University life for 'freshers' (2019/20) - first year campus life suspended, sitting out/surviving the pandemic and staying on top of studying [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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When I mentioned to DS that tuition could be online next year he said that he would drop out if that was the case. I'm really concerned.

Oh no @simbobs

I’m not even mentioning it to my DC - if they haven’t read it/thought it themselves, there’s no point in giving them more to worry about when we have no idea what will actually happen yet.

Agreed, but they seem to be incurring an awful lot of debt for very little, certainly in DSs case as there is nothing more from uni now that they go automatically into 2nd year, yet they are still being charged tuition fees as well as accommodation.

@simbobs I agree - it’s so bad - there was an article in Durham student magazine suggesting only 1200 residential students in the future - surely that can’t happen?

I'd save a fortune on commuting if we went online for the bulk of stuff! I would love it - but obviously I'm a fossilised mature student and being on campus isn't fun really. Unfortunately would never work with our placement model and it really needs you to be self-driven as hell which even my willpower would wane on at times.

We get emails from the uni announcing one thing grandly... then emails two days later starting to back pedal as they can't implement what they've promised... then emails confusing it even more - it's a nightmare and has me at breaking point lately.

I would have thought (hoped?!) universities will be aware of the possibility of significant drop-outs (and decisions to defer or never start at all amongst yr 13s) if they go online only next term. Which they really can't afford if they are losing overseas students as well.

If so I would have thought they universities would be making huge efforts to restart 'in person' with the appropriate social distancing - but who knows? They may take the view that students won't have many other options (high unemployment and very restricted travel) so will decide to carry on online rather than do nothing. But that may underestimate the students' understandable wish not to incur another £9k of debt for online-only!

Universities may want to have arrangement in place in case of having to go online at some point, but that is slightly different.

@Benjispruce. DS has just had an email about terminating the Accommodation contract in case the army need to use the rooms. Has your DD had one? Or did you say you had emptied her room?

It is not just the 9k debt, more like 20k with tuition, accommodation and food costs for UK students. Deferring would not be the worst thing the young could do to be honest.

I always meant to ask how much do overseas students pay it it a lot more?

Yes, though the accommodation and food costs would be much less if the university's doing online only, as presumably the students would just live at home - whereas the £9k is fixed. Or is the plan that the students go to university, live in halls, but have online lectures rather than large lecture halls? I suppose that way you get some of the 'social experience' but reduce (while not eliminating) the risks of infection.

What will the deferrers do though if they don't go to university? - not that enticing a prospect either! Especially when they've been 'out of action' since March, effectively. Some will get work, of course, but it looks as though one of the major employment sources, hospitality, is out for quite a while.

there was an article in Durham student magazine suggesting only 1200 residential students in the future

Having just read the first part of the article, I read that bit as meaning that the number of modules delivered in the 'normal' way would be reduced to 1200, not the number of students resident at Durham?

The University wants all modules for 2020-21 to conform to a “Minimum Viable Product” by June, in readiness for the start of 2020-21 academic year. Under the proposals, the number of “live” modules taught next academic year will be reduced by 25%, bringing the number taught at Durham to around 1200.
www.palatinate.org.uk/exclusive-university-proposes-online-only-degrees-as-part-of-radical-restructuring/

Really glad DD has decided to stay in uni halls next year, and that York are set up for this to be a possibility. She's not paying for them this term as it is. She has started her online seminars/lectures and has a timetable, but it's just not the same really. Luckily, she's always been a reserved, homebody type, so doesn't seem to be missing her friends.

@bigTillyMint DD left on the last day of term(21/3?) DH collected her so yes she cleared everything out as by then, the email update had come through advising them to.

I think if it's possible, even if lectures and tutorials still are online, I would be encouraging DS to go back to his second-year accommodation, living with his pals.Otherwise, there is precious little point in the whole experience. Yes, they would still come out with an academic degree but the essence of the experience will have been entirely lost, particularly if you're at Oxford, Cambridge, Durham or another very unique type of university...

Absolutely @NewModelArmyMayhem18!

@Benjispruce, DS came home the week before and we couldn’t go up for his stuff.....

@bigTillyMint we just went to collect DS's belongings despite the lock down, fearing the introduction of more stringent measures. We didn't see a soul other than the Accommodation Manager in the office when he handed in his keys. Unfortunately he will still have to pay the rent for next term, as well as being in debt for tuition fees when he is getting nothing at all. DH has written to MPs about the situation.

My DS is hating online tuition. He misses the interaction. He said if studies are not at university in September then he will drop out. I will be heartbroken

@minesawine I can understand why some of our young people would feel like that but it is heartbreaking. .

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I'm hoping DD will do the same and move into her second year house as planned. It won't be the same social life but at least she can continue to study and live independently with her friends.
However, if my DC was a fresher this Sept I think I would be encouraging them to take a year out in the hope that life and therefore their freshers year can be as normal As possible

@minesawine my DS said the same, but I think that was more on the basis of living at home as well. He is perfectly happy here, but it must feel like a retrograde step to them. If he can move into his student flat with his mates, and have some degree of distance learning it may be OK. Personally, I think it is the students who should be tested and vaccinated first. I can only imagine this thread in September/October when we are all worried about whether they have freshers flu or something more sinister.

I don’t think my DS would drop out completely if he can’t go back in September but he is seriously thinking about taking a year out and then returning in Sept 2021. He is talking about going to Australia but not sure how realistic that would be .

Is there any info about September term not happening then? You’re all panicking me now!

I've not posted for a while. Busy at work (NHS) and also trying to support 3 teenagers with different needs. DD (19) missing Durham and friends so much and I can't even begin to think that they won't be going back in September. She's been a lost soul, although a bit better now she's got a supermarket job. DD (16) no GCSEs but I'm stressed that her mocks were not great because of being in hospital at the time so goodness knows what her grades will be now. And DS (14) who is not the most motivated of individuals and less is more in his eyes so home schooling is not easy. I've decided that concentrating on the subjexts he intends to take for GCSE is the way forwards. At least it has been sunny and we are blessed with living semi-rural so can cycle on empty lanes.
I think I'm grieving for the first year university experience DD should have had. I think she will choose to head back to her second year house and live there even if lectures are online. I hope they manage something better than now next year.
Hope everyone else is doing OK.

@mum2eim you n doubt have been very busy. Good to hear from you again and hoping you are okay?

I have a 14 year old who is being a bit slack with her school work too. Her argument is "why do I need to carry on studying art, history, computer science and DT when I'm not going to be doing them for GCSE?" She has a point. I did try to say that she does need to complete KS3 content across the board but then she counter-argued (she's like that) that she couldn't imagine that her friends at other schools who started GCSEs in Yr 9 would have done the whole KS3 syllabus in two years. I gave up after that!

There is so much of life we can do virtually these days but those won't be the enriched memories or experiences that our young people signed up to going to university.

I think that young people who are thinking of dropping out would really need to think twice about doing so. It may be that virtual will become the new normality/reality for students for a few years to come yet.

I would expect Universities / schools etc to be open for business September / October . My DD is enjoying her Easter break studying , home cooking , on her computer/ internet , zoom / FaceTiming friends , walking dog and online gym sessions .

Sounds similar to me @mum2eim with me having DD1 at Durham and DD2 now not taking GCSEs either but I have no 3rd child. DD is desperate to get back to normality at uni.She’s been much better than I thought at home but hasn’t heard anything from any of the supermarket jobs she applied for. DD2 did well in her mocks thankfully. Hope your DD’s health is ok now, as we’re all realising, it’s the only important thing. Hope work is tolerable, are you despite with Covid?