Study in the time of COVID-19 (2019/20 intake): lockdown restrictions, relaxation of rules and repeat... And will the Grinch government cancel Christmas?

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Carrying on from our previous thread.

I believe these threads have probably been running since the summer/autumn of when our DC were about to start/in Year 13 (so 2018)?

I agree Benji, my DS doesn't have a huge amount of academic work to do .... he will hope to pick up a few shifts at the pub he worked at in the Summer and the sad reality is that it is unlikely that those shifts would be offered to an unemployed person with a family to look after. The landlord would just want a returning student cheaper wages to cover a few busy shifts rather than offer a long term contract to someone when he can't guarantee any further work after the holidays.

Aargh this accommodation issue is driving me slightly mad. Decent houses are still coming up but first they have to arrange an online viewing, then all six have to discuss
( and half of them don’t get up til lunchtime) - by that time the house is gone. It keeps happening and me ever so gently suggesting that maybe they need to make it a priority for the next few days is not going down well. How do other people in big groups manage?

DD is in a house of 5 girls and sorted their house about a month ago or earlier. Two of the girls are a year older and worked in their gap year so are quite organised. That helps I think as DD is a procrastinator.

Yes @Benjispruce2 - DD was really hoping to work as she doesn’t get a maintenance loan on her masters.

I still have no idea what DS is planning to do house-wise next year and don’t want to ask

@Benjispruce2

Some if not most students do need to work! We pay the shortfall in accommodation and food but she works for her spends.

I didn't mean to sound smug. We have to support DD because her health issues mean that she just doesn't have the energy to work and study. She really struggled with an exam today because she had a bad fatigue day.

We are in tier 3 so no pubs are open anyway.

Nice that you’re able to @Ginfordinner. But there are students who also don’t have great health,whose parents can’t support them in that way. DD’s job was in essential retail. I’ve told her look into tutoring @bigTillyMint.

@Benjispruce2, DS was lucky that someone at his old school doing the exact same syllabus wanted tutoring!
But I believe there may be opps with the whole “catchup” for Alevels and GCSES due to covid in state schools where students may not have had access to good online teaching for the last 9 months.

But there are students who also don’t have great health,whose parents can’t support them in that way

Had that been the case for us DD would have been at a local university and lived at home. She has worked and volunteered, but not at the same time as studying.

Her CFS and migraines are becoming more debilitating these days, and with the volume of work she is getting she is really struggling right now. Having a job is simply not an option for her while studying. I'm sure you will understand that and have a little more empathy.

Labelle", on finding houses with my twins (when in years 2 and 3 but that was not covid times) I believe there tended to be a lead person in their groups who found and looked at the houses with a few of the others and the rest of them just accepted it rather than every single person checking everything out as they relied on that one person. Luckily they each had a very good "up early" type of person in their groups who got on with it.

On jobs it is certainly hard for students currently (and lots of other people). Mine don't need to work not least because I have worked full time without a break even for my babies since 1983! Whether they were lucky to have that or deprived because I was out at work a lot of course is the big question....... and plenty of women who don't take maternity leaves and work full time are in such low paid work they couldn't help their student child even so.

@Ginfordinner I think you have misunderstood me. My message wasn’t personal to your situation. I was responding to the suggestion that jobs should be left by students because they don’t need them, only those with families to support should apply. I am pointing out that many students need to support themselves. I added that some families are unable to support their children even those with health struggles. It’s not always a case of being willing to support or not. Empathy for their situation is more to the point.
I think your accusation that I lack empathy is totally misplaced actually.

Please don't continue in this vein. This has always been such a nice supportive group and I'm sure no offence was intended. When communicating with relative brevity misunderstandings can easily occur.

I'm sure we all ready for a break now, in all senses.

Quite @simbobs.

Rather than a break, I need a hibernation. But preferably after a bath - which isn’t happening anytime soon as uni daughter is living in it at the moment taking up all my hot water. I am sure she had a seminar in there earlier

Just to be a little serious for a mo: since Dd2’s illness I realise how lucky it is for a person even get to university. Luck in terms of mental and physical health, supportive parents, enough money, healthy family, the right friends and teachers. Gin I am in awe of your daughter keeping going when she has a chronic illness. It’s the relentlessness of it that wears you down. I haven’t had a full night’s sleep this year because of Dd2’s illness. And I am not the one having the bloody seizures.
There’s not much good coming out of Covid but hopefully there will be more research into the after effects like CFS etc.

And Dh didn’t go to uni but is now supporting us all so if Dd2 goes, she’ll have no worries financially as he earns more than I ever did with my 2 degrees!

I'm sorry I misunderstood you @Benjispruce2.

Thank you for your kind words @Zandathepanda. I hope and pray that your DD2 gets through this. DD gave us a lot of worries when she was small with some different health issues. The local children's hospital was our second home for many years, and I totally understand what it is like to be sleepless and worried about your DC due to their health issues.

Aah, that's better. Equilibrium restored.

My DS seems to spend a lot of time in the bathroom, too. Not sure that I want to know what he does in there! He is so enjoying being back home. He is doing all his work and then seeing friends afterwards, there is food in the fridge for endless snacks, and meals are served when required. Also, the kitchen is clean.

There is a flat inspection scheduled for Monday at his accommodation, and the only lads left are the ones that never clear up after themselves, so they are bound to fail, which seems unfair to the rest of them.

He doesn't know what to do about next year's accommodation. Of the 4 that want to live together 2 are potentially on placement (which could be in another location entirely) and one is no longer a student. They try to avoid discussing it when another of their current flatmates is around as they don't want to share with him. However awkward, I have advised DS to be honest with him. There is a distinct possibility that he will fail the year anyway as he doesn't seem to be doing much work.

@simbobs they would be very unwise to share with a non student as full council tax will be payable - In theory by the non student alone (who would get a 25% discount).

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/student-housing/students-in-private-rented-accommodation/student-housing-council-tax/

@VanCleefArpels, I am aware of the issue, though I'm not sure the rest of them will take it seriously. This is DS's bf who dropped out last year intending to restart this year. In the interim he has a good job with training and prospects in his chosen field but is living back home with his parents, working from there and has nobody to hang out with while his friends are away. He could live in the uni city and get a fast train to work when not working from home, so I can see why he would want to. I will have to speak to DS about it properly. I haven't bothered as yet because everything is so woolly. I have only just become aware of the plan, but thanks for reminding me.

Thank goodness they seem to have sorted accommodation today. Nice apartment in Jesmond which ticks all their boxes, apart from the fact they really wanted a house rather than a flat. Looked lovely on the website and DS said the video tour matched up to the photos. He’s been very stressed about it as he still has so much work to do and an exam next week. So he’s gone into town to meet friends tonight happy - and the taxi service starts again! ( no transport after 6pm in our area).

Excellent news @LaBelleSauvage123

@Labellesauvage I feel your pain!

Sorry, this made me laugh "But preferably after a bath - which isn’t happening anytime soon as uni daughter is living in it at the moment taking up all my hot water. I am sure she had a seminar in there earlier".

Luckely dc1 is staying put with all his housemates, but yes there is one who seems to organise it all :).

dc1 coming home on Tuesday, still had a non-university exam to do and also couple of shift I think.

That’s good @LaBelleSauvage123
No idea what DS is doing about a house for next year, but he’s due home in a couple of hours

DD just tried to persuade DS to come home earlier than he's scheduled to but he's having none of it. His house are having their Christmas meal today - all of them still up there.

Sorry to hear about the ongoing health issues with your DD2 @Zandathepanda. You must be beyond exhausted.

It seems a pity when young people can't live with who they want to because of the council tax discount issue. However, understandable. And a lot for one person to 'shoulder' alone.

Good that so many young people are getting on with sorting out their third year accommodation, already. DS keen to stay put if possible, I think.

Yes, so sorry for the long term health probs @Zandathepanda snd @Ginfordinner.

DS is back! And is waiting to see if one of his mates gets a placement for next year. Should know by the end of the hols. And he’s not worried about housing as apparently good deals come up after Christmas