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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Which uni @simbobs?

Remember July and August’s rent though!

It's blowing my mind that 11 days ago DD's college was not sure whether to close down or not. 10 days ago they moved to online learning and encouraged everyone to leave. Today the city is in 'shelter in place', any remaining students are only allowed to leave their rooms to go to the grocery store, pharmacy or dining hall, and have to get back to their rooms ASAP.

I'm so glad we got DD home when we did.

Hi everyone, how are you and your returners doing? DD1 is ok, she had lots of uni work to do at least. She’s still ‘unpacking’ which will take all week as she procrastinates constantly. Trying to be patient about the bags and boxes spilling out of her room. DD2 is at a loss now with no GCSE revision to do it’s very strange for her. I’m off school this week but will be my turn next week. Only been out to get milk this weekend but the garden has been getting some attention. Thank goodness for the sun this weekend!
DD was telling me about the mumps outbreak at her college. She didn’t tell me as she knew I’d worry(I would have) and there was also a couple of viral meningitis cases plus glandular fever etc. She had a bad cough but no fever in the last couple of weeks so it will be good to feed her properly and repair her liver and sleep routines at this worrying time.

*were not was

I just feel in total limbo. DS at home, most of his stuff at uni. He brought home very few clothes and one pair of manky trainers.

No info from his uni about anything.

I have decided it is not the most important thing but, at the end of the day, he is getting a student loan and we are paying rent for him to sit at home, spend way less than he normally doe, of course so he doesn't even really need the maintenance money.

The stuff about unis has barely made the news : it is flying under the radar a bit.

Basically the same @Benjispruce - DST from uni has bags everywhere, and bought FIFA to pass the time (was a bit down after realising no real footy with his friends would be possible). Need to get a small TV for his room so he doesn’t go to bed too late - has been up til 3 last couple of days

He needs to keep studying but doesn’t expect to follow the timetable as lectures are recorded. He doesn’t know what’s happening with tutorials -those wouldn’t be great for maths to do via zoom/teams, but might still be useful.

DD in theory will be trying to do lessons but she is in a GCSE year so it’d mostly be revision this time of year anyway. She might read up on some a-level subjects but I doubt much real schoolwork

And DS still has the same old man cough he ahs had since November so I keep shouting at him to stop coughing!

I am now technically released from my purdah but have no desire to leave my home to go to a rave/ flashmob aka the local supermarket. I have 600 chicken nuggets in my freezer... , some frozen peas , 4 eggs, oven chips and one tin of soup. Yummmmmmmm.

Yes the lack of info from university causes more anxiety. If DD knew she couldn’t keep her maintenance loan(all goes on accommodation and we top up the difference normally ) then she could relax about finding work to fund next year.She worked at a supermarket at Christmas and they need people, though the thought of her being in the frontline of marauding panic buyers isn’t a pleasant one.
@MrKlaw I’ve said the same to DD2 about reading around subjects for her A Level choices. She’d finished her GCSE content anyway apart from a further week on Vietnam for history.

• could not couldn’t

DD1 is still mentioning her field trip to S Africa in September as though it might be happening. I’m saying nothing as we just don’t know and I think she needs the hope!

I went to Morrison's at about 8.30 this morning, and it was all very civilised. There was no fresh garlic, loo roll or yeast, and flour stocks were low, but I got everything else on my list. I managed to get some loo roll and some paracetamol in the Co-op on my way home.

As DD brought loads of pasta back from university we should be fine for quite a while.

Just been to Aldi(my normal shopping not hoarding) and got everything I needed apart from rice cakes lol so I think I’ll manage.
What annoyed me is people standing right behind me in the queue despite signs saying leave 2 m.

You got loo roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????

Everyone round to gin's !

Didn’t need loo roll thankfully

DH collected DS on Sat but they didn’t properly empty or clean the room so we are going back today - 4 hour round trip.
We’ve been in touch with the accommodation office and they have said that the uni is still open and students are welcome to stay in accommodation. Meanwhile the message on the uni website is that all students should go home if at all possible and lectures are on line.

The accommodation office said that they will “‘let us know” if there are any changes to the final term’s rent. Our view is that if lectures etc remain on line there is no point DS being in uni halls and we won’t be paying for the accommodation.

Also is anyone planning for their DC not to take the maintenance loan next term if it is not needed? Seems crazy (if your family situation can manage without it) to take it and incur the future interest rates. We can afford for DS to live at home and he should be able to find part time work where we live.

So much to think about ....

Which uni @ragwort?
DD’s loan is swallowed up by accommodation charge and we pay the shortfall so she needs to earn to fund her social life(she goes through it like water) It depends how long this goes on for . If she can work in August and September then the loan is less important but if not she’ll need it.

www.classcentral.com/report/new-courses-october-2018/?fbclid=IwAR3QWEJTNIa30sCiqKuT9r_lSbGr_wUI9KE1AXd-K2BS9j0_3a1m7t2lcgU

There looks to be some great opportunities for learning here.

We have signed up for payment from August for next year, what the heck do we do. Is that contract enforeceable?

@justasking111 - if its private then probably yes. we'd just signed up too. hopefully they'll be in around then or at least in a more controlled situation.

@Ragwort feels like the Uni is either just trying to figure out whats going on in a continuously changing situation, or avoiding refunds as much as possible unless forced to. Bath is officially closed until September but accommodation I think is still open. I'm also tempted to just tell them we aren't paying the third installment.

I think we'll still take the maintenance loan. Will help with 2-3 year costs as private rents + bills may be more expensive than first year.

I really haven't got the headspace to contemplate all this. It's too much like adulting.

Statement from DS university.

Accommodation
I would like to leave my accommodation, can I be released from my university tenancy agreement?
We appreciate that many students will choose to go home under the current circumstances. University accommodation will remain open, not least, because it is a primary residence for some of our students. We are not in a position to release residents from their tenancy.

previously we'd paid well in advance, and just waited for the mainteance loan so DS can pay us back. This time I'm tempted to wait until they send a reminder - things are changing so fast. I'd rather them chase for the money if necessary than me be chasing for a refund if things change.

Its not a huge amount of money - £1200ish. But thats £1200 that can go towards a couple of years of bills when he's in private accommodation

If my DD leaves permanently then we will be released from permanent rent contract and not have to pay 3rd terms rent. Done! Everything brought home but expecting a cleaning bill as everyone left in a hurry & no co-ordinated cleaning amongst them. Didn't expect this so delighted as we pay the rent. Next years private house rental I expect will not be so flexible - think it was dated from 1st August.

Newcastle will not take any direct debits for accommodation if the student moves out by 29th March.