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)?

Thank you Zanda. Before DD had managed to register at a local GP I got our GP to send her prescription to a pharmacy local to her. The issue is whether our local pharmacies have a fax machine, as this is the only way they will send it.

My DS has asked to defer an essay - total burnout and can’t focus. He has got a job labouring for a few days and looks and sounds better already. This has been such a tough term for them.

@bigTillyMint I hope his dept. allow it. I agree it has been really hard this term. My poor DD2 is also exhausted and has 3 more essays and 3 tutorials for the first week to prepare for, so not much of a break really.

I really think unis need to ensure they are aware of how low and burned out some students are feeling. And make allowances for this. It is a very dangerous time for the MH of our young people.

DD has so many lectures to catch up on because she was laid low with constant migraines for a couple of weeks. Thankfully they seem to have abated, but this doesn't feel like a break for her. Even her friend who is a real swot is behind with watching lectures.

The university made the mistake of starting term quite late (19th Oct) so they have crammed all the work in to a much shorter period of time.

I think in a way my twins were lucky with the very early 4 September start of their law course, and the finals exams (for this term) in mid December as now they have almost a month "off" rather than at the rival law school which has the exams in January instead which blights Christmas.

There has been little or no acknowledgement of the hardships students have faced this term. Hard to credit really.

I agree @Baytreemum - it’s awful for them, young and supposed to be living their best lives, but instead stuck inside, protecting the old and vulnerable. Schools/national exams have been taken into consideration, but it’s down to each individual uni to make their own decisions

@bigTillyMint The trouble was, I think, that everyone was suffering and struggling to cope in their own way, so there was no one to look after or think about anyone else!

I think you've hit the nail on the head there, @Baytreemum. Everyone is too tied up with focus on their own coping mechanisms, without anyone reallly giving the plight of the students serious consideration.

DS has got work to do over Christmas too. It's grim. No rest at all. They do need to pause on studying to recharge their batteries.

Dd has loads of work too. She’s said she’s giving herself a few days off til after Christmas even though it’s building up. She recognises she really needs a break.

Each of my DC has just one piece of work to do over the Christmas break, though I don't know how much time this will involve. DD in particular really needs a break. DS seems to have discovered the ability to study which is amazing, and I honestly think that it is the silver lining of lockdown in his case, with fewer distractions. He seems to have plenty of those now, though, so we'll have to try and steer him back to it after Christmas.

DD1 is in first year at Lancs Uni. So far shes done ok given the restrictions and tier 3 at the latter part of Michaelmas term. Only in person teaching was labs and they are now finished with, and 'in person' for next term are tutorials. Although she has lecturers/seminars most days, her Thursday and Fridays are her less intense days and are her days off. Shes finished her problem sheets for physics, so shes having a few days off now and will be revising next week for the January exams.

@ragwort Hi, I’ve just seen a placement for general management that looks very good which your DS might be interested in (if he hasn’t seen it already). Would you like me to send you the link via PM?

Hi @Shimy. Where are you seeing your placements, because my DS is looking and not finding anything. Thanks

@minesawine The latest ones have been on Prospects.ac.uk
What’s your DS studying?

I really must get my DS to take a look at what's available. It is odd that even though he is meant to be doing a placement, nobody has mentioned it, ergo he has done nothing about it.

Hi @Shimy. My DS studies Business Management and Economics. He is looking for an internship in London for the summer, with no success. I will look at Prospects later. Thanks

Shiny yes please if you could pm me, that would be great.

Mine I'd love to know if our DSs know each other ... there must be lots of students on the same course though and I daren't let him know how much I discuss on Mumsnet! My DS is looking for a placement anywhere, he's happy to travel, there is talk of some opportunities abroad but I guess they are severely limited now.

I’ve pmed you both, but realised the last ones I saw weren’t actually from Prospects (sorry been looking at lots of different places) they are from here (putting it here incase anyone else is also interested :
Placements, infact, there are several attractive opportunities there.

Good luck!

Advice needed. DS and his girlfriend left the flat spotless two weeks ago, only one student was staying for christmas. Girlfriend who lives half an hour away had forgotten something so called back in yesterday to collect it. The place is in such a mess, he has used every pot, pan, in the place, piled up with dirty dishes, bins overflowing. He was not there. Will the college be calling into the flat over the xmas period, will DS and girlfriend be in trouble at all. If so what should they do.

Thank you @Shimy. That was very helpful. @Ragwort I wonder if our DS's know each other. He too would be mortified if he knew what I discussed on here. My DS has swapped from the 4 to 3 year course so they may have different lessons now. He is desperate to get back to Notts and is bored and restless at home. He is also staying in the same studio in the middle of town for next year, which is a relief. Does your DS have exams in January.

mine - no mention of exams .... my DS doesn't seem to have much academic work at all to do, I just hope he is keeping on top of it. He does attend his FtF seminars - interestingly he tells me is the only one in his tutor group who goes so at least he is getting individual attention. . He loves being in Nottingham but is happy at home - he has local friends and we have been in Tier 1 (just for a week ) so lots of nights out drinking, and he plays a lot of golf.

DD is still playing catch up with lectures. She will have a couple of days off then it's straight into full on revision for exams in January.

DD also studying most days - exams not till February but no revision week and her argument is that there’s little else to do now so wants to get ahead in the hope of some time off when there’s more options - we’re in tier 4, uni currently tier 2 so if that lasts I suspect she’ll go back ASAP in new year. It is so tough on young people, spending 24/7 at home with parents is not what they should be doing in normal times🙄
Happy Christmas to you all and hope for better things in 2021🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🎄