University 2019/20 intake: Gearing up to graduation (for some but not all)

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

DD’s course includes an anthropological study abroad. Was supposed to be at the start of second year. They had a choice of countries and she won a place in South Africa only for it not to go ahead. It is now planned for Easter but will be in Malta instead. Hopefully it will go ahead but timing not great.

@RampantIvy that’s great. DD and her housemates are similar and been together since halls. They’ve holidayed together each summer and I’m sure these friendships will continue. She hasn’t had a serious bf and I think that helps as she’s fully immersed. I worry about DD2 as she has a boyfriend and she’s hoping to start uni in September. Can’t help but think that’s an extra strain and commitment.

Yes, DD has been with the same friendship group since halls. They only scattered in year 3 because two of them were supposed to do a year abroad, but then it got deferred. They had already decided they didn't want to live with the boys again (too messy) but they are still friends. The two who had deferred stayed in Newcastle and got jobs so they still all met up as a group.

Glad to hear all these heartening tales of young people thriving in work roles and indeed in their house shares and friendship groups.

Hope your DD gets to go on her anthropology course to Malta (nice way to tail your course!) @Benjispruce5. DS should have done several geography field trips in his time at university, including an overseas one in this year. In the end, I think he did one 'taster' one back in the first year .

This generation may well develop the 'grit' to thrive in adversity in a way that the early 'Boomers' did in the post war years.

And given that the geography course fees include such trips, where has that 'overpaid' money gone, I wonder?

I was just thinking that @NewModelArmyMayhem18. DDs trip is included in her fees. The one to South Africa would have incurred a supplemental fee though. That’s a question that needs to be asked.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 and other UEA parents-it is now saying we won't have graduation dates until April.

TBH I think it is a bit of a piss take. what is going to change? I know a unique challenge to get so many in but nothing will change and ppl are booking/or not summer breaks etc.

DD feels like many-that she didn't really get her full experience and is very excited to be staying on for a Masters.

DS is sharing with 6 others, and although they will remain friends, he only wants to share with one of them next year. I'm not surprised. Some of them really don't know how to live communally, and haven't improved.

@Benjispruce5 don't underestimate the issue of having a bf/gf from home when going away. DS's gf clung to him when he went away and I think he would have had a better uni experience if she had not been part of the equation, which is effectively what he is doing now, even though he is working. He is still involved in certain aspects of uni life through his interest groups.

@mumsiedarlingrevolta thanks for the 'nod'. That's dreadful though! I wonder why such a delay in letting us know? And more young people are likely to have sorted out summer work (if they've not got graduate employment to start) by that point in time, and may not find it as easy to get the time off!

I might get DS on the case of finding out where the field trips fees have disappeared to. It's a total rip off!

Do you think more 'home' relationships (long-distance and long-term) survived than usual because of the pandemic lockdowns possibly reducing opportunities? Once upon a time it wasn't very usual for love to last once one/both young people went off to university, was it?

@simbobs her bf is a first year already. So he’s away but comes back often. I don’t want that for her, I feel it’s too young to settle on one serious relationship. However I do realise it’s not my decision.

Technology facilitates relationship duration nowadays in a way that was not possible for previous generations, that's for sure.

I know what you mean @Benjispruce5. My DS was the one that kept coming back for the gf, but ironically it was she who ended it when she went away herself, and realised that logistically there was no way they could see one another. They are still friends. Technology can be a mischief as well as a friend, though. Nowadays they can find out what everyone is doing, either directly or through mutual friends.

We are braving the rain to meet DS for lunch today. Having had him around for so much more than expected over the last couple of years I really miss him.

Have a lovely time @simbobs!

Long distance relationships are possibly a bit easier with tech now - it was all letters and phone box calls when I was in sixth form and my bf was at uni

My DS is v happy that his gf is here and not at uni as he sees how difficult it can be in the pressure cooker of uni - especially in the college system where everyone seems to know everyone else’s business! And he likes to come home more often than just in the holidays - he was always so fiercely independent from being a toddler that it is quite surprising! Not like his sister or mum and dad when they were at uni

I just worry that she will lose put on friendships if she’s always away at weekends.

*Lose out

@Benjispruce5, it probably won’t be every weekend, and they can do turn and turnabout?

Strikes…

DD just been on the phone to say she has had an email stating that after this period of strikes ends at the end of the month UCU are escalating to a ban on assessment and marking until the end of the academic year unless they “win” (whatever that means). Worst case scenario is that all work due to be done/marked after the beginning of March won’t be assessed. How will they give a degree grade? Will they graduate?

Completely bloody ridiculous

That sounds dismal @VanCleefArpels. I'd be demanding my final year fees back if that were me. They will have to use Year 2 work to award the degree grade?

Yes indeed. They could wait to assess all the work but that would mean a) no graduation in July and b) tricky conversations with potential employers

I’m hoping all the above is worst case scenario but on top of everything wise they’ve had to deal with this feels like a massive FU from the Uni staff

I honestly am very disappointed in lecturers striking without any thought for this particular cohort who have had a pandemic bookended by their strikes! No sympathy for them at all!

@Benjispruce5 I totally agree. It's possibly something that young people should also be considering when they're choosing universities, going forward - how militant and likely to strike the academic staff are. It can make a serious difference to the whole 'studying' side (and outcomes) of the student experience, can't it?

I’m not sure many universities are immune from strike action. Abd I don’t necessarily object to strikes as a means to press a point. But not to assess work that will lead to the granting of a degree for third years currently looking for work or other post grad paths seems targeted at the wrong people.
Students don’t have the power to change staff pension arrangements yet they are the ones to directly suffer? Bollocks to that

I recall that one year students in Liverpool didn't get their exams marked or their degrees awarded until much later in the year. It was shocking.

They will have to use Year 2 work to award the degree grade?

If that happened to DD she would be over the moon TBH. She finished her second year on a good first.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 just wanted to make sure you saw Graduation dates are out.

We have booked hotel and posh rooftop dinner the night before-hope we aren't tempting fate...

@mumsiedarlingrevolta thanks. I posted on the UEA thread yesterday. Perhaps we should have a 'code' way of identifying ourselves to each other!?