DS has applied to a "no cooking" university. He loves cooking. This is madness, isn't it?

[Thesearepearls]

Just that really. DS's first choice university (we've just done the application for halls) is a no-cooking university. The cooking facilities comprise a toaster, kettle and microwave. There is no cooking allowed for the entirety of his university course.

If you'd asked me what DS would do in a future life I would have given you two choices. The first is singing (he was a cathedral chorister and loves classical music). The second is that he would be a chef. He is absolutely gutted that he won't be able to cook. He cooks for us all the time. He's really keen on it and he is beyond disappointed that the next three years of his academic career will involve zero cooking.

It's total madness isn't it?

Just because the college provides accommodation for all three years, and encourages use of it, doesn't mean they'll send him down for choosing to live out in second/third year. He can tough out one year of dining in hall, and then find some like minded friends to rent with.

My college refused to cater for me (vegan) so it was just as well I had a kitchen for 3 of my 4 years there, it was where I learned to cook. And I ended up doing it for a living

Should he become desperate for an egg, he can scramble, fry or poach one in the microwave. With a bit of ingenuity (and we are talking about a Cambridge physics student, after all), he can even boil or poach one in the kettle. He need not fear egglessness.

maninthemoon
I do get it. I went to college in the US on exchange and had to find a flat as I couldn’t stand the idea of no proper kitchen for 6 months.

The other students wouldn't be very pleased to find bits of poached egg in their kettle, I don't think!

You can learn to cook eggs in the microwave; they aren't quite the same, but a runny yolk can make up for that if you like them .

In my view it's madness from the college. University isn't just an academic education, it's formative years, for most students it's when they learn to live independently. I went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge in the noughties and had cooking facilities every year. Yes first year on the old site was a bit crap but it was still something. The brand-new accomodation the college built had one kitchen for every 5 or so student rooms.

I knew that some colleges made students pay for cafeteria meals whether they were eaten or not, but I never knew any of the colleges were trying to ban students from cooking.

And for those saying oh no students work too hard at Cambridge, bullshit. I did Natural Sciences - heavy on teaching time, albeit lighter on tutorial work than some other subjects - I got a 2:1, and I still had loads of free time. I did far more complex and time consuming cooking when I was at university than I did once I started working.

Is it too late for your DS to try and change the college?

Oh good gracious. Ds loves cooking and for the 52 weeks minus the 3 x 8 week terms per year, he cooks a whole lot at home - (for which I am very grateful) Catered food may not impress you at Cambridge but I think a fairly robust boy will manage having dinner in hall for a few weeks ( I speak not of specific dietary requirements which even so these colleges will be very well geared up for) .
Honestly I think 3 x 8 week terms for 3 or 4 years is not really an issue.
Also I have a teeny tiny suspicion that catered halls at Oxbridge are not there because they think cooking is for menials

Or if it is so important as Pps have said - move out. Actually the catered college accommodation at Oxbridge is by and large very very good value for money. He can scramble his eggs the other 24 weeks of the year.

I love cooking but my university (in the US) was fully catered and I like most students lived on campus for the entire course. It's not really that big a hardship.

I'm sure he can move out after the first year. For some colleges and universities, this is actually necessary and not just down to personal preference.

Some university students don't even stay in halls at all - in many universities there is a shortage of halls or accommodation. If he loves to cook, you could get him student accommodation sharing with other students in a house instead. He won't fail or get marked down just because he isn't in a hall!

But let him choose a university because it's the best for him or one he feels is the best for him, and not because cooking is or isn't allowed.

All my DS wants to do is cook!!

In which case, why on earth is he planning to spend the next three years studying theoretical physics? Or doing anything which isn't cooking?

On a more serious note make sure that the college cooking facilities are not just the 1st yr accommodation. Ds's 2 & 3rd year accommodation included small but adequate kitchens for those who would prefer it. Other circumstances aside , I think it is perfectly possible to take a degree and learn / practise to cook over a given period. I suspect college facilities are available on the website pre admission ( though yes pooling etc etc ) . Oh I do apologise - I do not want to appear dismissive.

I am one who thinks cinnamon is something more of a lovely smell for Christmas rather than something you would actually want to eat ( or indeed in coffee - what fresh hell is that? - ) - so in some ways I think the college could be doing him a very great favour

I wish him well though and thank you - you have made me smile.

If it's Caius, the food in halls was so bad that there was a Facebook group 'Caius hall ruined my life'... but we all found ways to cook. I had a hob and a slow cooker in my room and cooked for myself and friends multiple times a week. We had chilli competitions!

I think if the kitchen facilities are his main focus, accepting a place at Cambridge might be a mistake.

DS cannot even scramble an egg the whole time he is at University
Poor poor child. He may get to study a subject he loves at one of the most prestigious places in the world, without having to think about looking after himself but oh dear the poor child won't be able to scramble an egg for a whole 8 weeks at a time. sob

I swear if I see the word 'cook' once more...

It would be really interesting to hear directly from OPs ds and find out if he is actually really bothered.

Not a stealth brag, my auntie’s foot!

The privilege and door opening that a degree from Cambridge will get him will doubtless assist in purchasing cooking facilities, equipment and ingredients for the rest of his life. The terms are very short. And between studying and socialising, he probably won’t have the same amount of time anyway. Why on earth complain under those circumstances?

You could just have said, “AIBU to be proud that my DS is going to Cambridge?” and the answer would be, “of course not!” you know!

Fucking first world problem.

Get him a Thermomix and be done.

Jayne - are you seriously suggesting 8 weeks at a stretch without an egg you have scrambled yourself is anything other than a cause for concern.

I do apologise - DS just graduated ( made Delia's Basque Chicken last week ) and off to Heathrow shortly for long flight so I am trying to find Flight Radar so I can make sure the little yellow plane stays in the air. Because If It Does He Is Safe.

Microwaves make ACE scrambled eggs - he can learn how to do things using a microwave, kettle & toaster.

Let''s not forget - he'll have 3 x 8 weeks of college per year. The rest of the time he'll be back home, cooking & reading up on astrophysics at the same time.

There are lots of universities in the US where most students live in dorms which forbid cooking and even candles in dorm rooms due to the danger of fire. Even students who find off campus apartments or houses to rent can get university meal plans and eat in the dining halls.

They manage to learn to cook and develop kitchen skills afterwards. They cook in summer and winter breaks. My own DS is a case in point. We had osso bucco last weekend thanks to him. Twas delicious. And he cleaned the kitchen afterwards.

I would imagine that your DS will be too busy to shop for ingredients and prep meals in his room, and also that there will be nowhere to refrigerate ingredients or save leftovers, nowhere to wash utensils or bowls or plates, pots or any kind, a George Foreman grill, etc., or cutlery. And he will be sitting eating his spag bol in his room on his own while his peers tuck into whatever is on offer in the dining hall.

I find this thread ridiculous.

*DS can sit and talk about cinnamon forever (moussaka versus bolognaise)

Any serious cook would not be having a discussion about "bolognese versus moussaka"

I had a boyfriend at Cambridge back in the day. He had access to rudimentary cooking facilities too (not sure it was exactly that - think they had a single ring hob and no microwave, but not certain) but was part of a "club" of some sort that put on black tie dinners. They saw the lack of facilities as part of part of the challenge and came up with some incredibly impressive and fancy menus.

Also, the terms are only 8 weeks, so he'll be home more than he's there...

DS cannot even scramble an egg the whole time he is at University

What a tragedy. You should start a campaign. #prayfords

Any serious cook would not be having a discussion about "bolognese versus moussaka" Very true!

I'm sure your ds has already sufficient skills to pick up and develop further whenever he is back home. I'd have struggled to eat in catered accommodation though, the food is rarely all that good but it depends how discerning your palate is. Dh went to Cambridge, I don't think he cooked once but he has very low standards and would eat almost anything - so catered suited him just fine, he's a bit fussier about his beer though!

My college at Durham didn't have self catering facilities. Most of them don't. I do get why- communal dining encourages socialising and a sense of collegiate belonging, and a bunch of my friends in another college managed to start a fire in their kitchen when they were in halls!