was the first time that anxiety got so bad for him

Also have a look at mind.org.uk and see if you can find some useful tips that she can try whilst finding the right counsellor or therapist

@Majaso12 of course you know the important thing is DD's health and not the exams which can wait til September even though she is starting a placement then. However as a parent I can understand the upset

@ChimneyPot good on your DD for having all these internships in place. She certainly sounds very resourceful and a "go getter" reading about her over the past couple of years

Where will your DD be studying musical theater? My DD will be auditioning for sixth form in the autumn. I don't know if this will be the best thing to do but we will let her follow her passion to see where it takes her. I figured there is no rush to get academic qualifications

Any ideas for the new thread title?

Another path .... and it goes on?

Another path .... where will it lead?

I didn't want to call it Another path .... onto the final year or the future awaits as some are doing 4 year degrees

@chopc

DT2 is going to do the foundation in Italia Conti.
She only started singing/dancing and acting with online classes at the end of 2020. In Ireland it is very much an extracurricular. There are no A levels in drama or dance, no BTechs no specialist 6th forms.
Hopefully doing MT full time for a year will help her realise if it is for her or not.

I like … and it goes on

@ChimneyPot where will she be located? I understand they are planning on relocating from their current premises? And will she be living in a house with another family?

The foundation and degrees are in Woking and they all stay in halls in Guildford with a shuttle to IC

Fab. If you ever need any local help we are close by 😉

Another path ....... and it goes on www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4805146-another-path-and-it-goes-on

See you all on the new thread