Thread 52 - Covid GCSE Cohort - Autumn 24 - Start of Uni Yr 3

[Oblomov24]

2024 Autumn, start of year 3 for those at Uni.

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.

51 Previous thread - 51.

What science subject is your DS planning in studying @PhotoDad?
My DD is studying Biology at Nottingham and she is often over the road in the medical centre which is apparently much more of a wow factor.
They seem to be missing a trick by not showing potential students around there too.

@BlueMarigold DD got an offer from York but turned it down as tiktok listed York as boring. I still think DD made a mistake as would have suited her better (And I would have enjoyed visiting even more). Went to Nottingham last week and stayed the night at DDs house in Lenton. The uni campus is lovely. Nottingham city centre, no thanks not for me. We have been spoilt by having Liverpool on our doorstep.

@Heifer we live close to Liverpool but hadn't realised how lovely the university is. It would be high on the list for DS if we didn't live so close.

I think that's why I like Bristol so much as there's a lot of similarities to Liverpool.

Well done to your DD. On the opposite end of the scale would be my DD who is yet to ever get a job apart from a few weeks swimming coaching and gardening. Cant see it happening now until she finishes uni. She cant work during uni which I understand and she will have exams after their long break in Dec and April.

i havent really seen the uni tbh. It seems so spread out. DD always said if we didn't live so close she would have gone there. She may look to do a Masters there (although bf now has a graduation job in Nottingham so who knows)...

Love Bristol. Grow up about an hr away so have spent a lot of time there before moving up here.

Wow that is so impressive. To imagine our Dds/Dds in such roles is mind blowing. DD seems to have really matured recently, completely got her head screwed on and is doing all the right things at the right time. But being a medic
Is another level

Newcastle (and I'm sure all the other Med Schools) have very impressive routines set up for these eventualities - the students are removed from the ward if they are present at a death and encouraged to talk through the event. It's then followed up one week later and then again at the end of the teaching block.

Her Granny (a scientist with arty children) is so proud of this single scientist amongst her grandchildren!

That must have been difficult fir her but I’m sure any one of us would be grateful fir the care & attention given by medical professionals & students so o hope she takes comfort in that.

Yes, amazing to think of our DC as doctors etc. Where did the time go?

DS is Physics/Chemistry, two fairly ugly buildings around the corner from each other. I agree that the medical centre looked super! He is very keen on Nottingham campus; he also knows that the city isn't the greatest. An additional draw is that it's one of only two unis on his list with a Windsurfing team, which is his big sport. (The other one is Cambridge, which would be his first choice if he gets an interview and then an offer...)

@Heifer York is DD2’s first choice. She loved the city and the uni.

Dd also turned down York @Heifer because of the boring reputation plus the student body seemed very white to her, which put her off. In her case I think it was the right choice, she’s loved Nottingham - the city and uni (although unfortunately not the course).

Great to hear of the medics’ progress @KingscoteStaff !

@BlueMarigold DD is at York and very settled there. I guess not having their own student's union building makes it appear like a quiet campus university as it is unusual to not have one, but the college system seems to suit DD.

@handmademitlove what is your DD studying at York?

@BlueMarigold Maths - 3rd year now

@KingscoteStaff A lot of responsibility! Good to know there is robust support is place.

DS came home for a flying visit this weekend. As ever plenty of sport but managed to eat with us last night and we had a lovely pub lunch with the grandparents today...before back to the train station for an evening hockey match.

DD and I went to Preston yesterday to look at accommodation for next year - the city is cheap enough that a studio or one bed flat is affordable. The agency was a bit rubbish, she had viewings booked but the places weren’t suitable - they’re a bit unclear on which flat is which, and how many bedrooms they have 🤦‍♀️ But we saw two buildings that might have flats, and could establish they have walls and ceilings and don’t stink of damp or weed …

Also got to meet her best friend up there, and I had a nice little mooch in Waterstones, always a bonus. Incredible clear runs both there and back which was another huge bonus - DH woke up feeling ill or would have come and done most of the driving.

The best thing is she’s so excited to go back, just enough trepidation to make me think she’s not got total rose-tinted glasses on, otherwise positive about everything.

That's good news @DontCallMeBaby ! I hope her recovery is going well and she's been able to keep in touch with friends?

Thank you @crazycrofter 🙂 She’s doing okay, there are still some weird thoughts going on but mostly seems better bit by bit.

Friends have been back one weekend, and she went on a day trip to Bristol with one friend to see another. Included dinner out so a big step. Next weekend she’s going to Leeds with a couple of friends who are still home, to see a friend up there. That’ll be the first night away since she came home in April.

@DontCallMeBaby A lovely update. Sounds as if she is in a much better place for the break.

That sounds positive, small steps but significant ones.

Good to hear your update @DontCallMeBaby . I know she's not where you would ideally like her to be but it all sounds like positive steps in the right direction.

@DontCallMeBaby All positive news! One step at a time.

That's a great update @DontCallMeBaby - really positive.

Nothing much to report here. DS ploughing on with dissertation etc and various interviews and I'm back at work today after a week off - sadly! Was hoping for snow day and WFH but we've avoided it in our bit of North Yorkshire

So pleased to hear that @DontCallMeBaby

Not much to report here either, no snow. DH is away and there is a lot of it where he is, much further north, not sure how it will affect travel plans.