Moving on up... Uni/CollegeS5/S6/S4/Work

[Groovee]

Hey everyone

It's that time of year... school returns within the next week or 2, others will be preparing to start college or uni. Some will be moving out. Some will start work... so here's the thread for those in that position.

For me Dd is going into second year at Dundee Uni. She did a fantastic first year. She's off to be a mentor to those starting uni this year. Ds has just gone into S6 and has the world to consider in the next year.

Me... I need to find a job after losing my job in June! Done in quite a callous way that I am taking my time to be kind!

Just to say that St Andrews has a Morrisons and an Aldi and an M&S food shop as well as the Tesco metro!

And unless St As gas drastically changed (and last time I visited I didn't see any evidence of this), there aren't any night clubs Students tend to make their own fun

You are correct on both points ladies. 😉

....and although the Uni is lot bigger than when I was there (a looooong time ago ), because it's a tourist as well as a student town, it was relatively easy to find a job, at least during the summer. And once you'd learnt (eg) silver service skills, you could get the odd shift at the (many) hotels.

@prettybird absolutely, the local eateries are full of students working there. When we go out there to eat my ds usually knows at least one person working in the establishment.

Hi - does anyone on here have experience of the foundation apprenticeships offered to S5 students? Keen to hear it as good as they sound

So a very excited Dd2 as she now has an unconditional from St Andrews to make a clean sweep! She is so looking forward to studying Astrophysics, just needs to make up her mind if it is Glasgow, Edinburgh or St Andrews.
Good luck to all those still waiting!

Oh wow fluffy that is amazing news!!! Lovely position to be in with all of those excellent choices. Hope you are all going to celebrate tonight! 🤞the rest of our dc hear from them soon.

Very well done on the StA offer.

No direct experience of foundation apprenticeships however 2 of DDs friends have done/are doing - one IT and the other a Healthcare one. Both found the college a bit of a nightmare - one got so far behind in the course because of staff absences he ended up having to go in extra days during his higher exam period to complete assessments. Both have changed their mind in terms of careers and regret as the only have 4H from S5. The one who does IT wished he had done the Computing Higher instead. The other didn't go back for the S6 portion at all. However this is a sample of 2. Perhaps others will have better experiences. Might depend on the quality of the college.

Purplefrog - wow shows how long it is since I visited!
Prettybird - sorry I actually meant sports clubs/ associations, he’s very sporty /competitive and looking to expand interests. Good to hear about job prospects; I only live about 40 miles away but don’t visit much and when I do it’s for the beach for the dog and obligatory trip to Bonkers which I’ve loved for 30+ years
Wonderful news Fluffy !!

Yes, the fairly large Morrison’s has only been there since the mid-80s! . Well, it was Safeway then...

Aldi must have been there for more than 20 years?

The only new one is M&S. I forgot to mention there is also a newish Sainsbury Local store in the centre of town where Macgregors or Littlejohns used to be.

I’ve had to google it now! I visited sort of regularly from 88-92 but we never got further than the halls and North/ Market/ South Streets - who new St A was so big! I come in along the links if I visit now so still miss it all. Need to do some proper exploring if DS gets a place!

I have a question for those with dc at St Andrews - how involved do students need to be in all the traditions? DD has just received an offer (very unexpected) and the course really appeals to her but all the traditions etc definitely don’t.

There is no pressure what so ever. I would advise her to be open minded though as her feelings may change if she chooses to go there. Why not book a talk and tour of the uni rather than an open day? We have just done one which was fabulous and it was a student who showed us round and explained all the traditions etc. Really interesting and an excellent service by the uni. My Dd is desperate to receive an offer but still waiting.
Basically visit I would say the uni may even organise a meeting with someone from the department she has applied to but that is not always possible. Good luck to your Dd wherever she chooses.

Thanks Alittle. We had a tour etc as part of the open day and at that point she felt the university was really not for her but then had a subject talk which really interested her. However we have been so convinced she wouldn’t get an offer we have been focusing on the negatives to avoid disappointment so this has come totally out of the blue.

Only my thoughts but I would say your Dd should trust her gut instinct. 4 years is a long time and she needs to feel happy. Don’t be swayed by what she thinks she should do rather than what she wants to do. Could the school maybe put her in touch with any former pupils who went to St Andrews just to chat through her concerns? She could also do the same for her other top choice it might help in the decision making. It’s a tough choice but wherever she chooses I am sure it will be the right place for her. Good luck!

She is going to visit again and it would be good if she could find a student to speak to. I think it would be a good fit for her but I can also understand her concerns and ultimately it will be her choice. I hope your dd gets an offer soon.

I think that’s a really good idea. I know you have been to an open day but do consider the talk and tour they do a post applicant one. It would let her see the town and uni on a typical working day rather than a day that is really busy and not a true reflection of what it would be like. Let us know how she gets on.

My dd is going to an offer holder’s day next month at Aberdeen University, she is insisting on driving as she hopes to take her car to university next year (we live rurally and public transport is non existent). Does anyone have advice on best places to park for the day?

This was where we parked (squiggled blue circle near the top) when we went to the Aberdeen Offer Holders Day: it's about a 5 minute walk to the library and from there into the Uni. It's on the direct route in from the bypass - just follow the signposts to the Uni.

Thanks prettybird much appreciated.

Re St Andrews: ds hated the feel of the place when he went to an Open Day even though it is the best place for his subject (International Relations). He felt it was too isolated and too like a giant boarding school/Hogwarts. I couldn't fault his reasoning and told him he was right: as it happened I loved it and it had been exactly what I wanted (it's my alma mater, albeit a looooong time ago ) but it's not for everyone.

You don't need to join in all the traditions: I wore my gown a wee bit in 1st year and not much thereafter and I only went on the pier walk a few times (and I was there for 5 years in total long story ) I stayed in one of the less traditional halls, John Burnet Hall. The only real tradition we had was the annual ball (not compulsory) and a formal meal once a term.

Jodri : Your dd would need to drive up to top entrance of that wee estate and then double back to find a parking spot. Iirc, the bottom entrance is blocked off.

Thanks prettybird