Starting 1st year at Uni -10th Oct

[DawnyP]

Hi, our daughter is Shortly going to starting 1st year at uni of Lincoln. They pushed the start of their term back until the 12th of October back in the Spring time due to Coronavirus and I think they thought back then as a lot of people did that the virus may have diminished. So now the virus is escalating again and the life and experience students are going to be having living in halls I’m unsure really whether it’s a sensible choice to be going still or not. She is still quite keen to go but a bit nervous too as she’s linked up with her other 9 room mates and some have already arranged to invite other friends in on the first few nights for parties. It’s bittersweet as she is desperately wanting the uni experience but just worried if she is going to be stuck in accommodation and Lectures online. It could be an option to defer til next year but if this is something she’s considering then prob need to get in touch with uni sooner than later. I think if she had already gone then there wouldn’t really be an option. But it’s the fact that it’s still 2 weeks to go. Just don’t know what to do!

I’m a lecturer in an FE college, and we have been teaching for a few weeks now. Initially my course was to be blended learning, but a decision was made to revert to 100% remote teaching due to the rise in cases, for all theory-based subjects. There are cases of Covid in the practical areas now.

I did a tutorial this morning with a group of ten first students, and while they were all lovely, and really enthusiastic, they all said they were finding it very difficult. Usually by now they would be going off to lunch/coffee together, have had a few nights out, and someone would have had their heart broken!

Most of our students live fairly locally, so are at least with family or in private flats, but I have one girl who moved from another country only for the course and is living in a private rented studio flat, and is very lonely.

If I was your daughter, I would want to be absolutely certain she will actually have face to face classes. My international student could really be at home in her (warm!) country, with her family, having the exact same experience.

I'd defer. Nearly all of my A level lot from last year have and I think they made the right decision. Uni will not be like normal whatsoever so I wouldn't waste the money frankly. If you can afford to have her at home (as getting a job might be tough) I'd say stay home. Today I've written 2 references for volunteer positions foe my former students who are deferring, so that seems a popular choice.

I’m an academic. Despite me and my colleagues putting in stupid hours to try & make it the best possible experience, I’d want my daughter to defer.
There are all sorts of useful things she could do in a year that would look great on a CV later on: part time job, volunteer, do online courses etc
There’s about to be a massive mental health crisis for so many students who have moved away from home, it’s so concerning 😢

Is your daughter the kind of person who will want to keep to the rules, at least to the extent of not having parties? If so, I think things could get very stressful, particularly if she is put in a position where she has the choice of either reporting her flatmates or risking being subject to disciplinary action herself. I would seriously consider deferring, but obviously jobs market is very tough at the moment and she does need some sort of plan.

So if next week they say she can’t come home at Christmas? I mean I just would defer a year if she can. I don’t know why anybody went ahead with uni this year and that’s the honest truth.

I wouldn’t want my child going in the current circumstances Would it be possible to defer?

Can I say a huge thankyou to you all for your highly informative and amazingly helpful comments. I have been thinking all day about it and then questioning whether I should just keep encouraging her to go and that I’m over worrying about everything. Like I said if she had already moved then it would likely be a totally different scenario but I think the fact it’s two weeks away makes me think we are able to make a decision on it and hopefully have a choice. I just hope if she does decide to defer that they will let her and not have to start the whole ucas process again as that might then sway her to go. We’ve just had a big chat whilst watching the 10 pm news and she was the first to say that she’s thinking of deferring so I’m pleased she is thinking that way as want it to be her decision really with a bit of guidance from us. Thanks so much everyone.

I would not want to start uni this year in these circumstances, nor want my child to.

Another option is just to stay at home for the first semester online and move in January when it might be slightly better ?

Hi Op, my dd is also starting Lincoln uni at the same time. She wants to go, and doesn't want to defer but I am really concerned as to what sort of experience she will have. I am being positive for her etc as it's her choice, but like you also slightly wishing she could maybe put it off till next year. The whole situation with Scottish students hasn't helped, as they must be having a dreadful time of it bless them, and if course the ridiculous idea about not coming home for Christmas. It is so stressful.
I also have another dd at Uni in Leeds, already gone back and now they've just gone into local extra restrictions.
It's such a stressful time for students. Good luck to your dd whatever she decides.

“Hi Op, my dd is also starting Lincoln uni at the same time. She wants to go, and doesn't want to defer but I am really concerned as to what sort of experience she will have. I am being positive for her etc as it's her choice, but like you also slightly wishing she could maybe put it off till next year. The whole situation with Scottish students hasn't helped, as they must be having a dreadful time of it bless them, and if course the ridiculous idea about not coming home for Christmas. It is so stressful.
I also have another dd at Uni in Leeds, already gone back and now they've just gone into local extra restrictions.
It's such a stressful time for students. Good luck to your dd whatever she decides.“

Thanks 😊 it’s really hard to know what to do for the best but it will all be okay I’m sure. Wishing your daughter a great time at Uni, she will have a fun time I’m sure and will love Lincoln. It’s such a lovely city. Hope your son is okay in Leeds and the lockdown doesn’t affect him too much.

Just a quick update...
She called Lincoln on Monday morning and they were absolutely lovely and said it was a difficult decision to make but if she wanted to defer until Sep 2021 she could.
So she had a think about it yesterday and has now had her place deferred til next year. So feels happy it’s all sorted and me too!
She’s applied for a few jobs and has been in touch with local food bank to volunteer.
So thanks everyone for your help with this.

oh, thats good to hear they were helpful. I hopee she has a positive year and then gets to have a wonderful experience next year.

I would defer. She could spend the year abroad despite the virus if she chooses the country well.