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 many congratulations to your daughter, well done her!
My poor girl still has 2 to go and think it's the middle of January before she will get the results. Saying that, my son handed an essay in on the Monday and had it back by the Thursday and he wasnt expecting it back til the New Year! Hope you both manage to have a wee celebration tonight.

Thank you little 🍷 I think we’d S swap a couple of grades for parties so fingers crossed 😬

Great news Newgirls. And very quick on the results!

Just looked at next semester dates - if they really are expected to stay away for the first six weeks of term, they'll only have two weeks back in St Andrews before the mid semester break. Seems like overkill given the relatively low infection rates. Hope we get clarity soon, and preferably before DD starts stressing about whether to pack for 5 weeks or 11 weeks at home

That would be far too extreme for somewhere like St. Andrews with such low cases. I hope it will vary due to tier and local situation. I would imagine that local cafes/shops etc might quite like some students back!

Great news on exam front @Newgirls Seems like a very quick turnaround from markers, when did she do exams? DS did one just after Independent Learning Week, one on Monday (a big 2.5 hour one) and a little 15 minute one today which should be finishing now. I agree that this may well be their hardest working first year group ever as there are so few distractions!

I think St Andrews should not need 6 weeks to get them back as it is a small university. The main issue is that testing needs to go at the same rate as arrivals, so they may ask people to start going back mid Jan to mid Feb. This is based on what they did to space out arrivals at the start of year.

She still has another exam so not finished yet but it did only take about three days to get marked. Very speedy by that dept!

The map stone condensed seems to say that teaching will still start on 24th jan with some being online only til 7 feb so not a huge change for most. Individual depts will contact students. Refunds for any accommodation not used. And testing for all. Pretty good on the whole I think.

Great news about the exam @Newgirls. Am hoping they’re all as quick.

And it sounds positive about the plans they have for returning after Christmas.

I agree it sounds very positive. I get the feeling St Andrews have decided to comply with the spirit of the guidance while also doing what they can to get students back as soon as reasonably possible. 7 Feb at latest is good news ... I definitely had visions of dealing with a bored and frustrated daughter well into March. Just at the point where she's started making some actual, real life friends up there!

Latest Covid figures

Over 3000 asymptomatic tests and still zero positive cases. And zero positive cases in the whole of St Andrews North (where I think the North Haugh campus is). I'm beginning to let myself believe we might actually get DD home for Christmas!

All feeling very positive with the latest covid stats, they really have gone well.

DS coming home tomorrow, he has put in requests for first few meals - homemade pizza (I have a brilliant little pizza oven), Indian take-away from favourite place, roast meal. He is expecting to wait until mid Jan for exam results, might take longer for medics because there are a lot of them.

3000 and no positives! Surely if that’s the same the other way they can enjoy some more student-based activities.

Hope everyone is able to return home who wants to - feels very low risk to me.

Ps I was in London one evening this week going through st Pan and so quiet. Had most of my train and tube to myself.

Do we need to start a new thread? Will there be one for families who are applying this year? Should we have two - one for current students one for new? Any thoughts?

There is a news piece on the BBC about the very low rates of covid amongst student populations. Hope the government are paying attention to this and cut students a bit of slack next semester.
@Newgirls a new thread would be fab!!

Anyone know how to start a new thread and link to to?!

Quick question to you all with offspring at St Andrews - I’m Trying to understand what is the attraction/benefit of choosing a four yr course over three yrs for the same course that could’ve been done in either England or Wales. I know St Andrews has an excellent reputation.

@Newgirls I was hoping you knew what to do as I haven't a clue!! On a tangent just had my covid vaccine. Hoping the end is in sight.x

Herbal - for my student it means a year abroad in us (probably if all goes ok).

Also ranked no1 for the subject in the uk. Lovely buildings and a beach.

You do have to pay for the extra year though ouch!

I will set up a new thread, but can't promise a witty title! There are only 6 posts left on this one, so if anyone has a snappy suggestion, please say, but leave the last post for the link to the new one.

@Alittlewornout - ooh, you are the first person I sort of know who has had it - exciting, hope you don't get any side effects and you are one of the 94% for whom it works

I’ve just done it! Great minds think alike!

Link to new thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4103843-St-Andrews-into-2021-new-thread