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?

@Newgirls makes no sense to me either but I think it's a knee jerk reaction to the situation In Edinburgh Napier university.
I think it adversely affects those in halls of residence as I very much doubt it will be followed by those who live out with. It is also a holiday weekend in Edinburgh so the town will be full of tourists but yet again the students are the scapegoats. You can tell I am fuming!!😂

@idsisatwat I know and am so appreciative that we can do it. I think she is bringing 2 others back to their parents en route ( she is very lucky as has a wee car). Its not what I want at all and she was having a fab time despite all the restrictions but this is a step too far.

Agree - a step too far.

If it's an Edinburgh holiday weekend, I can understand it a bit more. They may simply be concerned to minimise mingling of students and visitors while the town is crowded. But the tone of the email is scary and ambiguous. I'm worried DD will not go out at all for fear of breaking rules that aren't at all clear.

@AChickenCalledDaal you are absolutely right. That's how my dd read it that she was to stay stuck in her room. She had worked hard all week to have a fab weekend so really would be bored. At home she wont go out so will be quarantined in effect but at least she can sit in the garden and enjoy the sunshine. We had planned to go up to visit on Sunday anyway so we have really just reversed it.

Oh dear, DS1 is in St Andrews to stay with his girlfriend and visit another friend, but he's not a student... (not exactly sticking to the two households rule but he doesn't even leave our house except to visit his girlfriend and he's 22 so makes his own decisions. DS2 had not said anything but i could fetch him if necessary but i think he'll be fine as he's in a flat with pals.

Just spoken to DS and he had so many plans for the weekend after focussing on working hard during the week. I could understand a curfew, but not this full "stay in your rooms with wardens guarding the doors"!

Well, lockdown has put paid me seeing DS on Sunday. Bleh!

It looks to me like they can still go to the beach with their bubbles, just can't mix with other bubbles or have parties. DS seems to think he should spend a lot of the weekend in bed if he can't leave his room.

Dd is home, was quite tearful as torn between staying and coming home but on balance she is glad to be here. Plans to go back on Monday, I agree with others I think the uni has undertaken this decision based on the tourist situation but I am just so upset for this group of young people, they have had such a rotten year.😪[

The Students Association has sent out a message clarifying that they are OK to go out to exercise, shop etc, following normal social distancing rules and not mixing households.

Basically, it seems they are just trying to prevent parties and/or mixing with tourists on a very busy, sunny weekend. But it was not expressed well and I know that DD went to bed feeling very anxious.

@Alittlewornout Hope your DD has a nice weekend and feels positive about going back on Monday.

@Chickencalleddaal just saw that email and it is a little more reassuring. Dd def plans to return after the weekend and is currently cuddled on the sofa with her beloved cat. We have decided to treat this a weekend home visit ( a little earlier than she planned) not a long term plan. I really hope all those who are staying at uni have the best weekend they can. Might be a good time to download another Netflix series! Really glad we have this thread, I find it so supportive.

Nice email from the student association, I will encourage DS to go to the beach with some of his bubble. I was pleased that he said that although they don't have anywhere to meet, several of them moved their chairs out into the corridor so that they could get to know eachother a bit better one evening last week and they are talking about doing the same again. I still think it is poor that the hall have not allocated them anywhere to socialise in a better environment.

Monkey maybe your sociable son can meet some of the wardlaw gang at some point 👍 chairs in car park?!

Aghhh I hope this blows over soon. Dd seemed ok about it but it’s made me panicy about bringing her back by half term. Really unsettling. So many pals off to English unis this weekend and it’s so weird knowing that this might happen to more kids.

So glad for this thread too!

@Newgirls it is strange how much of the accommodation is single sex, DS said that most of the people he has met have been in all male households.

He could well be up for a bit of drama at a hall level when it is allowed. He has not committed to anything yet as he was hoping to get into the choir which would probably be as much formal commitment as he could manage, but it is looking very competitive (9 men after 1 vacancy) so he might need to find some activities.

I hope the choir works out - sounds like some amazing opportunities at st a - when allowed. Has he made it into the church to listen to them yet?

Dd came home this weekend too. Stressed out by the “lockdown” email. If it was an attempt to reduce the chances of increased Covid cases in halls (as I think) then it could have been better expressed.
Interestingly her bubble in ABH is mixed - 4 girls and 8 boys. Culturally pretty mixed too - Scots, English, American and European.

My dd is in ABH too @haggisaggis 4 boys and 7 girls and 1 empty room. They are also from a variety of countries.
I agree the email could have been better expressed. Dd is feeling better after a night at home and plans to go back tomorrow. We will just have see what the coming days bring. I hope all the students staying in halls this weekend managed to have some social contact. These poor kids never seem to be getting a break.

DS had a very successful corridor party, so it seems to have turned out well for him.

I agree that the message could have been kinder - should have mentioned what they could do as well as what they were being asked to avoid, eg use this as an opportunity to go for a walk with your bubble. The student association struck a better tone with their e-mail.

Aggis does she plan to go back or stay home now?

She’s going back Newgirls. She just needed the weekend away.

So glad the corridor party was a success Monkey, that sounds really good fun. @haggisaggis my dd feels so much better too after a weekend at home. Although she is quite confident she is a bit of a mums girl and I think that email freaked her out and she thought she may not see us for months!
We have talked about the various possibilities of what may happen ( difficult without a crystal ball!). I think the email just came without warning, late in the day and with a very negative tone. Heres hoping whatever is thrown at our fab kids this week they keep positive, and resourceful when it comes to socialising.

That’s good to hear aggis

I think you are spot on little - it really threw me and dd too. Let’s hope this week is smoother!