Should I give up a place at university due to Coronavirus risk?

[Beebityboo]

I've wanted to go back to university for the longest time and got offered a place this morning. It would be completely transformative and I thought I'd be happy but instead I am racked with worry and anxiety.
The DC's will all be back at school and it's likely that at some point their schools will close due to outbreaks which means I won't be able to go. I also suffer from a disability that makes me prone to blood clots, so I'm terrified of catching the virus. I know we can't hide from it forever but I feel like I'm willingly putting myself/my kids at risk by attending university. Even though they say first the first term will be a mix of in person/remote learning I need to get two buses there and will have to go in eventually.
I just need some advice really. I didn't expect to get in so am quite surprised as well as my anxiety being out of control!

Congratulations on the offer.

Why not speak to them to find out how they can help you stay safe? Explain you are extra vulnerable. All lectures will be online anyway (and even when they open the lecture halls again, the lectures are always posted online for revision.

If you socially distance during tutorials or ask to join them via Zoom/Skype, ask for others to wear masks and use antibac etc, I can't see why it would be more dangerous than shopping.

Obviously you're doing the sensible thing and thinking it through, but as an outsider I'd say don't let Covid get in the way of your dreams. It's all ifs and buts at the moment, but we have to move on. Just had a thought though, do you think there's any chance you can defer a year - that way we'll know a bit more then.

If it was me I would go for it. You have three years of study ahead and it would be shame to wait a year. The uni will have put steps in place to protect you, and many lectures will be online. I did my masters by distanced learning, so got used to using the university online resources for essays and never had to go in library.

There may also be benefit in that if less people are going, in three years time less people will graduate in your sector, so better chances for starting your career.

I would just do it. The universities are being extra cautious and mine has plan A,B and C in place. That means online learning, a mix or return to normal.

Unless the course has a practical or lab based competent they’re unlikely to actually make you go in if you are shielding/have childcare issues. I probably didn’t turn up to university for one year of a three year degree when you add all of my excused absences together. I wasn’t the only one.

I would contact the university to discuss - you are unlikely to be the only one with these concerns!

Unless you have a lot of practicals or work placements most universities are offering online lectures for the first term at least and many are offering a choice of face to face or online tutorials/seminars so you could do all online for 6 months or a year and then things might be back to normal

No it's a humanities course so no practicals etc. I could defer but would hate to have to as its something I've already put off for years.

Have a chat to the uni and explain that you're worried. They will probably be able to explain what safety precautions they've put in place. Personally, I wouldn't generally advise people to postpone this year - I think next year might be heavily over subscribed.

Ask them what happens if uni is open and you’re expected to be in but the kids schools are shut? How strict will they be on attendance? Will they record the lectures so you can watch online if necessary? What about seminar work if you miss the seminar? That would be my concern.

Speak to the university. I know that at mine there are measures being put in place for students who can't attend F2F teaching sessions. All lectures are recorded (even before this), they can offer video seminars, video chats with tutors, and probably other things I haven't thought of/heard about.

Students not being able to go to F2F teaching isn't actually new, there were already some students who were offered alternative provision. I know in my peer group there was one student who for health reasons missed around half the seminars each year, but he still got taught, and is still graduating with the rest of us.

Remember that if the schools close again, there will be staff in the same position, just as there are staff with health issues and disabilities. So universities will have plans in place for both staff and students. I agree with the advice to call the admissions office (or whoever is appropriate) and ask.

As someone who works at university, please go, we need the students this year more than ever. We are putting things in place, we are making sure things are safe. We are doing a mix of online and face to face teaching (small groups get face to face). Don't let Covid-19 put you off. We staff all have the same issues and face the same problems but we are putting things in place.

Personally I wouldn’t spent £££ on a university that I won’t be able to experience. It’s too expensive for an online course, you’re missing out on being able to attend and mix with people. I’d keep my money for next year.

Contact the University disability service. They should be able to put in place a learning plan and refer you for s risk assessment to minimise the risk to you. I can't say go or not, but definitely talk to them before you decide - don't turn it down out of panic. (I often feel panicky at new starts and focus on how it might go wrong. Sometimes you just need to ride it out for the first bit).

I’d defer for a year. The chaos, disruption and uncertainty of school provision and wrap around care would be enough to put me off until everything is more settled. Seems a lot of pressure to put you and your family under if it’s not time critical (eg bringing in a wage to pay the rent). That’s without the consideration of stringent social distancing being required, oh and the 9 grand fee to basically sit on a laptop in your own house.

I thought this would be the opposite, someone feeling they'd miss the uni experience because of being at home. As others suggest, talk to the uni and ask if you can do the course remotely until the risk is below a certain level or you've had a vaccine (hopeful angle).

Please, please speak to the uni as I think you might find it very reassuring. Where I work all the planning for next year has been done on the basis that at any given moment there will be students (and staff) shielding and others self-isolating and so even where face-to-face teaching is offered there should also be remote options.

Many Congratulations on your offer

If it were me I would try to go. Of course you would have to assess the risk, but it is a fabulous opportunity for you and the rate of infection is much lower than it has been previously. Of course you must make the decision based on what is best for you and your family and good luck with whatever you decide. You could of course defer for a year too. Contact the university for help and assistance as well.

I'd say definitely go ahead. I know it must be worrying for you but this is your future - I'd say there will be all sorts of accommodations made over the whole of the academic year in terms of you studying from home as much as makes you feel safe. Yes, the university experience is important but less so when you aren't 18 - what matters is getting a qualification and putting yourself in a better position in the longer term. This year will pass, we will then be in a different situation with the virus and you'll have a year of studying under your belt to then build on. I would advise differently if the course had lots of practical placements or lab work where you had to be there in the flesh lots.