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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

Hope the graduations continue to go well and you all cope with the heat. DD won't graduate until next year, but I think I'll get a lightweight dress in case it's hot, and smart cardi/jacket for an extra layer.

@ifonly4, I got a lightweight dress for DSs in Durham in July. I had to wear a jacket with it, and was glad I packed a small umbrella into my bag 🤣

That's great, if he's paid for it he may as well use it. Hope you got some lovely photos.

Well done @RedHelenB

Got quite chilly in Newcastle today. I'm glad I wore a jacket. 5 ceremonies today. It must get a bit repetitive for the vice chancellors to sit through 5 x 8 or so days of ceremonies.

Hope it all went well @RampantIvy

It did. A slight glitch when the photographer's equipment decided to stop working, but DD and her friend managed to get their photos done after the ceremony instead of before.

DD’s was afterwards too. 😊

And DSs! Seemed the right order - felt a bit cart before the horse when DD got hers done before, but no queue 😃

In our case timing was the issue. DD's graduation was at 5.30. It was a bit of a scramble to get the photos done, gowns returned and be at the restaurant by 7.30. I think this was why the itinerary suggested that photos were done before the last ceremony of the day.

DD found the whole thing very stressful and was very tired afterwards.

Loving all these graduation stories! Congratulations to everyone's DCs as I think this cohort have had a particularly tough time of it.

DD2 missed out on her undergraduate one through the Covid years but DH and I both going to her Masters graduation next week.

I agree @thing47 - they have had a really spoiled uni experience because of covid and have done brilliantly to graduate

I do think that at least they had it better than the year after them, who started their first years with most things online, restricted socialising etc. I’m really glad ds got a normal start, even though it was disrupted it meant that when he went back in the second year he was settled there, living with friends and so on.

It’s definitely been tough though. Christmas 2020 lockdown meant he didn’t see his girlfriend for about 8 months as she was back in Spain, and I’m impressed at how they navigated that.

I agree our lot have t had it the worst - they got to leave school normally, had Freshers week, lectures etc and formed relationships with their flatmates and course colleagues so that when lockdown happened in the second term they had at least some “proper” student experience. And now they are graduating in person which is a special experience

Really special graduation day yesterday though I was near more people yesterday than I have been in over 2 years so that was odd but nice (possibly why I, Dh and Dd2 haven’t had covid yet)! Dd got a big round of applause for top marks in the department, which she wasn’t expecting. I got to spin the wheel for a free pen/pin with the graduates, as I was alumini, as I graduated in exactly the same beautiful hall 29 years ago.

Newcastle is an amazing city. The university campus is so lovely and right next to/in the city. I will miss the walk down the busy ‘big shops’ Northumberland Street, elegant Grey Street then the swanky Quayside (with fab restaurants). Went to ‘Above’ for v expensive cocktails but the views were stunning, then Babucho.

My eyes may have leaked a few times as it was such a momentous day for so many reasons.

Ah @ZandathePanda that all sounds fabulous and very special. I’m glad you had a wonderful experience x

Aww @ZandathePanda so pleased you all had a lovely day! We also made it up to Newcastle when DS graduated in Durham - it’s a great city

We're planning our day (Thursday). DD1 has sorted it so that we will be allowed to park at the actual graduation venue due to DD2 being a wheelchair user. We're going to take photos at the museum where DD1 volunteers and have lunch. Really looking forward to it.

Glad it was a lovely day for you yesterday @ZandathePanda. No-one got a special mention at DD's graduation. They just went through the list of names. I thought the lecturers might have stayed for refrehsments afterwards, but they just all disappeared.

I hope you had an easier time getting out of Newcastle than we did. DD had to be out of her flat by 9.30 am, and then she had a house viewing at 2pm, so we left Newcastle at about 2.30 and took nearly an hour to get across the Tyne Bridge.

DD feels very flat now as she and her friends are struggling to find anywhere to rent in Newcastle. Apparently landlords don't like renting out to group of newly graduated students

The problem with newly graduated students Is that their income stream may be uncertain (compared to eg loan payments as an undergrad) and they may not pass usual credit checks done by letting agents if they’ve never had any debt (crazy!)

DD1 is sharing a house with 4 others - three who are doing a 4 year degree and one other who is graduating this year. All she needed to do was commit to sharing the council tax payments with the other non-student and put me as guarantor. She's working but part time at the moment, looking for more work. But she has substantial savings and will be fine.

DD thinks she will commute for the first few weeks in her new job. It’s only 2 days then 3 days (alternating ) in office until her friends start in September. They’re looking now for a share. At least we don’t have to broach the paying board subject. Suddenly we might have an empty nest of DD2 gets the right A level grades. Quite excited at the prospect as we all get on a lot better when we’re not on top of each other.

My phone refreshed and just deleted my message. 😡
Shorter version: thank you. And to @RampantIvy luckily we had booked a holiday further North, up the Northumberland coast - very fortuitously given the saner temperatures up here next week. Beaches glorious today.

@Benjispruce4, she didn’t have a trip to London yesterday, did she?
And I’m very jealous of your potential empty nest!

@ZandathePanda, very jealous of you too! I love Northumberland!

I know Northumberland well. DH is from Northumberland. The coast is lovely. If you want any tips or information just let me know.