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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@simbobs I agree and I should think the locals would want that too.

@Benjispruce 50% covid positive doctors?! Shocking! Just goes to show that we should be testing widely.

Well quite - could be half the country who have/had it asymptomatically.

50% covid positive doctors?! How big a sample was that @Benjispruce? While it would indeed be a comfort to think that half of the population may have had it, I suspect that figure is very wide of the mark. I'm assuming the GPs would have been tested because they were potentially exposed/had symptoms/worked together?

BTW what an awful thought to think our DC may have their entire university experience 'tainted'/blighted by a 'new normal' that requires prolonged social distancing and the type of behaviours you'd least expect of students.

I am reading the thread by Mumsnetters living in France with interest - their 'deconfinement' strategy sounds very complicated. I think the UK could do well to learn from other European countries' lead don't you? We didn't exactly get it right with lockdown, did we?

I agree that the 50% positive results are likely to have been atypical. In New York there has been extensive testing and they estimate that 20% have had it, but they have had a horrific death rate (0.13% of the New York state population have died). There was an interesting article about Norwich having the lowest death rate of any UK city, but they are worried that because the lock-down was early in the progress of the virus they have a much lower percentage of people who have already had it, so lower herd immunity if it turns out that you don't get it twice.

It is indeed very sad that our DCs university years will be blighted by the "new normal". It is also tough for the older ones graduating into deep recession.

spoke with DS yesterday over dinner and he said what I guessed - he'd likely prefer to move back to Bath and stay in shared house if possible in September. Assuming the rest of the house is observing necessary precautions, its just a 'different' household.

Yes likely some increased risk having 4 18/19 year old boys in a house rather than a family group, but it seems a reasonable position and I don't think I'd oppose it if things look ok by then.

@MrKlaw I think they're being sensible TBQH. And even teenage boys have probably got a greater handle on being responsible and protecting their own (whether family or another type of 'houshold' grouping) than they ever have before. Given that young men are at the highest risk from suicide, I think it's particularly important that they're in their 'pack' for support.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I agree - if they want to be with their friends, that will be better for their MH. Plus they are all adults () and able to make their own choices whilst hopefully respecting the wishes/needs of others.

I’d be perfectly happy for mine to return to Durham and take up her houseshare .

Unfortunately I don’t know the size of the GP sample as I found doubt secondhand so couldn’t ask.

Found out!

No worries @Benjispruce it will all out in the wash. I suspect it's a) been around longer than we have been made to believe and b)hopefully more of us have immunity than hitherto thought.

If only we had reliable antibody tests....

The only issue I'd have with dd going back up to Durham is that it's a heck of a way to go if she became ill or we went back into lockdown and she needed to be fetched. If it was closer then I'd think it was a good idea.

I'm hoping they'll be back for next term.
Her first exam's tomorrow. Apparently they've been sent an email telling them not to cheat. That's going to make a big difference isn't it!

Haven't touched base for a while, but just been going through recent posts.

DD is hopeful she can go back in September, but is realistic that might not happen. She's struggled to get work in the hols up to now, but found a temporary job for originally a month, but is fairly confident she'll get work throughout the summer.

Mine have both just spent the time as though it were vacation, with no prospect of working. DD would ideally like to return to France as the language school at which she had been teaching will shortly reopen, but she is not likely to be able to get there for another month at least, and it will hardly be worth it. Some universities gave their 3rd Yr language students some work, but not Newcastle. DS hasn't talked about next year for a while. He still hasn't paid this term's rent but will have to. I wish now that he hadn't bothered to sort out next year's accommodation. September seems a long way off, but there is little to look forward to in the meantime, and not just for our student DC.

@Witchend is she having a closed book exam at home?

@JacobReesMogadishu
I think it's open book, on the basis they didn't want to disadvantage those who don't cheat. But, yes it is at home.

Oh that makes sense. I’m not sure how you can cheat in an open book exam though!

Yes, most exams I think have been changed from closed book to open book as obviously you can’t stop people looking in a textbook when they’re at home.

I suppose you could get someone else to do it.....?

@Witchend, DS has a string of open book exams - first one tomorrow. Not sure how they would cheat other than getting someone else to advise/write the essay?

My DD had her first exam today. I wonder whether it’s the same as @Witchend DD. My DH and I were chatting today discussing if you had a parent who was a subject professor whether you could get help at home for your exams. It’s a strange situation for them all. I hope they all stick to the rules.

I think the only way they could cheat was getting someone else to do it for them.

She's doing maths, as I did, but I can't remember enough to be very helpful, and she wouldn't ask anyway.
Considering some of the lecturers I had, unless it was their speciality I'm not sure how helpful they would be. Judging by one of my tutors they'd probably spend their time recomposing the question to the way they thought it should be.

simbobs I suggest priority for vaccination are those currently shielding, nhs workers and the elderly way before uni students and yes i do have 2

@Witchend yes my DD is doing maths. I didn’t get past O level and DH can’t remember much from uni. It’s a strange situation for them all. Wishing your DD all the best.