Student parent support thread - New for Sept. 2010

[MiaWallace]

Starting a new thread for a new academic year.

Previous thread here

If you are currently studying a course or about to start one (at any level) please come and join us. We offer each other support, tips and encouragement, plus we use the thread as a means of procrastination

We started off the previous thread with a short introduction so here's mine -

I'm 30 years old. Recently married with a 5 year old dd. I completed my degree in Education studies in July and I'm about to start my primary PGCE in September.

Oh, just seen this, can I mark a place?

I'm about to start 3rd year Early Childhood at Plymouth. Had the intention to follow up with a PGCE but have split up with partner and will not have the money.I'm 32, one DD nearly 4 and need to do well this year so that I can get a good job as soon as the last essay is in!
I chose the ECS as it was funded and I could not travel to do the Education degree I wanted initially but I've found it OK. I'm doing OK. It's all OK . Except for bastard Student Finance who told me LAST WEEK that I had to re-apply from scratch (birth cert, letter from person who knows me etc and all). So no hope of any money for a good while for me .

To get an NUS card you just apply on the website www.nus.org.uk I think. They sent mine to my students union so I don't know how it'd work for OU - assume they just send it to you once received by OU?

that's great thank you!
eeeeep discounts here we come! :o

tippychoocks hope you get everything sorted out soon.its a nightmare waiting on student finance isnt it

mum72 our uni has a student services place that gives you info on where/how to get NUS card, I never bothered with getting one as our uni student id cards gets me discounts. So didn't see he point in paying for the nus one

Ok so another step on the road today

Got a letter from student finance saying they needed more info - passport, separation docs, kids birth certificates etc

So puddled down there and sat about for ages got it all sorted

Tick that box

well, got assignment back straight away, 92%, not too shabby I guess

feeling good about the last one (due in 10 days!)

algebra- go you, well done!!

92% thats fantastic algebra well done

Well done Algebra..that's really good

:)

Well done algebra.

This is not meant to belittle your grade at all, tis a genuine question.

My lecturers explained the marking system as roughly 70% plus was a First eqv, 60-70% a 2:1 and so on. They are fairly rabid about not marking at over 80% as they believe that over 80% should mean that the work in question is suitable for submission in an academic journal or at thesis level. 40% plus is a pass. Is this standard or does it vary with different degrees? How do external markers work if so?
I only ask because I've heard of a few people on MN report marks in the 90s (other threads) and been confused. This is unheard of on my course (ever I think) and I don't think we're that thick . So does it depend on the qualification/subject or just the lecturers?

Can possibly answer my own question if I work out what a TMA is?
Is it because marks like Algebra's v.impressive score are exam based and I'm talking about essays?

I think you're uni is possibly being quite harsh Tippy, I got over 80% in three essays last year (my first year) - it was good work but no way suitable for an academic journal and whilst it was unusual there were several other people who got similar marks.

What subject are you studying?

It's not something hugely academic, that's the confusion - Early Childhood Studies! I had over 70 in most of mine and a high 80s which was duly referred for publication and an unheard of mark for the course.
Smellypirate, I had over 70s in my first year and that was cause for considerable comment and lots of second marking etc.
Are they just mad then I wonder? Trust me to pick the begrudgers

Maybe it is because it's a slightly newer area of academic study, lots of potential for unique thoughts, critique, different ideas etc? Means they have higher standards?

I am doing politics and sociology and one of my essays was on the French Rev, no matter how good my essay might be I suspect there is very little I could add in terms of new perspectives that hasn't already been said in the last couple of hundred years therefore less likely to produce something worthy of publication?

I am just wildly guessing here congrats on getting your work published, that's fantastic whichever way you cut it.

No, I didn't let them, I thought it ridiculous . Have a bad case of non-entitlement here.Maybe when I actualy finish the degree but not now, I found it cringemaking.

Maybe you're right out the subject thing, I really don't know. It doesn't matter to me at all but I am interested in how it varies. I can see how exams do and subjects with a right/wrong can score up to 100% but as my Uni has always made such a fuss about this I am always dying to ask these questions when I hear of people getting in the 90s for work.

The publication thing I have a feeling, thinking on it, is a personal benchmark of the lecturers, not policy. I don't think that can actually be the rule! They don't have higher standards I'm sure, maybe just different. I read an OU essay published online (not here) from a very similar module to one I did and the poster said it had scored in the 90s (it wasn't good).Must just be one of those things

Ah, that explains everything! Thank you Prol (what nn do you prefer, Prol, Prole, Pro?).

I think I might change back to my old name, I was Ewe further up the thread.

Went and got all my stationary the other day. And a new academic diary (a4 day to page) and wall planner. I WILL be organized this year!

Really want to know when we go back, fed up of being in the house and having nothing important to do :(

On the plus side:

DROP THE PUCK, IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE EPL ICE HOCKEY SEASON! WOO!

Sorry, ice hockey keeps me sane at times of stress. I did every game last season as part of the match night crew for the Manchester Phoenix. Unfortunately the lecturer who was the match night director isn't in that role anymore so I'm going to have to pay for games and go to every other one or something (40 mins train ride and 30 mins tram ride for me).

I want a wall planner as well Lollipop have a vague notion of it organising me (not very hopeful though as nothing else has worked

I have just completed my first essay. Ok it was an easy 500-750 word reflective essay of my pre-pgce placement but I have been avoiding it all summer for some silly perfectly good, but forgotten- reason.

Hi all how are you getting on.

I have just had my first day, I have such a headache already! We won't have our definate timetable until the end of the week. All I know is I am in for full days all this week, next week I don't know yet

Thanks for the explanation, one more niggling question ticked off

Glad your first day went OK dylsmum. I'm not in till next week.