diss extension

NStephens_2

hello,

I have a diss due soon and its no where near finished as I just havent been able to spend time on it especially with everything else, 4 modules and moving acomodation too. My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and I spend a lot of time helping out at home as I also have a disabled sister who depends on my Mum. I have spoken to my tutor and to the head of year and they are supportive but I am struggling to provide documentary evidence for what I say. My Mum doesnt have any letters as the appointments are normally arranged at the time when we/she visits, I doubt any of the nurses would feel able to write any regarding the help I offer etc, she is to start radiotherapy soon but doesnt have any dates etc yet. I need this to be with the tutor for Friday at the latest really - due date is Tuesday but monday is Bank Hol.

I have suffered with anxiety and depression related problems in the recent past and I received a number of Dr's notes for EC's when I did exams etc but thought I was coming through it now .... Although this past few weeks have been hard with sleeping and crying a lot with frustration at things (losing some work, waiting around at the hospital, not being informed of things, being kept waiting etc).

I dont know what to do. I could ask my Dr for a note in relation to the above, but feel really bad as this isnt the reason and after spending time tlking to each of these people feel a bit of a fake as I cant support what I say. Maybe Im being paranoid or summat (it has been said this past few weeks), Im struggling now to even solve even the most simple problems.

Thanks guys for any advice,

Nic

MrsManda

Do you and your mum share a GP? Could you get an appointment together and discuss the situation with the GP - I'm sure he/she wouldn't mind writing a letter explaining the situation with your mum and sister if your mum gave permission (in terms of patient confidentiality, putting details of her health into a letter for you).
Do you/your family get any support from social workers?
Also, it may be useful to ask your mum to call her oncologist's secretary and ask for a letter explaining the diagnosis. It would need to be much, just saying that she'd been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing the following treatments...

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

Hello sweetie,

I think you're on the right path with regards to asking for an extension, with these circumstances it should hopefuly be fairly simple to get what the uni needs document-wise. I would perhaps arrange a visit to your mum's place of care, or if not possible, give the relevant nurse/hospital a call. Explain the situation and ask them to write a note explaining that your mum does have breast cancer and she is currently attending appointments, soon to commence treatment etc. If you give in this note and just verbally reaffirm that much of your time is therefore spent helping her out, and worrying about her, I don't think you'll need official written evidence of the help you give since this should really be intuitive..

If it proves impossible to get a written statement from one of her nurses before friday then try to arrange a meeting with them, so you have a specific date that you can give to your tutors. Failing this, go to see your doctor and explain everything to him/her: does he/she know of your mum's situation? If so, they could write a Drs note for you..

Potentially, if you don't manage to sort out the documents by friday then you may still be able to submit your work much later than the deadline (potentially up until September, since this is when the exam board next meet after summer to discuss revised markings) if you manage to get a document before the final late-submission cut-off point, considering that you have also already informed them of your difficulties but are just lacking in the documential evidence. I suppose just find out first when the deadline for late submissions is; yours may be longer due to extenuating circumstances.

Good luck hun, try not to get too worried about this, the university have a vested interest in you passing so should do what they can to help; just keep working forwards xx

NStephens_2

MrsManda wrote: »

Do you and your mum share a GP? Could you get an appointment together and discuss the situation with the GP - I'm sure he/she wouldn't mind writing a letter explaining the situation with your mum and sister if your mum gave permission (in terms of patient confidentiality, putting details of her health into a letter for you).
Do you/your family get any support from social workers?
Also, it may be useful to ask your mum to call her oncologist's secretary and ask for a letter explaining the diagnosis. It would need to be much, just saying that she'd been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing the following treatments...

hello,

Thanks for replying. We dont share a GP as I fell out with him some years ago. My mum likes him though. She is around 3-4 hours away on the train, hence the travel time is a huge barrier. We get absolutely no support for my sis nor through breast cancer at all. I hate putting people to trouble for this, today has been such a !!!!! all round really, and this is just adding to it.

Nic

NStephens_2

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine wrote: »

Hello sweetie,

I think you're on the right path with regards to asking for an extension, with these circumstances it should hopefuly be fairly simple to get what the uni needs document-wise. I would perhaps arrange a visit to your mum's place of care, or if not possible, give the relevant nurse/hospital a call. Explain the situation and ask them to write a note explaining that your mum does have breast cancer and she is currently attending appointments, soon to commence treatment etc. If you give in this note and just verbally reaffirm that much of your time is therefore spent helping her out, and worrying about her, I don't think you'll need official written evidence of the help you give since this should really be intuitive..

If it proves impossible to get a written statement from one of her nurses before friday then try to arrange a meeting with them, so you have a specific date that you can give to your tutors. Failing this, go to see your doctor and explain everything to him/her: does he/she know of your mum's situation? If so, they could write a Drs note for you..

Potentially, if you don't manage to sort out the documents by friday then you may still be able to submit your work much later than the deadline (potentially up until September, since this is when the exam board next meet after summer to discuss revised markings) if you manage to get a document before the final late-submission cut-off point, considering that you have also already informed them of your difficulties but are just lacking in the documential evidence. I suppose just find out first when the deadline for late submissions is; yours may be longer due to extenuating circumstances.

Good luck hun, try not to get too worried about this, the university have a vested interest in you passing so should do what they can to help; just keep working forwards xx

Hello,

My Mum doesnt have a specified nurse, she visits the Oncology people but they're always different depending on shifts etc. We know a lot of them to nod too but thats it. I just feel so frustrated at the moment with things, I spend hours on the train but really thought I was on track but this last weekend has been utterly rotten, nothing got done, anything that could go wrong did etc etc... I'm realising now how little I seem to have achieved in terms of revison. I'm heading for a 2.2 degree even with EC's as they cant give me marks for unwritten work or knowledge I would have had, had I never had been screwed up with this past few months.

Nic

Fire_Fox

Have you kept your personal tutor up to speed with your mum and your health issues? Their support will be invaluable at the exam board meeting. Also is your GP aware of the worries you have relating to your family circumstances? I would be inclined to cite both as reasons for needing an extension - so letter from your GP as well as evidence directly related to your mum.

It doesn't matter if it isn't a specific nurse, all of them will have access to your mum's medical notes. It should be enough to have a brief diagnosis and list of dates you and your mum have attended appointments. From that you can write your personal statement asking for an extension, explaining that you have had to travel a great deal and help out with your disabled sister.

Have you considered repeating all or part of the year in order to get the sort of mark you know you are capable of?

NStephens_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Have you kept your personal tutor up to speed with your mum and your health issues? Their support will be invaluable at the exam board meeting. Also is your GP aware of the worries you have relating to your family circumstances? I would be inclined to cite both as reasons for needing an extension - so letter from your GP as well as evidence directly related to your mum.

It doesn't matter if it isn't a specific nurse, all of them will have access to your mum's medical notes. It should be enough to have a brief diagnosis and list of dates you and your mum have attended appointments. From that you can write your personal statement asking for an extension, explaining that you have had to travel a great deal and help out with your disabled sister.

Have you considered repeating all or part of the year in order to get the sort of mark you know you are capable of?

hi,

I've only ever met my Personal Tutor once this year, she is always busy. I've received the evidence from my Mum this morning, its only a computer generated list of dates/times for radiotherapy. Ive also booked to see a dr on Tuesday and then hopefully will receive a dr note too.

I've also received a email from the head of my year saying that I have been granted a extentsion till the 15th - I was hoping for until the end of this month so that I can have a clear run at it as its been a day here and a day there all the way through, plus I have exams too. I don't know whether to say something now or wait until a day or so before and submit the Dr's note and ask for more time.

Its all going wrong at the moment, my housemate kept us all up last night with her coming and going then was up again at 7am letting out her "mate" - they do know whats been going on for me, Im so tired now though. Theres also a bad feeling in the house generally and things at home seem strained, the dog has hurt his foot and thats going to be expensive - money they or I just dont have. I feel so out of sorts at the moment.

Nic

MrsManda

NStephens wrote: »

I've also received a email from the head of my year saying that I have been granted a extentsion till the 15th - I was hoping for until the end of this month so that I can have a clear run at it as its been a day here and a day there all the way through, plus I have exams too. I don't know whether to say something now or wait until a day or so before and submit the Dr's note and ask for more time.

I've had extenuating circumstances extensions throughout the majority of my academic career and the best advice I can give is to sit down with a list of everything you have to do and work out a timetable which you can stick to. Then make an appointment to see the year head/personal tutor with your timetable and all the evidence you have and show them how you can get your work done by a specific date.
My experience has been that you are more likely to get the extension you want when you can prove you have a clear plan to follow rather than constantly reaching the extended deadline then requesting more time. It shows you are organised and the extension will help you rather than just encouraging you to keep putting off the work.

NStephens_2

MrsManda wrote: »

I've had extenuating circumstances extensions throughout the majority of my academic career and the best advice I can give is to sit down with a list of everything you have to do and work out a timetable which you can stick to. Then make an appointment to see the year head/personal tutor with your timetable and all the evidence you have and show them how you can get your work done by a specific date.
My experience has been that you are more likely to get the extension you want when you can prove you have a clear plan to follow rather than constantly reaching the extended deadline then requesting more time. It shows you are organised and the extension will help you rather than just encouraging you to keep putting off the work.

hi,

Thanks .... I was worried about doing that as I am also looking to defer two of my exams (I have others in August anyway) to ease the heat and that I am trying to keep all plates spinning at the moment what with my Mum and uni, graduating etc etc.... I have a selection day for a job at the uni on the 13/05. I desperately would like that job, its perfect for me and wouldnt start until August - guarenteed money which would be amazing as ive lived on a £6 (for food) for I dont know how long. Its perfect for me in terms of what theyre asking for etc too.

I was worried they might not think thats a good use of my time.

Jen

MrsManda

NStephens wrote: »

hi,
Thanks .... I was worried about doing that as I am also looking to defer two of my exams (I have others in August anyway) to ease the heat and that I am trying to keep all plates spinning at the moment what with my Mum and uni, graduating etc etc.... I have a selection day for a job at the uni on the 13/05. I desperately would like that job, its perfect for me and wouldnt start until August - guarenteed money which would be amazing as ive lived on a £6 (for food) for I dont know how long. Its perfect for me in terms of what theyre asking for etc too.
I was worried they might not think thats a good use of my time.Jen

Well you know what you are capable of best. If you really think you will be able to do your exams and all of your coursework and hold down a job then do it. But I think the only way you're likely to be able to judge if it's possible is to sit down and be honest with yourself over what time you have available to you and what you need to achieve in that time. Otherwise you're going to end up having those plates crash down on you.

NStephens_2

Thankfully I only have my diss in terms of course work and officially 4 exams this time and 2 in August. I (ideally) hope to get a extension on the diss till end of May, sit two exams this time and then four in August....

The treatments finishes in 12 days ..... then I can ease off a lot more leaving me stacks of time to consentrate on the diss ..... its worth 2 modules so it really is worth fighting for. The job would be starting end of August ......... My future looks pretty bright if it all works out.

Jen