Thread 55 - Covid GCSE Cohort - Autumn 25 - Yr 4 Uni and Graduates

[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 54:
Thread 54

I thought employers had stamped down on 'fancy' work experienc, e.g., 'washing elephants in India all summer', or 'teaching kids in Uganda as these were supposed to be 'priviledge' red flags?

@EndlessDistraction Thanks for driving test centre tip! ds2 is going for his theory test tomorrow (3rd time), hopefully it will come in handy.

@crazycrofter I had a pearl clutching moment when you said, 'other than buying his backpack', i dont know if you remember my backpack thread from yonks ago?

I genuinely thought the algorithm filtered out school attended in recruitment thses days since its all computerised. If they get past 1st stage surely school attended doesnt matter anymore and the rest is purely how well you do in assessment, presentations etc and interviews? i may be wrong. Both Ds' keeps getting rejected at assessment test stage so their schools definitely haven't helped.

I remember the Backpack thread! Those were the days...every time I see a post asking about buying a bag, I think about you!

Places that ask for CV will always know someone's age and education. Unless they specifically ask for blind CVs. CVs should be binned really. Public sector doesn't use them. I think the more complex issue is those that went to the very fancy schools ( and I dont mean just your normal private) will also be the most likely to have had those excellent work experiences and internships. Its often a privilege some corners of MN just can't see for themselves!

DS2 has now done his Times grad scheme application and applied for a role in Ipswich on a local paper.

That’s a good use of AI @EndlessDistraction !

True, @Piggywaspushed - their writing is their product so makes sense! I’m still unsure if they’d actually be able to tell with certainty though 🤣 I put a paragraph of mine through Co pilot to try to improve it and it only changed one word - I obviously write like an AI bot!

Good luck to ds2 @Piggywaspushed

@Piggywaspushed I see what you mean re; CV's, yes, some still ask for them to be uploaded.

Re: backpack, I still find it amazing that a completely innocent query managed to provoke such disproportionate outrage.

Not to boast, but DS1 went to one of those 'fancy' schools. I think the notion that internships etc are being handed left right & centre out is overrated & is a thing of the long ago past. All the kids we know have found their own internships, i know of 2 where parents put the word out among their friendship circle, but the schools themselves offer next to nothing. Things have changed a lot. A lot of those 'back routes' have been closed and quite rightly so.

They know how old I am because I’ve got O levels instead of GCSEs

@Shimyi remember the backpack thread but didn’t know it was you!
My dcs are both dead against any use of AI. (AI would definitely change that previous sentence 😂)

I remember the backpack thread @shimy! Also no idea it was you!

Good luck to both your DS @piggywaspushed

I've got appointments tomorrow at breast cancer clinic for scans and checks tomorrow which is scarily soon but hopefully some answers. My back issue is on pause until I know more. Getting old sucks.

I just wiled away a good hour reading the backpack thread. It was 2019!!

Good luck @craggyrat

For those who have already been to a graduation, where did your dds get their dresses from? No idea where to find a nice dress that doesn’t cost the earth or look too mumsy or night on the town like.

I’m glad you are being seen so quickly @craggyrat

There was a real array of dresses at DS's graduation. A lot of young women looked like they were going out out , tbh (hoicks judgy pants up) , including in shoes they couldn't walk in!

I was in an aisle seat at DS’s graduation and saw 100s of pairs of feet walk past me under the black gowns. I’d say for feet about 90% wore block heeled light coloured sandals or wedges (some closed toe some open). Mostly light coloured dresses, wedding sort of formality level IIRC. But that doesn’t help with brands. Don’t start a separate thread, or it could be backpack-gate again!

Exactly what I was just thinking!

Dd gets all her clothes from Vinted @NCTDN and I’m sure there will be plenty of nice dresses on there.

😂😂😂😂😂

DD gets a lot of clothes off Vinted but I wanted her to get something she could try on in shops for this. But looks like online is the way forward.

If you can find a uni Facbeook site's photos from last year you can see what kinds of things they tend to wear - which might steer towards a few shops. A lot of it was 'prom after party' vibe.

Back in my day it was Laura Ashley! Imagine!

She knows what she wants but doesn’t know where to look!!

The influencers on Facebook seem to shop at quite ordinary places - but mainly online (eg ASOS).

Showing my age there - TikTok is obviously their main hangout!

I agree @Piggywaspushed - most of the women at DSs graduation dressed as though they were at a nightclub! My judge pants were definitely hoiked 😁
DD doesn't dress like that even on the rare occasion that she goes clubbing, so doesn't really know where to look for a dress. She has the added complication that fir some reason her gown is a sort of french navy colour with a salmon pink hood - difficult to find something that doesn't clash horribly.

Yes, the hood colour needs consideration, too!

Good luck for the breast clinic tomorrow @craggyrat

DS continues to use his back, he uses it for work now, its a great bag.

@Piggywaspushed I might read it back myself. I don't think i said a lot, just ignored them as they continued to sound more and more unhinged.

Glad we don't have to worry about dresses and shoes here, DS1 wore a suit and ds2 will do the same, however can i suggest John Lewis for dresses? the JL brand might have some nice summery dresses suitable for the occassion, also Debenhams will have some nice ones, last but not the least there's an online store - . Chi Chi London | Fashion Dresses & Women's Clothing | Chi Chi London UK all very reasonably priced.

Hope all goes well @craggyrat

DD called at 1.30am to tell me she had just received an offer for a Masters at SOAS. I'm really pleased for her but both she and SOAS need to adjust their clocks!

She is also on the look out for a graduation dress - it can't have red or green in case it clashes with the hood and she wants to wear crocs on her feet (she did for 6th form prom but under a long dress)

DS is hoping to squeeze into his prom suit - I think he might need to go shopping.