What it's really been like for 1st years this year? Made any friends?

[kintigsullor]

One of my DC is starting at university in September if all goes according to plan and is wondering what it has been like for 1st years this year? They have already been told lectures at no1 choice will be online. It's a long way from home and he wonders what's it been like socially?

I’m really shocked that some universities have already said they won’t resume F2F teaching next academic year. That’s absolutely crap. Which unis have said this?

FWIW my DC is in the “had a shit time” bracket.

Which universities, @cresside? Was guessing lectures likely to be online, but surely not seminars etc. as well? I don't understand how that could be justified - it will be 6 months after schools went back!

Sorry, @cresside, not reading carefully - only just realized you're literally asking the same question...

@IvySquirrel

DS has had a pretty good year in the circumstances. He got on really with his flat mates and played a sport which he started in Autumn and has just got up and running again so has met people through that. He's on a practical course which had a bit of face to face teaching in Autumn, through which he met others through group projects that he is living with next year. Jan & Feb was a bit grim and he stayed at home for about 6 weeks before going back when face to face restarted on 8 March and now has quite a lot of in person teaching and access to facilities. His main hobby is gaming so he's also met people online through that (gaming society and tournaments). I'm a lecturer and have been impressed with the quality of online teaching and the approach of the uni generally. I know he would have been much less happy hanging around for a gap year in a boring job and no chance of travelling.

The online teaching from the uni I'm at is truly awful. Really devalues the courses.

Sadly at least two of our lecturers we've never had in person and maybe they are good at their job but really doesn't translate in their online teaching.

@cresside

I’m really shocked that some universities have already said they won’t resume F2F teaching next academic year. That’s absolutely crap. Which unis have said this?

FWIW my DC is in the “had a shit time” bracket.

They just want the money and have no regard for the students at all.

I know unis are highly variable. I think the teaching at DS2 uni (who is first year) has been much better than DS1 (finalist). Also DS2 is on a practical design based course whereas as DS1 is a traditional essay based subject so very different.
I'm a lecturer in a performing arts subject. Quite frankly the last year has been by far the hardest of my 30+ year career.
We do care about our students. It's our job to do so. But we can only do what is actually possible within the limits set by the government/physical space/resources we have. Universities are businesses at the end of the day and like many are in a very difficult financial position.
We've absolutely done our best in what is for everyone a rubbish situation.

Surely they won’t be teaching online next year? There are plans to remove social distancing in June and the vaccinations are making big strides. I don’t think there can be any justification for it.

DS has dropped out, as have 4 others of his 6 closest mates from school. Hearing through the grapevine that the drop out rate in 1st years is apocalyptic. He doesn't know what to do next, will apply for different courses but if they're going to be online, he won't take them up after the experience of this year.

Well said IvySquirrel

Utter nonsense lovelyupnorht.
Now, to be clear I'm not saying there aren't any lecturers that are poor. OF course there are, in non-COVID times too. Just as there are poor performers in every job I should imagine. But it is the massive leap from some individuals to you suggesting that all universities have no regard for their students at all that makes the statement ridiculous and totally undermines any valid complaints about individuals.

@IvySquirrel

I know unis are highly variable. I think the teaching at DS2 uni (who is first year) has been much better than DS1 (finalist). Also DS2 is on a practical design based course whereas as DS1 is a traditional essay based subject so very different. I'm a lecturer in a performing arts subject. Quite frankly the last year has been by far the hardest of my 30+ year career. We do care about our students. It's our job to do so. But we can only do what is actually possible within the limits set by the government/physical space/resources we have. Universities are businesses at the end of the day and like many are in a very difficult financial position. We've absolutely done our best in what is for everyone a rubbish situation.

If most of them truly where treated like businesses they’d have gone out of business years ago. Utter shambles the three I’ve come into contact live.

Maybe they should have to earn their money properly.

My DD's experience has been awful.
She's only spent about 7 weeks there and has been home since November. No f2f lessons so she didn't meet anyone on her course. Flatmates were excluding her so she was really isolated and got very depressed. A request to move was never responded to.
She's just now finished her exams so is finished for the year. She has a couple of catch up lab sessions next month so she's going back for those and I have everything crossed it's better for her this time.
To be honest I'm astounded the education she's had this year has cost over £9k.
It's a Russell Group uni but her timetable was quite empty and she's not had to bust a gut to get the work done at all.
We just hope so much that things are better next year.

I'm a university lecturer. Planning my modules for September and they are all been done on the basis of a full return to campus with no social distancing! Sounds like a real mix across the country