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Higher education

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

Original poster

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

995 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 16/02/2022 14:18

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RampantIvy · 03/04/2022 13:04

DD also has a heavy workload over the Easter holidays. She had a week off to catch up on sleep and to party, and has been glued to her desk sibce she came home. She has been updating her lab book and is now preparing a presentation of her dissertation, then will be revising for exams.

She is so done with studying right now and is definitely not going straight into a masters.

bigTillyMint · 03/04/2022 16:48

@icanbewhatiwant, that is disappointing for your DS. And I think they nearly all feel lack of interest/motivation in their final year. Mine and many of their friends definitely!

@RampantIvy. 5th at sounds v sensible for your DD. Mine went straight to MSc because of covid (unsure of jobs sitch), she didn’t think she would ever want to go back once she started working, and because she knew exactly what she wanted to do and TBF it links perfectly with her grad job/promotion in the future.

bigTillyMint · 03/04/2022 16:48

That sounds!

blametheparents · 04/04/2022 15:32

DS has just found out that his last exam is the 18th May!
All over in 6 weeks time!

ifonly4 · 05/04/2022 10:39

I can't believe how quickly it's gone. DD is on her year abroad and their term doesn't finish until July. She still has another year to do in Edinburgh so it's not over for her. She's hoping to flat share with a friend she met in first year, and was part of a group that shared in year 2.

RampantIvy · 05/04/2022 11:26

DD also has over 20 lectures to consolidate as she had to stop to do her dissertation. I don't understand how some students get by or seem to get so little work. What kind of degrees are they doing?

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/04/2022 11:40

Doesn't it depend rather on the type of degree you're doing? STEM subjects seem much heavier on time spent in university lectures/seminars/lab work than humanities ones (which seem to necessitate more self-directed learning?).

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 05/04/2022 11:59

There is that, but DD also seems to have more self directed learning as well. Having CFS doesn't help.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 05/04/2022 13:26

Perhaps some young people report more accurately what they've got to do to their parents than others?

DS certainly did a couple of assignments (and an open book exam) earlier on this term (but he didn't tell us exactly how many!), plus his dissertation. He's now putting the finishing touches to a 'reflective piece' (2000 words) on his acquired dissertation research skills , and has another couple of assignments to do before his course finishes in six weeks or so. That seems like quite a lot of 'counting towards finals' work for one term. Whether it is more or less than peers doing different subjects at the same/different universities isn't something I'd have any way of knowing really.

And I don't know if this is true but I can imagine that very diligent young people are possibly more likely to consider they have a greater workload than those who generally don't sweat the big stuff?

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 05/04/2022 13:37

@RampantIvy, I know DS has worked steadily all year. And infact all through last summer holidays and Christmas holidays as he had to do so many applications and assessments on top of the already heavy load of study. He tries to get a balance of socialising too.

He says he should be done by the end of May.

RampantIvy · 05/04/2022 13:40

DD puts a lot of pressure on herself to do well. She always has done. She has been working at a first nearly all the way through university and I know she will think she is a failure if she doesn't achieve a first. I won't BTW.

blametheparents · 05/04/2022 13:40

And I don't know if this is true but I can imagine that very diligent young people are possibly more likely to consider they have a greater workload than those who generally don't sweat the big stuff?

I think that this is quite likely, and probably accounts for some of the discrepancy. DS is quite hard working and tends to stress a bit when he has work to do (though he has improved since 6th form days) while others are more chilled out.
He has hit all the deadline for his diss, but the final submission date isn't until early May and exams are mid-May. He is stressing about it, I imagine others are not!

RampantIvy · 05/04/2022 13:42

DD stresses for England.

Benjispruce4 · 05/04/2022 15:10

I don’t get told much at all. DD says she can’t be bothered to explain.Grin All I know is she ended year 2 with very high grades and seems to be continuing that way. Fingers are crossed she can see it through and fulfil her potential. She’s always been a self starter and not needed any encouragement or interference from us.

bigTillyMint · 05/04/2022 15:18

@Benjispruce5 - you’re living the dream! Smile

Benjispruce4 · 05/04/2022 15:37

Ha ha as far as her studies go yes, personal emotions are a different ball game.Hmm

bigTillyMint · 05/04/2022 17:48

Well, that’s girls @Benjispruce5 Hmm

Benjispruce4 · 05/04/2022 18:04

It sure is and I have two! Confused

VanCleefArpels · 06/04/2022 07:20

Good news from DD - the marking ban has been abandoned by the academics so business as usual. Phew! She’s finishing her last couple of essays before she comes home at the weekend so she can have a proper break before revision starts in earnest. She’s always been a hard worker mostly because it doesn’t come easily for her (she prefers online lectures for example so she can watch them more than once). I think the ones who apparently get by with minimal effort are the ones that are more “naturally bright”

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 06/04/2022 07:52

That's good news @VanCleefArpels.

OP posts:
Notagardener · 06/04/2022 08:01

"DD says she can’t be bothered to explain"

Yes only substitute dd with ds

minesawine · 06/04/2022 09:08

Does anyone have a DC who refuses to think about work and life after university. My DC had great plans but is now saying he doesnt want to decide what he will do until he has finished. I am quite frustrated with him, but trying to be calm and not my usual pushy self.

bigTillyMint · 06/04/2022 10:19

@minesawine, I actually think that’s quite sensible at this stage - they have enough to focus on!

Benjispruce4 · 06/04/2022 11:11

I agree with @bigTillyMint. DD was wearing herself out applying for grad scenes that came to nothing. I think now she’s focusing on getting her diss and assignments done and enjoying the limited time they have left after all the lockdown stresses. There’s been mention of travelling and I’m all for it. There’s a whole lifetime of work ahead.

VanCleefArpels · 06/04/2022 14:45

@minesawine

Does anyone have a DC who refuses to think about work and life after university. My DC had great plans but is now saying he doesnt want to decide what he will do until he has finished. I am quite frustrated with him, but trying to be calm and not my usual pushy self.
I think it can go both ways . My older one was quite anxious about work and after many unsuccessful applications took the first job he was offered which may not have been the best move. He started a week after he came home from Uni so no chance of holiday/ decompression etc. it’s worked out in the end and he’s now 3 years into a career path. DD on the other hand is applying sporadically (she wants something quite niche) and has said that if she ends up with a job in a supermarket or something just to get a bit of pocket money then so be it. I’m ok with that but would be the first one to leap on her if it seems the main objective is slipping
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