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I've changed my mind: I'd now advise any prospective student to think carefully about the option of deferring for a year, if their choice allows it and they have some way of supporting themselves. Overcrowding from the A level fiasco on top of Covid-19 is not a good combo. 1/
I did previously say that the usual alternatives also look less attractive this year: low-skill jobs will be hard to come by, and travelling the world will be very difficult. That's still true. But I now estimate this year'll be even worse for students than it was going to be. 2/
Some universities have good plans for teaching effectively online. Most, if I'm honest, don't. Or don't yet. Many have not even announced to their staff how the physical teaching arrangements will work, with less than 6 weeks to go. They might pull a rabbit out of the hat? 3/
We're seeing in the US that universities that reopened are having to close after Covid-19 cases rise. It seems likely that will happen here too in at least some places. And there may be more local lockdowns outside the university that force a closure anyway. 4/
I want to stress that uni staff are working desperately, desperately hard to give the very best experience they can. But they're having to do it from home so it's all harder and teach in a way they've never done before and with workloads that were already ridiculous in Feb. 5/
Now, as well as trying to work out how to teach in new ways, they're going to have to replan it all to take a load of extra students. How many? They still don't know, & won't for a week, maybe more. They'll rise to the occasion, but it's hard to imagine it'll be quite as good. 6/
There's also the question of accommodation. The good places will have long been snapped up; there may not be any capacity left and you may be miles and miles away. Remember you'll probably have to spend a lot more time in your accommodation than you would normally. 7/
Social life will not be the same, and may well be very tightly constrained. What'll happen here is even less clear, because universities aren't directly responsible for organising and planning it. Overcrowded courses may well lead to even tougher restrictions on gatherings. 8/
Most students will be at overcrowded universities, despite it being likely that a few unis will have serious underrecruitment. The secret student numbers cap was intended to smooth this. It's been abandoned so more students get a place (yay) but there's no alternative (boo). 9/
Deferring isn't an option for many people. If you've no privileged background to lean on (e.g. parents who can keep you for an extra year) it may not be feasible. The benefits system is punitive and it is extra harsh to young people not in employment, education or training. 10/
Many universities won't agree to a deferral. And for many students it's not right the right choice this year. Covid-19 makes all the options suck. Going to uni may well be the least sucky for many people.
But it's worth considering if a deferral is the least bad option. 11/11
But it's worth considering if a deferral is the least bad option. 11/11
Also don't forget the @OpenUniversity as an option! You can start study with a uni that's done distanced teaching well for 50 years, and transfer to another uni later, if you still want to after OU top-quality online learning. (The fees are lower too.) https://ounews.co/around-ou/ou-speaks-out/clearing-2020-ou-leads-the-way-in-online-learning/
