Is it worth going to uni in Sep 2020 or better to defer until Sep 2021

[langdale2016]

We are wondering if it's worth DS starting his degree in Sep 2020, as it islikely to be online and there won't be the opportunities to join in with freshers' week, meet new people etc as it is likely that his course will start online.

We don't want to have to pay for accommodation (which he is unlikely to live in) as money is really really tight, as it is for most people I suspect.

I'm also not sure that DS working from home in his bedroom, is worth paying all those tuition fees either. He is currently building up his own online business so deferring for a year could help him concentrate on making that successful. He is on his gap year at the moment so it would mean two years out of education. To his credit he's been devouring books and research related to his chosen subject so it won't be a problem to get back into the swing of study.

I just think that one of the biggest benefits of studying for a degree is to use this as the opportunity to spread your wings and become independent. It looks extremely likely that this years intake won't have that opportunity as, without a vaccination, I don't see how lecture theatres. halls of residence and student bars will manage social distancing.

What do others think?

My DS does a lot of wet lab work on his degree. The labs shut when the library did, in March. It's been a nightmare, his not having access to either, especially science journal papers which cost a fortune to access online even with a student card. (He's final year.) His tutor went AWOL last year, and the VC's office has been in panic mode over institutional finances rather than student welfare and teaching standards.

It doesn't instil confidence.

I hope labs are properly staffed of course - and if not there has to be serious questions about how they offer those courses this year

I meant hotch potch in that campuses might be for lab courses and others taught online

No idea just guessing

Daughters not deferring. shes worried if she did, she wont get the halls accommodation because there will be so many students going for the 2021 from this years 13's, gap year students, and also the year 12's.

shes happy to do the labs in person and smaller tutorials in person and have lectures on line which is current set up at the uni she will be at.

Just to point out that as far as I have heard, the vast majority of universities are planning for a 'blended learning' approach. So lectures will be online, because there is simply not the capacity to hold big lectures that are socially distanced, but there will still be a fair amount of 'in situ' teaching as well - labs, seminars, fieldwork, tutorials etc. will all be held in person. In our university, staff have been working for months, and will be working all summer, to re-jig all modules along these lines. Our university, like many others, is also opening our halls from September - some flats will have reduced capacity to allow for social distancing in shared areas.

It is definitely worth checking out each university's published plans for next year, as it is certainly not the case that they are all online for the first semester.

DD has been advised that all students have to wear masks at all times inside university buildings including in communal spaces in halls of residences. It is going to feel strange not seeing what your lecturers and fellow students look like if everyone is masked up. I can see lots of students struggling with this (anti) social aspect of starting university. It may feel very isolating. However, universities need to do everything they can to make sure students are back in site safely.

@Bowbridge

DD has been advised that all students have to wear masks at all times inside university buildings including in communal spaces in halls of residences. It is going to feel strange not seeing what your lecturers and fellow students look like if everyone is masked up. I can see lots of students struggling with this (anti) social aspect of starting university. It may feel very isolating. However, universities need to do everything they can to make sure students are back in site safely.

wow i get the masks in the uni buildings, but in halls? I would have thought that your flat would be considered your 'household'. if thats the case i bets gets some more washable masks.

@rbe78

Just to point out that as far as I have heard, the vast majority of universities are planning for a 'blended learning' approach. So lectures will be online, because there is simply not the capacity to hold big lectures that are socially distanced, but there will still be a fair amount of 'in situ' teaching as well - labs, seminars, fieldwork, tutorials etc. will all be held in person. In our university, staff have been working for months, and will be working all summer, to re-jig all modules along these lines. Our university, like many others, is also opening our halls from September - some flats will have reduced capacity to allow for social distancing in shared areas.

It is definitely worth checking out each university's published plans for next year, as it is certainly not the case that they are all online for the first semester.

That's a lot of hard work to re-arrange the modules. My daughters doing physics at Lancaster and they have said they will do pretty much the same with the blended learning. I have not seen plans for next year, but they are working to get move in days staggered and reduced capacity for halls. Although I did wonder how that would work, since all halls accommodation get snapped up every year as they are popular with all years.

@sammyjoanne DD's hall of residence is a corridor style catered hall of residence. They don't have flats, but have shared bathrooms, mini kitchens , shared common room/TV lounge and a large dining hall. The guidance is, students have to wear masks in all the communal spaces but may remove them to eat(!) in the dining hall. The hall of residence is for 150 students.

[quote Bowbridge]@sammyjoanne DD's hall of residence is a corridor style catered hall of residence. They don't have flats, but have shared bathrooms, mini kitchens , shared common room/TV lounge and a large dining hall. The guidance is, students have to wear masks in all the communal spaces but may remove them to eat(!) in the dining hall. The hall of residence is for 150 students.[/quote]
wow thats pretty social place then :) is DD going to Oxbridge? it sounds like a collegiate kind of uni as each college has a dining hall and they have shared spaces.
Not sure how they will do it at Lancaster as they are collegiate as although its self contained flats, they have a shared common room and bar, perhaps they will have to wear a mask there.

It is a London university and just goggled it is actually 230 students in the hall.

@Bowbridge

It is a London university and just goggled it is actually 230 students in the hall.

Wow thats a big cohort, she will make lots of friends:) wish your DD the very best of luck :) not long to go now for August 13th

Ime most undergrad degrees aren’t actually worth attending. Lectures and tutorials are usually very dumbed down versions of the materials being taught at that level. You just need to get the degree to get your foot in the door. The social aspect on the other hand is more beneficial. Ultimately it’s his choice though what with being an adult. In his place us be tempted to take another year off to focus on the business, he’ll likely learn more that way to be very honest.

Ime most undergrad degrees aren’t actually worth attending. Lectures and tutorials are usually very dumbed down versions of the materials being taught at that level.

You have experience of most undergraduate degrees? Astonishing!

Not sure what your second sentence means. Lectures and tutorials are the teaching at that level. How can they be dumbed down from themselves? Tutorials, btw, are highly dependent upon the engagement and ability of the student for the quality of discussion.