Going to university in 2020

Today University seems to be "a right of passage" it as they say an "experience". Shouldn't it be to train for a future career? It seems like a holiday camp these days. My generation went to study, pubs closed at 10.30!

growstuff

PS. Some private student accommodation is appalling and I have no sympathy at all for the landlords of such property. Maybe they should find a source of pension which doesn't involve ripping off other human beings.

I rent a house to 4 students - having bought the house when my son was a student there some years ago. I charge significantly less than hall fees for much nicer accommodation. To be honest, I was a bit surprised that "my" students were happy to sign a tenancy agreement again for this year, and I'm certainly not counting it as guaranteed income. (Fortunately I FINALLY got my state pension this year, so if worst comes to the worst I won't be destitute.) But if the students go home and don't pay for their accommodation they'll get that docked from their maintenance loans anyway (which are actually a graduate tax and not real debt, so it's not much of a saving for them). I feel very sorry for the students - and the universities - but I don't see an obvious solution. As somebody else pointed out, everyone is a loser.

Agree with growstuff. Not just idiots in Trafalgar Square but everywhere. I just passed by a group of four people my age and older 60+, about to enter the local shop without masks. One was laughing that he had "thousands" of masks at home but didn't bring them out. Another said he didn't own any and, why should he? They all thought it hilarious, as they entered the small shop. Please don't put all the blame on the young.

I wish more youngsters would try the Open University. This is all online with monthly tutorials and access to brilliant resource, lectures and teachers. All from the comfort of your own home. Have done this myself while working and looking after family. Would highly recommend. Cheaper too.

My adult children are beyond their university years but having seen 2 types of hall accomodation, both involving small rooms, one with en suite but tiny shared kitchen, one with less tiny room but shared bathroom and kitchen, I'm appalled that many of the current lot have been locked in their halls, with infected students sharing with (currently) uninfected. I have to wonder about the motives in getting them back in the first place as what has happened seems highly predicable. I would have advised mine to defer. Otherwise, give them a refund and let them go home!

Even if they're not breaking any rules, it's difficult for students living in halls not to infect each other. They usually live in flats of 6-10 with a shared kitchen and bathrooms.

With 6-10 strangers turning up from different regions of the country, it's inevitable that if just one is infected, it will spread to the others. Students weren't told before they arrived that they would be confined to their flats. Those paying for full board will be expected to eat in a large dining hall. Most were also told that they would have at least some face-to-face tuition which would involve leaving the building and travelling.

The living conditions aren't that different from that of fruit pickers.

They should all have been tested on arrival and testing should have been available on a regular basis for anybody suspecting they might be infected. They can't be kept in self-isolation for the duration of the course.

I think they must be having a miserable time.
Some will be breaking the rules,many will not. Irresponsible behaviour can be found in all age groups but maybe in slightly different ways.
University can be a wonderful time educationally and socially. It can also be quite pressurised. For some it can lead to mental health problems. I have a feeling many would have been better off emotionally and financially deferring entry.
However they were encouraged to go. In the same way we were encouraged to eat out to help out and get back to the office. In the same way Sunak is telling us to live with the virus not fear it.
University education involves big money,not just fees but the local economy. Goodness knows how many foreign students arrived. Their fees are often higher,at least they had to isolate on arrival.
As we are seeing with schools its economy versus public health.
Independent Sage this week discussed what research there is on Long Covid. It's an area that gets little attention as people focus more on who dies. Apparently even a mild case of covid could leave you vulnerable to catching it again more severely. It affects the brain,kidneys,heart and potentially even fertility.
One of the saving Grace's of this pandemic was the knowledge my childeren and grandchilderen were less vulnerable. Let's hope that's the case. The truth is its early days and we simply dont know.
Previously there have been mentions of shielding of vulnerable groups,over 50s etc. Apparently over 30million people are vulnerable to this virus. To isolate them all be impossible,and NHS and social care and goodness what else would crumble.

Lolo81 - not wanting to derail or anything, but I'd love to know what you are studying please.

paddyanne

well Police Scotland having to break up student parties in Edinburgh ,seems the-- brats-- sorry little darlings are determined NOT to follow guidance .Cant go home and spread it all over the country so maybe they should literally be LOCKED down.

Clearly they were breaking the rules as they are in Scotland, but they weren't spreading infection in the community because they have been locked down in their halls of residence..

Police said officers had broken up a number of small parties of five to seven students with people who were "clearly not from the same household". Five to seven students hardly constitute a mass rave!

They were spreading infection amongst themselves. I'm a bit confused because presumably each student flat now makes up its own household.

Is there any reason why you felt the need to call them "brats"?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54307846

I am starting 4th year (as a v v mature student) at Glasgow Caledonian next week and was informed in May of this year that my course would be completed online. Obviously vocational courses have other implications, but I can say with certainty that a majority of the courses being taught in my school within the university are being completed online.
The struggle I’ll have (as will many others) is completing a dissertation without proper library access, but the university have set up an appointment system and limited numbers to ensure safety.
University, college and workplaces are only as safe as the people attending them and people need to take personal responsibility for their own actions.
I’m struggling to see how the my uni could have done anything different to make me any safer, but as an old lady I suppose my lack of interest in the social aspects make me the exception rather than the rule!

well Police Scotland having to break up student parties in Edinburgh ,seems the-- brats-- sorry little darlings are determined NOT to follow guidance .Cant go home and spread it all over the country so maybe they should literally be LOCKED down.

Yes, went into lockdown just as he finished quarantine

biba70

Ellianne, I have no idea about the details. He is our carpenters son - I shall ask him how things are working out when he comes next week. Parents have never been away from home either, and do not speak a word of English either. I am amazed they allowed him to go in the circumstances- but I think they were just not aware of the situation in UK currently.

Cardiff, along with Swansea, Llanelli, is now in lockdown biba. Poor boy must feel so scared.

Ellianne, I have no idea about the details. He is our carpenters son - I shall ask him how things are working out when he comes next week. Parents have never been away from home either, and do not speak a word of English either. I am amazed they allowed him to go in the circumstances- but I think they were just not aware of the situation in UK currently.

Whatever the ins and outs of all this, it is a massive shame that the current generation of young people at university are getting a raw deal in all directions. This should be one of the best times of their life, instead of which they are facing the prospect of reduced value on their courses, a limit on the amount of socialising they are allowed to do and the ever present threat of contracting Covid 19. Certainly not the 'time of your life' experience they hoped for.

biba70

absolutely- can you imagine how much worse for a foreign kid leaving home for the first time and without good English?

That must be very stressful for him biba especially as things are changing so rapidly. Has the department not allocated him a buddy? Is there an office for international students he can contact should he need advice?

One thing today's students do have in their favour is social media. It certainly isn't the same as having real life contact, but it's a way of connecting and picking up information.

absolutely- can you imagine how much worse for a foreign kid leaving home for the first time and without good English?

The way the Man Met new students are being treated is disgraceful. Many will be young first year students, away from home for the first time. They are effectively being held against their will. The university should be taking care of the students, delivering food and ensuring medical advice and treatment and counselling services are available, rather than focusing on disciplinary action for breaches.

I wonder if they have an antibody test which shows that they have had covid, would that then mean that it would be safe for them to go home without fear of infecting their family?

I spoke to daughter today about grandson going to Uni, no doubt straight into lockdown. Her response surprised me “they are all going to get exposed to virus, might just as well get it over with at the start“.

We will see what happens!.

Good post Doodledog, especially the comments about towns benefitting from student spending.

Yes, it is, so why do some GNers think they can "blame" anybody from some other group? Have they? From what I've seen on GN, it's been agreed that this is something that we all have responsibility for. I've not seen anyone scapegoating any section of society.

Why do they accuse people of being "frightened" when they're just being sensible? Because some people don't appreciate the risks involved. But that isn't just on GN that some people hold those opinions is it? There are thousands of COVID deniers. All over the world.

Why do they support the economy over public health? What a naieve question! Because whilst public health matters, so does the economy that pays for and supports public health.

Why do they think it's fine to flout the rules themselves, but not OK for everybody else? Because it's human nature to rebel. As have some students, some mature people and quite a lot of teenagers who don't understand.

Why do they parrot what people like Heneghan, Gupta and Sikora say, but moan when people do behave in a way advocated by those three? I have no idea!

Is there a thread about the idiots in Trafalgar Square today? Dunno! Go have a look!

I often hear calls for students to study near home, but don't think it is a good idea at all. For one thing, there would be a rush of people moving near to popular universities, or buying flats for their children to use as application addresses, whilst those who couldn't do this would be disadvantaged. It would be the school catchment thing all over again.

Less well-off areas often benefit hugely from having a student population move in for 9 months of the year. If this didn't happen, pubs, cafes, cinemas, retail outlets etc would lose custom, as would landlords, taxi firms and so on.

People living in areas with no universities on the doorstep would have to rent anyway, which would financially disadvantage them.

As has been said, not all universities are good for all subjects, so those living near an institution better at a subject other than the one they want to study would be disadvantaged. Not all subjects are taught at all universities, so some people would be unable to study their subject of choice without moving away.

Also, whilst students are not a homogeneous mass, and some mature later than others and have other reasons for living at home, in my experience the ones with 'helicopter' parents did less well than those who were able to make mistakes, grow up and be independent. If students all lived at home, the opportunity to find out who they are as individuals would be lost. Most student accommodation is close to (or part of) the campus, and obviously most parents don't live in these areas, so the closeness to friends and ability to attend societies and so on would be lost by those with a commute in and out.

There is far more to consider than just the rent of accommodation, although I appreciate (as a parent myself!) that this is a big expense. (NB - all of the above is speaking in response to the posts suggesting that students should study in 'local' universities, not about the current Covid situation.)

These idiots are hellbent on harming this country. I wonder how many of these idiots voted for brexcit?

Chewbacca

Growstuff @ 12.34 Some students have partied - not all, but all are having to pay for it and the lack of empathy from some who really don't seem to understand what 18 year olds have experienced this year.

The exact same thing could be said for the older people that you referred to in your earlier post. Not all older people flouted the rules but they all had to stay indoors and away from their families. It could be argued that the younger people lack empathy for older people and what they've experienced this year too. My point being that no one section of society has suffered any more, or less, than another. It's crap for all of us.

Yes, it is, so why do some GNers think they can "blame" anybody from some other group?

Why do they accuse people of being "frightened" when they're just being sensible?

Why do they support the economy over public health?

Why do they think it's fine to flout the rules themselves, but not OK for everybody else?

Why do they parrot what people like Heneghan, Gupta and Sikora say, but moan when people do behave in a way advocated by those three?

Is there a thread about the idiots in Trafalgar Square today?