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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

I used to be a regular poster, but more recently happily logging in to find updates from old regulars. Hoping those updates can continue as we follow them through the next year or two at least - especially for those whose DCs are on four year course (as is my DD).

DD is presently on a year abroad and thoroughly enjoying it. Can't believe how quickly time has gone.

Oh no, no marking till end of year?? How is that going to work out??
They have had one term only without lockdown or strike!!

Let's not talk about going abroad, DC had just completed the paperwork, when it got cancelled

I've got both my dds graduating this time, I'm just oraying their ceremonies are on different days.

@RedHelenB, yes, I am praying DDs MSc graduation isn’t the same date as DS’s BA graduation and at opposite ends of the country!

Haven't posted much over the last year. DD is on a four year course, so another year to go here. Currently doing a year in Germany and literally having the time of her life. A friend she met in her first year is keeping her eyes open for a flat for them to share next year. Can't believe where the time has gone, GCSEs, A levels, uni.

DS came home to visit at the weekend. Lovely to see him. He just seems so grown up now! A real adult visiting!
He intends to move home for a while after university to save some money while he works. I guess we will all take a little while to adjust to that. I imagine his girlfriend will visit frequently too - luckily she seems pretty easy going and chats to everybody in the family.

@blametheparents good to hear that you had a lovely time with your DS. Our DS is due home in a couple of weeks for a few days. DS still hasn't done anything about finding 'a proper job' yet, so I feel sure he'll be heading home to live (even if it's only very temporarily) once his house-share contract is up in August.

How are all the young people getting on with their last few months of pressure, with dissertation submission dates looming? DS has drafted his and has given himself three weeks in which to tweak it.

My DS handed his dissertation in on Friday and then spent the whole weekend celebrating with his mates (I've seen the photos!). He asked me to read it for him before submission and all I could say was it seems really good, but I cannot understand the actual words and formulas you have written, its like a foreign language. I managed to find a couple of typos so now I feel that I actually contributed. I am so proud of him.

I haven't seen him since 6 January and I am so excited about him coming home after his exams, although it would be better if he was coming home to a job, but he is just not interested in looking right now. I am worried that there will be such an anti-climax when he finishes uni and comes home because he has such an exciting and fun time at uni and its just not like that at home, especially if he is not working.

I put a post on the old thread. I had seen this one so I don't know why I put it on the old one. I'll add it on here. It was a question.

Can I ask some advice please....A while ago Ds chose a person from a list to help or guide him with his dissertation. Ds spoke to him via email about what he would do. He chose to catch mice and analyse their droppings for parasites. Anyway...he has to hand the dissertation in before the Easter break. He's not caught enough nice yet as he needs 100 plus, he's caught about 70 now. The person who is meant to help is never available, he doesn't answer emails. Ds hasn't even started writing the dissertation yet. This person has said he will meet ds Friday for just 30 minutes. He can't spare more time. Ds is getting quite stressed about it all. Is this how it usually is? Or should he be guiding Ds more? Should Ds complain to someone higher up or just get on with it?

I'm not sure I can help @icanbewhatiwant, as DS hasn't really kept me in the loop of how often he's seen the tutor who's overseeing him dissertation-wise. I don't get the impression it's been very often though (maybe a couple of times this academic year, with another scheduled for final suggested tweaks in the next week or so?).

Surely though if your DS is running out of time, he's going to have to revise research parameters (and mouse numbers), and discuss the issue with not having a large enough sample size as part of the dissertation and research process evaluation?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 he says it's not been discussed exactly what he's to do for the dissertation. He obviously knows he's analysing the droppings for parasites. He has emailed the chap numerous times, but just gets told he's too busy to discuss it. However Ds has got a half hour session booked. I thought the idea of the person being an advisor was to advise. Not to say he is too busy. I'll find out more as seeing Ds at the weekend. I know he's finding it stressful anyway. He's not got long left.

Luckily DD course doesn’t have compulsory Diss, that was its appeal ha ha. However had to do 2 modules in lieu so a mountain of essays due! Not having a great time of applying for jobs - the old adage of “you can’t get experience unless you have experience” is alive and well……

Morning all. DD home for Easter this weekend. She’s home a couple of weeks then to Malta on her postponed 2nd year field trip type thing. She had her last ever lecture this week!! Eek!

@icanbewhatiwant I feel your DS's frustration. So who came up with the idea of studying mouse droppings? Your DS or his academic supervisor? Usually you start with a hypothesis which subsequent research proves or even disproves!? If your DS is analysing the data as he goes along he should be getting a feel for what it's showing?

Has he talked to any of his course colleagues/friends? That might be helpful.

Unfortunately, all academic supervisors are possibly not equal in terms of how helpful they are and the amount of time they've got to give their students. It's not right though .

I guess your DS needs to see how helpful his supervisor is on Friday (you'd be surprised how much could be covered in 30 minutes), and ask if there's anyone else he can 'tap' for support in the lead up to the submission date. My main question would be to ask if he can work with the data he's got now and write up his dissertation using that?

Of course, he could also ask if he can get an extension so that he has more time to collect the data and write up the research? I'm not sure how much extra time would be given in an extension. BUT that might impact on completing other course work possibly still due?

For context, DS has more essays (I think two) to focus on once he's submitted his dissertation.

@icanbewhatiwant, I would echo what @NewModelArmyMayhem18 says - not all diss tutors are equal, and in DDs experience, they are usually very busy on their field of research and not as available as she would have liked/expected (given paying for not many hours of contact time doing a humanities BSc/MSc )
Also I know my two started with a general title/hypothesis which they fined up as they got on with their diss’s, but obvs humanities not science!

@Benjispruce5, Malta? How nice! Hope it’s not all work and no play DS is coming home on Friday too. Hopefully having finished first draft of diss

@VanCleefArpels, it’s so competitive for them now, getting even an internship for experience. They have to be so resilient and keep trying. Whilst still trying to get their studies done

Yes @bigTillyMint it was supposed to be South Africa pre Covid but Malta will do.

That sounds exciting @Benjispruce5! Malta will be lovely at this time of the year! Your DD is lucky to have got her field trip fitted in. As I think I've commented previously, DS doing a geography degree has done none in his three years (and they were included in the fee costs). And this year should have been an exciting one abroad. Nada and no mention of a partial fee refund for not having done any of them!

That’s terrible. I would be complacent if there was no talk of a refund. The trip was included but South Africa would have incurred a supplement. They had a choice of Greece, SA, Hong King and Scottish islands originally.

Complaining not complacent!

@bigTillyMint isn’t it just - although a bigger thing I think is that DD wants to work with a particular sector of society (think akin to social work but not social work if that makes sense) and a lot of jobs require either previous casework experience or “lived experience” of the type of issues that group faces. A foot in a door is required!!

@VanCleefArpels could your DS do some voluntary work in the field?

Once DS has submitted all his course work I'll encourage him to put in a request for reimbursement of the unused 'ringfenced-for-field-trip' fees!

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 maybe but the issue is she’d need to live away from home so earning is quite vital! Bank of Mum and Dad will be shutting up shop within a reasonable period after graduation (save for a roof over her head if she wants it)

Oops I'd kind of forgotten they're at that stage. They need to be so organised and 'on the case' really, almost from when they start at university, don't they? Everything needs to be strategic really, or so it seems. One of our family friends' DD has spent the past couple of years (after graduating) doing fairly basic jobs in social care/young person counselling, although she's also travelled and improved her spoken French in the process. It looks as if she has an 'end plan' although not privy to what it is.