From the GCSE years, to graduation & beyond

[Dearover]

After sharing the Oxford & Cambridge years with so many of you, I think we can safely say we're now parents of adult children (& caring for elderly parents too in some cases). Here's a space to share their adventures without cluttering up the HE thread.

I think your DD's bf is a medic Dearover? Yes that's absolutely right. They're almost all in the same boat, with a batch of friends leaving after their third year and then more leaving after their fourth. Most of the house shares are 'mixed'.

DD already has her year 4 flat planned with old friends from school who are doing 4 year courses at other colleges.

There's even less point switching colleges then surely? Does she not like something about her current one HoneyMobster? Very few of the colleges offer accommodation for the clinical years - Magdalen does/ used to but it was a bit of an outlier.

He is indeed. He shared with Biochem from his college last year. This year it seems to be random medics, close to the JR, who understand that you may disappear to spend time in Swindon or other places. I think the medics & PhD students must get itchy feet & want to get out of student accommodation by the end of year 6

My DD moved out of her college accommodation after her Masters year. She was on a staircase with other 4th years (Masters or Linguists) so was happy there. For her PhD she shared with 4 others: 2 were PhD students, one a 5th year Vet, one PGCE and one was working. The next year the PGCE had a job so was teaching. The Vet finished and moved away so a new ECT (new name for NQT) colleague of the PGCE friend moved in. Then the LL wanted to sell up so after 2 years in that house, the 5 moved down to 4 as the working one moved in with her bf. The other 4, 2 PhDs and 2 teachers have been together in a smaller house for then last 13 months. They get on really well and are a genuinely lovely bunch.

DD is in a postgrad hall in a huge room. They guarantee new postgrads a room, which I suppose offsets the perk York grads receive of a discount off fees. It's a bit strange going back to the world of having no choice over your flatmates again.

DD just ran the Town & Gown 10k. Narrowly missed being in the top 100 females but not unhappy with her time. She only did it "for fun" with one of the aforementioned teachers and another uni friend!

In DS1's fourth year he shared a house in Cowley with three other medics. One was a friend from school, two were college medics. He drew the short straw and had the ground floor bedroom with no window. I was seriously shocked when I saw it. No idea how he made it through.

Well done again to DD1 Malbecfan!

I once stayed in a ground floor window free room in a Travel Lodge in Covent Garden. Never again. You could hear all the noises outside but had no idea what was going on.

I don't think DD has strong views about whether or not she'll change college. I said 'may' as it's a possibility she mentioned a while back rather than a definite view

I stayed in a basement windowless room in Liverpool at the Labour Conference last month. It was a weird experience to have no natural light ti gauge when it was time to wake up.

The discounts you receive for taking an inside cabin on a cruise ship are huge, so I can see the attraction if you are only going to use a room for sleeping. I like to be able to be more aware of what's going on outside (& irrationally feel safer on a ship of I can see the sea).

@Dearover I completely agree - I feel somewhat claustrophobic in windowless cabins on ferries. Maybe its after spending 6 months on a small sailing boat with no window - one cabin with 6 men and no loo or washing facilities...

In other news we are celebrating! DC1 (graduated in July) had a job offer today working in social services - it's a short term contract - likely to renew - but as he only needs 6-12 months experience to be able to apply for the post grad social work diploma it sounds perfect. Hopefully his DBS will come through quickly.

He's so delighted having yesterday being low thinking it had been a very flat interview. It was a leap into the unknown to move to a Sheffield with no job and not knowing anyone. Fortunately his house share has turned out well - three PhD students and 2 others and he loves being able to get out into the Peak District.

That sounds perfect @Juja. Good luck to him

Oh @juja that's wonderful news. I have to say my experience in the NHS is that short term contracts are extended about 9 times out of 10 (if they want that of course). I hope they enjoy it and the support is good.

Congratulations to DS @Juja . I manage and integrated Health and Social Care Team within the NHS and we are desperate for good Social Workers. And yes, and PermanentTemporary says 9 times out of 10 the contract is extended. Fingers crossed he enjoys it.

@Malbecfan very well done to your DD for her Town and Gown run a few days ago. My DS2 has recently started running half marathons and was very surprised by his first one. DS1 and I expected he'd be right at the end but instead, we didn't even make it to the Finish line as he was in the first lot.

@Juja, that's fantastic news about your DC1! Good luck to him and I'm glad he's found a nice flat share group.

Wow massive credit to your DS Juja.

Great news @Juja . Thanks @mutterphore , DD1 is becoming quite the runner. In other news it looks as though DD2 will have to work on Christmas Day. She is gutted but as we aren't that fussed about Christmas, I have told her it's ok. We're planning to meet next weekend as I'm taking my DF back to his home so he can do some admin etc. I can work from there and we can go to some football matches so DD2 is coming at the weekend for a women's match and DD1 midweek to a Champions' League match. DF and I should see them both and it ticks off a bucket list item for me.

@Juja that is great news!

DS did his first lab demonstration today. He thinks it went well.

He has also made a start on some reading. He's trying to be systematic and use referencing software to keep track of what he reads. I think his plan is to do a review of the literature which will help him understand better what work has been done so far.

Thanks everyone for all the good wishes for DS - much appreciated - we hope a really good first step on the ladder and a chance to see if social work is what he really wants.

These short term contracts seem to be a way for local councils to manage short term budget settlements and pressures... as many of you have said they are usually renewed...

Congratulations to your DS @Juja - it's great to hear of graduates going into social work. Such an important role.

Well done to your DD @Malbecfan on the run. I love running and am working on DS1 to get him to love it as well. He's asked to PARKRUN with me on Saturday so maybe it's working.

Good news for DS1. He's comfortably passed his first 2 professional exams. I think he'll do one more before Christmas. Only another 15 or so to go 😂

Well done to your DS @HoneyMobster - a great start!

Great news @HoneyMobster !

@HoneyMobster - what a marathon those exams are - one chunk at a time but sounds as though it's going well...

@Ironoaks that sounds very grown up - must be odd being on the other side of the bench doing the demonstrating - he sounds v organised. I sue Mendeley for software referencing - definitely pays to use a package

@Ironoaks I had a text conversation with DD1 about which referencing style she uses for her PhD (STEM) whilst my EPQ class was listening to a talk on referencing and researching from our wonderful librarian. I could then tell everyone that she uses IEEE because that's what the main journals she reads uses.

Good news about the demonstrating. DD really enjoyed doing it - she said supervising was great but some colleges were terrible at paying her. She ended up sending a Letter Before Action to one of them. Funny how they are quick at demanding fees from students but not so hot at paying academics. Then that college wondered why DD refused to supervise for them the following year.