University life for freshers (2019/20) - we're hopping towards Easter with a pandemic to avoid **Title edited by MNHQ**

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

You’re right @MrKlaw and we talked tonight about GCSEs and DD2’s good mocks and predictions not affecting her A level choices plus DD1 and first year result is hovering around a first at the moment . Last year DD 1 had a New York trip in July plus Reading Festival and Uni open days etc so after the initial shock we’re trying to be grateful for small mercies. DD1 has heard about GCSEs and realising this is bigger than her.

@Ginfordinner But less academic students will be gutted also because they would’ve been predicted weaker grades and therefore working really hard to get better at finals, no?

Just in case no-one has seen it, Cambridge University Press have released all their textbooks online for free until the end of may, it may be of use to students

Link here

Ginfordinner we can drive her up for Saturday to clear her room. Where did you hear the information about not charging for her room? That would be fantastic if that were the case!!!

And yes fantastic news for Dd2 if they take her mocks and predicted grades into account. Poor thing is still having seizures so wouldn’t have been able to do the 4 hour exam days (she seemed to have loads on the same days).

@Alicatz66 - I wonder if our ‘kids’ are friends. DS also at Broadgate and not keen to come home / doesn’t see the urgency.
We’ve said we’d get him Saturday or Sunday.
He’s had such a great university experience so far and he’s obvs keen for it to continue while it can. Though the gym is closing soon so bet he’ll be home then!

They do sound alike @blametheparents !
We are now picking him up on Sunday .. but like you, I'm really pleased he's enjoying himself . He lives in the gym so that explains a lot on his U Turn ! ... I'm wondering if they will even go back after Easter ? I think Nottingham making an announcement on Monday.

Zabda DD got an email.

Zanda

@ginfordinner which uni please?

@Zanda so sorry to hear your DD is still so ill, that must be hard for you all..

Shimy it’s going to be a long slog to get her better but her mood is very much improved tonight .

@Alicatz66 - We’re going to bring everything home on the assumption that they won’t go back. We’re a three hour drive away so it makes sense to take the precautionary measure. If I’m honest, can’t see them going back after Easter. DS will be gutted once he realises the full implications.

@ZandathePanda will this isolation business be a good thing for her perhaps? Give her a good rest rather than under pressure to gallop on to the next thing. Wishing her all the best and you the strength and courage to get through it all.

Think we have to work on the nudge theory with DS. Do not want to upset him too much. He is in love, so a bit vulnerable at the moment. He expects to be going back to uni. this year. Personally we think not. But we are not going to say anything.

Wishing everyone and their DC health and strength in this difficult time. Our 1st years really haven't had the year they expected, but they are living through a period in history that will be studied for at least a generation.

Shimy thank you x

Apparently Dd2 is not at extra risk from Covid-19 (but then again a few months ago she was completely healthy and got an unidentifiable non-contagious virus infecting her brain in the middle of the night!!!). She needs loads of rest (asleep 15 hours in the last 24) and from a practical point of view it’s useful having Dd1 back as we need to monitor her. We had a particularly rough day yesterday (family thing) and she coped which was brilliant in itself.

I feel sorry for year 10,12 and 13s. Dd1 at this point last year was so working so hard for her grades and got 2 grades higher than her predictions. How the universities are going to work out who they admit is going to be interesting. I know from experience some schools are more ‘optimistic’ with predictions. Perfect storm for them.

Does anyone have a child at uni with there head in the sand over this? Dd is sure she will be back after Easter and won’t here of us taking all her things back home at the weekend. I wish they would make an announcement so we all know where we stand. She has so enjoyed her first year she doesn’t want to leave.

My DH is being like that, I'm talking about bringing a good portion of her stuff home and hes acting like shes just coming home for the Easter holidays. As DD is asthmatic shes supposed to be isolated for 12 weeks anyway, so she'd not be in lectures anyway...

@googlepoodle try and get them to actually watch the news, or sign up to the BBC app. My DD who returned from abroad yesterday, wearing a mask and disposable gloves, despairs that it is not being taken anywhere near as seriously here as elsewhere. On the other hand, things are moving so quickly that universities haven't figured out what to do. My DS has returned but is still seeing the group of friends that he had been with prior to the outbreak. I don't know how he will cope on lock down.

@googlepoodle.. Yes ! My DS is being exactly like that ! 2 days ago he announced that he and his flatmates were staying over Easter holidays ... they must've cooked up
Some mad scheme together !!! But by last night he was asking to come home Friday so DH going to pick him up Friday night . I'm telling him to bring everything home . I think Nottingham releasing some sort of statement on Monday regarding g the rest of the year .
I really feel so sad for all our DC ... I remember how they were having teething troubles at the start of this thread ...and now they are settled and happy this stupid virus appears !!!
I'm stuck at home after hysterectomy last week so feel frustrated as I can't go to pick him up !!!
I've told him he's now my intern ! He can get my lunch and clean the house !! Also slight silver lining as appears many new casual jobs in retail !!
Love to all

I think it's quite natural for some people to be sticking their heads in the sand. It's a big ask for people to 'welcome' a pandemic head on.

@ZandathePanda in a way it's good that your DD2 is needing so much rest - sleep is a great healer and keeps her out of harm's way for much of the day too.

On the subject of A Level grades I would have thought that universities may have to default to looking at GCSE grades too when determining who to take for over-subscribed courses. If you have x candidates predicted AAA and above but some have a more mixed bag of GCSEs who would place your money on - the 'across the board high achievers' or those with a more chequered academic history?

What happens to the DC who have taken a year out and perhaps weren't planning on 'dipping their toes' back into UCAS until this summer's Clearing? They have just scuppered their chances unless they are super high achievers? Will Clearing even be a thing this year?

Simbobs - I was really frustrated with her last night and left off with telling her to download the app for BBC news. It feels a bit like still being in that inward looking teenage phase even though she has grown enormously in the last year. She has loved uni so much and made a great group of friends.

So who is fully moving out this week/weekend and who is just getting their DC back and leaving the full removals for a bit?

I'm doing the latter so far - will grab what we can - books/study stuff, clothes/bedding etc, but a full clearout might wait until 'next term' ? Not sure if we should just bite the bullet now..

Mines just coming down on the train Friday . I’m at work so can’t take car up to get everything although I haven’t been asked .