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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

University 2020 :9: And they're off, making hay while the sun shines.

982 replies

MillicentMartha · 16/09/2020 10:34

New thread, trying to be upbeat!

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3996883-University-2020-8-Use-the-CAGs-don-t-use-the-CAGs?pg=40

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specialted · 16/10/2020 21:45

Welcome @Khara ! Hope ds is ok. Odd how there are so many top heavy flats at Lancaster this year! Fylde was ds second choice, he's v happy with all male company but seems to be coping v well with majority female so far 🤣

Justyou · 16/10/2020 21:51

[quote Eve]@Justyou

How about this - fudge uni box - it’s lovely fudge & supports a small business

www.yumyumtreefudge.com/yumyumtreefudge-multi-buy-offers/the-uni-box?utm_source=emailmarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_unibox__8_bags_for_15__the_perfect_gift_for_a_student&utm_content=2020-10-16[/quote]
Thank you that’s a great idea!

MillicentMartha · 16/10/2020 22:22

You can send brownies by post as well. Otherwise, if she like sweets/snacks I’ve got DS2 a subscription to this snacksurprise.com/ for his birthday as recommended by another MNetter. You can buy a one off or start a monthly subscription which can be cancelled at any time. The boxes only come monthly so you might have to wait a while for the first.

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Justyou · 16/10/2020 22:30

Great thanks x

Justyou · 16/10/2020 22:40

Wow snacksurprise looks fantastic think I might try that

sammyjoanne · 16/10/2020 22:42

@Khara Hi khara :) A lot of us mums on here have DC on lockdown Lancaster uni have been publishing the positive figures reported there, but i do think its far more than what they are saying. Daughters been isolating since sunday night, her friend in her townhouse was tested Monday, still not heard anything back. Reports of no taste since Sunday.
Then couple of days later, half the townhouse now reports no taste either. They have just accepted they have it and staying indoors . She was sniffly and heady since last Thursday, and croaky, so its possible shes had it too. They are making light of the situation its one of their birthdays, so they have mini golf in the kitchen and pizza.

She has reported a full washing basket, and despite her saying shes got some clothes still, we still would not want her to go stinking in same clothes if isolation goes on longer than expected. We have checked online the laundry service on facebook, but they pick up monday and thursday from what ive read and shut at weekends. So even if shes calls Monday, it will likely be Thursday when they come to pick up and the following Monday when they drop off :( So think we will still have to pop up Friday as planned, and there's a place in morecambe thats open so will do it there if isolation is extended..Might even treat myself to the kings arms for lunch on the sea front, nice food there.

Must be good to be not so far away so hes there when he needs you :) DD loves Fylde bar, has great burgers. I wonder because they are in Tier 3, places like fylde bar stay open because they do 'substantial' meals.
@specialted I did wonder when the sports center would be open for testing and its great they did it so soon. Hope your DS is doing ok x
@Nettleskeins Its got to be difficult to stay indoors all that time and just trying and find things to do to fill in the gaps in between learning. 2 weeks is a long time. Im packing the monolopy.

Bouledeneige · 16/10/2020 23:30

Just to let you know my DS18 at Sussex is in a student accommodation house that is now isolating as one of the students tested positive. He is in reasonable spirits but got tonsillitis when he first started after a week or two so he feels like he's not as connected as he might be with his housemates. He's feeling pretty bored and restricted.

DD20 is in the second year at Manchester doing Fine Art. She tested negative last week. Obviously life is pretty limited for her too. She cannot go into the studios where all are art stuff is so she's not actually doing any Art just writing essays and doing literature reviews. So it's not much art practice and education.

Nettleskeins · 16/10/2020 23:48

That is v frustrating Boule. DD is at Kingston and they are in the studio twice a week, twice on zoom at home. But possibly going up a level things get more restricted. She really thrives on the communal aspect in the studio, I know some people prefer to be in their own space, away from others whilst creating, but not her.
Sussex, from what I've heard is a lovely place. But someone said they are being discouraged from taking public transport to Brighton. Seems v unfair, all this "limiting", and just drives them to be less responsible and more polarised as "students", rather than citizens.

Hope your DD can find something to inspire her!

Nettleskeins · 16/10/2020 23:51

And I'm sure the sea air will be a great tonic when your son emerges. I keep telling D's to go to Morecambe Bay hmm, I don't think he is yet suitably hardy, used to Brighton and Kent coast only.

Nettleskeins · 16/10/2020 23:54

Ds still has no sense of smell. This is 12 days in.

instanthistory · 17/10/2020 08:02

My ds2 has been self-isolating in his college in Durham for a week after one of his household tested positive. Found out on his birthday last Saturday! Luckily he seems to get on with his flat mates and the 2 week isolation after knowing them for only 2 weeks will hopefully encourage bonding 😊. He said they got a shopping delivery yesterday. He too appears to have become more organised and tidy after leaving home!

Sorry to read about others having a difficult time and I hope things improve for them.

sammyjoanne · 17/10/2020 09:08

Think a lot of us on mums net has their DC in isolation/positive. Hopefully in a couple of weeks time our DC will be out and about again.

KingscoteStaff · 17/10/2020 10:45

@instanthistory I am also quite taken with a new organised DS! Quarantine has been a tiny bonus for him as he was bored enough to a) work out his timetable for the rest of the term, b) put up the big wall planner with blu tak, c) put up the big wall planner with command strips when it fell down, d) write in the deadline dates of all his essays for this term, e) Water his plants!!!!!!!

instanthistory · 17/10/2020 11:08

@KingscoteStaff 😂 Problem solving putting his planner on the wall! My ds2 has also created a detailed timetable and was proudly showing it off. I was very impressed.

A great start - long may it last...

specialted · 17/10/2020 11:41

@KingscoteStaff I am impressed! Don't think ds would know what a wall planner was! Although he has become slightly more organised than he was which I'm thankful for!

choirmumoftwo · 17/10/2020 13:16

DD has some positive results among her housemates and has just had a test herself due to a cough. Fortunately she'd organised an Asda delivery for today with some of her housemates so is well organised.

sammyjoanne · 17/10/2020 13:23

DD's Grizedale townhouse is Covid-19 positive. Results took 5 days from the 1st girl upstairs test (Monday 12th) to come through. Half the flats got the no taste.
Daughter and her friend opposite her are convinced they had it slightly earlier(Thur 8th) as they had sniffle, sinus, and croaky voice (but no temp/cough), They passed it off as 'fresher flu' but now they are not so sure .

However, even if it was covid and DD + friend had it before everyone else, they are going to go by the 1st girl upstairs( positive result) and do the 14 days from when symptoms shown which was Sunday 13th October.

Nettleskeins · 17/10/2020 13:38

It is so difficult isnt it? You report your symptoms, even if they are v mild and you assume it is just a sniffle, and everyone in the flat holds you responsible for locking them down. But if you dont report it, you can needlessly locked down way past the point of needing to or being infectious. I suspect the longer this goes on in student acc, the more likely people are to get tested for the mildest symptoms if their flat hasnt yet selfisolated. Especially if there is a testing place on campus.

SniffyMiffy · 17/10/2020 14:23

@MillicentMartha

That sounds unpleasant, Truffle! It could easily have been much worse.

I can foresee a problem with the Christmas break - how are they going to organise the return to uni in January? Staggered starts again? Isolation before returning? DS only has a 14 day holiday anyway.

My fear is that they'll send them home for Xmas and then - surprise! - tell them they can't go back. As much as I worry about her being away in these circumstances, she's having a more sociable time in her hall of residence than she would be at home with us, unable to meet with anyone else.
sammyjoanne · 17/10/2020 15:09

@Nettleskeins Nottingham has done that, increased testing to all students. That's why they picked up on all those many cases. If Lancaster did the same then it would pick up a whole load more than what is being reported on their website.

@choirmumoftwo sorry to hear her house has also been struck down with it in one way or another. I think that's every Lancaster parent on here isn't it now that is either self isolating, or has/had covid on campus?

Just facetimed DD, she is also booking a shopping delivery, and we plan to see her a week on Tuesday, 2 days after her SI period ends. Williamson park it is.

Ironoaks · 17/10/2020 17:26

DS has created a weekly schedule, with one colour for each of his four modules and a fifth colour for clubs and societies. He has every Sunday off and alternate Saturday afternoons.

Sarbarcel · 17/10/2020 17:53

Happy to find this thread. Durham parent here and interested to read everybody's experiences. I hope that in the second half of term there will be less self-isolation for all the households. What happens if my DS has had Covid in this past month and somebody in his household comes down in a few weeks, will he have to self isolate again along with everybody else? I presume so

LetUsPrey · 17/10/2020 17:56

No Covid or isolating for DS1 in Cartmel as far as I’m aware, so they’ve either been super fortunate so far or he’s just not told me. Either is possible.

MillicentMartha · 17/10/2020 18:31

@Sarbarcel, I think he will have to isolate again. Hopefully the students in the badly affected places will build up some herd immunity.

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