Choosing a university

After going to several university open days my 19 year old Aspergers son has made his choice. I found his reasons interesting. I was suprised that major factors of choice was the quiet sleepy little town, the modern understated architecture, general peacefulness of the campus (corridors had sound duddening carpets), ceilings were relatively low, plenty of green space, and lots of fancy technology. The set talk by the professors, to me seemed garbled and exuberant as they enthused about the intricacies of computer science. I whispered to my son that they were clearly all nutcases. His eyes were bright and he had one of his rare smiles, and agreed with a resounding 'Yes!' Later, when talking with the lectueres/students we mentioned his aspergers, and they told him that he would 'fit right in.' They were all very welcoming and enthusiastic about their subject and the possibilities of the industry.

Other universities were more businesslike, with grand architecture, in busy cities,the staff a little more cool with a little too much emphasis on how many millions had just been spent on infrastructure. I guess all of them want his fees ultimately, but my son has chosen the quiet one (also a lot further down on the 'best unis' lists). It was also the last one we saw and considered as a possible insurance choice should be muck up his exams as he often does. He says, all he wants to do is learn and he thought it the best one for that, even if he got high grades.

Then, just a few days ago the uni announced that it was closing the campus down in 2016 and almagamating with their other campus in a busy city. This would all happen part way through his course there and the disruption might be tricky for my son. Having a rethink. I know it's just coincidence but why is nothing EVER straight forward for him when my other 2 sons (NT) just seem to sail through life? Smile

Parents
  • Unfortunately more and more of this is set to happen. The number of universities has greatly increased over the last decade or so, and the number of university places.

    But this shoddy government, with its big ideological experiments and no real idea of how it affects real people, introduced a massive fees hike and other constraints on universities, when they came into power four years ago.

    In theory this was supposed to create market forces and selection - something these cretins are obsessed about - choice for those with money, rubbish for those with less.

    What has happened is that even the newest universities have opted for high fees. And it just ain't gonna work! We know that mergers are going to get more frequent and a fair number of universities are going to go bust. 

    It is anticipated that in the next five years some students will find themselves having to change universities mid-course.

    I appreciate your son's choice is based on sound reasoning. Some smaller universities are likely to offer better environments. But unfortunately, due to the insane way things are being done, they are now the vulnerable universities, because most students will be chasing the better placed universities for the fees.

    What you should look for, in any more open days, and go back to some to look deeper, is whether they really understand autism and its implications. The bigger the university the more students on the spectrum they will have had, assuming their support staff don't keep changing.

    The danger with the small cosy university is they tell you that someone with autism will fit in, but they really haven't enough experience of support, and saying he'll fit in is really silly - any sensible support team knows it wont be that easy. If they've had to merge it is because they are one of the ones no longer economically sound.

    It will be hard to measure, but you really have to look hard at the level of experience of autism and the service they provide. 

    But frankly another year of this blinkered ideological reform of education and we'll all be in a mess. Something has to break soon.

Reply
  • Unfortunately more and more of this is set to happen. The number of universities has greatly increased over the last decade or so, and the number of university places.

    But this shoddy government, with its big ideological experiments and no real idea of how it affects real people, introduced a massive fees hike and other constraints on universities, when they came into power four years ago.

    In theory this was supposed to create market forces and selection - something these cretins are obsessed about - choice for those with money, rubbish for those with less.

    What has happened is that even the newest universities have opted for high fees. And it just ain't gonna work! We know that mergers are going to get more frequent and a fair number of universities are going to go bust. 

    It is anticipated that in the next five years some students will find themselves having to change universities mid-course.

    I appreciate your son's choice is based on sound reasoning. Some smaller universities are likely to offer better environments. But unfortunately, due to the insane way things are being done, they are now the vulnerable universities, because most students will be chasing the better placed universities for the fees.

    What you should look for, in any more open days, and go back to some to look deeper, is whether they really understand autism and its implications. The bigger the university the more students on the spectrum they will have had, assuming their support staff don't keep changing.

    The danger with the small cosy university is they tell you that someone with autism will fit in, but they really haven't enough experience of support, and saying he'll fit in is really silly - any sensible support team knows it wont be that easy. If they've had to merge it is because they are one of the ones no longer economically sound.

    It will be hard to measure, but you really have to look hard at the level of experience of autism and the service they provide. 

    But frankly another year of this blinkered ideological reform of education and we'll all be in a mess. Something has to break soon.

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