They settle in and we miss them. Uni Starters 2023 - Thread 2

[spamm]

I wanted to get a news thread ready for everyone as you wake up in the Uk.

We are settling into a routine of talking to DS on FaceTime on Sunday mornings after our breakfast, which is early pm his time. It is so nice to see his smile and catch up on how he is doing. I know at some point he will have a bad day, but so far he seems to be doing so well, I am ridiculously proud.

Hope you all have a good week!

It depends on where they are doesn't it. DS was at the half way point at the beginning of last week so he still has a long way to go. He doesn't finish until the very end of June and they all stay until the very end due to the extravaganza (festival) week which is the highlight of the year.

@CadyEastman DS has 6 -7 weeks to go and then finished for summer, depending on when he finishes his exams. Doesn't get an Easter break just the Bank Holidays

I didn't realise that they don't all get an Easter Break and that these things vary so much from one Uni to another.

It seems to really vary within courses in the same Uni too. DD has had much more down time than the others in her flat, as she's doing a non-science course that isn't exam based. She had 10 days off just after NY because of exams taking place for others, and has had 2 reading weeks where they had none. She's at Uni now for 3 weeks then back for Easter, and then finishes mid May,

Dd gets only a short time at Easter because it's in the middle of the trimester, but then breaks up at the end of May.

That seems really early Margaret.

Does your DD have any plans for the summer?

DD is home for five weeks over Easter from mid March (less than two weeks to go!) Then back for 8 weeks followed by end of term of balls. May Balls confusingly take place in June,

@CadyEastman

I think they basically have 2 trimesters with not much break between them, so it seems really short. I also suspect that may not totally be the end of term, just the end of her lectures, as I think there are exams that may go on after that, but not necessarily hers.

She hasn't got the summer planned yet, but I'm hoping she's going to be thinking when she comes home at Easter. I don't know if she'll be looking for a summer job or whether she'll do a series of short term ones. It probably depends on what comes up.

It's interesting how different the courses are. DDs boyfriend is doing CS and is in year 2 and doesn't seem to ever have huge amounts of work. DD is doing psychology and has a lot of work and has done since the start. She also gets no reading weeks whereas most others get one per semester.

This year has definitely gone so fast already. DD finishes mid June after her exams (I think the semester finishes at the end of May). She comes home in 3 weeks for Easter then another 9 weeks and it will be the summer break.

@NotDonna DD at Bristol is on one of the engineering courses. She just had a reading week,
I can't tell if she's actually happy at Bristol or not. Relies a lot on friends from home.
But seeing how much time others spend learning I suppose at least she's getting her money's worth.

@Z0rr0 DS in on a n Engineering course too and definitely doesn't get a reading week, which is harsh as he's the only one is his flat who doesn't.

He was off for a month at Christmas though and had a month at Easter too but a lot of that time will be revision as he has exams.

Yes DD has 2 weeks at Easter so not bad at all. I’m taking her and her younger sister away but I think she’ll have study to do ready for May/June exams. I think they finish early June but lectures end mid May. If exams are online then I’m guessing she’ll come home in May. But not sure especially now that she has a little job up there.

DS finishes for Easter in a few weeks time. Not sure quite how long he’ll be at home for. Probably should find out!

My ds' accommodation ends at the beginning of June but he's working in London throughout the summer. I'm not sure what he intends to do. I worry about him in multiple ways but he loves work and his ability to endure hard commutes/ organise work/ find places to stay, never worries me.

I'm ashamed to say the state of his room is genuinely shocking. I've never seen it in the flesh. But on FaceTime it genuinely upset me. Think of one of those hoarders programs. He's had a warning but so far escaped a fine. It's a total blind spot. I've sent him a list of- ie 1. Open the window 2. Strip the bed.

I know it's part of ADHD but so are a lot of things he's improved on. I dread him moving out of halls, as I can't have him leave a room in such a state.

Other news - dd 19 just had a baby is restarting her degree in September locally. She's really excited, and now we have to sort all the finance and childcare!

Oh wow, congratulations, grandma @stilldumdedumming ! I don't envy you the finance and childcare planning but I do envy you the new baby cuddles. All the best to your dd and gdc .

Congratulations!

@stilldumdedumming is he getting any support through DSA?

@CadyEastman No I wondered about that too. It's the basics - he is flying at uni and work. He could benefit from some coaching because he has improved his time keeping (which seemed impossible) so it is possible even if it is hard.

I talked to him about DSA before but he didn't want to go down that road. It's definitely a work in progress!

@CadyEastman and @ZittiEBuoni - thank you! He's gorgeous!

@stilldumdedumming Congratulations! Wonderful news.
DD came back home again this weekend. Last weekend we were up in York. Caught up with a couple of her school friends now studying up there. It was good to see them, all smiles and loving York. DD is happy in Bristol but not in the accomodation as others do not keep the kitchen clean and so she dislikes cooking in there. She worked Friday and Saturday nights but was on the first train home Sunday. She has made a couple of good friends and hoping to be living with them next year so I am sorting of hoping that we will see less of her when she settles in. This is double edged- I will miss her coming home but it will do her some good. I think she finishes mid May but we have had to pay her accomodation up until end of June. So far she has been using her wages buying concert tickets. I am apparently going with her to see and hear acts I have never heard of! The summer holidays will be interesting 😁

It's a shame about the DSA. I wouldn't say that DS is completely in track but it does seem to be helping.

His DCousin has ASD and has DSA. I think having another family member apply and be successful and more importantly benefit from the DSA helped him to decide to apply.

Sorry that post was as made for @stilldumdedumming 🤦‍♀️

Just finished a Mothering Sunday phone call with DD. She has just come to the end of a 3 night operatic society production run and has finally rediscovered her love for theatre which dissolved during Covid - I'm so pleased for her.