St Andrews

[IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere]

DD has received a very good offer from St Andrews. She loves the look of the course and is very keen to go there. Aside from the course she loves the idea of a small town, has no interest in nightlife as part of the "student experience" and loves the quirky traditions.

Does anyone have any experience of being there and the extra expenses that could be involved such as the extra cost of travel, formal dinners and the like?

We are a low income family in an economically deprived area. She is part of a very small 6th form - 12 in the Upper 6th. Her school is not in special measures but is holding on by the skin of its teeth! They are very keen for her to go to St Andrews but she is not going to be their responsibility!

We will support her as much as we possibly can but I am worried that it will be a lot more expensive than a less elite university.

Any thoughts?

Definitely hugs. For me I'll be home alone for the first time in 22 years. It's going to take some getting used to.

Oh @Heffapotamus that is a big change hugs to you and all on this thread it is huge help to know we are all in it together. @Dahliafairy lovely you are spending time in Edinburgh do DM me if you want any pointers I know the city fairy well😉

DD is getting very huggy, so I know that she's nervous. And every time she cuddles up, it makes me realise how much I'm going to miss her . Meanwhile, DD2 is utterly fed up with all the university preparations and making her feelings felt in a very teenage manner. Sigh.

Awh @AChickenCalledDaal just enjoy the hugs it's hard for us parents. My dd was the same as your younger one when ds was getting ready for uni, nose a bit out of joint. However she really missed him when he went but did very quickly settle into reaping the benefits of being an " only".
For info ladies, although your DC are probably already aware, appts can now be booked for meetings with their academic tutor via teams. Very real now.

Ok dd now thinking she might defer! No societies, masks, online course... I’m on the website for the uni and it doesn’t exactly inspire with all rules and not much else. Ive suggested she ring them. I keep saying halls will be fun but she’s saying it’s very expensive to go for that. What else can I say?!! Pls help!

Those of you with children going to St Andrews should perhaps listen to Radio 4's Woman's Hour. There was a piece on there (the first piece) by a student, talking about sexual assault. It's something to talk to any potential student at any university about. It's here.

That is all well known and woman’s hour are about six months late on that story

Shame on those appalling men

@Newgirls - I can see where she’s coming from but does she have a good alternative plan? I can understand the 1st year not being as imagined but with a 4 year degree at least they will have more time for a more ‘normal’ university experience. DS is looking forward to a change of scenery and being more independent after being stuck at home since March. He is very much of the thought he will make the most of it - he’s been in contact with the cricket club and they are planning some activities and net practice so I’m sure other societies will figure an alternative way of doing things. Do you think she’s having last minute nerves and the restrictions are her way of trying to convince herself not to go? It’s a big step and I’m sure all the uncertainty can’t help. I’m sure she will make the right decision whatever she decides. X

She was hoping to do drama and they have said they won’t do any. Which seems tough to me as round here they are doing outdoor things.

It may well be nerves. Outdoor sport would be perfect but she tends to do more drama and music stuff.

She has a job so could do that this year. But wow I’d jump at the chance for a change of scene!

Thanks dahlia

@Newgirls it's hard for them and to the start to uni they or we had envisioned. Agree with @Dahliafairy re what would she do if she doesn't go and how will she feel a month down the line when everyone around her has gone off to uni??
Gyms and dance studios are opening next week so things are moving, the difficulty is until unis are up and running no one knows how this will all pan out. I totally get where she is coming from though it's a tough and very personal decision.

@Newgirls

Ok dd now thinking she might defer! No societies, masks, online course... I’m on the website for the uni and it doesn’t exactly inspire with all rules and not much else. Ive suggested she ring them. I keep saying halls will be fun but she’s saying it’s very expensive to go for that. What else can I say?!! Pls help!

You could try: It may normalise as the academic year progresses and what can she do in a gap year when travel is difficult, jobs hard to come by....also if doing a 4 year course, she may as well get on with it.

I hope it does normalise as year goes on.

My own concern now is if unis can get paid/get students doing online why will they change this academic year?

Sorry for my negativity - I’m glad others have more positive mindsets to this

It is so difficult - and not at all what we'd hoped for them. But they are a resilient and resourceful bunch - and are already so much better at gleaning info and connecting online than my generation (ahem!) 😁
I wouldn't be surprised if the drama went online initially - choirs and orchestras do - so why not drama.
All I know is that necessity is the mother of invention and our DC are an enterprising bunch.

I can see where she is coming from and if DS had not just had a gap year, I would have encouraged him to think carefully about it. If other friends are taking gap years, it is fun having a relaxing year, working a bit but no pressure. If everybody goes away and she is the one left behind it will feel different.

Has she contacted the drama society to find out whether they are planning any outdoor theatre? St Andrews has so many locations for fabulous black-drops!

Apparently she has monkey and they have been told not to by the uni. I think that’s probably under pressure from residents or gov - who knows?

Over on fb one parent with a daughter from Edinburgh has decided to commute and give up her room in sallies. If it’s all online then makes sense to consider that. We haven’t paid for anything yet so we shall see what dd decides!

Some pals here are studying from home anyway - two London unis and one Cambridge so it won’t be too boring. Though not ideal sadly

So apparently nicola sturgeon is making a statement about unis on 1 sept - possibly looking at what ‘live’ stuff can happen

That's a bit last minute isn't it??

@Alittlewornout if more charitable you could call it proactive - the Scottish rules are on the more cautious end of the safety spectrum, so it could be a relaxation. I think (hope) she probably talks to the universities before making statements.

@Newgirls how ii thinking coming on in your household? One strategy could be to go to St A but after a month decide whether to stay or go back home and study remotely. I can't remember how much money you would lose if a DC gave notice after a month. DS has not gone on the FB page, but it looks to me that all the people at Uni Hall might be science/medicine, so it is reasonably likely that she will be with course mates in hall, and they will be able to do outdoor things together like walks on the beach and using the hall tennis courts. The whole "Blitz Spirit" thing could be quite good for bonding.

Im hoping it’s a relaxation...

Monkey wise words - we are waiting the announcement and plan a time moment is to go up, give it a go and then rethink. It’s a foundation year so worse case scenario is she defers or tries an English uni very quickly.

Cloak is on way (thanks H!) and I think once she’s in that and is chatting to other students at the lovely hall she may feel very different.

It’s exhausting! I really appreciate all your helpful insights xxxxx

Does anyone on here know whether DS would be able to invite his GF to join him for lunch in his catered hall when we do the drop off next weekend? I would like to leave the 2 of them to sort his room, have lunch and say goodbye for a couple of hours. DH and I can find lunch elsewhere.

@Monkey2001 you may well be right but I am afraid I am more cynical than charitable where the SNP are concerned.
Regarding a guest for hall meals I am unsure what will happen this year. With Ds you could all eat in halls the first evening as a family, we hadn't realised this and had booked a restaurant. We have booked a restaurant for lunch this year and will leave Dd to it late afternoon.

@Newgirls - I just checked the accommodation contract and it says:

5 Cancellation

5.1 The University will accept cancellation made in writing to Student Accommodation Services on the following 'cancellation' conditions:

5.2 Cancellation Period:

Cancellation notifications are only acceptable in the form of a signed letter or email to Student Accommodation Services from Your university email address received within seven days of the date you accepted your Offer of Accommodation. The seven day cancellation period does not apply after You collect the keys or place belongings in the accommodation or move in, even if Your cancellation notification is received within seven days of agreeing to the contract. If Your cancellation notification is received more than seven days after You accepted Your Offer of Accommodation, and You fail to take up the accommodation, You will be liable for the Rent during the entire Period of Licence, including catering costs, if applicable.

5.2.1 Under The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 and only whilst the legislation is in operation, You can cancel your accommodation contract by giving 28 days notice in the form of a signed letter or email to Student Accommodation Services giving the reason for cancelling. This must be a valid Covid 19 reason. Your contract will then be terminated at the end of the 28 days notice.

So it looks like if she got there and it was not working for her due to a valid Covid 19 reason after a couple of weeks she could give 28 days notice. If she only paid until Raisin week (19/10), that would be 6 weeks of the 30(?) weeks of the contracted accommodation, so around 1/5 of £6,364 = around £1,300.

See www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/rules/termsandconditionsforstudentsinresidence/

Thanks @Alittlewornout. I think I might e-mail the warden to ask. How does the student prove that they are allowed to get a meal?

I think they are given an ID card to show at meals, cant quite remember now. Ds is at home but not up yet so I will ask and get back to you.