Surely the Uni Choice deadline will have to be put back further?

[Kazzyhoward]

I know the Uni choice deadline has already been pushed back a couple of times, but surely they don't expect students to make a firm choice when there is no certainty as to whether Unis will be starting as usual in September?

For my son's case, he has no interest in doing a "distant" learning degree - if he did, he'd have done the Open University.

His preferred choice is Newcastle, but that's pointless if he can't move there to enjoy the whole Uni experience, i.e. lectures, living in halls/flats, socialising, freshers week, clubs & societies, etc. He doesn't want to have to move there and end up stuck in a flat studying on his own in his room, and only going to occasional socially distanced events, lectures, etc. I suppose he could accept the offer, do the distant learning, but stay at home and only travel over occasionally when he has to?

An alternative, which he didn't initially want to do, is that he also has an offer for our nearest Uni, Lancaster. Under the circumstances, it seems the better option. He can live at home, study at home, and it's a lot quicker/more convenient for him to go into the Uni for events, meetings, lectures etc as and when necessary. But he won't get the friendship/social/living together experience.

What are others thinking? I can't see any certainty about how Unis will start in September until much nearer the time, certainly not until after final choices have to be lodged. Are others thinking about "going" to a Uni closer to home so that students can carry on living at home whilst they distant study for the first year?

We just don't want our DS to end up committed to Newcastle, committed to renting a room in halls/flat, and end up studying by distant learning at home anyway, and even worse, having to go in, maybe one day per week for "face to face" things, as that would take it's toll due to a pretty inconvenient train journey.

I would have thought that if they go to remote learning everything would be available remotely so it will make no difference whether he is in Lancaster, Newcastle or his bedroom.

It's going to be rather difficult social distancing in halls, shared flats, lifts, canteens etc.......it's not just social distancing in class they would need to consider but the living environment too.

Happy to be corrected by someone 'in the know'.

If he wants to only do uni when uni is back to "normal" perhaps he should defer a year?

Other wise hopefully things will be back to normal but no one can say unfortunately!

If on results day it was no clearer but he had grades for Newcastle it is likely he could still call Lancaster if they have vacancies in Clearing (most courses did last year). Postponing the deadline is unlikely to change the ongoing situation.

There is no need to change deadlines. If they decide they want to go in 2021 then they can ask to defer or reapply if the uni won't defer. If they are operating remotely then that is what will happen. They can withdraw in September even if they want to.

As another poster says you can work remotely 300 miles away just as well as 3 miles away.

It is what it is.. Ideally I would not want my Dd to start Uni based at home..and if I'm realistic I don't think she will.. We are six months away from such decisions and I would like to think we will be a lot more knowledgeable about risks and ways our DC can take preventive action but recognise this is a much bigger 'Ask' because Universities will have their own risk assessments.

I chatted to my Dd and she wants to start when ever she can and whilst I think she could open doors to related activities (biomedical) it's her decision and I guess if she starts with remote learning.. My purse may feel relieved.

If my DC were going this year, I would suggest they accept as usual. But then defer if it seems like things are still over the place in the autumn, Get them to get some work experience, do volunteering etc. then think about going next year when things might be more like normal.

My dd firmed last night.
Absolutely applying to her first choice.
Even if there is a delayed start or online start or whatever - she will be there for 3 or 4 years, so she wants to be at the University she thinks is the best for her, doing the course she thinks is the best for her. I totally agree with her.

I’m really curious to know how this will work. I can just about see how you can carry on with a degree course you’ve already started at a distance, I’m struggling to see how it would before you’ve even set foot in a lecture theatre or met anyone else on your course or any of your tutors. My DD has a place at a UK uni for September, but it’s a toss up between that and going somewhere nearer home in Paris. I was wondering if she might defer her UK place, but what happens if everyone wants to do that?

Well we're still waiting for an answer from DS's first choice. Unbelievably slow. He refuses to firm his second choice in case his first makes an offer in the next week. How can they take so long to decide?

I personally think that Universities will be open and mostly normal by September. They might have to implement a few social distancing measures such as tell professors to hold two sessions of every lecture so students can sit in every other seat. Not let out any residence hall rooms with shared bathrooms. Require students use the contact and tracing App to be able to react to any outbreaks, Etc.

I’d would just choose the best university because something will be worked out.

Not let out any residence hall rooms with shared bathrooms I would think shared bathrooms are the least of your worries. At least you are getting washed in there. What about kitchens? - already a health hazard in most student accommodation 😂 I think it’s fair to say social distancing between students living, working and socialising together on a university campus would be almost impossible to enforce.

Im not worried. University students are not really high risk. Covid presents a lower risk than alcohol to them. And if they’re all in a self contained university campus, then they’re not spreading it to vulnerable parents and grandparents at home.

What about kitchens? - already a health hazard in most student accommodation

Could be where the vax is found!

Im not worried Me neither. I agree with you re the level of risk to most uni students. I'm more concerned about shelling out a lot of money for a course that may only be partly taught and for accommodation my dd might not live in. It's so unprecedented no-one can even guess what might happen.

@titchy

There is no way universities would be able to implement social distancing or find the space to repeat lectures.

I understand that students are not in the riskiest category but what of the staff?

Covid 19 is not a huge risk for fit young people. Some will want to keep more distance from others than other students will want to but they can take their own decisions on it if we are out of lockdown by September as seems likely. I would assume all is going ahead as usual.

I think big lectures will be filmed...
Clinical courses need to be hands on.
So do courses like biology, chemistry, engineering. Only a small part of the learning can be tele.

ps: I think the Universities are mostly on brink of bankruptcy due to the shutdown, anyway. That's the real danger.

I’m pretty sure whatever the unis do I sept they will all do the same from the pov of open or closed. So either all open or all closed.

Certainly won’t be able to repeat lectures. Guess can try and use bigger lecture theatres than needed to help social distancing if possible but demand on lecture theatres is normally high so maybe not possible.

If closed and I had a current year 13 DC I’d encourage them to defer. If open, I’d encourage them to go. Problem will arise if we have a second wave in Oct/Nov as we head into normal flu season and have a second, lengthier lock down.

*If closed and I had a current year 13 DC I’d encourage them to defer.

But if too many defer, there'll be massive competition for places in 2021, so less likelihood of securing a place on the popular courses??

I think a second lockdown wouldn’t be lengthier - we have this one because the virus was in the uk unchecked since Jan. We all know the symptoms now so transmission should be less.

Op he can put down whatever on his form and if he changes his mind after results ring around during clearing. It will be a buyers market for many unis who will be keen to fill places.

My DC has ‘firmed’.

It’s about the quality and content of the course.

But I agree, it will be incredibly disappointing if it is delivered remotely

But if too many defer, there'll be massive competition for places in 2021, so less likelihood of securing a place on the popular courses??

Deferring a place means the uni agrees to keep a place for you the following year. So any massive competition wouldn’t be an issue. Of course some unis May refuse deferral applications if they need bums on seats this year.

I doubt many unis will allow late deferrals. They will need the numbers and income this year and next year would gave a wider choice of candidate from current y12 and 13, so why commit themselves.