Thread 54 - Summer 25 - Graduations after Uni Year 3

[Oblomov25]

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.
Previous thread 53:
Thread53

More great news!
I love this thread 😁

It would be interesting to do a call-out to old members to have a general catch up.

@Oblomov25 I think it was a poster called @whoamitojudge .

That's absolutely fantastic for your DS @Aslockton !

@Piggywaspushed Was thinking about your DS1 and wondered whether he has had a look at profiles on linkedin of people who studied the same course as him to see what they are now doing and also, looked at profiles of people doing the kind of jobs he's applied for but got rejections, to see what quals or experience they had? I just wondered because I unashamedly do look at profiles on LinkedIn, and it's a wealth of information that has really helped with advising my two. In rl it can be difficult or awkward asking pointed questions but the beauty of LinkedIn is its all anonymous.
(yes, i know you can tell who's looked at your profile etc etc, we can worry about that later )

That’s a really interesting shout @Shimy my DS2 is currently looking at uni courses and is leaning now towards taking pure Chemistry and I don’t know what he would do with that post grad. Do they just go into lab research or be a teacher? I mean I’m sure there’s loads of things but that’s all my brain keeps thinking!

I doubt he knows anyone! His mates on different courses are either working in non grad family jobs or working for Trailfinders. DS got rejected from their grad scheme.

He doesn't want to be a high flier. He just needs a job that isn't working on a temp contract for Dunelm!

Thanks for starting the thread @Oblomov25

That is fantastic news on the team Silver @Aslockton

@socks1107 That's a great update. There are many of us here who have had various struggles, DS dropped out of uni after 18 months and was in a bad way MH wise. He thankfully is so much better now and has a well paid job he loves with prospects.

Anyone know much about OU? DS is considering starting his degree again there while working, hoping to get work to pay for it but hasn't broached that yet.

I did chemistry at uni. There are loads of things you can do with it. I started off in R&D, but these days I’m a patent attorney. My contemporaries pursued a variety of avenues: investment banking, academia, accountancy, management consultancy, civil service - one even became a monk!

My DS is also studying chemistry. He’s just finished his first year at Newcastle, and is really enjoying both his course and student life in the city.

Thanks for the new thread @Oblomov25 your boys, what are they like

@Aslockton well done to DS, what an achievement!

@socks1107 so pleased to hear from you again, your DD has done so well.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn well done to DS1! I’m a chemist too, not many from my course stayed in chemistry, they went off into all sorts of things, engineering type work and several work for places like water companies, environment agency, some went into business jobs such as marketing and finance. I shifted sideways a bit into biology but still work in science, have worked my entire career in private sector R&D/manufacturing (field of healthcare), moving into quality assurance many years ago but I am starting a secondment back into the labs next month (we are a very flexible company and I did similar a few years ago, I like to keep my hand in and the management like us to keep our skills).

I remember the cabin crew DD, I think she ended up moving onto something else. Also the DD who started at York St Johns and decided to change, OrangeCinnamon and her DD, there was someone else beginning with Z I remember too, Zizzisomething? If anyone is lurking do pop back and see us if you feel like a catch up, it would be great to hear from you.

I have found that volunteering opportunities often help young people get jobs post university. DD's friend volunteered in the Citizens' Advice Bureau, another at the food bank, helping in a school, one even became a magistrate whilst at university. The magistracy want people from all walks of life, especially young people, or from non-managerial backgrounds, or ethnic minorities etc. It gave her a wealth of experiences to draw upon at interview. Talk about a time you have had to ask a more experience colleague for help, talk about a time you have had to make a difficult decision etc.

I was listening to a podcast and they mentioned becoming an 'independent visitor' for a looked-after child. I had never heard of this. A subsequent listener said her daughter has been doing it since she was 24 years old.

“I thought listeners might be interested to hear about a voluntary role that actually some people don't know about, and I must admit I didn't. Every young person in care officially called these days children who are looked-after is entitled to have an independent visitor if they'd like one. This is an adult in their life who isn't a social worker or part of Children's Services.

It's someone who sees them voluntarily and is more like a friend they meet once a month to do fun things together. I've done it for a few years and I found it really rewarding. You can choose what you'd like to do.

We've been ice skating, bowling, shopping, tennis, visited a zoo, often just chatted over a drink and got something to eat. I know someone who regularly goes to football matches. You get given a budget of about £30 a month and sometimes we'll just go for a dog walk, that costs nothing, and then we save up the money for a more expensive trip to say the theatre.

Pretty much anyone can become an independent visitor. I had one weekend of training and it's a few hours commitment once a month. So how fantastic that is and how wonderful to be able to build up a connection with somebody who might come to think of you as, if not a mate exactly, but as a dependable adult in their in their life, someone in their corner.”

From Off Air with Jane & Fi: 16 Jun 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/off-air-with-jane-fi/id1648663774?i=1000713122095&r=2372

This is lovely but he does have a full time job. He's not really seen as fresh out of uni now, I think. He's thinking now about applying for the postgraduate detective track at the police but we'll see .

You'd be surprised how few volunteer roles there are round here. None of the food banks want people for example. One of the (many) jobs he applied for and didn't get was Citizens Advice. You'd think a masters in social policy would mean something!

He's worked in a school so he's done that.

Chemistry is a very analytical degree so it will open many doors in addition to research & teaching, it depends on what he wants to do really which I appreciate he might not know yet; Law, pharmaceuticals,Nhs /health care, government IB, Consulting, Accounting, some of these he will need extra exams on top eg ACCA, but the opportunities are all there, even Medicine & Pharmacy.

Margaret Thatcher was a chemist. Don't let that put him off!

Thank you Shimy, that's the one.
Is @mummyinbedsback home safely yet, from her mammoth French: 'on prend la route'?

Portuguese festival, black & white, people on stilts, music, rack of lamb and prawns.

@Oblomov25 the answer is no. Currently sitting in a layby 9.5 hours from Calais. DH has heatstroke and is really quite unwell so I'm doing all the driving. It was 43° while we were loading the car. True to form, DS's idea of packing was not packing. Thanks for thinking of us 🥵

Poor you Mummy. Sounds awful. Hope you are nearly home.

@OublietteBravo @ExtensivelyDecorating @Shimy wow thank you all so much, that has genuinely opened my eyes. When it’s not your field you don’t really understand where things can lead so I really appreciate your insights (I’ll pretend that Maggie didn’t do Chem 😂). He came back from his open day at Sheffield yesterday very keen and this has reassured me. Thanks to this group again!

@mummyinbeds oh my word this trip has turned to a nightmare for you! I hope your DH is recovering and you managed to get some rest despite the circumstances and heat. Fingers crossed you are all home soon.

@mummyinbeds hope your DH is okay and you're all home safely

Hope you guys are all ok @mummyinbeds

oh no @mummyinbeds so sorry to hear your trip has turned into a bit of a nightmare. I hope DH feels better soon and that you are able to do the driving. Hope you all get back home safely and get rest. Safe journey!

Good luck with the rest of your journey @mummyinbeds. I bet you’ll be glad to get home!