Oxbridge applicants 2018 part 3

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Looks like we need a new thread.

Will always be my baby!

Glad I’m not the only soft dollop 😁

I have to report a conversation with my DS

Me "You have to wear a reflective jacket and a cycle helmet. Promise me that you will do this."

DS "There's no possible way I am going to wear a cycle helmet. What about my Afro? It will ruin it. I'm not wearing a cycle helmet. Sheesh Mum you are being ridiculous"

Clearly one of us is being ridiculous.

hmm, now there's a gap in the market.

ROFL at Kitten

Yes I imagine that all the cycle helmet manufacturers will instantly be producing Afro-friendly cycle helmets.

They would look like gigantic balloons. I do want someone to produce these.

I've been googling the issue. No solutions as of yet

Maybe just loads and loads of hairspray so that the hair becomes a helmet.

STEPmum, all we've had from Warwick so far is a welcome email. They've included a list of admn things for DS to do, but none of them can be done until he gets the registration email from them. So we wait.

A bit concerned about accommodation but what can we do?

STEPmum don't know where you live in relation to Durham,(and whether your DS will ever be using train), but if you travel through York it can be cheaper to buy split tickets to York and then to Durham.

I am hugely impressed. DD has been invited to a day in early September where the university's disability services will be presented, forms of support explained and a session with a welfare adviser. A parent is invited too. Pretty amazing imo.

Have booked an hotel for the night before as it's a 9.15 start and it's the week the schools go back.

That sounds really good roses!

Not sure if this applies to all Oxford colleges but we just got more info and apparently the kitchens in St Catz have induction hobs thus rendering the pans I was too hasty to buy completely useless!!! Just thought I'd share.....

Jealous that you've got more info
DD is getting increasingly impatient (as am I!)

Hob type was another thing I remember DD checked with her college 'mother' - not induction, so she had her pick of the pans I'd kept in the loft for about 5 years for her after I had my kitchen done.

Printer and desk lamp bought.

Lobster does your DD have a college parent yet? Good source of information.

Nope. Nothing at all yet.
She's on a fb group with other freshers at her college and says none of them have heard/received anything yet either so we're not panicking just yet.

Mini fridge bought!

Mini fridge because there is only a shared one? Or DC in catered halls? My roommate had one back in the day, when we otherwise had to put milk on the windowsill.

I highly recommend packing light. You may not necessarily beable to park close to college, they may be on the 4th floor, they may have to carry all their stuff through two quads/courts to get there... and it will have to be moved 6 times this year! (Or more if they have vac res for some reason, but in a different college room.)

ds2 travels light and has all his stuff in 4 boxes (which stack and/or fit under his bed), plus clothes airer, one large suitcase and a large suit carrier. ds1 has mountains of stuff and it's a real nightmare. Terms are so short he never gets chance to unpack properly! :D

Neither of them have a bike: they reckon they can walk (fast) to anywhere they need to as quickly as it would take to walk to designated/approved bike parking place, unlock biks and kit up with helmet etc, cycle, lock bike up etc, and then walk to destination. There are exceptions - like rowers, distant college (eg girton) or courses with classes at Cavendish labs in Cambridge. But around the central bits in bith cities, cycling and cyclists are a bit of a nightmare really.

There was a mini fridge in his interview room and since he does not like hot drinks it is a good way to keep his milkshake cool.

I was definitely going to go for the packing light option

DS says he doesn't need a printer. I'm not sure about that at all, but he's adamant.

I was going to try to fit everything into a large suitcase, his overnight bag and two biggish bags from IKEA for the bedding and towels and what have you.

He will need a bike - his college is away from the centre and he has to go in and out to different places for science labs.

At least no bike for us!! I have a worrying feeling he wanted a printer because he is anticipating meeting deadlines last minute!

DD doesn't have a printer and hasn't expressed any need for one. Maybe it depends on the subject but I think a lot is just done electronically.

One big suitcase plus big bags works well - the bags don't take much room to store.

@wannabebetter, may i ask where did you get the info about Catz? My DS is also going to Catz of Oxford for Materials Science!

risotto DS got a booklet in post last week St Catherine's College Freshers' Guide 2018 and it was in there under 'what to bring' it says "induction compatible pots and pans - must be induction as that's what the hobs are" and also under 'food' it says "The kitchenettes include a microwave oven, induction hobs, toaster, kettle, and fridge, and then some have freezer space too. Most staircase kitchens don't have ovens, unfortunately" Did your DC get the booklet? If not, maybe email admissions as I would have thought should have been sent to everyone....
DS also found a number of FB groups including one which lists all the college parents and he's now in touch with them too - has your's got that info?