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!

Definitely happier she is home. But I've picked up some supply work so won't be home today but have left everything for her to help herself.

She appears to have brought back lots of pizza 😂

Thanks wiggly and brillo TP supplies holding out - just - I don't think we can buy just any ordinary stuff now having been spoilt with costco stuff for many years :)

DHs hand is healing he thinks, still not able to drive or work :( DS1 is still doing all the driving. I thought Uni went back this week for him but it's next week. he's really not doing well and is off to the GP with his anxiety issues next week. They are away overnight tonight visiting family just to get him out of his bedroom.

Missing my baby boy DS2 today, that's him been away nearly 3 weeks, longest i've not seen him since he was born. He seems to be settling in well though so I am pleased for him. Trying not to nag too often about the stuff he still hasn't done - limiting myself to once a week! :o

Hope DD is starting to feel better Groovee

Hope all with illness and injuries are recovering. Full swing here in uni application front PS on draft ( and hopefully final!!!) 5 just want to get it sent off ASAP so it’s done. I think watching the outnumbered episode a year or 2 ago with the to the wire application has had an impact!🤣 She is off to Edinburgh uni open day today anyone else going??x

DD2 headed off to Edinburgh this morning. She didn't fancy it much when she went with her sister last year so I told her in that case to take the opportunity to ask all the daft questions she liked and have a good rake around to make sure. Will be interesting to see if she takes me at my word.

She has not even started drafting her PS, but then she hasn't firmly decided what she wants to apply for either.

Dd back from Edinburgh open day. Really enjoyed the maths lecture on infinity said it was right up her street. Chummed her pal to psychology talk but nearly fell asleep!🤣 Think maths is def the right choice for her.( personally I would have fallen asleep at the maths lecture and loved the psychology!) Def has Dh’s genes. Hope your Dd comes back positive with ideas for courses howabout.

I remember the Infinity talks from when DD1 was doing her open days, I heard it at Strathclyde and Stirling too.
Dd2 decided to miss Edinburgh as she has decided her first and second choice courses are Glasgow and Strathclyde(MSci Physics). She, being very practical and having been to several open days with her sister and for herself last year, is going to wait for applicant days if she doesn't get an offer from Glasgow.
Dd2 has her first draft of her PS. She wants me to work on it with her later as school want to see it at the end of the week (which is Thursday this week as its September weekend in Glagow) and she would like it to be actually her final version. She is just worried about how long it will take the GCU hub to make a predicted grade for her as she wants everything sent off asap.

Strathclyde is on Dd list too fluffy after attending space school there in June. To be honest if that was where she ended up firming she may be tempted to try and swap from maths to aeronautical engineering. But will wait and see what offers she gets first. Hoping to get it sent off by the beg of next week, tried to put stuff in last night but track down until tomorrow!!! Just want it done now so she can concentrate on the course work.

DD2 actually had a really good day at Edinburgh. She got loads out of it because she was being so critical. She is another Maths / Physicist. All her mates keep telling her she should do Engineering but her "useful" gene is not very strong. This also discounts economics, accountancy, business etc etc. Turns out the "not knowing what to apply for" is commitment phobia which is probably also the source of the antipathy towards "usefulness".

She went to the Edinburgh Maths lecture last year and came back enthused with infinity and beyond. This year she went to the Physics talk but said it was more structure and process driven - so course choices, future academic routes, careers etc. She is now thinking it makes little difference whether you apply for Maths or Physics as you end up doing both anyway (the mentality of someone who sees everything else as lesser which I'm sure fellow Mums of these types recognise - neither DH nor I hold this view so I'm not sure why I have 2 DDs suffering from it).

She is also thinking she might just get on with it now. Having Highers in hand drives the options somewhat. Considering multiple offer holder days if she is swithering later. Will take her to end of October to get all her paperwork in order anyway so that gives her plenty time for the rest of the open days.

Her major dilemmas are whether she wants to leave home and whether she wants to end up in the same place as her sister.

I have been suggesting Engineering to Dd2 for years but she is wants to be a research physicist although she is also thinking that she could switch to maths or a joint degree. (I do know where she gets this from though as I'm a physics graduate who teaches maths.) She has the grades which mean she should get offers from most places she applies for but she would prefer to stay at home as she likes the courses on offer and sees this as a financially sensible option. At the moment her plan is to get a part time job and try and save as much of her loan as possible to help fund any further studies or relocation costs! And she is not yet 17, I wish I had been able to be so logical at her age.

Interesting re engineering as that was dds first choice a year or 2 ago and is likely still her long term career plan. She asked an engineer lecturer at an open day last year their route into engineering and they were honest enough to say they had done a maths degree first then a masters in engineering. I think that is the long term plan for Dd but doing maths keeps her options open more at the moment. Like your Dc she has the grades already in hand. I love reading about different Dc experiences and thoughts it’s really helpful.

DD2 was slightly indignant at my charicaturing of her. That is me attempting to keep her a bit anonymous while still sharing enough to give her perspective. I also find reading others' thoughts really helpful, as do the DDs.

On finances, mine are giving every impression of delaying the inevitable for as long as possible. I blame myself for overcompensating because I found being self reliant from the age of 17 a lot to cope with.

DS went to the Edinburgh Open Day in June(?). He liked it, but he liked Glasgow much better. Having said that, the course he really wants to do is at Edinburgh so it is his first choice.

He’s absolutely loving S6. He was originally doing 3AHs plus Higher Accounting but has seen the light and dropped the Accounting, much to my relief. His PS has been drafted and reviewed by his tutor so I think it’s pretty much done. He needs to do an additional supporting statement for the course at Edinburgh- first draft is done but it’s very flowery and needs work!

Heavens will never cease: ds actually rang me last night , for no other reason than that he felt rotten.

He actually thought he had alcohol poisoning (I did my best to be sympathetic ), and was complaining tat he couldn't hold anything down, even water.

Yesterday morning he'd messaged his dad to say that he knew it must have been a bad good? night when he woke up in the same clothes he'd gone out in But as dh replied: at lease he'd a) woken up and b) was in his own bed

The reason for him having drunk so much was a good one though: he'd got Man of the Match on Saturday in only his 2nd competitive senior game (playing for the 2nds - but it gives him a chance to get used to the physicality) - and the first time he'd played the full 80 minutes (he'd only played 60 minutes in his 1st game). And the coach said to him that once he gets a wee bit more confidence (understandable, making the jump from U18 to Senior), he's going to be "one hell of a wee player".

So he had cause to celebrate!

He's missing his Law lecture today (but assured us he can access the notes/slides) but going to try to get along to his Politics lecture, as it's on a topic he's really interested in (Liberalism).

Have told him to avoid ibuprofen but that he can have paracetamol

😂 @prettybird

I've got Bronchitis thanks to Dd. She's back at uni and loving it. She's keen to find out where her placement is this year. She visits in October and starts in November.

Ds is plodding a long.

Ds2 had planned to come home this weekend but has freshers flu so isn't feeling well enough :(. I've come out in sympathy so am having a rare day off sick too. Hope all these illnesses clear up soon and congrats to your DS pb.

Ds is having lunch with his grandfather, who has stopped off in Aberdeen on the way to visit friends. It means that we were able to get the desk (birthday present) he wanted from IKEA (after we most unreasonably refused to pay £39 delivery on a £70 desk ) to him

He's just had to spend £65 on a new custom fit gumshield after forgetting to take his old one out of his shorts pockets before putting them in the wash.

Sorry to hear ds2 is not well Wax - is he enjoying himself otherwise?

That was good then pb. DS2 finding the desk in halls far too low and he has his seat as low as it can go to fit under it. He seems to be enjoying himself but looking forward to actually seeing him as then I'll know if the positive words match his demeanour.

prettybird glad to hear it is not just me developing short arms and long pockets. DD took 10 pairs of shoes away with her. Her boots have developed a hole in the sole - I had offered to replace them before she went. I reckon she can probably survive with the other 9 pairs or sort herself out.

She also had a stinking cold but seems to be on the mend now.

Howabout

As it happened, I'd asked ds if he wanted/needed a new gumshield when he went for his last (free ) check up in July in Glasgow (before he turned 19) and he'd said No. I'd have paid for it then and he'd have had a spare

To give him his due, we did offer to pay for the new gumshield as a congratulations for getting "Man of the Match" but he refused, saying to "stop treating him like a Tory child" () and that he should pay for his own stupidity.

DS is very busy and seems to be quite happy, at least I think so, he's a man of few words. The only disappointment so far is his room, we oohed and ahhed over the spaciousness and handy location when we moved him in but he quickly discovered the snag; it overlooks the music department practice rooms and he has to listen to multiple random instrumentalists at all hours of the day and night, there's even a tuba! Luckily he has earplugs but I think noise cancelling headphones might be on his Christmas list.

Sorry to hear about all the illnesses. Hope everyone feels better soon. It sounds though like the Dc are settling in to uni life!
Ucas application sent but not holding my breath for quick responses as I think all her choices are notoriously late in giving out offers. Just glad it’s done and dusted. Another thing off the never ending list! How’s everyone else’s application coming along??x

One step forward and two back on application here. Now she has got her head around what she is going to apply for and where she no longer feels there is any hurry. She has typical middle child syndrome.

Had a long face time chat with DD1 last night. She is doing loads of walking and training so much she was proudly showing off her new muscles and blisters. For anyone thinking about it, she says direct entry to 2nd year makes your brain work ower hard thus the need for diversionary activities.

So what has she decided to do howabout and has she made a decision as to where she'd prefer to do it?

Physics at one of the usual suspects, but she figures she won't get all offers till Feb / March and can finally decide after that. Her sister was sitting on 4 offers by start of Dec last year but still had to wait till March for the 5th so I do see her point.

DS has applied to college. Although he's doing my head in as he doesn't tell you if it's NC/HNC/HND 🤬

Can't believe we are in October already.