Some of our young people are half way through their degrees (2019/20 intake): lockdowns on repeat, light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations (?) and the legacy of COVID-19

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose is all I can say!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Small is cosier for sure, particularly at this time of the year.

I think sharing a room could be a very positive experience. But clearly we Brits are anti-social at heart!

That is potentially good news for your DS2 @Itscoldouthere.

[MissConductUS]

I hope it goes well. Are they doing a very strict quarantine there? Has she managed to make friends yet?

They are doing a strict quarantine and testing protocol. She was tested on arrival and had to isolate until her results came back the next day. Classes are all remote for the first two weeks, no clubs for time being and small social bubble groups in each dorm. I think she'll be tested weekly going forward.

She made some friends last fall when they were remote. Her classes broke up into small study and project groups and the students she clicked with connected on social media, chatted on the phone, etc. One of them is in her dorm, which is nice.

I'm sure she'll make more now that she's there. The crew team is going to start working out together in two weeks, so that will be another opportunity to socialize.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Good luck to your DD @MissConductUS and hope she enjoys a more normal university experience.

[MissConductUS]

Thank you @NewModelArmyMayhem18. She's a very confident, socially adept young woman. She also aced all of her fall classes so I'm pretty sure she'll be fine and is probably happy to out of the house. It's a fairly small uni, about 3000 students and undergraduate only, so that aspect won't be too overwhelming.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Well it's just nice to hear some positive uni experience stories @MissConductUS.

[ZZTopGuitarSolo]

@MissConductUS

I hope it goes well. Are they doing a very strict quarantine there? Has she managed to make friends yet?

They are doing a strict quarantine and testing protocol. She was tested on arrival and had to isolate until her results came back the next day. Classes are all remote for the first two weeks, no clubs for time being and small social bubble groups in each dorm. I think she'll be tested weekly going forward.

She made some friends last fall when they were remote. Her classes broke up into small study and project groups and the students she clicked with connected on social media, chatted on the phone, etc. One of them is in her dorm, which is nice.

I'm sure she'll make more now that she's there. The crew team is going to start working out together in two weeks, so that will be another opportunity to socialize.

Lovely to read. Mine is a sophomore so she already had a friendship group, but I did wonder what it must have been like for freshmen. Your DD sounds like she'll have a good time.

DD's college also only just returned to campus a couple of weeks ago so it's been very similar there in terms of protocol, lots of students in dingles, etc. I know DD is so pleased to be back there finally, even if all classes are online. They've been doing online auditions for their acapella group, and I'm really hoping they're all singing together again soon, even if it's over Zoom.

[MissConductUS]

DD is going to a women's uni, by the way. It was her strong preference. I think it simplifies the social aspect of things.

DS is a Junior (3rd year) student at uni and was on campus last fall and is now doing a full-semester internship. He was offered the internship in the before times, but it's being done remotely so he's home. That's saving us a good sum in not paying for his housing and dining charges. Actually, he eats like most 20 year old men, so we may not be saving anything on the meal plan.

So it's been a bit like the changing of the guards at our house. She was home in the fall, both were here over Christmas break and now he's keeping an eye on mum and dad while she's on campus. They'll both be away next fall. We're in New York and both universities are in Massachusettes, so they won't be that far away.

[ZZTopGuitarSolo]

DD is going to a women's uni, by the way. It was her strong preference. I think it simplifies the social aspect of things.

Interesting! My DD2 has just applied to 2 of the Seven Sisters, one of them all-women. We know a few people there and they all love it.

[juicy0]

Can I ask for your advice regarding bills in a shared house please? DD is in 2nd year and currently lives in a shared house where the monthly rent includes utility bills and broadband. Her and her housemates are moving to another house for third year and the rent doesn't include any bills. In your DC experience how much per month should my DD allow for bills on top of rent? There are four in the house in total. Thanks x

[MissConductUS]

Interesting! My DD2 has just applied to 2 of the Seven Sisters, one of them all-women. We know a few people there and they all love it.

My DD is at one of the Seven Sisters.

[bigTillyMint]

@juicy0, DDs bills seem to be in the region of £40 a month.

[Ginfordinner]

DD is in exactly the same position as your DD juicy0. I will let her know.

[Benjispruce2]

About £40pm for DD too.

[mum2eim]

Ah Thank you @juicy0. My DD is also in a bill free home at the moment and is moving to a rent only property in third year. Good to know what it might cost. She did tell her housemates that they can save money by wearing jumpers in the house rather than walking round in t-shirts and shorts like they do at the moment! She's used to living in our house where my hubby doesn't like to turn the heating up!!

[Itscoldouthere]

My DS1 is in a house of 4, they as some issues setting up the bills so has only just paid, not sure when it was up to but from Sept 1st £126. I told him to allow at least £10 a week (which of course he didn’t spent all last terms grant).

[simbobs]

I remember the subject of bills being a contentious issue when I was a student, particularly regarding electricity. Some people were rather more ascetic than others, preferring never to have the heating on, and heating the minimum amount of water for bathing. No wonder I worked in the library, as there was regularly frost on the inside of my window.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

@simbobs that sounds very chilly indeed. I know that I used to sit working in my room with my hands permanently wrapped around a piping hot cup of coffee. I don't recall that we ever had the heating on in daylight hours.

[juicy0]

Thank you @Benjispruce2 @bigTillyMint

[bigTillyMint]

@simbobs - DD is frozen in the library atm because they’ve got all the doors and windows open

[Benjispruce2]

Same in my classroom @bigTillyMint! Wearing a mask actually keeps me warm.

[Itscoldouthere]

MyBF at uni lived in a massive Victorian house his bathroom was a nightmare, freezing, with a big old tub, you could only get a couple of inches of hot water out of the tank, ones of those rubber hoses you pushed onto the taps for a sower, 6 people sharing, it was grim.
We used to all huddle around a gas fire in a bedroom.

My DC student flats are luxurious In comparison.

[Itscoldouthere]

Finding it rather cold here at the moment, it really does give you face freeze, a new experience for me.

[Zandathepanda]

That’s seriously cold!!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Those temperatures would be too cold for me @Itscoldouthere. BRRRRR. I bet you're looking forward to spring!

That student house sounds a bit like the one I grew up in. I am truly surprised I don't have a scarred back because I spent most of my time sitting against the radiator trying to absorb any residual heat (and there wasn't much).

[Itscoldouthere]

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I always feel like a bit of an old lady when I say we used to have ice on the inside of the windows growing up, but I think lots of people did then.