Will people go home from uni if there’s a second lockdown?

I'm seven weeks into my first year at uni too, so I understand how you feel.

Regarding going home affecting your university experience, essentially everyone will be in the same position. The likelihood of you actually missing out on anything (other than being trapped in your room/flat/halls) is very slim.

I am not sure what I would do. I would probably stay here at university, considering how easily irritable I am once I return home to my family. It's nice to be away, but nice to be home too at times! It would really depend on what my peers were doing, if they all went home then I would more than likely do the same.

I feel so conflicted because while I’m friends with a few of the people in my flat, I haven’t managed to make a proper connection with anyone else and I’m worried about how going home will affect finding people to live with next year?
I get on really well with my family and have been really homesick but am very determined to make uni work! But these are very different circumstances to what I expected. Essentially I would feel better in the short term being at home but would worry about how it’s affecting my overall experience. I suppose I’ll have to see what other people in my halls are doing...

I do completely understand and can empathise with your situation. I was fortunate enough as my degree (medicine) started earlier than the rest of the university, so we had two solid weeks of just medics on campus, so it really forced us to make friends with each other. In hindsight, I am glad about this as I probably wouldn't be friends with the people I am now, if this wasn't the case.

While it isn't the most helpful piece of advice I can give you, you have to try and remember that everyone is in this situation. The opportunities for greeting people, making friends and meeting future housemates have been severely affected by lockdown restrictions and there are plenty of people in this position. I was concerned originally about finding people to live with, but I have gotten on well with two other medics and we've just decided to start renting somewhere together next year.

Have you been able to socialise with anybody from your course at all? What about your current flatmates, can you see yourself living with them next year? Perhaps mention the idea to them and see how they are feeling about it — chances are they've considered it too!

Hi! I'm in the exact same situation as you! I'm currently at home however, my halls went up in covid flames last week so I escaped beforehand. I'm now self isolating at home however as my flatmate tested positive on Tuesday. I don't know what to do either. Uni was also a big step for me, I felt so homesick when I arrived and again after I came back from visiting home a few weeks ago, which I did eventually overcome. I dont know whether to just stay home until Christmas now and hope by January it might have settled down a bit. I think I'm just going to see what Boris announces and see what everyone else is doing and decide whether to go back or not. I was planning to leave early for Christmas anyway. I just worry that I won't want to go back in January? Tho I do like uni, the citys great and I've made friends just covid really stresses me out. I'm such an over thinker and am just so close to my family!! ((

I’m the same as I’ve felt so homesick as I’m really close to my parents and just loved living at home - which I’m very lucky to have that but it does make it harder moving out! I was supposed to be going home for reading week next week but now I’m not sure what is happening with that. I know that if I did go home for a bit longer then I would make myself go back but I would find it really hard. And because I’ve felt so anxious a lot of the time, especially about Covid, I don’t think I’ve been very good at putting myself out there so don’t have any really solid mates? But I also know I’m overthinking and catastrophising but I can’t seem to help it!

Ths is literally me! I know I would go back at some point but I know it would be so difficult again! I just don't know what to do! It's such a tricky situation. I know as well I'm paying for my halls but my mum said to me my mental health comes above all. It just worries me as well how close to Christmas it is, I want to be back early for Christmas and would rather isolate at home if needs be. I dont know!! so stressful this year

Half an hour till the press conference. Totally understand where you're coming from. I was just about to travel home for a few days, but now it feels a bit like March all over again. At home, you'll be safe and looked after, but I get that your independence is valuable and hard to give up, especially if you have not had many opportunities to be your own person away from home. That was definitely me last year, not wanting to go back 'behind bars' as my home experience was already extremely limiting even before lockdown. They're saying universities will be left open apparently, but we shall see at 5pm.

It has already been leaked to the press.

https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1322562692771696640

Blimey! That was quick.

I'm so conflicted too! I've made friends and I've been messaging them everyday since I'm home so I dont think second year housing is an issue for me right now. My main worry is that I'll just never want to return! Even though I do enjoy uni when I can go out, go shopping, see my friends and go on campus. I'd definitely force myself back but I'm just torn rn. Especially with the Christmas situation, I'm not coming back in December to be told isolate in your halls! My flat and I aren't friends at all and there'd be no point returning before Christmas if it were to isolate. Just dont know whether to return mid lockdown and leave for Christmas early or just stay home :///

If I were in halls, I’d probably go home tbh. Especially if I had a good relationship with my parents and it seemed like a better option for my mental health. I wouldn’t want to end up in a bad depressive episode and unable to leave halls mid lockdown (but then I have a history of depression).

Since I’m in third year and in a house with friends, however, I’ll stick it out here. I’d rather be with my friends than my parents.

I’m really leaning towards this. But I feel so panicked at the thought of finding people to live with next year and I feel like people will sort it all out while I’m at home?