Another path to greatness - part III

[chopc]

Here is the new thread

The head of immunisation at Public Health England has said basic measures such as social distancing and mask wearing could be in place until other countries successfully roll out jabs.

It’s become the norm at schools and Unis in parts of the US from kindergarten upwards and they don’t seem to having any difficulties- and are in f2f teaching.

None of the teachers or students I know have found masks a problem. It's a non-issue in the secondary schools near me, as are the LF tests which most students are doing voluntarily at home. So much better than repeated periods of self-isolating, which affected both my boys in the autumn term.

I was on a webinar for a US university yesterday. The plan there was to start at the beginning of September with 2 quiet weeks.
So all students come back, get tested, get vaccinated if not already vaccinated, quarantine in rooms for 2 weeks with online events, online classes etc
Then more face to face teaching, social events etc

Do you not think all over 18s in the U.K. will have had at least one jab by September?

Very much agree about sports and societies, chopc. It will be a sadly diminished experience if activities like that don't resume. Outdoor activities were restricted for too long imo, given the evidence about transmission.

That sounds like a really good plan, chimneypot. I hope over 18s will have been vaccinated but don't know any details about supply, as we obviously bought way more AstraZeneca than anything else.

The US vaccine rollout is going really well, isn't it?

The US is going well but so is the U.K.
We are looking enviously over the Irish Sea and even over the border.
My brothers in NI in their 40s have been vaccinated before my Mum in her 70s in Ireland.

I can only imagine there will be a lot more life on campuses in the U.K. in 21/22 than there was this year.

Oh, I really hope so, chimneypot.

The Telegraph reported today that there have only been 32 hospital admissisons with covid after vaccination. They are rather keen to see earlier opening - of everything. I can understand the caution but young people are bearing the brunt of this now and we have to think about them. Hospital numbers will fall as long as the vaccines work and so far they are. Younger people should get theirs before term starts in September/October I hope. But overall - Good News!

Let them make a decision based on where to go based on actually living there for 3 years. Bend's DD seems to have the right idea. Bristol & Exeter came out of this well because they didn't treat the freshers like crap and tried to give them a bit of a life. Check out TSR and SM to see if their college or uni locked them out of their rooms, made students give medical proof of mental health issues instead of trusting them to tell the truth or if they argued about giving everybody refunds because they were in private halls not uni owned.
I want my DC to have a good time but they've got to be prepared to be stuck in their bedroom if someone in their corridor tests positive. Gaming clubs will be fine but big parties and club nights in college won't be happening for freshers. They're not going to change all the Covid guidelines when the government told everyone students can't be trusted to behave.

That’s fantastic news @bendmeoverbackwards - really brave of her!

DS has firmed Bristol this last week so that’s a relief for him knowing he’s made a decision. Durham and Bristol were both favourites with very little to separate them but after a day trip (very long day in the case of Bristol) he decided Bristol is for him. Just needs the grades now!

I am so hoping their first weeks / term / year will allow much more of a ‘normal’ Uni experience and have everything crossed for them. They’ve had such a rubbish time of it this last year.

EconButlerSnow - from your username, do you have a connection with anyone studying Economics at Josephine Butler or John Snow, Durham Has Durham not been great over lockdown?

I did call St John’s college there the other day to ask if it might be possible to come in the college when we visit (hopefully) in a few weeks. Spoke to the most lovely man on reception, who gave me the full lowdown on the college and basically the entire North-East and told me all about his kids and what they’re doing. He said DS would have the time if his life if he comes to Durham. Ended up chatting for about half an hour, so funny. I do like that accent as well. Anyway, he said quite a few student are back in college having claimed they couldn’t study at home; but many are still at home. He said he wouldn’t be able to let us in unfortunately, but to knock in the door and the staff would come out and show us where various things are up and down the street. But he said, maybe if we go on 17th May, to give him a knock and he could hopefully give us a tour and at least get into the back gardens and see the boathouse, etc. And he’s get some students to come out front and meet us and tell us where to eat and what to see.

@Crikeyblimey

That’s fantastic news *@bendmeoverbackwards* - really brave of her!

DS has firmed Bristol this last week so that’s a relief for him knowing he’s made a decision. Durham and Bristol were both favourites with very little to separate them but after a day trip (very long day in the case of Bristol) he decided Bristol is for him. Just needs the grades now!

I am so hoping their first weeks / term / year will allow much more of a ‘normal’ Uni experience and have everything crossed for them. They’ve had such a rubbish time of it this last year.

That's great news @Crikeyblimey both great universities, it just comes down to personal preference.

Has he looked at accommodation yet? I think applications open in May.

I also hope things will be better for them. Fingers crossed the vaccine programme continues to go well and that it protects against variants. I think current second year students have missed out a lot, most people talk about freshers. Second years only had one proper term before covid hit, then had the rest of their first year and pretty much all their second year disrupted. And now they are facing their last year with things still not back to normal plus the pressure of finals.

I don’t think final years doing dissertations have had a great time either plus getting jobs has been difficult. Not good for anyone.

DS has pressed the button tonight to firm Imperial and insure UCL. He attended an online open day for Imperial last week which featured a lecture from Dr Mitesh Patel, the chap who's been involved with the work on the beauty quark (no, me neither..! ). DS found this very exciting and the whole thing confirmed his feeling that that is where he wants to be so - grades permitting - that's that. Accommodation opens in May for those who've firmed offers apparently and he's met and chatting to a few other offer holders online who are hopefully aiming to be in the same area for halls.

On student experience- surely if all measures due to lift in June and if the vaccination programme continues at pace, something closer to normality should be possible, particularly as chopc says, with regard to clubs and sports.

@quest1on was if one of the "porters" you spoke to at Grey? He sounds similar to other porters described on the Durham thread.........

Does anyone know if you can book accommodation at UCL or LSE if you insure them or only if you firm them?

Chimney, as we get on top of the virus itself, I wonder if there will be more focus on the longer term impact including pn younger people.

Quite a lot of US college sport resumed whilst the pandemic was in full flow. And now articles like this are appearing:
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/04/19/athletes-long-haul-covid-justin-foster/

(Sorry I suspect it will be behind a paywall, but essentially about a college athlete from a leading team who can nowbarely walk a short distance, and other examples .)

If cases like this prove to be less than extremely rare, there will be some sort of obligation on both University authorities and on the Government to protect the young as well as the old.

@Pumpkintopf great news for your ds, either Imperrial or UCL will be fantastic. Is there a big difference between the grades they require?

@Needmoresleep anyone can get long Covid - we don't have the data yet to see which age group is most affected

Long Covid is not necessarily objective as some people will just get on with it and will them selves to overcome symptoms whereas others will be dragged down and be debilitated by them. Both could have long Covid.

However Covid will become something we learn to live with as life must go on

Yes. However I would expect litigation aware US Universities to keep these risks in mind. Knowledge will evolve but I know someone (mid 40s) who has been hit very badly. Yet another variable that could influence future University approaches. Vaccination does not necessarily prevent infection.

It is thought vaccination will prevent almost if not 100% severe covid ie needing ventilation. No vaccination is 100%

I know what you are saying about the US, young athletes and Covid. It is so important to know that you largely get Covid from someone else. Not sure how many people have caught Covid from airborne particles in the atmosphere. So if you have to get it from another, both people can take care eg frequent testing and isolating as necessary, hand washing . The one thing that should absolutely change is that infection control measures should be reinforced eg don't go back to school until 24hrs free of fever. Not easy to do if you feel fine and have an important seminar etc

I think if all teaching is available online, even if it is in person for most of the class, there should be a lot less risk of people not respecting infection control measures.

Thanks @bendmeoverbackwards - Imperial is A star A star A, and specifies A star for Maths and Physics.
UCL is AAA, no specific subjects.

Tbh he feels lucky to have the offers - some of the people he's talking to on the offer holders group chat are holding offers of four A stars for Imperial..!

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/949721?src=WNLukmdplss210424mscpeditgen&uac=54006MK&impID=3329750&faf=1

Thought I will paste this year as we were talking about the topic recently- the crisis of doctor retention in the NHS

Do dc have to apply for accommodation at their insurance choice too? Or does it depend on uni?