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

@EndlessDistraction I actually mentioned that to him as well but feel it's falling on deaf ears. I think he's so committed to the gard recruitment schemes and has prioritized that because of the time of the year and is probably thinking once they're all done,then he'll look into normal jobs and smaller companies but I've warned him that that plan might back fire and he might find those have all closed by the time he gets rouond to it.

@NCTDN What is your DD studying? i don't know where to start or even enough about the industry to know where to look or what to look for e.g types of roles?. It's all so new at the moment.

Thank you everyone for your lovely calming thoughtful posts, I am so grateful! I have been working flat out today as my last day before a holiday next week - leaving crack of dawn Sunday - have persuaded dd to ditch her lunchtime shift in the pub tomorrow so we have time to talk. I think we just need to ensure she has thought about everything properly and ultimately it is her decision and we will support whatever that is… golly. You’d have thought by the 4th child you couldn’t be surprised by anything anymore but she’s show us that ain’t so!

@Delphigirl - one of my friends has a DS who has just announced that he’s dropping out of his degree course to work in a pub. He’d just started his 3rd year. At least your DD has made her decision early on.

@Shimy - would be consider going to the local HE college and training to be an electrician or similar? That might be a way in to something more sciency.

She’s in her final year doing liberal arts, so has a broad range of things studied - but nothing sciencey. Her dissertation is something related to sustainability I think. I don’t have a clue how to help her.

@OublietteBravo Thanks for the suggestion. Only yesterday i was having a conversation with our young electrician about how he's finding work and his reply was, 'Much easier than being a Plumber!'. DS wants to use his degree, but from what i can gather, within STEM industries. Innovating in science driven sectors, STEM entrepreneurship if that makes any sense.

@NCTDN Your DD sounds very similar to DS. Did she do science A'Levels at all? DS is studying Management without a dissertation but your DD's dissertation says very very interesting and will definitely help steer her in the right direction.

Good luck to ds @shimy in finding something he's interested in. I'm sure he'll be fine - he knows his mind doesn't he, but also, he had no problem getting a placement (even if he didn't enjoy it!). Like others have said, if he gets no joy from big company grad schemes, smaller firms will start advertising at a later date.

@Shimy definitely no science a levels. Languages and literature.

Well I’m driving to uni to clear out her room. Flat refusal to return. But now open to applying to a different course at a different uni. Think we need to leave things to settle before we find out the full story…

Well I’m driving to uni to clear out her room. Flat refusal to return. But now open to applying to a different course at a different uni. Think we need to leave things to settle before we find out the full story…

That sounds like the start of a plan @Delphigirl. The car journey x 2 may lead to a little more too…

@Delphigirl She will appreciate that you have supported her decision. When she booked those shifts it was a strong indicator. I knew a girl who went off to study Arabic plus another language and she changed course before Christmas. The gist of it was so much of the course covered culture and she felt the misogyny ran deep. Your DD has a great work ethic and will do well whatever direction she chooses.

@NCTDN For those innovation roles, he could try scouting around small companies on the periphery of universities. They'll be too small to run grad schemes but offer a good opportunity learn across a business. As he hasn't got a science degree maybe starting in something like admin or marketing to get a foot in the door.

Good that she's talking @Delphigirl . Hopefully time will bring clarity for her and for you. How do you feel at the prospect of having her back home 'permanently' (for now)? It sounds like the kitchen has plenty of shifts for her, so she won't be knocking around with nothing to do?

Ds is back for a week and it's lovely to see him (although we haven't much yet, as he's been working at Tesco yesterday and today). He said he probably won't take any further shifts this week as he's got so many assignments to do, which I thought was very sensible of him.... and then he listed all the social events/meet ups that he also has planned this week 😂

@Delphigirl i've just come onto this thread to see how all the new students are doing & registered your shock. I do think your DD knows where she's at & at least she's made this decision before she's wasted too much time & money.
It is difficult though this 4 kids lark... I've had so many surprises with mine that nothing really shocks me any more.
I guess you will find out in time what's really precipitated this. But it's obvious your DD feels safe & happy working as a chef & that can only be a good thing.

@crazycrofteri'm glad your ds sounds happy.
Ds2 appears to be loving Bristol. He's made friends with his flatmates & seems very happy. He came home for reading week & then dashed back for the Halloween party yesterday. He managed to catch the right trains this time. Last time he caught the wrong one & was abandoned overnite in Newport. Dh & ds1 had to make a post+midnight trip to pick him up that time. He also joined 15 societies in fresher's week & paid upfront according to Dd1. He lacks common sense .....

@NCTDN and @Shimy , I agree with @EwwSprouts that looking close to unis is a good idea, on their websites they list collaborations with industry and will almost certainly have a business liaison office with links to small up and coming businesses, find them on LinkedIn and start networking. Sustainability is increasingly important and businesses big and small are increasingly focussed on it. We are getting nudged along as a small business by our customers and changes to the regulations.

Good news about ds2 @cantonet - if not the upfront spending 😫He will learn! Ds says his money seems to disappear very quickly.... the amount of poker he's playing can't be helping though.

@Delphigirl Wishing your DD all the best in her new ventures & please enjoy your holiday.

@NCTDN Shame they don't know each other, with their similarities, they could sit down together and brainstorm.

@crazycrofter Thank you. Enjoy time with your ds and thanks for the positive perspective, DS has a good work ethic & is determined, so I'm confident he'll find his way eventually.

@EndlessDistraction Thank you, that's an angle we haven't thought of. I'll tell him to do that and see what he can find. I know his uni must have such links with industries. That's an excellent idea.

@Cantonet 15 Societies!!!!

@Cantonet15?!! Where’s he living? DD loves Bristol and ideally would stay there after she finishes this year, but it’s just so expensive.

@AslocktonDS has found out about a UOTC black tie dinner next month. Will it be proper tux type wear?

@Shimy and @NCTDN further to that suggestion it might be worth going back to UCAS and typing in sustainability and sustainable in the subject search and see which unis have degrees in these subjects and look to those ones. They might have more relevant links to industry. As a business we seek collaborations with unis and you do have to narrow it down when searching.

@NCTDN Ds2 is living in Brunel House in the city centre. Where is yours?
Dd1 who's now 26 and a vet went to Bristol uni.
She had a couple of years working out in Cardiff and is now back working in a Bristol Vet Hospital along with many of her friends. They all seem to gravitate back to Bristol eventually, in spite of the cost. My sister did Medicine in Bristol back in the day & has been living there ever since. We have another one in London and one in Guildford, so Bristol is the best of the lot for us.

DD is on Gloucester Road this year, was on whiteladies before that and in Wills at SB in her first year.

Great idea thanks

@Delphigirl
Love to you in this tricky time. It's hard when it's a shock and we want to advise them to at least reconsider and not do anything rash.

I thought I’d pop here and give a small update. Some may remember that my daughter was left on hold by ucas back in 2022 for four days! It was very stressful and she ended up doing a level 4 btec followed by a two year excelerated degree.
today she is graduating with a 1st! I could not be prouder. She’s got a job as a e commerce trader in London and in her area of study.
hope all your young people are doing great! Covid GCSEs seems a lifetime ago to where they all are now

That's a lovely update @socks1107, I do remember!

Huge congratulations to your DD. I hope she's really enjoying her work!