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!

Glasgow closed too to allow international students to get home. DS2s compulsory field trip abroad cancelled. However he'll get his money back. He works part-time in a supermarket and is working full time this week and for the forseeable. Rather worringly they've asked him if he'd drive the delivery van so they must be gearing up for more deliveries. DD who works in fast food and has done 12+ hours per week since starting in September has only 4 hours scheduled this week and has been told to expect zero hours for a couple of months. No big deal for her but feel bad for the other staff who really need the money.

Dd2 didn't make the St Andrews offers day as DH was too ill to take her(ear infection, he is only just back at work 3 weeks later!) Now all the other days are being cancelled. So her plan is to accept the Glasgow offer this week.
She is just finishing off the final version of her AH chemistry report, physics went last night. Now she is just waiting to see if the schools close. We think Physics is already cancelled as it is at Glasgow Caledonian. Seems sad she will probably miss finishing school properly. I think it unlikely prom will go ahead, at least we have only paid the ticket so far but I know some of her class have spent a lot on dresses.
Elsewhere it looks like DH's work have sorted out woking from home and that should kick in for him asap. He has several health conditions so that is one weight off my mind.
Good luck to everyone.

My ds has lost his job - it was with Carphone Warehouse. He'd been expecting it. They say it was not CV related but he says that's codswallop, as they might not have shut all the standalone stores but it gave them justification. Footfall had reduced to zero. There's no way he'll find another one that is "student" compatible Small in the larger scheme of things.

It also came on the back of us having accepted this week that we wouldn't be able to go on our planned holiday to Australia at the end May - one last "big" family holiday. Heaven knows when we'll be able to go now.

Again, small in the grand scheme of things.

Sorry to hear that Prettybird So many disappointments amongst the hardships of job losses/reduction in hours and, of course, the worry about our own and loved one's health. Nothing for it but to try and keep upbeat and not OD on the constant tap of news. I find the latter hard as I've always been a news junkie.

I don't know how we're going to cope with all 4 of us cooped up in our wee terrace. DP (with cough) WFH for the forseeable and now we're all off because of the change in rules. I've started another schools thread but if people prefer to keep on this I'll get MN to delete it. I've been on MN for over 12 years but am a paranoid namechanger!

School has told me that they've logged my DS as an exceptional circumstance for now as he won't be able to attend his N5 French Talking exam next week because we're now on a 14 day isolation because of Dad's cough. Awaiting some further clarification from SQA but letter sent out from school says they are well prepared for pupils to access online learning in the event of school closure. All kids have Ipads now at least.

That’s my dd2 got all her offers in now for mEng in electrical and electronic engineering.

She’s crashing higher physics this year and all are conditionals on her higher physics; ranging from Glasgow Uni (A) to Edinburgh Uni and Robert Gordon’s (C).

My dd and I are not worried about the exams/schools whatever the Scottish government decide to do, but understand others may be. I think they are all in the same boat so reckon this will go in most candidates favour.

I’d imagine international students numbers would be down for the forthcoming year anyway (this pandemic would make me think twice about my child going round the world just to study as an undergraduate).

Most important thing is that as many folk stay well and get help if they need it.

I've seen some things saying that uni accommodation is letting students end their contracts early.

That would be good news Groovee, I have £1400 to pay at some point (whenever DS2 remembers to tell me!)

Ds' rent is £375/month (plus utility bills). We may end up having to pay it for him if he gets made redundant from Carphone Warehouse (currently exploring whether he could get a transfer to one of the Curries "in-store" shops) as it's unlikely he would be able to find another job in Aberdeen

I've seen a few places (mainly retail) indicating that they'd be happy to have some temporary staff to help cover absences caused by the virus so he might be able to pick up some casual work especially as he has experience.

We've told him that

That’s DS2 eventually got his rejection from St A for joint computing science and physics . Still waiting for straight computing but not holding out much hope since the computing offer holder days have passed. School has been chaotic in its teaching of AHs and can’t think how SQA will give give required A and B for Glasgow so concentrating on choosing between Aberdeen and HW. Quite happy with that.

Due to international travel restrictions The Farmers’ Weekly have reported that they need people to harvest and pack hops, fruit and veg this season. Online application form.

Also Graham’s dairy wanting more people, they have some places near Aberdeen & elsewhere

Wouldn't work for Graham's dairy unless I was literally starving.

Ok! Just saw it on Facebook, not a company I know much about

Sorry, emummy wasn't getting at you, it's good to share here where we seen jobs going. They aren't thought well of locally due to their planning application and I also understand that they aren't great to work for/aren't nice people. I boycott all their goods along with lots of other locals.

nolassie - good options to choose from there, DS2 is loving Aberdeen and we thought HW had a lovely feel to it when we looked with DS1.

Jodri that's good that all offers are in and she has some good choices, hopefully they are able to clarify soon what is happening about exams and conditional offers.

So tomorrow will be the last day of school ever for lots of teens, and with so much uncertainty re exams it's an unsettling time. My dd burst into tears last night as think the enormity of the whole thing just hit her. She is not a selfish girl and knows in the scheme of things no exams, no socialising no activities etc are not that important. I said though it was normal and ok to feel dis appointed. We have lots of big Birthdays in this house in the next 6 weeks but obviously celebrations will be low key. Have promised a big bash when this is over.
On a more lighthearted note I think my local supermarket thinks I am panic buying truth is I have now have my son and his GF staying with us and they are waiting us out of house and home!! Fruit bowl filled on Monday and empty today!!!🙈 Hope all the other young people and parents are ok.x

It is a shame and I know not significant in the grand scheme of things but it's not something that we are used to having to deal with. I really miss just popping to the shops. No idea what it's like out there since not been out since last Friday. We were due to go out for our anniversary this Saturday but had to cancel. DH says that since I am allowed out from Saturday, I could just get us something really nice for a meal at home.... I think he is living on another planet. He's also told me that he's upping his milk consumption since he's doing more training in his garage gym. I told him he's not...

Yes, Dd finishes tomorrow, it's not how they had envisaged it. And prom is cancelled, she is not impressed! For me the biggest uncertainty is the exam situation, we really need to know what is happening there. She got lower than usual prelim marks because her AH biology and chemistry projects were at full pelt at the time and there just weren't enough hours in the day. And med schools will want As and Bs. Sigh. We will see. Ds is 11 and is envisaging long weeks filled with Xbox - he's in for a shock!

I think the exam situation is to be dealt with in this afternoons briefing.

3 current options: 1: Carry on with exams and just split DC into more rooms with more invigilators, 2: Use existing evidence plus a teacher assessment/opinion or 3: delay until later in summer. I think delay has to be off the cards as no-one knows when we will be "back to normal" whatever the future normal looks like. So left with teacher assessment or sitting the exams - different things will suit different DC better I think.

Agree Wax I think those are the only options. Hope your Dd gets the results she needs @emummy whatever route the SQA take. Dd will be gutted if they dont give ahead as has worked really hard but what will be will be and a few years from now the results wont matter a jot.

No SQA exams......

Well that's our answer then - all exams cancelled. Great that they are trying to keep the schools open for the vulnerable and vital workers. Hope that works out. Unprecedented times. My DS is desperately trying to finish off his N5 Art portfolios so that we can drop them off before school closes tomorrow. Now how to motivate him to keep learning now that the exams are going to happen?

DH and I are pretty sure we have Coronavirus so we had to pull both DC out on Wednesday so DS’ schooling has come to an abrupt end! He’s a bit shell shocked. Fortunately he has his unconditionals and I think he’s going to accept the Edinburgh offer- partly because it’s the only one he was able to attend the offer holders day for!