Thread 48- Covid GCSE Cohort - Summer before Year 2 Uni

[Oblomov23]

Summer ending. Year 2 for many at Uni about to start.

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and advice to be had.
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old thread 47

Hi heifer, I think he did, yes. I forgot to ask!

Hi everyone, I've been away so just had a massive readathon catchup. My DS went back to Notts while I was away and the house feels very empty again with just me and DH here. DS seems to be settling into his house ok but not sure he's getting out and about too much yet, seems a bit quieter than this time last year! His GF who lives a couple of hours away came to visit him for the weekend before classes started and I think he's spending most evenings at home messaging/talking to her. I don't want to decry young love but also want him to have a three-dimensional social life and not spend all his time pining. Not sure that I can express that view in any way that doesn't sound like I am criticising the gf, which I'm not - she's a nice girl but she isn't THERE.

I will have missed things but updates that caught my eye:

@Piggywaspushed hope your DS continues ok, he isn't going to try to move?

@craggyrat and @singingstones my DS having no luck with jobs in Notts either. He doesn’t have loads of experience but not none, thought he’d find something, he’s quite down in the dumps about it.

@285NeuerNamen - my dd had a sports injury while at uni and couldn’t play netball, but she went to all the matches to cheer and made herself useful where she could - and therefore felt happy going along to the socials. Encourage him not to drop out of sight just because he can’t play right now. They can always use support!

@mummyinbeds does your DS deep clean the kitchen as an anxiety coping mechanism? I hope he is settling into his schedule more solidly now.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn my DS appears to have his timetable and all working out smoothly. He was feeling proud that he’d put it all into a Google calendar now so felt more on top of things. I have no idea how he remembered to go to the right place at the right time last year without some sort of calendar. Some things it’s just best not to ask

@Cantonet I have a couple of nosebleeders too (though never the eyeball experience) and am one myself, and agree dry air was often a trigger. Like photo dad, also had a cauterised nostril! Worth getting a humidifier?Though most student accommodation so far appears to be the opposite of dry!

@PhotoDad - loving the art from Seville, am really in awe of your dd’s talent

@Heifer am speaking to DS this week and will ask but last I heard he was still figuring out best route into uni, mainly walking was his plan which is great while the weather stays but be good for him to know more about dry options for when it gets cold/wet

@blinkbonny you just made me laugh out loud 🤣 I'm guessing DS cleaned the kitchen because the five girls he lives with told him to. He is quite a tidy person, but cleaning 😂😂😂. Having said that he did ask for a cordless vacuum for Christmas a few years ago and was delighted when Santa delivered - strange kid. The novelty soon wore off.

@blinkbonny DS still doesn't have his full timetable unbelievably. he has emailed and dropped in to student services but we're now in week two of missing lectures for his elective module. He doesn't know anyone else taking it so can't even ask them. 😖 Have also just forked out nearly £150k on three books for this year's compulsory modules - yay!

@mummyinbeds has your DS got anywhere with the clashes issue?

I'm wondering if the job issue in Notts is because it's such a student city? So many of them all chasing the same part time work?

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn he filled in a clashes form yesterday and they said it should be sorted within three days. By then he could have missed two weeks of French which is all workshops and oral classes so no opportunity to catch up online.

150k on books - I know they're expensive but that's a bit excessive 🤣

It felt like £150k!! 😂

He's just called me, they have emailed back saying they have no record of his form for the additional modules which he submitted last term. This is entirely to do with him having to resit, I know it. He now has to apply again, they haven't told him how long it will take to make a decision - don't know if they are full now either. Absolute bunch of muppets.

@mummyinbeds and @JustHereWithMyPopcorn it is a bit worrying that the Law department is so chaotic, I would have thought they would be one of the ones with a lot of processes and rigour! I hope they get it sorted soon, it's not fair to miss out on assignments or entire modules because they can't keep track of paperwork. on your behalf.

I do think Notts must have enormous pressure on students chasing temp jobs. My DS is very keen to get one and be more self-sufficient (plus he has the gf visits to fund) so I hope he can find something.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn one clash is sorted, one to go. It does mean he's missed two hours of French already this week 🤦

@blinkbonny I think the Nottingham law department is just far too big. It's very easy to fall through the cracks. Only the French department noticed DS wasn't enrolled and contacted him. I doubt law know who he is or if he's there.

Maybe your DS could get a job in the law department admin team 😁

DD passed her driving test🎉 First time, 3 minors. She's over the moon. Currently driving DHs car very tentatively round the block just so she's actually been out on her own before going back to uni tomorrow 🤞

Excellent news @Seeline!

Well done mini-Seeline!

Great news @Seeline !

Well done @Seeline , nice to tick that one off. I think we are taking a car to DS at UEA so that the one he and his brother use gets a bit of use in the next 6 months, will be useful for getting to rugby, but I don't think they really need a car in Norwich.

@Monkey2001 -i think most of the city and local stuff is fairly easy to get to without a car. Would be nice for shopping though! Not sure where you could park a car for first year though.

Well done @Seeline DD 🚗

Congrats to @Seeline DD!

@Seeline there is street parking near village, so I think that is his best bet. I am sure he could be in demand for lifts back from Aldi!

@blinkbonny and @mummyinbeds I agree the law department is massive. you'd think they'd have the appropriate numbers of staff to manage it though.

Congratulations to your DD @Seeline 🍾DS has his car in Notts but only uses it to go to the gym and to Lidl. I think he slightly terrified of the road/tram system around Nottingham (don't blame him to be honest!)

@Seeline Great news!

Yay congratulations to your DD @Seeline - beep beep!!

Glad one clash is sorted @mummyinbeds and fingers crossed DS gets his timetable sorted soon @JustHereWithMyPopcorn

Hoorah Seeline dd 🚘

Seeline there is some parking in the side roads off of Wilberforce Road (to the left), very close to The Village.

Great news well done mini @Seeline !

Congratulations to your DD Seeline!

JustHere, what your boy is going through re Notts disfunction sounds just shocking, how you guys are keeping it together…