St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)

[Newgirls]

Ok can’t think of a catchier title! If anyone can send the other thread over here pls do!

Prospective and existing parents etc all welcome here. Transport, accom, cloaks, choirs, beaches and more to be discussed. Next year will be better surely!

@Revengeofthepangolins thanks! Yes I was wondering about the status of irish students. However didn't think for one minute she would be classed as an irish student just for having an irish passport! I don't want her to end up in the wrong category for places and miss out. Would rather she was RUK, had a good chance of getting a place and pay the RUK fees.

That's a relief to know there's resits if needed! Thank you

Though I'm sure she's done better than she thinks she has

@Sagittariusgirl44 there are application statistics on whatdotheyknow - EU applicants have a very low success rate on quite a few courses, but that could be because the way the university assesses them does not work well for all exam systems, or they don't know how to make strong applications. I thought that EU were going to count as International this year. I guess the university put dual nationals in the category they think they would want to be in.

See www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/split_of_admission_statistics_be#incoming-1336826 There are more recent ones for some courses if you search on whatdotheyknow

@idsisatwat she has probably done much better than she thinks, it has been such a long time since these UK freshers did exams other than mocks/practice exams that it must be disorientating. I think all universities allow re-sits of first year exams, but as others have said, she only needs to pass this year. Hope it has not shaken her confidence.

@Monkey2001 thank you for that, I am checking statistics now.
I had assumed not as many EU students were accepted because they don't pay and the universities need the fee payers RUK and international students more. From next Sept, because of Brexit, EU students will be counted as international students so I guess there should be more places to allocate to home students.

@Sagittariusgirl44. maybe read this section on University website because if domicile counts for anything she would be Rest of UK (England) surely?
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/policy/student-administration-tuition-fees/fee-status-policy.pdf

Hello folks. I am slightly worried that the closed border will go on long enough to affect students spending Christmas outside Scotland, and wondering what a staggered start will mean for people who have not yet signed a contract for accommodation next year, but I think I just need to step into c'est sera sera mode. Just when we think things are getting better something new comes to bite us!

I am grateful that I have DS back, we have all been enjoying carol singing and board games but I have remembered that the good thing about him being away was that I did not have to cater for such diverse tastes - DS1's GF is living with us and is vegetarian, DS2 would be a complete carnivore if he could.

Happy Christmas to friends on here, I hope 2021 brings back normality and that our DC start enjoying the legendary St Andrew's social life soon.

It’s all pretty stressful again isn’t it. I am trying to focus on today and I know DD is happy, loves her job, did well in her coursework and thinks exams were ok. She thinks she is going back end Jan but hasn’t booked a train yet. No idea what will happen with accom but I’m hoping the uni will not have the chaos of last year. Also hoping that vulnerable uni staff will get vaccines so face to face will happen at some point.

Thank you for all your chat and support this year gang xx

I'm relieved to say we have finally got DD home. Later than expected for reasons that are too complicated to explain on the internet. But we're home and it's lovely being together again . DD seems happy to be back and has declared that they will be spending the majority of today in bed. So that much hasn't changed!

I'm with you on the catering Monkey2001. DD1 and DD2 have very different tastes and it's been much easier only having to cater for one of them. Found myself buying two different kinds of orange juice (bitty and smooth) but that can't really go on for the next six weeks!

Ah that’s good chicken! If you end up with too much oj use it for Buck’s Fizz?!

Glad to hear Chicken Junior made it home before the border was closed. I am expecting tougher lock downs across the UK soon. A few weeks ago I really thought that with the vaccine the end of this madness was in sight, but maybe it is like a fever, rising to a peak before it breaks and leaves us. We had planned half term trip to Edinburgh and St Andrews in Feb for DS's birthday, but I think I am going to have to cancel that and aim for Easter.

@Newgirls

Ah that’s good chicken! If you end up with too much oj use it for Buck’s Fizz?!

Thoroughly excellent plan! I am the only one that drinks and I'm pretty sure my aunt has sent us two bottles of champagne ... Cheers! (hic!)

Hi ladies just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and hopefully a better 2021. So glad to hear all the DC are home after what can only be described as an extraordinary term. I think all the DC have all been amazing and I wish each and every one of them the very best in the coming year.

Happy Christmas Alittlewornout Nice to hear the Queen giving young people a mention in her speech. Goodness knows what January will bring but I hope they all enjoy a decent holiday and some degree of what passes for normality.

DD seems quite happy to be the only one of her home friends that doesn't need to revise for January exams, which does make this epic long term feel worth it!

@AChickenCalledDaal my dd is also enjoying not studying for exams over Christmas. Normally when at school it was nose tovthe grind stone over these holidays as prelims( mocks) are held in January. Hope you had a lovely day. It's a case of batton down the hatches here in tier 4. Hey ho spring is round the corner!!

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. It's been nice for DD to actually relax and it's so lovely to have her home.
And thank you for all the support on this thread. You've been fantastic xx

Has anyone seen anything about universities going back in Scotland? I assume they will have to stay on line at least to the end of Jan based on latest announcement

@Monkey2001 NS said it would be reviewed this week but I think your assumption is reasonable.

I hope it’s only the end of Jan. DD left her and copious notes in her room there.
She’s enjoying being home, but would prefer to return to university if her roommates do.

Should say left her textbooks! Wish there was an edit button!

I had a quick look at the Covid dashboard and it looks like St Andrews is Covid free. They are not going to want the unclean from the rest of the UK descending on them! We are braced for end of Feb.

DS also left all his notes, but the text books are on line for him.

Very true @Monkey2001
Though we’ve barely left the house, so I don’t think she’d have the opportunity to pick up covid

They could test them before they go back but I guess won’t. So frustrating. Hopefully by feb half term cases will be down and they will all travel back. We shall see.

The England guidance has come out (just medical, social care, teaching and people studying for professional exams allowed back before half term), but the Scotland January announcement says "Colleges and universities can operate using a more restricted mix of face-to-face and distance learning." and links to the December guidance, implying it has not changed.

I guess my medic DS may still be going back on 22nd Jan, but he is not that keen to go back before all his friends, so hopes that all students will still be back by 8th Feb unless they choose to study remotely.

I think dd is expecting feb half term. Even if rates in st Andrews are so low I can’t imagine her dept starting face to face as didn’t last term.

She has a job here so will be ok tho it’s not what any of us wanted.