Oxford/Cambridge - current students support/chat thread 2022 - cont

[Panicmode1]

@petitebleu - so sorry to hear about your DS. I hope that some time out over Christmas may help to give him some space and time to think about his next steps.

I haven't probed too deeply about the completion of holiday work, in case I don't like the answer.

I know the answer and rather wish I didn't.

Apparently students used to study in the vacations back when I was a student - news to me. So not too worried about that. But in general the principle of not finding out too much works for me.

DS is going back on Monday - I did bravely ask about any holiday work but he said he's going to do it next week when he's back. He was exhausted this term, mostly I think by submitting many internship applications and doing lots of interviews. He is sorted for the summer now and is pleased as the company recruits their graduates (MSc) from their pool of 3rd year interns so he feels he will have a small advantage if all goes well.

As I said earlier, Dd has 5 assessed-for-final-grade-for-the-year essay-length pieces of work due in on her return. Holiday work therefore not optional. 3.5 done, which with severe chronic fatigue has taken most of her functioning hours. 3 days off so far during the holiday.

DS worked on catching up before Xmas and has been doing revision since. He's going back on Monday to do some rowing...I hope he's managed a bit of a mental break!

DD left on 30th and went to her BF's for New Year. His term started yesterday so she was back in the lab then too. She spent the grand total of 15 nights at our house in 2022. Not sure when she will next come home, probably in the summer. I miss her...

I haven't probed too deeply about the completion of holiday work, in case I don't like the answer

Very sound policy which I carry over into almost all areas of my DCs' lives. Ignorance and all that.

can'tkeepawayforever goodness this is hard for your DD poor thing.

Can't does your DD have the option of flexible deadlines in place under her study support plan? These can be a life saver.

Yes, she has flexible deadlines in her plan BUT she walks straight back into a famously heavy termtime workload, also all assessed. If she extended assessed vacation work deadlines, that would create the knock on effect of an even more unmanageable term-time workload.

This will happen again at Easter. Her only break of more than a day or two is in the summer vacation.

DD had a module in her first year which wasn't examinable and was simply assessed as pass/fail. She cut her losses on it and scraped a pass by doing the bare minimum. The advanced module was expected to be taken in her 2nd or 3rd year, again with a pass or fail awarded. With help from the welfare team she got confirmation that she could be given an exemption from it without it having any impact on her class of degree. Is there any scope for your DD to do the same?

Unfortunately, each piece of the vacation work and all term time work is assessed using a full range of marks, and each contributes a set percentage towards overall classification for the year. Thank you so much for trying to think of ways forward, though - it’s really appreciated. She’s hanging in there, bless her.

It appears that DS is going back 3 to 4 days early at the 'invitation' of a course supervisor although this does appear to depend how feasible this will be and if the invitees can make it from wherever they may be on the planet. It has been a quiet vac. for him with a few days off and otherwise head down in revision and vacation assignments. Much as we expected.

DD is going back mid week, next week ahead of collections.
Some ‘evidence’ of work having been /being done particularly when I’ve asked for help with ‘other stuff’…
@petitebleu we were on the ‘aspirants’ thread last year- how are things now?

DS and DD will go back to Oxford next Tuesday. They were both so tired when they got home but have definitely got their mojo back and are ready to go back. DD just needs to get back in one piece from her current ski trip.

pantjog thank you for explaining the river issue

@ProggyMat as of today, DS is no longer at C. It's been a tough decision but in the end I think the right one. The UCAS deadline is looming and DS is going to change direction completely for September. It seems that it wasn't just C that was a bad fit, but the subject too. Hopefully by the new academic year, he'll be better prepared to make the most of it, but I expect it will be closer to home - hoping for my alma mater, which was his choice after C.

Good luck to all of your DCs for the coming term. I'm sad not to be continuing on this journey, but it is wonderful to have DS home, happy and optimistic about the next few months.

petitebleu the very best of wishes to your DS. Happy and optimistic for the future is quite a prize. I have huge respect for a DC with that level of maturity and decisiveness.

Very best of luck to your DS petite.

@petitebleu wishing your DS the very best of luck on his new exciting journey!
Do let us know how he gets in- via DM if you prefer

@petitebleu , what a very courageous young man your DS is. Good luck to him and to you too for the future. It's so young to make major decisions about which uni and which subject and I think he's very wise to see, early on, that a different direction is now the way to go. Lovely for you if he ends up at your alma mater and some time out now from the treadmill of academic sounds like a very good idea.

@petitebleu - thank you for coming back to update, I'm glad to hear that your DS is feeling optimistic about the next chapter and wish him every happiness with his new course.

Best of luck to your DS @petitebleu. I'm so pleased he is happy and optimistic for the future - what a great space for him to be in, and how brave of him to have made (what I'm sure) was a difficult decision.

@petitebleu just lots of warm wishes for your ds on this next step of the journey x

All the best to your DS, @petitebleu ! Amazingly decisive.