Oxbridge Freshers 2018

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

old thread

A chat/support thread for parents of undergrads who have entered the quite frankly slightly odd world of Oxbridge.

Apparently we are parents to undergrads now

dds college practically strong armed gp registration forms into their hands on the first day, so dd registered quickly.

In terms of maths supervisions. Apparently you take in your work all happy but then for an hour you have your work entirely taken apart. dd says they are very nice while they do that though.

DD hadn't registered yet although had completed the forms and been badgered by the nurse. And this morning student services.

I rang student services this morning. They like students to register with a gp near the uni, however it is not mandatory. They do like to have the name of the home gp if that choice is made.

DD has complex health needs and it took e years to getvall the meds and referrals spot on. She is at uni forb24 weeks and at home for 28. It makes no sense to transfer records and register as a temp patient at home. All that will do will put her on two year waiting lists in another county for ADD and MH support.

I am quite cross about the pressure that has been exerted when there is no statutory reason to do so. Absolutely noncognizance of the efforts that have been made to ensure access to the right care is in place.

DD registered online with the GP at Oxford before she went (requested by her college) because she did this she was taken off the register by home GP and they refused to give her her medication, we finally got it sorted - she has to register as a temp patient whenever she is home which lasts for 3 months only.

riverbank Similar experience for my DD re getting meds after registering online with Oxford GP. Local surgery dealt with it very efficiently and helpfully though.

DD tells me she's really enjoying it now. College has a real sense of community for her. So the pressure of more work feels counterbalanced by the friendly atmosphere - firework display was apparently a nice event last night for instance.
Phew! Hope this optimism lasts.

That's really good sunndowne. I'm so pleased for her.

It doesnt seem that long until they are back for Christmas now.

Great news sunndowne.
Had a text from DD this morning requesting earplugs urgently!! She is regularly kept awake beyond midnight due to noise outside the college bar .

:( I can recommend some good ones from amazon.

www.amazon.co.uk/Howard-Leight-3301105-Laser-Yellow/dp/B018RIA3L2/ref=zg_bs_1939564031_1?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforum-21&refRID=PJCZHWQS8VD063GYHYTW

Thank you OYBBK, that's helpful.

DD's college is supposed to be quiet between midnight and 8am and there are fines for breaching this policy. I doubt the culprits have any idea they are being noisy and I don't think DD is brave enough to complain!

We invested in the earplugs a couple of weeks in, as well we got some rescue remedy night time which really helped him through the early homesickness and struggling to sleep stage. DS said the corridor above him has been warned about the noise because there have been complaints. He’s driven bonkers by people who sprint up the stairs because it makes such a racket!

Ooh interesting. We told college about Drs bouts of insomnia and she was given really low grade too but on top floor and not near staircase! No earplugs requested! At home with big bro they are !! So maybe telling them was worth it

Predictive text!! *DDs bouts of insomnia

• low grade room. Honestly - I need to slow down!

How are all our students doing?
Been having a nice chat with dd tonight. It was lovely. They work them really hard don't they! She sounds happy.

Went to see DD today and she seems much more settled and calm, more comfortable in her own skin, which is lovely. Working really hard but seems to have got in to a routine so although the work keeps coming she’s feeling more confident that she can get it done and not feeling the blind panic of the first few weeks. And going to a few more formals and social things that I don’t think she would have attempted earlier. So all in all very positive and hugely reassuring! I need to take some deep breaths and stop worrying quite so much about her, but it’s so difficult when she’s having a ‘down day’. She has a lot of work due in on a Thursday so ‘Wobbly Wednesday’ seems to be a regular feature of our week.

Really glad your DD sounds happy Kitten

Glad to hear they seem to be adjusting and settling well.
DD has got into the rhythm of her workload but was thrown completely this week when one of her tutors was a day late setting their essay! She says it's completely messed up her usual routine. Creature of habit my DD!

She attended her first ball at the weekend, sounds like they had, well, a ball!

We're invited to a prize winners' formal this week, so looking forward to that and to seeing her again!

That's great both of you :) Wobbly wednesdays don't sound great, but it sounds like the Sunday evening feeling I get.

I'm very jealous of the opportunity to attend a prize winners formal! Congrats once again to your dd Lobster.

Nice to hear your updates. Glad they are all doing so well. Your collective posts sound like my DD which is so reassuring. How else would we know how other students feel and how typical our DC are without mumsnet?

Best wishes to all.

DS is not socialising much because of the workload but seems to have made friends and is happy. He says that he’s looking forward to the end of term Oxmas celebrations as he will be able to socialise a bit more. DS has a busy mid week most weeks because of the way tutorials and essay deadlines fall, he says it means his weekend is more Thursday/Friday than the usual Saturday/Sunday. I can’t believe they are nearly a third through their first year (and a ninth through the whole course!). He’s really enjoying his course and I think the freedom from the confines of the a-level specification really suits him. He says the welfare team have been putting cookies in the pigeon holes to see them through the 5 week dip!

Been looking at sixth form for DD too last week, she’s keen on making an Oxbridge application too now, I may yet get Fitzbillies buns (although we are a LONG way from Cambridge!).

It's good that your dd isn't put off by tales of hard work

Time is racing by isn't it. I do love how colleges look after them. I've been so impressed by dds college, it feels as though she has some back up parenting going on.

We are going to get there early on pick up day for some christmas shopping.

Just back from a very flying visit to DD.
Was so lovely to see her, and we had the full Hogwarts dining experience at Special Formal Hall!
We brought a couple of bags of "stuff" home with us to hopefully make pick up day a little easier - I'm dreading it already!

Oh that sounds lovely Lobster!

I'm dreading the logistics of pick up too. Given I'd had to pack everything really really tightly in order to be able to get everything there, (and I am a packer extraordinare!) and that we've subsequently taken up other stuff for dd, I've no idea how she is going to manage to pack everything into the containers she has. Might take some emergency ikea bags up with us.
I'm also contemplating the fact that we have to do this while all of the Christmas shoppers are out in full force

Not suggesting you try and take the system Kitten (actually, that’s absolutely what I’m suggesting) but some colleges have a little bit of storage space given over to the overseas students who really can’t completely pack up. You might get your DC to cosy up to them and see if they can box away some stuff with them?

hmm, interesting thought! I'll suggest it :)