Is anyone sending their child back to Uni?

[andannabegins]

Just that really. I have a DD in her first year. She is desperate to go back to Uni, we want her to go back and her life back a little. Is anyone just letting their child go even though they aren't doing a 'practical' course?

[Xenia]

Mine is back (but is not a first year in halls) as he is trying to have a year (and last summer term) of being away in term time and back in holidays to maintain normality (other than doing exams from home). I have paid over £7k for his rent for his 100% online course (for which I have paid about £9k in fees) so unless the state is going to refund me the £7k he is entitled to be there and the legislation is what counts, not guidance much of which is not binding and in some cases misrepresents the law.

[MaidEdithofAragon]

Yes my DD has just gone back. Time for them to have a bit of a life.

[BackforGood]

Mine went back in January.
She 'guestimates' about 3/4 of her block are back in.

[Delphigirl]

My DS is in first year and went back mid Jan. of his flat of 5, 4 are back. He thinks the halls are over half full. He has been working a lot in the library which is open although I think he needs to book a slot. Why wouldn’t they go back - they aren’t seeing any teaching staff and having a social interaction with their households and others they meet for exercise outside rather than sitting looking at their parents at home. Little risk to anyone.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'm going to chat with dd and see if she wants to rent somewhere out of college. There seem to be places available. I guess she needs to hear their latest edict, but she can at least think about alternatives.

[andannabegins]

I used the wrong word saying 'sending' her back. I was just interested in what other uni students were doing

[OrangeBlossom28]

Ours went back in Jan the day before lockdown. She's a first year and half of her flat are now back. She wanted to go back then and we were quite happy to support that.

[Bouledeneige]

Both of mine made their own decisions to go back some weeks ago. DS went back mid Jan - he's in the 1st year at Sussex and is in accommodation on campus. They were allowed back with lateral flow tests and his whole house of 9 others were already back. .

DD is in her 2nd year in a private rented house and went back 2 weeks ago to her northern university. She reckons about 60-70 percent of her friends are back.

It was their decisions.

[CheeseAndBaconOatcake]

We knew what you meant @andannabegins 😊

[Benjispruce2]

Mine’s 2nd year and went back after Christmas. Boris had no plans to pay £500 pm to her landlord...

[minniemoocher]

Our university student kids are adults, I neither send them no hinder them leaving - 2 went back in January, one is with us.

[surreygoldfish]

Yep... first year on campus, headed back just recently. I think that’s about half their ‘flat’ now back.

[Numbersarefun]

DD, 2nd year chemist, is still at home with us and won’t go back this term at any rate. (Oxford college, so short terms and we’re not having to pay accommodation bills whilst she’s not there.). She really hopes to go back next term though, although college have already said they don’t have to and again we won’t be charged. A lot of her friends are from overseas, so I guess it depends on whether any of them go back.

[Downthefarm]

@minniemoocher same here.

[Fifthtimelucky]

Mine has been here since the beginning of December. All her housemates and the vast majority of her friends went back straight after Christmas.

She will stay here until Easter, but has decided to go back for the summer term, whether or not that is officially allowed. It's her final year and she wants a proper end to her time at university.

[TheHobbitMum]

My 1st year DD went back in Jan, she's not doing a practical course but wanted/needed to back. I thought most students had gone back already, if she wants to go back I'd let her

[MarchingFrogs]

Postgrad DS1 and 2nd year DD (both in private rented accommodation) went back to their respective university cities just over 6 weeks ago.

[Bouledeneige]

By the way OP I was the driver of the trip - its 3.5 hours each way. I'm happy to do it usually so why not now? Petrol stations and most service stations are open.

[DustyMaiden]

Surprised how many have gone back. All I know are still at home.

[Xenia]

My son is a post grad and his friends are or are only year 4 of a 4 year degree. For him it is all about his friends, his flat mate and being with in terms of his flat mate or at least near those people and in Bristol which is a very nice City for walks etc.

As someone said above Boris J has not offered to refund parents all the rent paid and most people are not first year in halls and thus rent from a private landlord who still has to pay his or her mortgage and feed the family. In my case the rent is over £600 a month plus bills. The state is not going to pay that back. Also I was expecting this year to be just one of the twins living here not two and if we can carry on as normally as possible I feel better just as my daughter is going ahead with her mid March church wedding - the total ban on all weddings at very long last is lifted on 8 March although 4 guests that are allowed is really mean even if they are only in the church and no party so the 13 guests we had been going to have - siblings etc are all now uninvited. No point waiting until April or May as the guidance just says we might but may not allow more then so far too risky to keep putting off and putting off.

[Newgirls]

Students in private accom (2nd year onwards) makes total sense they’ve gone back.

First years in uni acom don’t always have that option - my dds have simply said they won’t open unless specific needs

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

We live in Wales and when dd came home for Christmas they then told all the students that they were not allowed to travel back. And the stay local message remains.

York uni are not encouraging them back either. She's second year but luckily she opted to stay living on campus, so she should get a refund for the weeks she has been unable to return for.

Next year's accommodation fees are noticeably higher we've noticed.

[ShanghaiDiva]

Ds is year 3 and has not gone back. He is at Warwick and term 3 is revision lectures only so he may decide not to go back at all.
He has a job starting in September and I feel he just wants to get through the exams and focus on life post September.

[Parker231]

DS is at Warwick for his Masters. He hasn’t gone back nor have his group of friends. He says he may go up for a couple of days after Easter as he wants to collect a couple of his books
At home he is racing through the work so plenty of free time each day. He’s out most afternoons for a run with a friend. A group have arranged a rota of a different run each day with a different friend and a zoom drinks night on Saturday.

[Benjispruce2]

When DD came home at Christmas it was on the understanding they would refuse she booked return train and only had clothes for a few weeks. Plus rent to pay via private landlord . Poor planning on Gov’s part do no wonder most returned.