University 2020 :4: The wait for grades and better days ahead

[MillicentMartha]

New thread for us. Interesting times.

Old thread here

Oneteen if she needs rest breaks in exams I’d be mentioning that to her uni. It doesn’t matter that it wasn’t on her application, if she needs it, she needs it.

Oneteen

Yes - animal crossing
Yes- hypermobility

Sigh 💐

Generally it seems universities are quite good at the lower levels of support needed for those with disabilities that are still able enough to attend them. It seems like less of a fight than in schools. I don’t know from personal experience but I’ve a few friends in RL and on MN SN who have found this. My DS2 has stayed at our local college for higher ed, he’s doing an HND and it’s been a bit of a struggle to get him well supported. There’s nothing available as there was for his EHCP where he had 1:1 (or generally 1:3) support in lessons. He gets a mentor for an hour a week but nothing in lessons/lectures. Most students capable of living away from home at university don’t need 1:1 support, though.

Has your DS2 finished education now @MillicentMartha?

Dd is not great at asking for assistance although in stating that she did take herself off to GPs when she started struggling with anxiety at the end of last year without any input from me.. Fortunately she seems to have bounced back... just as well because there was a 6mth wait for CBT which was recommended.

Could I ask, which might have been answered before, ds is entitled to use a laptop in lessons and exams due to processing speed, this has only ever been assessed by school and then 6th form attached to same school. So, what would he need to do to be able to get the same at university, just a bit concerned as his handwriting looks like a spider has crawled across the page and when he has to hand write tests/exams he was always running out of time

oneteen DS2 is due to finish this summer. A strange ending. He still has assignments to complete which he’s finding hard from home. Next task is find him a job, but that will have to wait until Sept/Oct I expect.

Lightuptheroom there should be a student support department at the uni. I’m not that knowledgeable as DS2 didn’t go to uni, he stayed to do his HND at his college.

Either a post 16 assessment by ed psych or qualified senco or a diagnosis letter (in case of a physical disability for example). If you tick dsa box on student finance that should trigger the process but it may also be worth speaking to the learning support department at firm uni for advice as to how they process it. A Needs Assessment would identify what adjustments and/or equipment are required . Some unis outsource this and appointments need to be booked ahead for Autumn rather wait until arrival.

I don’t have DS2’s DX letter, he was 3! I wasn’t really thinking about uni back then. The form the DSA provided that the GP filled in was sufficient for DS2 to get his needs assessment.

Also the rules have changed in that it doesn’t have to be a post 16 Ed psych assessment now. It used to have to be one from the last two years but now can be any time.

I think DS had been holding a tiny hope that there might be some school summer sport in June/July. Very glum faces here.

DS had an email on Thursday that everything finishes in 2 weeks, glum face here as well as travel restrictions weren't lifted

Well, DD had an email from her likely firm choice - Manchester - confirming all lectures would be online for the first term.
She hasn't firmed yet as too many dilemmas and now almost certain that she'll defer.
Has anyone else had anything definite from elsewhere?

Nothing definite from DDs firm (Edinburgh) yet. They say they will provide info before end of month. DD has decided she's going to look at other online offerings just in case with a view to going with whoever is best online for her subject and joining a later year face-to-face when normality returns. Looking at University of London online BSc Economics. Anyone with any experience? Prospectus says LSE gives academic input but wonders how this compares usual LSE degrees or other online offerings like the OU.degrees.

@lanadelgrey One of DS’s friends was saying that about Manchester, but I can’t find anything about it on their FAQ section of their website.

@KingscoteStaff dd heard from a school friend that Manchester is to be online 1st semester. I wonder how many will follow suit?

@KingscoteStaff

www.manchester.ac.uk/coronavirus-applicants-update/
Under ‘Will the new academic year still start in September’ on the FAQs.

DS got the same email this morning, Manchester is his first choice. I’m sure it’s just the first of many. 300+ students in one lecture theatre won’t be happening in September/October anywhere, I’d doubt.

DS won’t defer, he’s doing maths which he has already stopped working on very hard and can’t afford to ‘lose it’ for 18 months. Manchester have said they ‘welcome requests’ to defer, but I would think it’ll be a lot more competitive next year and no guarantee requests will be accepted.

Oh god I hope it's a preliminary decision, that they're going to re assess and change if possible.
Obviously depending on risk.

Does that mean no accommodation open.

Is that for all courses? Wow. They must feel confident they won’t lose too many students.

With secondary schools aiming to open in sept I’m not sure why unis are different. Make plans yes for online but decide in May? Seems a real shame

Yup, found it now.

So this looks as though Manchester is hoping to have face to face seminars and tutorials, just not lectures.

Nothing about sport or societies.

I wonder which university will be the next to follow?

Manchester has a very high number of overseas students (Inc a lot of Chinese students) so that may be a factor.. In terms of if it is just the first term working online they can probably retain the overseas students...rather than loose them and their fees..

I think a lot if uni's are saying the same re big lectures remaining on line and a lot are planning to put everything on line in case its needed. I don't know why that is a surprise - if big gatherings are not going to be allowed by September it is only sensible planning. I think the bigger question is will smaller seminar groups and labs be allowed and will they be able to live on site. We may not know that until nearer the time.

By the look of it, it’s only the lectures that are going to be online - the seminars and practicals are expected to take place normally. I’m not sure why a few online lectures is a need to defer or cancel a course? Millions of primary / secondary school children have been managing with entire curriculums of online lessons for months! If eight year olds can manage, I’m sure eighteen years olds can partially manage too.

Sorry.. I misread the original post and thought Manchester had said everything would be online...but its still undecided apart from large lectures.