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

Also dreading the pick up, everyone, including second and third years being picked up at the same time. We sent DS with three big crates (which go under his bed) and a selection of ikea bags and those big checked laundry bags with zips (you can buy both on Amazon!). Didn’t bother with suitcases etc in the hope that he can just chuck everything back in either kitchen, bathroom or study crates and his clothes in the bags. Touch wood, it went quite well for drop off but I think the pick up might be slightly more hectic. I’ll be at work so DH is in charge!

lobster the prize winners formal sounds lovely, proud moment!

Also dreading the pick up, everyone, including second and third years being picked up at the same time.

That certainly doesn't apply everywhere - if they're on 30 week contracts then there should be some leeway to stagger departures and after the first year some may be on longer contracts - apart from the timing they may be able to leave more stuff which helps. My DD has her train ticket booked for dec 20th I think.

DD can leave her stuff, bringing home only what she needs. I have started tidying her bedroom at home. I'm going up a day later because we are going to a ball on pick-up day. Will arrive 2.30ish check into hotel, and then will help her down with bags and hail a cab to take us back to hotel. Not risking £60 worth of fines again because I get confused with the road system. Neither do I fancy driving back via the M11 (awful) and QE2 bridge in the dark. We'll head off after breakfast on Monday morning.

Can't wait to have her home. Her supervisor has told her she's working at mid to high 2:1 level and she was v pleased with that.

DS has a lockable trunk in his room, and his bedder has said as long as the fridge is empty, he and staircase mates can leave pots and pans in cupboards in the gyp. So we are hoping pick up will not be so bad.

DS seems really settled and happy. My dad is visiting him this weekend, to take him out for lunch. DS has had some really good news, he interviewed for a scholarship a few weeks ago, and found out yesterday he has been awarded one, as long as he maintains a 2:1 each year. He also interviewed for a summer placement in industry, and has an 8 week paid job too. We are delighted as this really takes the pressure off him financially during term. time.

Do you live abroad Roses and Panda? We've been told no storage except for foreign students ☹️. It's the bedding we could do without having to bring home. I considered looking into Big Yellow Storage or similar but we'd still have to drive it there so it defeats the object!

We are also hoping to avoid a fine this time - £30 for accidentally driving in a bus lane. Fortunately DH is picking up so it'll be his fault this time!

Lovely news Lobster and PandaG. Congratulation to both your DC's.

DD had a bit of a wobble a week ago when she wasn't feeling well but has bounced back this week and is looking forward to Oxmas celebrations and various dance activities.

I hadn't really given the logistics of pick up much thought until now but a Saturday morning in December will inevitably be more fraught than the phased drop off back in October. Driving in central Oxford doesn't sound as stressful as Cambridge though .

We've been told no storage except for foreign students

Depends on the college and what they use the accommodation for. DDs mainly use the first year rooms for conferences etc but even they had a lockable half to the wardrobe (the shelved half) and they could leave kitchen stuff (it's not like conference people are going to be cooking!) so it wasn't too bad. I believe there was also a 'trunk room' where they could leave one suitcase-full.

Thanks for congratulations! :).
No we are not foreign, I think it depends by college if you have access to a lockable cupboard or trunk room, and DS's bedder being kind and saying they can leave stuff in the gyp cupboards. The conferences and interviews that their bedrooms are used for will be fully catered, and DS had a hospitality tray with kettle in his room when he went for interview (bit irritating they are not allowed a kettle in term time, but going to the gyp for a brew means a break in working) so the gyps shouldn't be needed out of term.

We pick him up in two weeks, term has gone so quickly!

PandaG - what is a gyp? (Apart from the price of train tickets!)

Gyp room - Cambridge term for the staircase or floor kitchenette. DS's has 2 fridges, a toaster, a microwave and a 2 ring hot plate, shared between 10 students. Each of them have a cupboard in the gyp room to store food and cooking utensils etc.

dd has to bring back absolutely everything. She shut down the idea of being able to find a kindly foreign friend.
And the long term forecast for that weekend has the potential for snow in Cambridge. aaaaaaaaargggggggghhhhhhhhh.
ah well, if we get through this one then it's the worse one, in the future she can leave stuff there apart from summer, when at least there won't be weather.

We are in the UK. Happily dd's college only expects full vacation in the Summer.

We're missing traffic as DD will stay for some interviews so we'll pick her up one evening. Do hope there's not Christmas traffic. Last year, on interview day, the traffic was unbelievable - took double time.

Unbelievable - interviews a year ago!

Yep. All those nervous parents and teens booking taxis from The Holiday Inn. 4th Dec I think. Phew

Yep. DD was 4th

Looking at the 2019 thread I am so glad it's not us. What an anxious time it was. I really feel for them.

Dd said she has to pack everything too. Feeling anxious about the pick up and traffic (and DH driving) 😒 I think we need to be there for 11am so will be 6am departure from here. Dd seems to be doing ok, she still doesn't communicate much and said her essay was marked at a 2:1 (no idea what that means) Really can't wait to see her again, i'm counting down the days!

I'd park your own car in a park and ride, bus in. Get dc and bags to pick up point and call a people carrier sized taxi to take you back to park and ride.

Bus fares £3, cab £11ish overall saving potentially £17 because if you are going to central Oxford or Cambridge you will inevitably drive up a road you aren't allowed to or get cauggt for ingressing into one inch of bus lane. I collected two on drop off day

2:1 merits a well done card riverbank.

Last year I stayed in a Travelodge as it's at least 4 hours from home to Cambridge. DD was warned to be ready early the next morning. I had a quick breakfast and was at her college by 7.30, long before most parents had left London. We were all packed by 9 and on the road at 9:10 having handed her keys in. There are a few parking spaces at her college. She slept most of the way home!

In DD's college, she has a lockable cupboard in her room. The porters hold the keys for these cupboards. DD leaves bedding, everything from the gyp (dried food, utensils, glasses, crockery, cutlery and bike stuff) in the cupboard and I take her plus clothes, notes, books, instruments and laptop home.

This year, I haven't decided. I suppose I need to book accommodation pronto if she's leaving on Sunday morning...

That's a really good idea Malbec, I might see if I can book into the premier inn for the Friday night and then be at college super early on the Saturday.
Roses park and ride/taxi is also a clever idea.
I'll have a chat with DD but will definitely be doing one of these to avoid the nightmare of city centre driving/parking at the same time as every other Oxford parent!

Spoken to dd. She's on fine form. Has an audition tomorrow. If she gets it, she won't be home until 18th December. Obviously thrilled but also v v sad. But, I do have an hotel booking and I guess Mohammed can go to the mountain......... It's for quite a highly ranked group so she reckons it's very much an outside chance.

Oh Roses that sounds very exciting- fingers crossed for your DD!

I hope it went well Roses! How scary/exciting!

Am pleased to say she decided she was taking on more than she could chew and cancelled the audition. Also because she wants to come home at beg of December.