Uni students... risking the wrath of mn..

[redgin]

Firstly, I have had 2 children go through uni and out the other side and I fully understand the emotional and financial aspects.

But

They leave home, expect to be treated as adults (rightly) and have their first taste of independence. After a summer debating the risks of going to uni this year in the middle of a pandemic why are they surprised they have to isolate in their rented accommodation like anyone else? That they have to follow the rules like the rest of the law abiding?

IMO they chose to go, they couldn't have expected normal, so get on with it.

@Porridgeoat

Best thing is to defer for a couple of years and get some proper life experience

That's easy to say but what experience?

They can't travel, if they're lucky the might get a supermarket job, volunteering isn't really feasible at the moment. I think we all already have enough experience of pandemic living, what could they do?

@Eve

‘Get some proper life experience’??

Where and how?? Can’t travel, can’t get a job, can’t get benefits?

It’s a shitty choice all round for them?

I think 'life experience' could be gained still. There is stuff to do. Just living through this is getting experience of life.

In my town charities are desperate for young volunteers, as older volunteers are reluctant to increase their risks.

I feel our national response to covid has been rather to 'plough on'. As a person I'm more inclined to stop and take stock. People are afraid to waste time, but time can not be wasted if doing something productive or enjoyable.

I fully appreciate family finances would prevent the deferred option for some, but for others it wouldn't. I would have encouraged a year out if possible for mine, as it did look very wobbly.

I hope they are all ok and things settle.

I do feel sorry for the students , given how expensive going to Uni now is, they are paying an awful lot of money for an experience they are now not going to recieve.

But it's likely not going to be a fortnight of isolation, this will keep happening over and over again whenever someone catches covid in their flat/halls/class, whoever they've been in close contact with. It's virtually impossible to avoid a repeat self-isolation.

the could have stayed home and done online courses, for example.
supermarket work

Also I don't think it's fair to say "oh, they'll pull through", yes most probably will, but no one will give them this time and opportunities back. For us, adults, it's been a hard year and we've missed out on things too. But university is a one-off experience and it's not right for them to miss out to that extent, but there are no easy answers to this, like everyone has said.

Uni accommodation is pretty grim. It normally doesn't matter because you're excited to be living away from home, you're going out and joining societies and going to lectures, practicals and seminars and meeting loads of people. Current students are doing little of this.

It's a shitshow, 9K plus accommodation to spend most of it sitting in a grotty room doing something you could have done with the OU for a fraction of the cost.

there are free courses dont be blinkered

Courses? what they should sign up to the local FE college (which costs money too) and do a creative writing course?

I would have said doing moocs or languages or similar would be better, as they are free and so varied.

There are options. None of this solves the issue for those without family support, of course.

I've got one possibly going next year and they have a deferral plan in case it is still shit.

Many would have chosen to go anyway, presumably.

The kids who last year were at school and schools had to go back for the kids' mental health... tbh it was so obvious this was going to happen. Just like it's spreading around schools. I feel for the uni students, I really do, it's shit but my sympathy lies with the school staff at the moment who are working in unsafe conditions. I also feel for those in care homes who can't see relatives. I would rather the care home residents could see their families for Christmas than students who have potentially many Christmas' ahead. It is easier for them not to feel the acute loneliness than it is for those in care homes not being able to see relatives. I am totally aware that my post is biased though- DH and I are teachers and our DC (disabled) is in a care home.

and what is wrong with creative writing?

I think it was completely predictable although the ones saying security won’t let them leave has shocked me; I can’t see the legality of that. I feel for all of them as they’re between a rock and a hard place; go to uni and have this experience or defer and do what exactly - they can’t travel, jobs are limited, socialising is limited

@redgin

Firstly, I have had 2 children go through uni and out the other side and I fully understand the emotional and financial aspects.

But

They leave home, expect to be treated as adults (rightly) and have their first taste of independence. After a summer debating the risks of going to uni this year in the middle of a pandemic why are they surprised they have to isolate in their rented accommodation like anyone else? That they have to follow the rules like the rest of the law abiding?

IMO they chose to go, they couldn't have expected normal, so get on with it.

Absolutely this. The parents should have explained all of this and have thought through implications including not getting home again if a lockdown ensues.

iin scotland, if the students goes home, the whole family will need to isolate.
that is hard,
if that happened to me, i hope my work would be understanding.

if the students come home, a poster upthread said most parents cannot afford to bankroll a student for a year, however plenty of parents are sending money to their student offspring,
and if they cannot get a job, can they not sign on?

It's a disgrace, the government will be most pleased that some are blaming the students themselves though.

I'm a mature student in year 1 of a degree and most of my course mates are on a group chat. I do understand that 18 is very young, and life experience is limited, but I have been shocked by some of their thoughts. E. G. "We won't have to isolate in halls though, will we? It would be awful for our mental health." Er, why do you think you're a special case? They genuinely believed that in the event of a lock down they'd be exempt

the government will be most pleased that some are blaming the students themselves though

Agree with this, everyone blaming students, young people, tourists, restaurant goers etc etc are letting the government off the hook.

they surely knew they would be considered a household bubble? and surely they knew their courses would be online.

agree that they are being a scapegoat.

@frumpety

I do feel sorry for the students , given how expensive going to Uni now is, they are paying an awful lot of money for an experience they are now not going to recieve.

Some go to university for the education rather than the "experience".

Not only are there no travel opportunities, few job opportunities and so on, there will be limited opportunities for socialising with existing friends at home. Also the strong possibility of parents having either been made redundant or suddenly WFH and therefore at home 24/7 so very little personal space, I'm not surprised so many went.

Indeed @redgin

They lack any common sense if they fail to realise that they need to isolate like anyone else if infection breaks out at their university.
It was extremely obvious that this would happen so how can they or their parents moan!