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

[LouisCatorze]

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@icanbewhatiwant yes my DC was on the biology course at UEA, same as yours I believe, he didn’t enjoy the course very much.
He’s now doing a very different course, it’s ran by the International Politics department, he’s studying International relations and military history, so far really enjoying the subject and topics, many of which are very poignant in todays unstable world with horrible wars going on.
We don’t see him much though as Aberystwyth is too far away for him to come home much, he will come back for a month or so for the summer, but he has to start paying for his second year house mid August so he may go back quite early.

Sounds like your DC is having a great time in New Zealand and Australia, they are great places to travel, also coming back up through South East Asia if he chooses to do that, my husband and I did a similar gap year from work when we were 30ish, ( a long time ago 🤣) we had a great time and returned refreshed and ready to get back into work and life.

@Itscoldouthere you said he was interested in military history. I'm glad he's found something he enjoys.

Ds2 enjoys history, he's doing it for his degree at Sussex. He's going to Brisbane university (UOQ) for year 3 so I'll have 2 dc's in Australia at the same time.

@icanbewhatiwant how funny, do you think you might consider going over to see them both?

@Itscoldouthere ds2 will be off for the uni summer break December and January. The rest of the year he needs to stay in Brisbane and study. If it wasn't the hottest time of year in Australia then, it would be tempting to go. Also dh won't fly so he wouldn't go. ds3 would come with me, but he will be in year 11 then, so gcse time, dh has suggested I go with ds3 for 3 weeks at Christmas. But I feel it's mean to leave him behind over Christmas, as I said, the heat puts me off too.

@Itscoldouthere really good to hear from you. Good news that your DS2 has found a course he is enjoying. I have several friends who went to Aberystwyth (many years ago) and loved it. A real tonic to be by the sea and have access to the beautiful countryside of Wales too.

Sorry to hear that your DS1 is hitting a bit of a brick wall job-wise. Could he not still do an apprenticeship, even with the private qualification? Hopefully, it's a 'blip' that can be got beyond.

How is your dog doing, and how are you enjoying being back in the UK? Do you miss Canada?

You'd have a fantastic time in Australia @icanbewhatiwant . Fabulous for your two sons to be in Australia at the same time. Although do I remember correctly that they don't get on that well (or is that DS3 and one or the other of his siblings)? At least if you went to Brisbane, you'd have the Gold Coast to enjoy.

@simbobs 🤣
Glad he’s managed to find a new job (and keep afloat in the interim!) as well as remaining friends with the ex - that’s not easy!

Good luck to your DS @Ragwort, and great he could move in with friends too.

@CheapThrillsMeanNothing, sounds like your DS is living his best life! It would be fab to go and visit.

My DS is waiting on his results after finishing his second lot of Law Conversion exams - takes over 2 months for them to come through, but he’s filling his time - currently on a short break with a very large group of uni friends 😃
If he passes these exams, he has another full year of study (and living at home!) before starting his Training contract.

@LouisCatorze My dog is still around, he’s starting to show his age now, his teeth aren’t in a great shape and he’s losing some vision, but he seems very happy back here in London, he is very attached to my eldest son, who is living with us, as he looked after him a lot last year as my DH job moved from Canada to NYC, so I spent a lot of time going backwards and forwards, as DH was living there full time.

I miss some things about Canada and NYC ended sooner than we expected, so I felt I didn’t really get bedded in to either place, but actually I’ve enjoyed coming back to London, being closer to friends and people we can do things with, we spent a lot of time on our own in Canada, so now really appreciate our friends. I do really miss the blue sky days and I’m getting fed up of how grey it is here.

The problem for my DS seems to be, that most apprenticeships have government funding built into the college element, which employers access and my son already has taken some of the qualifications that they fund, so can’t take them again, it seems like it’s a linear process, at least that’s what he’s finding/telling me. He has recently got through to the final interview stage for a semi related job, not what he really wants but if he gets through the next interview round, he would take it as it has practical training and would be a good first job for him 🤞🏻

What are your DC doing now, sorry I can’t remember.

spotted this today in my watched list and very appropriately DS2 has just called to update that he's finished his final exam!

that's it - all done, no more kids in education!!! no more exams!!

He's got plans for a bit of travel over the summer and starts grad job in mid Sept.

feels like end of an era.

@Itscoldouthere good to hear your update and that your dog is okay. Fingers crossed for your DS1 with final interview stage role. He just needs a foot in the door, doesn't he?

DD is on the verge of finishing A Levels, planning to take a year off before uni (likely to reapply to different ones once she has her grades in hand), working for eight months then a trip to SE Asia with her besties. Enjoying the high life. Slightly worried that she's going to spend all the money she earns. She's renowned for being a spendthrift!

DS is now in his first proper graduate role (in sustainability) in London, and has recently moved in with his g/f. He passed his six-month probationary period (phew) but is already on the lookout for his next job. Much more career / income motivated now that he has expensive rent to pay.

@Eve well done to your DS. Hope he enjoys travelling. It really is the end of an era when you no longer have DC in education at all. I'm feeling a bit like that with DD, with her last exam paper looming.

@LouisCatorze yes ds1 and ds3 don't get on at all. Ds2 isn't that keen on ds1 either, but they will meet up when out in Australia.

@LouisCatorze well done your DS sounds like he’s doing well at adulting 😊 I hope he’s enjoying living and working in London, hope all went well for you DD and you get good news in August.

@icanbewhatiwant i remember saying your DS don’t get on, I suppose it’s something that happens, I come from a big family and don’t have much contact with several siblings, it’s aways been that way and works for us all. I hope you can go to visit in Australia though, it would be a great trip.

@Eve yes end of an era, for me the best thing was not having to do the dreaded school run anymore, we were living in the countryside so I had to do a school run every day even in secondary school, I certainly don’t miss that, but it is very different once they leave school.

@icanbewhatiwant you may find that your DS get on better having had some space in their sibling togetherness? Hopefully so. If your DH is okay with you going over to see them both when they're in Australia, you should go. It might be a once in a lifetime opportunity!

@Itscoldouthere hoping your DS1 finds a job very soon. Thanks for good wishes for DD for August. She's perked up a lot since discovering that theoretically she could get into Exeter with BBB (for geography).

@LouisCatorze I’m glad to hear that about your daughter, it’s great when they have a goal that they feel is achievable.
I know quite a few friend/familys children who went to Exeter, all had a very lovely time, a couple did Geography, one is still doing it and is currently on their year out studying in university in Japan, their parents have just had an amazing visit out to see them, it seems like a very good course.

@LouisCatorze sadly...I don't think ds1 and ds3 will ever like each other. I'd love them to though. They could at least just be nice to each other. I'm asking them to get on well. Just be nice.

Thanks for intel on Exeter (particularly for geography) @Itscoldouthere . DD interested particularly in the Penryn campus. I have been trying to encourage her to consider less expensive parts of the country universities-wise. But she's not for turning! However, the subject that she felt went least well was her geography A Level, so Exeter might not be achievable if she slips a grade in it. Time will tell.

@icanbewhatiwant there's a reasonable age difference between your DS1 and DS3, from what I remember? Maybe when your youngest is a bit older, they will settle into an easier relationship. Is there a lot of competition between your boys?

DD and DS didn't get on well at all as youngsters, but they are on much better terms now that DS treats his sister as more of an equal.

@LouisCatorze yes quite a big age gap.
Ds's are 23, 20 and 15
They have argued so much over the years, it seems to get worse as they get older with ds1 and ds3 😔 ds's 2 and 3 are mostly ok now.