Early Pitfalls
Here are some of the most common early pitfalls. Knowing what they are, and when they come, may help you to pick up some problems early.
Homesickness
Homesickness usually happens in the first few days and usually lasts no longer, but it can be really horrible while it does last, with students experiencing a misery they haven't known before. Fortunately, in this acute form, it’s extremely rare. Most parents encourage their children to stick it out and that’s probably right. This is one instance where we’d advise you to contact the University at an early stage: we can send people round to get your child out of his or her room and into social contact.
A few – a very few – students don’t get over homesickness and then there’s nothing to be done: they have to leave. However, if it does prove impossible, one good thing is that it’s usually early enough to try something else – like a University nearer to home.
Early assignments
First year assignments usually don’t count towards your child’s degree; but the early ones do have a way of bringing hidden problems to the surface - indeed, that’s pretty much what they’re for. They enable tutors to see if the style of University level work is taking, and if students are getting to grips with it in terms both of academic competence and personal organisation.
If work/life balance is wrong – if a student has not been paying sufficient attention to work or is finding work difficult and stressful - this is where it will first show. Try to find out how your child’s early assignments have gone: and if he or she shows signs of excessive stress, you may wish to contact Student Support.
Wrong degree
If your son or daughter feels that he or she has chosen the wrong subject - or combination of subjects - and wants to change to a different degree scheme, the University will respond as flexibly as possible. Within reason, the earlier the request is made, the easier it is to change scheme. Students need to give the degree they signed up for a chance, but it's much easier to change in the first year, for example, than in years two and three - especially if the student can show that the new scheme is one for which he or she is qualified, either through A levels or through studies already completed at the University.
We can’t always guarantee that such a change will be possible, but our modular structure can facilitate change in many circumstances. It’s certainly an avenue worth exploring if your son or daughter is really unhappy with the choice of degree he or she has made.
Accommodation
Accommodation difficulties fall into two categories: problems with facilities, and problems with fellow-residents. Your child is paying thousands of pounds for accommodation. He or she is entitled to a standard of accommodation commensurate with the price; and to peaceful enjoyment of it.
If problems with other students arise, parents are often best advised to stay out of it: by all means give your child advice, but remember that this is the kind of battle he or she is learning to fight. However, if it comes to the point where you think it’s seriously affecting your child’s wellbeing, or that he or she is being unreasonably treated, then contact Student Support.
Alcohol
If I may insert a personal note, I worked for eight years as a warden for resident students, during which time I saw every kind of situation you can imagine – and a few you wouldn’t want to. The top two categories of problem in the list below happened to a tiny minority. Nevertheless:
- in every case in which a student suffered serious harm, alcohol was a factor;
- in nearly every case where a student dropped out of his or her course, alcohol was a factor;
- in every case of disturbance in the hall of residence, alcohol was a factor.
Of course, it’s a wider cultural problem. So far as we can tell, this problem may be slightly less at Aberystwyth than some places – we certainly seem to get fewer complaints from townsfolk than some Universities – but it’s an issue on which none of us can afford to be complacent. Keep an eye out for signs of alcohol excess.