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!

If any one is planning on getting the train up soon from KX LNER have announced works at the weekends so check ahead - prob easier to go on a Friday etc

Oooh, thanks for the tip @Newgirls, DS has no desire to get a rail replacement bus from Morpeth again! He has been told to be back by 25th Jan and was planning to get train on Sat 23rd. I think it may be very quiet in hall as he doesn't know who will be there apart from medics.

That sat def has restrictions so the fri or Monday will be better.

At least he can see coursemates and it could be quite bonding? But yes very weird in halls. Sounds like a few Americans will be there although they seem to be expecting to isolate? What a mess it all is. At very least hopefully Trump won’t be turning up to play golf..!

Hi all announced today that the majority of students at Scottish universities will have their learning online until the end of February. The first minister was clear that students should stay where they are and not travel back to term time accommodation. I presume there will be exceptions ( possibly listed on the SG website).
Very sad St Andrew's students here.

It’s all so sad isn’t it. What a shame. I really hope spring and summer will be better.

Uncertainty here as NS said medics with placements should go back, but at St Andrews it is all in clinical skills labs, so not sure whether they count. Also not sure he wants to go back if there will just be a few medics knocking around in the hall. Strange, sad times.

news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/principal-sally-mapstone-covid-update-8-january/

So medics are going back, but to be honest, lock down in a student hall will be tougher than lockdown at home (with family, girlfriend and home gym). They will only be allowed to socialise with their own household, but not clear what happens if you are the only one in your household.

There is some chat over on fb about consolidating those there so perhaps they can form temporary households?

When does he need to decide?

An acceptance here and grateful that she’s doing a 4 year course so their time will come. I can’t really get my head around it all - hard to see the positives other than that this cohort will prob never vote Tory

Decide is wrong word - I guess I mean when does he go?

He is going on 23rd, so that could be 2 months with less than 10% of students in hall.

It doesn’t sound great does it - this whole set up doesn’t work for anyone 😔

Are uni hall catering for so few? Maybe they will combine meal times with others halls which might be sociable?

@Newgirls I am wondering that too. I don't know how many students will be there, but given that it should only be people who stayed, those who can't study at home and medics, I am assuming they will be rattling around. As half the students don't make it to breakfast it can't be worth putting on a cooked breakfast.

Does the medical building have its own canteen? Could be worth switching lunches to there at very least.

Can’t be worth staffing every hall but perhaps there are quite a few international students there anyway and everything will be open

Looks like a lot of Internationals are returning based on FB group. I don't really see why it is more acceptable for Internationals than for UK students. There was a South African mum who said they were looking at routes which worked as flights from SA were banned. Yes, banned for a reason!! I really hope students don't pass it around this time, I think English universities are discouraging returners, but Cardiff said all were welcome back.

Potentially awkward for the South African students when they get there too? Although with all the testing, quarantine and it’s remote location it does seem fairly low risk though rules are rules. We are staying out for now of course. A few of our pals at other uk unis have gone and I wonder if they will be back again?

Just cling to the knowledge that the end is in sight!

I'm a bit disappointed about the Feb term date. DD was really getting the hang of living in halls and was finding her feet socially. And on a selfish note, I was using her room as an office and now I've been kicked out and am back working in the living room.
This morning I started the process of upgrading our broadband to fiber as the current set up can't cope with one student studying online and one parent managing another university's online learning platforms.

I am quite confused by the disparity between the treatment on domestic and international students. Looks like most of the Americans are going back because they want to rather than because they can't rearrange travel. Surely flying is risky?! I would not want my child on a domestic flight from LHR when 30% of Londoners have Covid. If universities said nobody could go back for a few weeks it would make more sense to me. I think Nicola Sturgeon might stop flights soon. It seems inevitable that Covid is coming to St Andrews

I’m amazed any want to before say March. I guess more freedom than at home?

I think they have to isolate and test so prob won’t spread the virus?

Exam results in here and a bit of a relief. Not quite as good as the one after reading week, but I think 17 is still heading for a first.

@Monkey2001 that's wonderful news many congratulations to him! I had thought the results had been put back until the 26th but the medics may be different.

🎉🕺🏻 great news!

My dd remarked that she gets her results same time as starting her new term which is a little tight... I guess they all pass then?

Fb gang have said Edin undergrads won’t go back now til sept - their term ends in April. What a shitshow.

I thought someone had said Edinburgh were planning to go back in April, but it looks like they don't have any teaching after 5th April. I suppose they have decided there is no point in just going back for exams. Bloody Covid. ☹️