Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

wageslave

One of my friends has an extremely bright daughter who for various reasons decided to give up on (a very prestigious) uni after the first term and went to work for one of the big supermarkets on the checkout until she decided what she wanted to do with herself. Three years later she has landed herself a fast-track trainee HR managers job with the chain.

Her friends are just starting to leave uni with a huge amount of debt and very poor employment prospects.

The value of a university education can't be downplayed but there are other paths to decent employment.

wageslave

misskool wrote: »

Now try being on the other end recruiting students who all show up with A*'s and nothing distinguishing them.
I've had a second year undergraduate in a hard science subject at one of the top 5 universities in the country and she cannot do ratios. *sigh*

I don't know how it works in England, but I was amazed to discover that, in Scotland, you can now take your highers, in stages, over 2 years if you aren't bright enough to pass them in a year.

Sort of defeats the purpose I would have thought:cool:

vivatifosi

misskool wrote: »

I've had a second year undergraduate in a hard science subject at one of the top 5 universities in the country and she cannot do ratios. *sigh*

When DH did his PhD one of the students had a thermometer in a pot of water over a bunsen burner. When he asked what they were doing, the reply was "checking for when the water gets to 100 degrees C".

silvercar

GDB2222 wrote: »

Just a quick rant. My son got what I thought were excellent A level results - 1 A* and 2As - but apparently it's not good enough for the courses he wants to take. He missed an A* in his favourite subject, which he blames on a single wrong choice of question. The margins are so fine, with so many candidates getting marks in the high 80s and 90s, that these exams are simply not fit for purpose. You have to get 90%+ for an A*, yet 1 in 12 results was an A*, and one slip and you've missed it.

Sorry about that - end of rant.

Does that mean his UCAS offer was 2 x A* and 1 X A? I didn't think offers went that high. Or was he looking for a clearing place?

fc123

Hi all...OH and daughter off to Brighton tomo to collect her GCSE results.
Unfortunately, the school have the press in but as mine was a 'rogue' pupil (from the school that went bust) and unlikely to get a handful of press worthy results....they can slip in, collect them and slip out again

It was really an experience though and I don't regret letting her take the place for that year......though she didn't like it at all...mainly cos she just felt 'poor' and 'lower middle class' most of the time:o Pls note I wrote 'felt' as it was just how that environment and the type of fellow pupil made a 16 yr old feel.

Anyways, she isn't an academic high flyer...but has recently started working in our W1 concession and I am surpised how she well she is coping (being quite shy and self conscious) and I am getting loads of design feedback influenced from her own customer observations. Priceless. She's off to do a legal secretarial course in Sept but I have a feeling it may do her head in a bit.
She is arty but refuses to pursue it as a career as she doesn't want 'to be like us'. I don't think she means that in a horrid way...just in a matter of fact way.
She wants a 3 mill pad in Surrey and to be an SAHM.:D

Son is off to here and I have to write a juicy cheque any day now.

I would give anything to go and do the MA that I never got to do 25 years ago...but it won't ever happen.:(

misskool

wageslave wrote: »

I don't know how it works in England, but I was amazed to discover that, in Scotland, you can now take your highers, in stages, over 2 years if you aren't bright enough to pass them in a year.

Sort of defeats the purpose I would have thought:cool:

You can retake any of your A-level modules until you get the marks you want apparently. Though, this may have changed with the new A* rating.

vivatifosi

fc123 wrote: »

I would give anything to go and do the MA that I never got to do 25 years ago...but it won't ever happen.:(

Never say never fc. I didn't get my Masters until I was early 40s.

fc123

vivatifosi wrote: »

Never say never fc. I didn't get my Masters until I was early 40s.

Deff won't happen until the mortgage is paid off, then a slush fund for a pension...then maybe I will indulge myself. I reckon I could be 50+ by then ;-0....on the other hand, I have a real urge to'drop out' at the mo. I think it's the corp environment we are in makes me feel all twitchy. But needs as must and all that
I will conform and keep my head down until all personal financial goals are achieved. Ha ha.:D

wageslave

fc123 wrote: »

I will conform and keep my head down until all personal financial goals are achieved..

I have been doing that for years.

Just keep telling yourself it's worth it.

Although it probably isn't:(

fc123

wageslave wrote: »

I have been doing that for years.

Just keep telling yourself it's worth it.

Although it probably isn't:(

I have a cut off age though. Whatever/wherever we get to when I am 55...that's it with what we currently do.

I fancy doing something a bit like Davesnave but with some vintage/recycled textile something or another on the side....in the big barn overlooking the sea somewhere....and some freebie mentoring too.