University 2019/20 intake: next steps (some still students but many now graduates)

[LouisCatorze]

Previous thread

Congratulations to @Shimy and @Decorhate DC. I agree with @ZandathePanda that the agencies can be very proactive. DS was put forward for more interviews that he took because he had found the one he wanted and another that he would accept if not offered the preferred option. He wouldn't have got the job without signing up to the agency, though so it was well worth doing. He is enjoying the job so far, thankfully.

@Shimy Ds got his placement very late in the day & by that stage was committed to accommodation so could only go for places near his uni town. But he likes it there & will be happy to stay living there after graduation.

I feel a bit mean that I am silently hoping ds2 does not do a placement. Dh has had a long term sickness, held on to his job by the skin of his teeth, but is now facing redundancy. I think he would like to take early retirement (as would I tbh!) & a placement year would mean delaying that…

@Decorhate
Sorry to hear about your DH's illness and the work situation. I can see your predicament, please don't beat yourself up about it.
Another way to look at it is, he'll be saving you some money next yr if he does a placement, that is if they pay him a decent wage and it will greatly increase his chances of getting a job when he graduates which will mean he's financially independent from you long term.

Good advice @Shimy. I know many DC that got job offers from their placement company. Sorry about your DH @Decorhate. I know we are not meant to tell our DC this but there is more to life than work.

Finally some good news - DS has landed the Training Contract of his dreams! Phew, because he had no Plan B!
So incredibly pleased for him and very proud. From a state comp, no lawyers in the family/friends - it feels like more of an achievement than the degree!

Congratulations to your DS @bigTillyMint 🍾

@bigTillyMint Congratulations, that's wonderful news. Well done him.

Well done DS of @bigTillyMint@bigTillyMint. I know just what you mean. Hopefully he will spread his wings and fly.

Thank you! 🍾 has been drunk 😃

That's wonderful news @bigTillyMint. Congratulations to you DS

Congratulations to him!

Congratulations to your DS @bigTillyMint ! That's great news.

Thank you!

Congratulations to your DS bigTillyMint - wonderful news. We went to our DS's graduation ceremony today (one of the very last!) .. a lovely day and so proud of all our young people ... and thank you to all who have contributed to this supportive thread over the last four years.

Hello
I hope everyone is well. I just wanted to come on and share my news. Finally, after covid, online teaching, year 3 at home due to significant illness, and a marking strike at the end of year 4 my DD finally got her degree results today. She got a first in her MSci natural sciences and I am so incredibly proud of her. Have to admit I was sobbing when she told me! She worked so hard but I have to say the support she had from tutors at Durham was fantastic. She's living her best life running sailing tuition to kids at a boarding school in Scotland at the moment so not really related to her science degree, but this opens up all sorts of options for her now.

Congratulations mini chocolate!

Well done to your DD @chocolatenutcase

Well done to your Dd! Nice to see there’s still activity on this board again - so amazing to think this was all started pre covid!

Popping on to say how much I have enjoyed hearing everyone's stories.

I have had this thread on my watch list from the beginning since we were all on the A level thread !

I dropped off when ds started uni as the thread was moving too quick for me and I had nothing exciting to add 🤣!

DS ' s uni didn't do special Freshers dinners or galas or anything really !

And then I just followed stalked everyone's news 🤣.

It is lovely that the same people are still here .

DS got a job in his uni city and now has a flat with his gf who he met at uni.

His job his 1/2 connected to his degree.

He really enjoyed 2 subjects equally at A level.
Took a degree in 1 of them which overlapped with the other one....and got a specialist job in the 2nd subject which he does not have a degree for 🤣🤣.

So lovely to catch up .

Love this thread and hearing how our young people are getting on ... my DS is now in New Zealand, initially on a six month working visa and having the most fantastic time, has been made so welcome and made lots of friends.

Congratulations to your DD @chocolatenutcase - worth the struggles. And that the strikes are finally over so she and others can get their final results!

Congratulations to your DS too @bizzey - sounds like he made good choices at Alevels! Sounds like he’s very happy.

And @Ragwort, I’m not surprised your DS is loving NZ - it’s a beautiful country and very friendly. Do you think he might stay long term?

My DS is studying for his Law Conversion- it’s very pressured, but I guess the job is too!

After a long hiatus, this thread popped up on my list again. DS is enjoying his graduate job since he graduated this summer. He is lucky enough to be working close enough to still live at home and save. Good to read everyone else's news.

Congratulations @chocolatenutcase that is awesome! what an achievement. That is not an easy course to get a first in.

Congrats @Ragwort & @bizzey They all sound like they have landed on their feet.

Dd has also moved back in to save. She likes to make very healthy meals from scratch with lots of fresh ingredients but only plans it there and then so goes back out to the not so local supermarket. She is a good cook but it would be lovelier if she didn’t finish them at 10pm. I have also had to deep clean and mend the washing machine and dishwasher twice each in recent weeks as she doesn’t prepare stuff before in goes in. I love her to bits and she’s so bright but her pace of life is very different. She’s a whirlwind. It makes me feel old! I feel a right grouch explaining the concept of dishwasher scum, filters and u-bends!

Oh, I was thinking about this thread at the weekend, so great to hear some updates!

DS has started his first, proper graduate job now but hoping to keep his hobby-related one as a side hustle. He and his g/f are saving to move in together in the spring, provided they can find an affordable flat to rent.

Congratulations to your DD @chocolatenutcase . That's quite an achievement. Good to have some 'space' to do something entirely different, before committing to a specific career pathway.

Well done to your DS @bizzey and your DS @Shimy .

Great that your DS is spending time in NZ and really enjoying it @Ragwort Wonder how your DS is getting on @icanbewhatiwant ? Is he still over there, or back?

@ZandathePanda I hear what you're saying and empathise. DS caused a major soy sauce gate incident the other day. Broken glass and sticky sauce all over the kitchen floor because he'd balanced a nearly full bottle precariously in the cupboard.

@bigTillyMint yes, unfortunately, your DS's pressured course is the shape of things to come when he starts work as a solicitor (we have a family member who went down that path). Good luck to him.

How nice to read everyone's news, and congratulations to all DC, too many to tag now. It really is amazing how far they have all come since 6th form days and their first shaky starts at uni. My DS is still working in the job he got after finishing, a few wobbles but he is hanging in there. He and his gf moved into a small rented house as they had got themselves a puppy and needed a garden. They aren't too far away but we don't see DS very often as he has quite a busy social life, as well as work. He often goes back to his uni city as many of his friends stayed there. Out of his school cohort he seems one of the most grown up as many others still don't have a graduate job, a source of amazement to many of the parents who have known him since he was a toddler. Waiting for the house of cards to fall down....