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

[LouisCatorze]

Previous thread

Congratulations to your DD @RampantIvy .

And well done to your DD too @gogohmm .

How is your DD2 @Benjispruce4 . Hopefully she has some school friends who decided to take a year out who she can connect with now she's back at home?

Well done to her @RampantIvy

Thanks to @LouisCatorze for signposting me to this page. It is more appropriate for me than the graduate one. Good to catch up on everyone's news, good and bad. Perhaps everything happens for a reason.
Good advice re bill splitting app. I must look at this, as it is likely to be a bone of contention in DS's flat. He prs the least. robably us

Thank you for the good wishes. DD seems to have gelled with her colleagues. She has taken in some baking for them today.

@RampantIvy - I’d def be more than happy to work with anybody who baked for me!
Hope she continues to enjoy it xx

Sorry, don't know what happened at the last sentence. I seem to be having a few issues with my touchscreen!

YThere was an interesting news piece on the BBC News this morning about how York University is helping students navigate the cost-of-living crisis. Apparently a lot have only £50 pcm to live on after they've paid their accommodation and utilities bills.

I think the bills are going to come as a shock to many. We haven't been involved in the agreements on DS's flat, and it seems that there is an allowance for utilities but that they pay everything above that. One of the flatmates isn't a student and works from home, the other two don't seem to understand the need to be more careful, leaving DS worried already. I'm not sure whether they have had a bill yet, and they obviously have no control over the tariff.

Yes I saw that @LouisCatorze!

@simbobs, I’m not surprised he’s worried - it’s difficult to know how much bills will be.

I'm very grateful that in DS's flat (NTU) the rent is charged per person per room .. including utilities. Private flat but a big company that seems to 'specialise' in student rentals.

DD is good thanks .She’s back at her bar job but a polio for several full time jobs which she has got through various stages of interview for on two. She’s also completing her ucas application, got her Head of Year to redraft her personal statement ( thanks for that prompt @LouisCatorze ) and he knows her much better than the member of staff who did it last year. I think this has been the right decision for her.
As for York, I’m still waits for my accommodation deposit. Hope they’re not using that ! 😂
DD1 is living it up on a team building week in a 5 star resort in Spain courtesy of her employer.

*applying

• waiting

I cannot imagine how worrying it must be to students to know that their money isn't going to go as far as it did last year because of rising costs. If you share with 'hot house flower' types, there will be increasing friction about how much to have the heating on or not.

Good to hear that your DD2 is getting herself sorted out for her gap year @Benjispruce4 . And how fabulous for your DD1 to get an away trip so soon into her career.

Also great to hear that your DD is settling into her new job @RampantIvy (yes, and taking in baking will definitely help her break the ice with colleagues!).

Just resurrecting this thread and wondering how everyone's DC are getting on as I have just returned from visiting DD.

The flatshare is going well and, although DD had to sort out the utilities, everyone is paying their share without any issues.

The job is also going well. DD managed to renegotiate her contract to reduce her working hours so it is more manageable for her. One of her flatmates also works for the same company, but in a different branch. The tales between them of their working days are interesting and sometimes funny.

She is having a bit of a reunion evening out as she is meeting up with with some ex course mates, some of whom have stayed on for their masters and one who has come back for a visit.

Hi @RampantIvy gkad it’s working out well for DD and she’s managing the new hours . I remembered how worried you were last year and she’s doing so well, you must be relieved and proud.
DD is enjoying London life. Her department were at an award ceremony on Park Lane recently for diversity and won an award. She’s certainly living it up. Had a chat with her earlier. She’s home on Christmas Eve for a few nights. They went back up to Durham the other week to stay with some of her friendship group that are on their 4 th year and loved being back.

Thank you @Benjispruce4. It sounds like your DD has landed on her feet. How is DD2 doing?

Lovely to see some familiar names and hear how your DC (young adults) are getting in. My DS is doing his fourth and final year at NTU and really enjoying it. Has a very nice flat share with two mates from the cricket club and thoroughly involved with social life and activities. Also doing some academic work! He has had a few 'informal chats' regarding jobs when he graduates. He seems keen to get into recruitment .. and wants to move to London; managed to get on the ski trip for December which he will love. I took my 90 years old DM for a night in his Uni city which she thought was great fun and he was very gracious and joined us for three meals all paid for of course . This weekend DH has gone up to spend a couple of nights with him and play golf and watch football together.

All sounds good. DD2 is working and has 4 offers for next year including York( her first choice last year) but for a slightly different course so she’s very relieved and can enjoy the next 9 months and get some money behind her.

@Ragwort In DD's first term of her final year she had time for socialising but then the work ramped up so much that she spent all of her Christmas holidays except for a handful of days consolidating lectures, completing assignments and revising for the January exams.

Then after Christmas it was exams, dissertation, dissertation presentation and final exams so her social life more or less got put on hold. She did stay behind at the beginning of the Easter holidays to attend a few birthday parties that got postponed due to dissertation deadlines. I hope your DS hasn't underestimated the volume of work in his final year.

That's fantastic news about your DD2 @Benjispruce4

Rampantivy I agree that I hope my DS hasn't underestimated the work load, but I will be honest in that I don't think he is at the most academically demanding of Universities... he tells me he gets good grades and seems to have a good rapport with his tutors but of course it's hard to know for sure . He doesn't have a wild social life compared to some students ... it's more CU and cricket club than night clubs ! In fact I was quite impressed that he was doing some volunteering in the local community this weekend.

Hi @bigTillyMint just had a call from DD who said she was out with ( I think your DS) the other night in Clapham.

Sounds like everyone’s DC are settled into their new jobs/final years!

Yes @Benjispruce4, he did! Sounded like they had fun. Glad your DD2 has offers - is York still her first choice? So much easier when they have their grades in their hands.

DS is still busy applying for vacation schemes, working at a local CAB, doing a bit of labouring and enjoying not having to study full-time!

Hahaha nice they’re still in touch. She went up to Durham a week or two ago to visit the boys that are doing a 4 th year. She said it was nice to go back but realised she’s moved on. The boy’s house was so cold and mouldy, it had grown into their duvets!!! They had yet to locate their boiler.🤨

Yes, DS couldn’t make that weekend despite it being one of his besties - they had had a big weekend in Brighton a week or so before. Sounds like he had a lucky escape 😃

DD is so looking forward to a Christmas without having to study. She has spent the last three Christmases except for a handful of days catching up with lectures, completing assignments and revising for January exams. She can switch off properly thtis year.