More applicants to local unis for 2021?

[wishihadrubyslippers]

Does anyone think that there will be a significant increase in applications to local universities for 2021?

It's definitely something we're considering to avoid the current fiasco if covid is still rampant next autumn/winter.

To clarify: ds would applyvto our local university (not his first choice ideally) and stay at home rather than move to another city and live in shared accommodation.

We've thought much the same. If lessons end up being online then you may as well do them from home.

You mean like we used to go to the local polytechnic in the old days - before they were turned into universities

No.
I sincerely hope not. DD still has another year to go but I still want her to apply for the university course that best suits her and not to be parochial in her outlook. I’d rather her university of choice was on-line than pay for a degree that wasn’t exactly what she wanted just because it was local or convenient.

For commuting from home, we have the choice of two universities which don't offer what DS2 is applying to study, or London, where at least one university does, but the actual commuting would be more of a concern than him going to and living at one of the universities he actually wants to go to.

Interesting to read your replies.

We're in France where going to the local university is still a thing unless you're aiming for a particular course/school, as in the case of my son who is thinking of engineering school.

We have a few local ones which are not on his short list but still good options, or the uni which would also be ok ( ish).

We're going to play safe and put the uni, a local preparatory class (two years of cramming maths & physics to try and get into one of the top schools) and one of the local eng. schools, just in case.

Application deadline here is March and you can choose ten courses ( actually up to 20 but it's too complicated to explain)

Good luck to all of your dcs, and fingers crossed things will have improved considerably by September...

My ds is putting down one local-ish option (definitely commutable) in case covid is still around. He may as well save money and live at home for the first year if it is. However, it's also quite an aspirational choice so he may not get in. We do have two other universities within 30 mins of home, one of which does the course ds wants for lower grades but I think he draws the line at being 30 mins from home in years 2 and 3.

DD still has another year to go but I still want her to apply for the university course that best suits her and not to be parochial in her outlook

I think this is a bit harsh. There's always the option to move away for a Masters and I disagree that it's in any way "parochial" for wanting to avoid being locked up on a hall of residence room, or wanting to save a year's rent when you are studying online. Admittedly we have plenty of universities that are commutable if you include London.

Nearest Uni that does DD2 course is 2 hours away. DD1 probably about hour and half. Cost of commuting would be massive !

If you ignore the Courtauld and anywhere else within the M25 that may offer History of Art (which he intends to, doesn't want to study in London), the nearest option for DS2 is Kent at 75 (road) miles and still involving a trip at least almost all the way into London and back out again. UEA, where he actually wants to go, is 100 miles - definitely not commutable.