Why don't NEW students get a reasonable cooling off period?

duchy

I'm back at uni as a mature student and I'm seeing a few shellshocked eighteen year olds around. Some students on clearing couldn't get into the better priced halls at the other campus and opted to take the "cheaper" option at mine -nearly an hour away by provided regular coach. Most are making the best of it and taking the attitude that the halls here are nicer and access to the social life on both campus is a good thing but some have the right hump over it.

I do think students need to make sure they've seen all levels of possible to be offered Halls at open days as they vary considerably (not always possible if they get their second choice or come in via clearing I know) but I also think a week of first year lectures simply isn't long enough as there is often things you can do to change things. One lecture I went to I realised it was the completely wrong module for me ....it took one email and two hours to get it switched to a different one. Often the eighteen year olds don't want to admit they've made a mistake and module or even complete course changes can be possible but they just don't ask.

(I realize not all unis are the same but there's usually some system in place -as the uni would rather not lose the student -as someone said -it's three years of fees lost)

Voyager2002

V_Chic_Chick wrote: »

I'm guessing that the 7 days isn't a trial period, but related to the distance selling regulations? If so, the uni has acted entirely properly.

If they were in the private sector (including in private halls), they'd be liable for the whole year's rent, but they wouldn't have any student finance to fund that.

Personally I think Leeds are being quite nice about the whole accommodation thing...

Let's nail this canard (which has already been repeated by a lecturer on this thread, someone who ought to know better):

If someone rents a room in the private sector, as opposed to a self-contained flat, they have no security of tenure, but can leave almost without notice.

TurnUpForTheBooks_2

GeneHunt wrote: »

TurnUpForTheBooks wrote:

Who the hell do the University of Leeds think they are? 419 Scammers from West Africa? Bloody terrorists. If you are anything to do with the set up at University of Leeds and read this you should be ashamed.

To be fair to the University of Leeds the OPs kid has taken the place of someone who would have presumably loved to go to that Uni and do that course.....Leeds are also losing out on 3 years worth of tuition fees (£27,000) 'cos the girl changed their mind (it's too late for them to recruit another student)....I think they are being entirely reasonable...

Well I think it is a bit rich to suggest that there will be many courses overscribed in this environment, and just because there are more lambs at the gate for slaughter and because SFE has a contract with the university which meakes it easier for the university to hang on to the money, this doesn't justify the university's position one iota (or even two). They should still be ashamed at the University of Leeds ripping off students they have failed to sell to like this. I am actually completely appalled to read it, and I cannot for the life of me understand anyone trying to suggest that the OP's daughter has cost University of Leeds £27,000 by simply dropping out after two weeks

Some of the commentators in these forums are so conditioned to the fate that befalls them through ingratiating themselves unquestioningly to commercial interests that I genuinely would love to see how their lives turn out. Will they ever learn to question anything when someone points at a T&C ? :rotfl:

GeneHunt_2

TurnUpForTheBooks wrote: »

Well I think it is a bit rich to suggest that there will be many courses overscribed in this environment,

What environment is that? There are more students going to uni than ever....and Russell Group Unis are always oversubscribed...

TurnUpForTheBooks wrote: »

Some of the commentators in these forums are so conditioned to the fate that befalls them through ingratiating themselves unquestioningly to commercial interests that I genuinely would love to see how their lives turn out. Will they ever learn to question anything when someone points at a T&C ? :rotfl:

And some commentators (sic) / posters would be wise to look up the term "caveat emptor" and take some responsibility for their own actions....such posters would then not have to worry about the fate that befalls them.....

paddyrg

My 2p just in case anyone cares...

Halls - it was actually a result to have a 7-day free mind-change. It's plenty of time to check the location and in conjunction with the visit the student I assume made to campus on an open day to look around it's not as if they've been punted without any way to know what the options are or to withdraw from halls. Students sometimes find it a shock being in the real world, especially if they aren't used to doing their own washing etc. I know halls have improved a lot over the last 20-odd years and now many rooms are single en-suite, so closer to hotels than dorms. It may be a change, but not all change is bad, and sometimes adversity creates resilience. If the social scene at those halls is not good, well that makes study easier ;-)

Course - Worth sticking with it a little longer. It's entirely possible to have chosen the wrong course, however a fortnight isn't enough to know for sure, especially as week 1 was Freshers and week 2 the basics and introduction. Give it a few weeks for the novelty to wear off and to see if it's really such a bad course. The university doesn't want to lose tuition fees and will likely allow course changes far more easily than applying again through UCAS. She may want to do a bit of work in parallel to find out if there's a course she hadn't considered that's more to her taste and undersubscribed/has dropouts. A bit of courage here and asking the tutors might mean she can switch and just have to do a bit of catching up.

ska_lover

I was shocked at how little support there was, when my lad started recently.

The settle in to the halls of residence could be made so much easier if they actually got to SEE inside their actual flat before moving in day (there was no option to do this, at my sons Uni, although he obviously knew the outside area). I think it would be a fantastic idea, if , perhaps a week or two before moving in day, they had an 'open house' for even two hours, - at every single hall - where students could go, view their accommodation, and then potentially meet their flat mates.

At no other point in your life would you be expected to sign a tenancy agreement to a property you have not even viewed the inside of and move in with complete strangers. It would be difficult as an adult, but as a teenager moving out of home for the first time, completely overwhelming

On arrival at the Halls on moving in day, it was simply a case of 'here are your keys, now get on with it'. I was shocked, I was expecting there to be more support there.

Luckily my lad has settled in well, much better than I thought possible, and has ended up with a good bunch of like minded lads

I can see why some would not settle though, and I agree, I think there should be a cooling off period. It is a huge descision to make.

Halls of residence are a terrible rip off, the price you pay, and the rules the infringe, is way over the top. The whole degree experience really does seem to be a money making exercise off the students backs

bouncydog1

At DD's Uni there is a mentoring scheme where second years mentor the freshers if requested. This helps with issues such as courses and accommodation. I really do think that two weeks is too short a time to reach a decision and you should encourage your daughter to try and stick it out for a bit longer.

DD was upset at first - the whole leaving home thing, moving in with strangers, personality conflicts etc. but we persuaded her to stay and things were fine after a month. Now into final year and loving every minute.

Dunroamin

ska_lover wrote: »

I was shocked at how little support there was, when my lad started recently.

The settle in to the halls of residence could be made so much easier if they actually got to SEE inside their actual flat before moving in day (there was no option to do this, at my sons Uni, although he obviously knew the outside area). I think it would be a fantastic idea, if , perhaps a week or two before moving in day, they had an 'open house' for even two hours, - at every single hall - where students could go, view their accommodation, and then potentially meet their flat mates.

At no other point in your life would you be expected to sign a tenancy agreement to a property you have not even viewed the inside of and move in with complete strangers. It would be difficult as an adult, but as a teenager moving out of home for the first time, completely overwhelming

On arrival at the Halls on moving in day, it was simply a case of 'here are your keys, now get on with it'. I was shocked, I was expecting there to be more support there.

Luckily my lad has settled in well, much better than I thought possible, and has ended up with a good bunch of like minded lads

I can see why some would not settle though, and I agree, I think there should be a cooling off period. It is a huge descision to make.

Halls of residence are a terrible rip off, the price you pay, and the rules the infringe, is way over the top. The whole degree experience really does seem to be a money making exercise off the students backs

I don't see how you could meet other people living in halls a week before starting, surely they'll be on holiday at that time?

I think that if you've seen photos of the inside, that's all you really need. Generations of students have coped with moving into halls sight unseen and managed perfectly well, it's just today's over protective parents who might see it as a problem. Even you admit that your son had no problems so you were worried for nothing.

paddyrg

Out of interest, how much are halls costing? What kind of room does your money get? If they're a terrible rip-off, how much more than local private accommodation are they? Do they include any other bills, etc?

They have the upside of being only for the time the student is actually at uni, so that's a huge 2-3 month saving over the summer compared with commercial lets.

Tomby1

paddyrg wrote: »

Out of interest, how much are halls costing? What kind of room does your money get? If they're a terrible rip-off, how much more than local private accommodation are they? Do they include any other bills, etc?

They have the upside of being only for the time the student is actually at uni, so that's a huge 2-3 month saving over the summer compared with commercial lets.

Halls are very expensive if you look at them from a purely financial point of view.

However, they are the perfect opportunity for the average 18 year old to live 'on their own' for the first time whilst having considerably less responsibilities than renting privately.