Not allowed to go home at the weekend, not allowed to mix with students outside your bubble, not allowed to have parties, maybe not allowed for Xmas?

[chomalungma]

I really feel sorry for students at Uni in Scotland.

Those students who are feeling isolated. Those who just want some fun and to experience student life.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-54285720

And break these rules and you could lose your university place

@ApolloandDaphne

It's not raging, just pockets. Most universities are only just back or haven't started yet. Dd2 and her friends are sticking to the 6 rule, no house parties etc. She's 2nd year though so not in halls

It is really tough for them as I remember those first few weeks of uni being mental, out every night.

But maybe not being able to do that would have meant I got a better result so perhaps we will see these students coming out with higher grades as really all they can do now is study.

We all have to play our part.

There’s outbreaks in those areas though... it’s a bit shit for all involved. But I’d rather miss Christmas than kill a friend/ family member or wake up dead myself.

or wake up dead myself.

@Figbee Yes unis have support services for students having problems, but currently most (possibly all) are online. My dd has been waiting to see someone and will carry on waiting as doing a counselling session by video call doesn't feel private enough (flatmates could hear).

It’s tough for everyone.

Most of these very youngest will be staying at home and travelling in, but there will be 16 and 17 year olds in first year at Scottish universities right now. University isn't compulsory. If you have a 16 year old heading to University this month and you know that NS is far harsher than BJ then you and your child have had opportunity to discuss what they want to do, to discuss what might happen if they so no mixing is households once they start etc. I feel sorry for them, but I also feel sorry for the 82 to in a care home who can't see anyone she loves, not even through a window, because Birmingham is in lockdown and her daughter who worries she'll never see her alive again, the family who have lost all respite for their disabled kids, those who are losing their businesses and homes, who couldn't go to family funerals or who had scans alone and found out their baby had died. I feel sorry for the students but this - not going out etc won't ruin their life and if they can't cope they have options.

@Notcontent

It’s tough for everyone.

Not really! I wouldn’t say it was tough for me - and I’m sure I’m not alone in this - some people are feeling it quite a bit more than others- it’s ok to recognise that.

Students in our community have been having big parties in their halls' gardens and now several have corona virus. Very considerate of the people they live among

They live among other students who, on the whole, are very low risk. Let them get on with life and tell the over 80s to stay at home if they're so worried about catching it from a student several yards away with a mask on in a supermarket. I imagine the majority are not.

I still don't see why it would be fine for my son to go out and meet friends outside if he lived at home/in a house, but not if he lives in a hall of residence. The universities are massively overstepping the mark here.

My DD had an email from her uni yesterday stating that if they are symptomatic they do not need to seek a test. Just stay in your room unless you need medical assistance, in which case ring 119.
She suspects the uni doesn't want the 'bad' publicity.

That is probably because testing is so slow or non existent for many

It’s unfortunate but it’s necessary.

YABU There is a pandemic.

We’re all suffering in one way or another, but at different levels. Primary school DCs have lost out by not having social interaction with their peers. Teens who are at high school with have lost the freedom to hang out with friends and taking steps to an independent social life have suffered since March. It’s not a race to the bottom - we just have to get on with it and hope that this time next year the whole covid thing is consigned to history and normal life has resumed.

It’s so sad for them. I really feel for the loss of this experience, which is really a one time thing. They have it a lot tougher than someone like me who hasn’t really missed out on anything specific or special.

I think if I had a child of that age I would have persauded them to defer (too late now I know). They really are not having a proper university experience and for some it will be just miserable.

Uni was the best time of my life but I remember how lonely it can be in those first few weeks. You’re away from your family and friends, don’t know anyone, chucked into halls sharing a kitchen with 7 other people you don’t know. I made lifelong friends during freshers. It’s the best way to meet people. If they can’t have that, I can only, imagine how depressing and lonely it will be.

Unis have acted irresponsibly, basically forcing students into campus and into cramped accommodation. And then blaming the students when outbreaks occur.

Parties shouldn’t be happening, absolutely. But does anyone think that freshers won’t socialise, or party, or shag? Seriously? Health advice needs to be pragmatic or it won’t be effective. Shock horror, “students please don’t party” is not pragmatic advice.

Distance learning from home should have been the norm for all except the most practical or courses. And for those, unis should have ensured that accommodation was underbooked.

However, a uni is (amongst many things) a business; accommodation doubly so. So: get the students back, and blame them when the inevitable happens.

For some this will be brilliant, complete baptism of fire with their housemates and having the time of their lives.

For others it will be hell With no escape and I feel for them.

I live 10 minutes away from the uni and as bad as I feel for them I've got to say they're keeping their sense of humour

Nice empathy with the free tuition comment!

My niece had just gotten over her first year home sickness when she came home in march. She went off again to start second year a few weeks ago but is about to go home again as there is no point being there, it's all remote and they cant do anything. She's up north but not in Scotland. It's a terrible time for them. What a shame to miss out on all that.

@Cheesecake53

YABU There is a pandemic.

Yes, but that still doesn't make things better, does it?

I really, really feel for all those young adults. They've already gone through the utter shambles regarding the exam results, the stress of whether they had a place at uni and whether the courses would go ahead at all.

16/17/18 year olds have then been actively encouraged to leave home (in most cases, for the first time) knowing that face to face contact with staff and other students would be extremely limited. People catching the virus are then having to self isolate in a single room with limited access to cooking/washing facilities, and aren't allowed to go home, and may not be allowed to go home at christmas.

It would fucking suck.

I can see the Scottish restrictions being implemented in the uk soon.

FFS, Scotland had been in the U.K. for about 400 years. I despair at he level of education English people have about their own country.

Normally I'm not a fan of snowflake whining - but I do think it is harder for the young because they dont see that they benefit from this to the same extent. They benefit more than they think because there wont be the same number of jobs in future/ they may lose parents and possibly grandparents but they do still have less benefit and the restrictions bear more heavily on them as they expect to do more of the things being restricted.

So it does suck to be a first year student now and it does increase the mental health risk. Sometimes flatmates dont get on, there still needs to be a mechanism for changing bubbles.

If infection rates werent currently high, though, they could be allowed more freedom and the high rates now are possibly driven to some extent by those who went partying after A levels/ off on holidays abroad where they forgot to socially distance.

This will not be forever. New treatments are being developed, vaccines are being trialled, the virus is less effective in summer. I would expect they can have a wild time just before leaving next summer after their exams.