How has Uni been ONLINE so far?

I'm studying medicine. Obviously I'm massively lacking on the practical and clinical aspects of the course.

However, we still have online PBL and our tutors are doing their best to run anatomy sessions online. Online university is a bad experience and I hope this is all sorted come September, but I think my course is doing well at giving us what they can.

I'm studying medicine. Obviously I'm massively lacking on the practical and clinical aspects of the course.

However, we still have online PBL and our tutors are doing their best to run anatomy sessions online. Online university is a bad experience and I hope this is all sorted come September, but I think my course is doing well at giving us what they can.

So if I was to study medicine, do you think it would be better for me to take a gap year? I don't want to miss out on vital stuff which can only be taught face to face and then it have a ripple effect on the following years.

Hi,

I have now finished my lectures for the year but did have a few zoom lectures. I study BSc psychology with counselling so for my Counselling skills lectures I have a smaller class size which meant that we could all still discuss things with each other. In terms of my bigger classes, it is a bit harder to have free conversations but the good thing about having zoom lectures meant I did not have to commute.

It took a bit to get used to the change but we made the most out of it. I think it is more important to try and get into the group chats early on as you won't be seeing people in person if uni's do have to do online teaching for the first term.

I hope this is helpful for you!

Duncan

I mean i do the work, but it doesn't phase me.. I'm much more interested in global news...i also study managment so not much has changed... Only gotten easier since exams are open book....i really notice no difference, except that I'm not going anywhere...but i am a third year, at this point I'm so used to studying it's just what i do..if that makes sense. So I'm prolly not the best judge.

I'm studying graduate entry medicine so my first year has clinical exposure. Most standard five year courses are just pre-clinical and the first part of the year will basically be recapping A-level science. You first term being taught online likely won't make much difference at all. If you have an offer, I'd just go.

Thanks for your reply Duncan. It's good that you've had a more positive experience.

However, if I was to start Uni in September, then I wouldn't know anyone, including the teachers. How would group chats and additional support be provided then?

I’m a final year languages student.

To be honest there’s not much good at the moment, at least for my course.
- you will not focus more than an hour properly. 2 hour long lectures are really hard to focus in. My timetable was kept the same and now I have 6 hours straight with 10 minute gaps. Hopefully they will resolve this in the new year.
- some people are just uploading lectures and you have to self-study, or they’re forgetting to record them and they go too quickly and you don’t have a way of checking what they said.
- It’s awkward and doesn’t facilitate good conversation, and being a languages student I’m tested on how well I can hold a discussion, which they can’t really test online. They usually go student by student, or the teacher calls on random people. Asking questions is harder and takes longer. People don’t contribute as much.
- internet issues and not being able to find online versions of books and resources. Some better lecturers are uploading them onto blackboard, but some just want us to magically find them somewhere.
- not sure why but there’s this emphasis on keeping your webcam on which kills the broadband and your privacy. This won’t be true in bigger lectures but my classes are small.
- lecturers not responding to emails and you have no way of going to their office to physically remind them you exist.
- for some reason now my lecturers think we have more time and can do even more work, when actually it’s really hard to do work because it takes longer to focus, so now there’s additional stress. I have 3 essays due on the same date and then 3 presentations due 2 days later (1 of which they still haven’t told me how to do), plus all the homework they’re setting, and then exams open 3 days after my presentations are handed in. Super disorganised.
- no social side. It really does make a difference. We just log off now afterwards. Socialising really helps to get through difficult times at uni, and it’s harder now of course, but it reminds you of how you’re just really sitting in front of your laptop. in addition any group work feels forced and no one wants to do it.

Some of these problems should hopefully be ironed out by the time you start, and it depends on your course. For larger lectures you should be fine, but the social side is gone. Labs and groupwork just doesn’t exist, which are vital for some degrees. It’s been really awful tbh although some lecturers are great and understanding.

That's good that there isn't a drastic difference then. I was concerned about how I would get the support I might need as a first year.

Hi,

I believe these can start the same way. Someone from my class created a Facebook group. In terms of getting to know the staff, I assume that they will introduce themselves in the lectures as they would have done if it were in person. It may actually be easier to ask questions as I remember not wanting to speak in front of 100+ people.

Duncan

Overall I’ve found it slightly harder completing the end of semester online. At first I thought it was great, no early mornings waking up to commute and more time to study but for me I’ve also found my motivation has dropped not physically attending lectures and haven’t been able to do lab sessions.

Well tbh, especially if you go to a higher ranking up like Russell group, you don't get much support. The theme is very much independent learning. Your real support will be your performance in Semester one exams. And each semester you have to work out how to improve, but it happens naturally don't worry about a lack of support. You'll figure it out.

Oh and we use blackboard collaborate, it is terrible. Zoom is better, and hangouts is good.

I’m a final year languages student.

To be honest there’s not much good at the moment, at least for my course.
- you will not focus more than an hour properly. 2 hour long lectures are really hard to focus in. My timetable was kept the same and now I have 6 hours straight with 10 minute gaps. Hopefully they will resolve this in the new year.
- some people are just uploading lectures and you have to self-study, or they’re forgetting to record them and they go too quickly and you don’t have a way of checking what they said.
- It’s awkward and doesn’t facilitate good conversation, and being a languages student I’m tested on how well I can hold a discussion, which they can’t really test online. They usually go student by student, or the teacher calls on random people. Asking questions is harder and takes longer. People don’t contribute as much.
- internet issues and not being able to find online versions of books and resources. Some better lecturers are uploading them onto blackboard, but some just want us to magically find them somewhere.
- not sure why but there’s this emphasis on keeping your webcam on which kills the broadband and your privacy. This won’t be true in bigger lectures but my classes are small.
- lecturers not responding to emails and you have no way of going to their office to physically remind them you exist.
- for some reason now my lecturers think we have more time and can do even more work, when actually it’s really hard to do work because it takes longer to focus, so now there’s additional stress. I have 3 essays due on the same date and then 3 presentations due 2 days later (1 of which they still haven’t told me how to do), plus all the homework they’re setting, and then exams open 3 days after my presentations are handed in. Super disorganised.
- no social side. It really does make a difference. We just log off now afterwards. Socialising really helps to get through difficult times at uni, and it’s harder now of course, but it reminds you of how you’re just really sitting in front of your laptop. in addition any group work feels forced and no one wants to do it.

Some of these problems should hopefully be ironed out by the time you start, and it depends on your course. For larger lectures you should be fine, but the social side is gone. Labs and groupwork just doesn’t exist, which are vital for some degrees. It’s been really awful tbh although some lecturers are great and understanding.