When I did my solo flights i 2013 it was on a controlled airport with a substantional amount of commercial 737 / Dash8 operations, and an active flight school. I got to orbit on downwind on my first solo. Instructions such as extended downwind and beeing ordered to shorten downwind an go stright a short final also common during my solo flights in order to get me down before a 737, or to keep me away from wake turbulence.
For me this was completely normal, and something I was used to from all the lessons with my instructor. However most students on my flight school solo quite late, and I suspect that the busy airport is one of the reasons for this.