Thread 56 – Covid GCSE Cohort – Spring 26 – Yr 4 Uni and Graduates

[crazycrofter]

The old thread has filled up and no one noticed - I think we're missing @oblomov26 sharp eyes!

I've tried to tag in everyone I can think of, but apologies to anyone I've missed!
@shimy @endlessdistraction @justherewithmypopcorn @mummyinbeds @aslockton @oubliettebravo @craggyrat @anothernewname460 @ealingwestmum @ewwsprouts @seeline @piggywaspushed @nctdn @icanbewhatiwant @comefromaway @heifer @kingscotestaff @delphigirl @zebracat @cantonet @socks1107 @blinkbonny @anneofcleavage

This is awesome! Well done everyone! My update is … BlueMarigold. DD Birmingham. Biological Science. Starting work in September as an assistant ecologist.

what a great idea, will have a read through in the morning as very interested to see what they are all up to. And you guys too.
can I add my DDs details please.
Nottingham Biology Graduated last summer.
Now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Updated:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - DS working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming.
Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
craggyrat Cambridge history - Worked as a TA after graduating. DS Possibly going to do a PGCE or start a business or Officer Training in the Army.
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, Marketing master's at Cardiff- DD nowjob hunting
aslockton DS LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DS Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist and has bought a house.
ewwsprouts - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlove- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piggywaspushed - DS1 Lincoln -Office work in local bus company
DS2 Birmingham , history - Sheffield for a journalism master's. Journalism job hunting whilst volunteer press officer at local football club and tutoring
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
Coffeeandbiscuitime - DC just going into Y3 Medicine
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
Sansou- DS Software engineering in the Defence sector
Orangecinnamon- DD has graduated and starts as an unqualified teacher (apprenticeship/post grad route)
AnotherNewName - working in engineering
Still studying! DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree and buying a house.
delphigirl - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying- DS now graduated offshore survey job
DD Chef
mummyinbeds - DS Nottingham , law and French law- Working in pub, hoping to do ski season. DD Volunteering abroad
oblomov26 - Nottingham , finance degree apprenticeship. DS now working in London for PwC
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. DD has Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- DD working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seeline - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimy - Warwick, management- DS job hunting
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- DD Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Now job hunting in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex
decorhate - Economics and Politics, Sheffield. DS is a Data Analyst in London
Bluemarigold- Birmingham Biological Sciences- DD now working as an assistant ecologist
Heifer- Nottingham Biology- DD now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Thank you @BlueMarigold and @Heifer. I have just updated the list and read it again in full. It is wonderful to see all the different things the YP have gone on to do.

I listened to Michelle Obama's latest podcast 'IMO' with her brother and she discusses the choices and difficulties young people have in choosing careers and being funneled towards being doctors, lawyers and teachers.

She was a high paid corporate lawyer (and hated it) and 'took a swerve' and 50% pay cut to work in the city's mayor's office. Her brother was a Bond Trader on Wall St and 'took a swerve' and 90% pay cut to be a College Basketball Coach. She said her husband took the biggest 'swerve' of all. Community organiser to Corporate Lawyer to President.

Thanks @Aslockton.
That was interesting seeing where the cohort is now. Well done for those working, no easy feat in the current grad job market. DDs course finishes in September (she is currently interviewing people for her dissertation). She is planning on taking next year out to see what’s out there and work out next steps etc.
She is finding the Masters much easier than her Biology degree. Really helps there are no exams and her grades are reflecting this. She has scored in the 70/80s for everything so far whereas at Nottingham she didn’t complete
lots of the exams (even with extra
time) and was very disappointed getting a 2/2. She was only 1 mark off a 2/1 but they wouldn’t round up as their policy is only rounding up if the majority of results were in the higher band
and they weren’t. Everything non exam related was a first but most were exams.
Have to admit it’s not been the easiest transition having her
live back home again. She does get stressed a lot as it’s a 1 yr course, deadlines come around very quickly and together throught out the year. But it’s also lovely to have her around when she isn’t stressed… although I find it hard having another adult around questioning how and why I do everything the way I do
. DH is very easy going so he never questions my quirks 😁
I am going to read back and catch up on the rest of you now to
see what you’ve all been up to.

Good to hear from you again @heifer and I'm glad your dd is doing so well academically. I really think Nottingham are quite tough in terms of marking and grading. I remember when our Notts cohort here were in their first and second years, there were several failed exams and close calls. Dd had a tough first two years, as she also finds exams difficult and doesn't finish.

I'm not sure how other unis do it, but I remember clearly when I was at Leicester thirty years ago, your degree classification was based on your best modules, - for a first you just had to have 100 credits at 70% (from the last two years) and an average of over 65. At Nottingham every module over the last two years counts and you have to get an average of over 70. Maybe Leicester were overly lenient, I don't know!

You could put my ds into your list if you want @Aslockton as I seem to talk about him a lot! Going into year 2 of Politics & Int Relations at Nottingham.

He came back from Kyrgyzstan yesterday, with his mates in tow, and made everyone burritos for tea. He said the scenery was stunning - similar to/perhaps more beautiful than NZ. I wonder if @Oblomov26 ds is back now too? His gf wasn't impressed at the videos of them horse riding without helmets!

They went there on Race Across The World. Stunning.

@Aslockton thank you for adding DD (a year younger than our COVID cohort) Can you update her? She's graduated from Aberystwyth Uni with a degree in International Relations and Global Development and will be starting a Masters in Global Development at SOAS in September.

@crazycrofter @Heifer I agree that Nottingham is tough on marking. All three of DS's law modules were graded on one final exam this year. No other assessments or assignments or opportunities for improvement. The MFL department are a bit friendlier. But like you say, absolutely every module counts and has to be passed.

@Aslocktonthanks for updating - DD is doing medicine at Newcastle- just about to start 4th year. She is presently driving me down to the French alps - good driver but I now know what my dad means when he says I drive too fast😂
re Parents and ill health - my Dad had a pacemaker last year - he had had 2 ‘drop’ attacks - eventually after I pushed him to it he got a 24 hour tape and was the. Kept in hospital for a week until he had a PM fitted ( he was like a caged tiger) cardiologist asked him what he wanted my dad said 14 more years ( he was 86!) the dr laughed.
my MIl has MND and that is devastating- to see someone you love ravaged by such a debilitating disease is awful.
i am heartened by all the success stories on this thread - the COViD years did a lot of damage to this cohort - I think it increased social anxiety so it’s good to hear that the kids are doing well.

DS had Army online interview yesterday which went v well and he got a very decent score on the tests so as long as medical fine he should get first board really quickly. Trouble is PGCE starts early Sept so decisions to be made...!

@Aslockton eldest is a working Vet.
I had 3 ( one set of twins) in my 40's all with ADHD.
Although they are all affected differently they have taken a year out at various times. One's doing architecture at UCL, which is a pretty tough course.
Youngest is switching from psychology at Bristol to engineering.

Talking about the elderly I'm currently at home with my 87 year old parents trying to set up a blow up chair in the bath for the first time. It's hilarious .... and I think my mum is trying to blow up the chair by overfilling it.

How exciting @craggyrat, options galore, hopefully 🤞 You’ve had a long slog to get to this point, hope the medical doesn’t go circular again.

They make us laugh and cry in equal measures, our elders @Cantonet, that’s a great scene :) My mum, somewhat persuaded by DD to cook under supervision in her flat last night was a feat. She’s lived there for nearly 4 years now but the electric hob has had minimal use (we provide her meals). But no, Indian pooris and potato curry was the menu. Eventually once she was persuaded you needed to turn the hob up more than 3 to get to a frying point to test batter, we made some progress. Her sari caught on fire when she was young leaving her with leg burns and it seems to be at the forefront of memories right now.

Updated:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - DS working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming.
Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
craggyrat Cambridge history - Worked as a TA after graduating. DS Possibly going to do a PGCE or start a business or Officer Training in the Army.
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, Marketing master's at Cardiff- DD nowjob hunting
aslockton DD LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DS Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist and has bought a house.
ewwsprouts - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlove- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piggywaspushed - DS1 Lincoln -Office work in local bus company
DS2 Birmingham , history - Sheffield for a journalism master's. Journalism job hunting whilst volunteer press officer at local football club and tutoring
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
Coffeeandbiscuitime - DC just going into Y4 Medicine
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
Sansou- DS Software engineering in the Defence sector
Orangecinnamon- DD has graduated and starts as an unqualified teacher (apprenticeship/post grad route)
AnotherNewName - working in engineering
Still studying! DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree and buying a house.
delphigirl - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying- DS now graduated offshore survey job
DD Chef
mummyinbeds - DS Nottingham , law and French law- Working in pub, hoping to do ski season. DD graduated from Aberystwyth Uni with a degree in International Relations and Global Development and will be starting a Masters in Global Development at SOAS in September.
oblomov26 - Nottingham , finance degree apprenticeship. DS now working in London for PwC
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. DD has Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- DD working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
DS Going into year 2 of Politics & Int Relations at Nottingham.
seeline - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimy - Warwick, management- DS job hunting
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- DD Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Now job hunting in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex
decorhate - Economics and Politics, Sheffield. DS is a Data Analyst in London
Bluemarigold- Birmingham Biological Sciences- DD now working as an assistant ecologist
Heifer- Nottingham Biology- DD now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Cantonet DD1: Working as a vet
DS1 Retaking a uni year / job hunting (in limbo)
DD2 UCL Year 3 Architecture
DS2 Bristol changed from Psychology, going into Yr1 Engineering

@Piggywaspushed how is your DS getting on with his new job? Was it on Tuesday he started?

@craggyrat that is good news that the online interview went well. How annoying about the timing. We had the same with DD. She was due to move to Cambridge and start a Transport Consultancy Grad Scheme when everything fell into place with her officer training and she got a start date. She had to pull out the grad scheme 4 weeks before starting. It all hung on the medical notes and last minute clarification on Vit D levels.

DD had all modules from Y2 and 3 count towards her results, but in a 40/60 ratio, so final year had more weight. UEA only round up if the result is above .6 IE 69.6 would get you a first!

Yes, last Tuesday.

OK, I think. He has complained twice now about being bored - but it is less stressful than retail at least and he is making more money.

DS2 has done bits and bobs for the football club - they certainly expect a lot form him for £0!

@Aslocktonyou can update DS although I’m a newbie! DS neuroscience Bristol uni. Currently looking for work, has a voluntary role coming up (Mind charity shop - at least he’s in the right ‘sector’).

DS’s housemate got 69.7 (def above .5) in Psychology at Bristol and they wouldn’t put him up which seems mad. He got 75% in his dissertation as well.

That’s crazy @Lentilcakes !

In some unis there is no rounding up. There was someone on WIWIKAU who has 69.96% and a 2:1.

Updated:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - DS working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming.
Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
craggyrat Cambridge history - Worked as a TA after graduating. DS Possibly going to do a PGCE or start a business or Officer Training in the Army.
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, Marketing master's at Cardiff- DD nowjob hunting
aslockton DD LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DS Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist and has bought a house.
ewwsprouts - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlove- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piggywaspushed - DS1 Lincoln -Office work in local bus company
DS2 Birmingham , history - Sheffield for a journalism master's. Journalism job hunting whilst volunteer press officer at local football club and tutoring
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
Coffeeandbiscuitime - DC just going into Y4 Medicine
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
Sansou- DS Software engineering in the Defence sector
Orangecinnamon- DD has graduated and starts as an unqualified teacher (apprenticeship/post grad route)
AnotherNewName - working in engineering
Still studying! DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree and buying a house.
delphigirl - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying- DS now graduated offshore survey job
DD Chef
mummyinbeds - DS Nottingham , law and French law- Working in pub, hoping to do ski season. DD graduated from Aberystwyth Uni with a degree in International Relations and Global Development and will be starting a Masters in Global Development at SOAS in September.
oblomov26 - Nottingham , finance degree apprenticeship. DS now working in London for PwC
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. DD has Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- DD working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
DS Going into year 2 of Politics & Int Relations at Nottingham.
seeline - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimy - Warwick, management- DS job hunting
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- DD Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Now job hunting in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex
decorhate - Economics and Politics, Sheffield. DS is a Data Analyst in London
Bluemarigold- Birmingham Biological Sciences- DD now working as an assistant ecologist
Heifer- Nottingham Biology- DD now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Cantonet DD1: Working as a vet
DS1 Retaking a uni year / job hunting (in limbo)
DD2 UCL Year 3 Architecture
DS2 Bristol changed from Psychology, going into Yr1 Engineering
Lentilcakes: DS graduated in neuroscience at Bristol uni. Currently looking for work, has a voluntary role coming up (Mind charity shop - at least he’s in the right ‘sector’).

Both DD and DS have now graduated with two very different experiences.
Nottingham was very slick and polished but the actual ceremony was a bit mechanical and boring to be honest. Maybe because DS was first across the stage, his only three course mates straight after him, followed by what seemed like 2000 law graduates who he didn't know (and half of whom were wearing the same white dress). The speeches were all about how great the uni is / how great the honorary graduate was and not a lot about the graduates. Lots of huge bouquets and champagne bottles in evidence.
Aberystwyth was a tad more rough around the edges but much more personal and friendly. The ceremony was actually longer with about half the number of graduates. Two great speeches from the honorary graduates, one of whom was and Aber grad, as was his uncle and siblings and he had a son graduating from DD's course. He had lots of funny and relatable tales of Aber and the uni. Lots of mingling and chatting with staff afterwards. The only criticism DD had was that the ceremonial bits were in Welsh and she didn't have a clue what was going on - my parents, watching at home, had subtitles 😂
I'm really proud of both of them - two very different uni experiences, two very different unis but both happy (took a while for DS but he got there) and wonderful memories and friends for life.