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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)

944 replies

Newgirls · 11/12/2020 15:16

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!

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Thread gallery
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Honeyroar · 07/02/2021 15:58

The toastie shack on the beach at Kingsbarns? We stayed at a gorgeous inn at Kingsbarns when we visited st Andrews.

Original poster
Newgirls · 07/02/2021 17:13

They have one near the harbour in St. Andrews too 👍

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Original poster
Newgirls · 07/02/2021 17:15

Financially one factor is that there isn’t that much to spend money on there! Not many shops, music venues etc. There is a tiny cinema and some very nice restaurants but most students eat in halls and only go of parents are paying. So weirdly might be cheaper than being in a big city.

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Monkey2001 · 07/02/2021 17:17

It is on East Sands, with this view....

St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)
St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)
idsisatwat · 08/02/2021 20:07

@Gingerkittykat I think your DD will be fine. My DD is a first year, she attended a normal comprehensive school in Manchester. One of her flat mates is from Liverpool.

Gingerkittykat · 08/02/2021 22:12

Thanks for the reassurance everyone, they don't tell you that you still worry about your kids when they are this age!

Monkey2001 · 10/02/2021 09:36

I am feeling a bit frustrated by the Americans on FB group who seem to have no comprehension of the impact Covid is having on the UK. They talk of amending travel plans so their students can arrive before the 15th Feb restrictions start (which is against the rules as they were only allowed to travel if they had already booked), without any acknowledgement that the vast majority of St Andrews students have not been back since Christmas and are not confident they will be allowed back this year. It seems to be considered OK to talk about travelling by other routes to avoid quarantine. There has generally been a very elastic interpretation of what counts as "essential" travel, both by international students at St A and most students across the UK, and I am cross on behalf of students who are following the rules. DS wants the UK students back because, although he is lucky to be back, it is just odd to be rattling around in halls which are 85% empty and trekking over to ABH for meals, evening meals have been a pot noodle in his room by himself. None of them are having the experience they were expecting and it is rubbsh, but we all know that following the rules will help it to end sooner.

Rant over!

Dahliafairy · 10/02/2021 10:28

I agree! It’s so frustrating - they seem to be conspiring as to the best way to ‘sneak’ in. My son is still at home (UK) - desperate to get back to see friends and be in St Andrews but completely mindful of the situation and the hope that if people did as they were asked then they might have a better chance of returning sooner rather than later. In my mind the new quarantine restrictions are welcome if ridiculously late. I can only hope they deter more of the US students from travelling but looking at the FB group it seems unlikely and heaven forbid you might make a criticism in the group!
I’ve not caught up with this thread for a while - I hope everyone is keeping safe and well.

Alittlewornout · 10/02/2021 10:58

Agree ladies it's like some parallel universe on that facebook group. Do they not get the same news we do?? My kids are at home which is only an hour away from ST A and have stayed put. They are very keen to go back at the beginning of March, but not sure how likely that is to be honest. I am making very non committal noises on that front.

Original poster
Newgirls · 10/02/2021 15:16

Yep.

I think it’s because colleges are open in the us so they don’t get it. They are definitely playing the system.

I can’t see our uk kids heading back soon as it seems to be students seem not to be classed as essential education. It’s so depressing. Sorry to hear monkey son rattling around up there. I really hope sept is so different and they make up for it.

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idsisatwat · 10/02/2021 15:35

So no in-person teaching until September. However, DD will still want to return if they're able to.
It does seem ridiculous that there's loads of kids from UK (stuck in their bedrooms, so no way of catching covid) cant go back. But lots of Americans have done.

Original poster
Newgirls · 10/02/2021 15:38

So sad. With numbers of cases falling etc this seems so strict.

Thank heavens for a 4 year course - let’s hope next year is better.

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Monkey2001 · 10/02/2021 16:50

It is sad and also seems excessive to me. Rates are decreasing everywhere and I can't believe we will have an internal travel ban until the end of May. I can see a bit of sense in deciding to teach on line because it gives certainty, but I hope the UK students are allowed back once travel relaxes. Sad day. Sad

Original poster
Newgirls · 10/02/2021 17:06

Very sad day.

Surely hall based unis like ox and cam with short terms will be the same now. I can’t see English unis opening just for end April and may. Not that it matters for our kids just chewing it over

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Monkey2001 · 10/02/2021 17:26

As I said in my first post today, I think the rules have been interpreted very flexibly by students in english universities. So many students have just ignored the guidance and gone back, lots of parents are saying that paying private rent gives them the right to travel to where they are studying. I suppose that people who got rent rebates will at least have a windfall of a bit of extra money, although of course it does not make up for the loss of a fabulous year.

I checked the Oxford and Cambridge websites and they both say that students had to stay where they were over Christmas and all teaching would be on line this term, but they have not said anything about summer term.

Original poster
Newgirls · 10/02/2021 17:32

Apparently summer term is mostly exams anyway and not teaching? I can’t remember so long ago since I went to uni.

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AChickenCalledDaal · 10/02/2021 22:12

The summer term is three weeks of teaching, two weeks of revision, then two weeks of exams. All over by end of May. So a little bit of me can understand how they've decided that there's going to be no face-to-face for that short period after the Easter break. But I'm still feeling really sad to know that DD will probably not be in St Andrews again till Sept - or maybe only to collect their possessions. When I think back to this time last year, when they were still at school and waiting for university offers, it feels like a different world.

Honeyroar · 10/02/2021 22:16

At least she’ll go back. My stepson probably won’t go back before the end of his course, his finals. Won’t spend more time with his flat mates that he’s lived with for the past three years before graduating, won’t get his graduation. I feel really sad for his year group.

AChickenCalledDaal · 10/02/2021 22:35

@Honeyroar

At least she’ll go back. My stepson probably won’t go back before the end of his course, his finals. Won’t spend more time with his flat mates that he’s lived with for the past three years before graduating, won’t get his graduation. I feel really sad for his year group.
You are quite right, it's much worse for finalists and I'm sorry to have been insensitive.

What a mess Sad.

Honeyroar · 10/02/2021 22:43

Oh no you weren’t insensitive at all, I didn’t mean that. They’ve all got it tough, it’s not a competition . It’s hard for them all.

AChickenCalledDaal · 11/02/2021 09:17

Thanks Honeyroar, it is indeed.

Meanwhile my youngest has just been invited to book on a very expensive school trip to the USA for summer 2022. This is the big one and something of a big deal for our sixth formers. But its been made clear that there is no guarantee that it will actually happen or that payments will be returned if it doesn't. So either we have to take a massive gamble or she misses out on yet another rite of passage.

I'm trying to stay positive but getting so sick of the roller coaster that our children's lives are on

Original poster
Newgirls · 11/02/2021 09:25

@Honeyroar

At least she’ll go back. My stepson probably won’t go back before the end of his course, his finals. Won’t spend more time with his flat mates that he’s lived with for the past three years before graduating, won’t get his graduation. I feel really sad for his year group.
That few weeks will have meant a lot to finalists. If he’s in private accom can he go up for a holiday/reunion? I know we don’t know today but I really hope they do
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Original poster
Newgirls · 11/02/2021 09:28

DD resigned to it and is grateful it’s 4 years and really hopes it’s better by aug. Surely by then they will have jabbed everyone? Maybe they will do students to get that sector moving again pos in aug? Wishful thinking.

I think uni staff and the unions have all the power here and students none. I just hope it doesn’t drag on with them waiting for zero cases in the uk.

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Alittlewornout · 11/02/2021 09:43

Really feeling for all the students, my 2 were really quite down last night. Its rubbish whatever year they are in. Ds in his final year is thinking of going up to his rented accommodation in March. He hasnt seen his long term girlfriend who is there since Christmas so I don't blame him. Dd really wants to return to halls with at least some of her uk hall friends but I dont know if that will happen. I just cant get my head around that things are worse now a year down the line.

Original poster
Newgirls · 11/02/2021 11:07

Totally understandable if if goes to see his partner. Who can blame them

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