What can you tell me about St. Andrew's?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is there and loves it. Came from a DC Big 3 school. Yes lots of wealthy Americans and posh Brits- buts lots of other really smart, interesting kids from the UK and all over the world as well. Zero handholding compared to US schools and housing is a bit of a nightmare after freshman year- you have to get on it early. It's been a great experience for our DC. overall.

St Andrews was GREAT for my student until something came up, and we are surprised by how things are being handled there. Great kids from around the world, so many clubs, excellent classes. If something goes wrong and they need support from the administration to fix a problem, don’t expect much. The Americans contribute a lot to the school but can’t count on much in return if the going gets tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very niche indeed. I'm sympathetic to the presumably very personal issue that prompted the PP to address the health issue, but it's kind of a weird tool to judge a university. And 95% is more like 99.5% who don't have a beef with administration because of absences.

The name of this thread is “what can you tell me about St Andrews” and what I can tell you is that our student adored it, but the University is not equipped to handle medical cases sensitively. Our student did not arrive on campus with a medical issue. We didn’t give this any thought when choosing a college. The big picture is that many college students worldwide struggle with health issues - physical and mental- that arise while enrolled. What we have experienced is a very unforgiving mindset toward supporting students if they did not follow proper protocol to report their illness to the University- physical or mental. Doctors’ letters will not matter, even for a major health issue, if they are submitted after the fact.

As much as prospective parents may think their student will not need extra support at University, odds are good that something could come up for your student, too. Their student services center is booked weeks on end, and it’s difficult to get care from the NHS.

Given the research coming to light about poor health among college students, it’s surprising this leading University doesn’t offer better programming in this area. It’s important

[Anonymous]

like can you give us an example?

I can say I've had two kids in two top-25 US schools and the schools were reluctant, non responsive and/or difficult in dealing with issues like: broken toilet, mold, heat, roommate who sold drugs out of dorm, managing a longstanding prescription, housing lottery snafu, and getting into classes you need to graduate in your major within 4 years. And that was just with my n = 2 experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very niche indeed. I'm sympathetic to the presumably very personal issue that prompted the PP to address the health issue, but it's kind of a weird tool to judge a university. And 95% is more like 99.5% who don't have a beef with administration because of absences.

The name of this thread is “what can you tell me about St Andrews” and what I can tell you is that our student adored it, but the University is not equipped to handle medical cases sensitively. Our student did not arrive on campus with a medical issue. We didn’t give this any thought when choosing a college. The big picture is that many college students worldwide struggle with health issues - physical and mental- that arise while enrolled. What we have experienced is a very unforgiving mindset toward supporting students if they did not follow proper protocol to report their illness to the University- physical or mental. Doctors’ letters will not matter, even for a major health issue, if they are submitted after the fact.

As much as prospective parents may think their student will not need extra support at University, odds are good that something could come up for your student, too. Their student services center is booked weeks on end, and it’s difficult to get care from the NHS.

Given the research coming to light about poor health among college students, it’s surprising this leading University doesn’t offer better programming in this area. It’s important

[Anonymous]

I appreciate this feedback, but as someone who tried to get a therapist in nyc for a teen this spring (willing to pay a lot of cash, as in 300plus an hour, none of them take insurance anyway), it was extremely difficult. It took months to find anyone, not being choosy .. just a single person. For months our options were virtual Better Help kinda thing or nothing.

[Anonymous]

Is this just a “St Andrews- good vibes only” thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this feedback, but as someone who tried to get a therapist in nyc for a teen this spring (willing to pay a lot of cash, as in 300plus an hour, none of them take insurance anyway), it was extremely difficult. It took months to find anyone, not being choosy .. just a single person. For months our options were virtual Better Help kinda thing or nothing.

Exactly, keep that in mind, because St Andrews’ student services center is booked for weeks on end. Kids fall through the cracks, their grades suffer, and the University is unforgiving, and there aren’t a lot of ways to catch up. No summer classes, for example. I’m not saying St Andrews is a bad University. I’m saying it has poor service in this important area than can negatively impact your student’s academic trajectory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this feedback, but as someone who tried to get a therapist in nyc for a teen this spring (willing to pay a lot of cash, as in 300plus an hour, none of them take insurance anyway), it was extremely difficult. It took months to find anyone, not being choosy .. just a single person. For months our options were virtual Better Help kinda thing or nothing.

Exactly, keep that in mind, because St Andrews’ student services center is booked for weeks on end. Kids fall through the cracks, their grades suffer, and the University is unforgiving, and there aren’t a lot of ways to catch up. No summer classes, for example. I’m not saying St Andrews is a bad University. I’m saying it has poor service in this important area than can negatively impact your student’s academic trajectory.

If nyc was booked, I can see why st Andrews or really any college would be. FWIW, we ended up w a virtual therapist and it was fine and way cheaper. If my kid was at any college, I’m sure I’d try student services but I’d quickly move on and go a private route.

[Anonymous]

And if you do that, the University will not excuse any poor grades for the semester caused by poor health, because you have to report any health conditions to the University student services center at the time they are happening. I’m just trying to describe what happened to our student and maybe help other families, not trying to be difficult. The University is very appealing but there are some big flaws that leave students falling through cracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But it looks like Yale fixed the problem.

they settled a lawsuit.

And then changed their policies? More forgiving to let kids take time off, or go part time. St Andrews will expel you. I know this sounds harsh, because it is, we were surprised by how harsh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But it looks like Yale fixed the problem.

they settled a lawsuit.

And then changed their policies? More forgiving to let kids take time off, or go part time. St Andrews will expel you. I know this sounds harsh, because it is, we were surprised by how harsh.

I mean, Yale had also expelled kids for 20 years for this and banned them from reapplying. I'm glad they revised things in the last dozen weeks, once sued, but this is sadly not uncommon in the US. In some ways, I get it. Colleges should not also be first line medical care for a mental health crisis in this country. but banning kids from reapplying is beyond imo

[Anonymous]

although , to be sure, you're only allowed back at Yale if a Yale employed health care provider gives the okay.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/health/yale-mental-health.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very niche indeed. I'm sympathetic to the presumably very personal issue that prompted the PP to address the health issue, but it's kind of a weird tool to judge a university. And 95% is more like 99.5% who don't have a beef with administration because of absences.

Are you aware of current research showing the large percentage of college students with poor health and poor mental health? It’s not so niche

I agree that sending a student in fragile health abroad isn't a great idea. But not sure what you'd expect in the US. They usually don't even loop in parents, no matter what paperwork you signed.

Our student was not in fragile health at enrollment, and is not in fragile health now. But had long-covid type symptoms, and a medical diagnosis after the fact. The damage was done academically at the time it happened. The University is not forgiving. You hear “no handholding” anecdotally and think it won’t apply to your student. But then you realize they are not kidding. What they consider handholding, we call paying attention to a student who is requesting a medical excuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:although , to be sure, you're only allowed back at Yale if a Yale employed health care provider gives the okay.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/health/yale-mental-health.html

At least it’s a health care provider, and not an anonymous panel of St Andrews college professors with no medical background deciding whether your multiple doctors’ letters are “compelling” before they vote yes or no on your student’s continued enrollment.

As a formerly very enthusiastic parent, I am sharing my story because if you are a current parent, keep an eye out on your student and make sure they get the help they need if anything comes up, and despite concerns about privacy, report it to whichever academic panel needs this info at the time it’s happening. It sounds dystopian.

If you are a prospective parent, think carefully about this issue. Parents are not looped in to health issues, there are only two chances for academic assessment every semester- a midterm and final. If something goes wrong with your student at this University, it’s very difficult to find meaningful support to get back in the good graces of the University, despite reams of research showing college kids need more support than ever. This is not an isolated incident

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:although , to be sure, you're only allowed back at Yale if a Yale employed health care provider gives the okay.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/health/yale-mental-health.html

At least it’s a health care provider, and not an anonymous panel of St Andrews college professors with no medical background deciding whether your multiple doctors’ letters are “compelling” before they vote yes or no on your student’s continued enrollment.

As a formerly very enthusiastic parent, I am sharing my story because if you are a current parent, keep an eye out on your student and make sure they get the help they need if anything comes up, and despite concerns about privacy, report it to whichever academic panel needs this info at the time it’s happening. It sounds dystopian.

If you are a prospective parent, think carefully about this issue. Parents are not looped in to health issues, there are only two chances for academic assessment every semester- a midterm and final. If something goes wrong with your student at this University, it’s very difficult to find meaningful support to get back in the good graces of the University, despite reams of research showing college kids need more support than ever.


So why are we discussing fragile health issue at Yale on a post about ST Andrws?