Oxbridge Freshers 2018

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

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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

Scary isn’t it? We are back to GCSE’s in our house, DD has her first exam on Tuesday, and so it all begins again!

You poor soul! You've got all of this to go again. Good luck to your dd.

Well we are in Cambridge, enjoying a very nice hotel as a bit Of respite as two very ill parents at home. Back up sorted. Reason here DD has had usual exam anxiety and called us in night!!!! However, talking to tutor has turned her around but trying to see nurse as recommended is tricky as so many want to see her. But sure that will be sorted soon. Tutor said get nurse to help get melatonin which my dd has had before but not all GPs like it. My DD gets acute insomnia at exam times. But as soon as she relaxes she's fine. Pleased to report tutor did magic and reassured her and shes now in a pretty good place.
Good luck all.

It's good that your dds tutor was able to reassure your dd :)

I'm sorry about the parents, you must feel very torn between responsibilities at the moment. Enjoy Cambridge today!

Sorry to hear your DD was anxious Sunndowne. Sounds like your visit plus tutor have helped.

We saw DS last week, it was his gold DofE presentation, so we met him in London for the day. DH went into the palace gardens with him, and met Erin Boag who presented the award, neither DS nor DH really knew who she was, we don't watch Strictly! I sat in the sun in Green Park while they were in the ceremony, then we took DS out for dinner. He is working hard, but has a busy social life too. He is clearly investing time in other friendships outside the people on his staircase who let him down over rooms next year. I hope he is able to keep up those friendships, but he is obviously wanting to make others.

Congratulations to your ds Panda, what a proud day last week. It sounds amazing too! I'm so glad he is investing in new friendships.

We went up to see dd. Shes a bit tired and quiet, but seems to be determinedly working towards next weeks exams. (gulp) In two weeks time they will be done and then its on to May week and garden parties and whatnot. Plus they will still have some example sheets and a project to hand in.

Have to say, I wouldn't mind floating around at garden parties, pimms in hand, a posh hat (neither of us have ever owned a posh hat) and flouncy dress on. In fact, damn it, I need a garden party

Just went to a wedding , first in years, all outside in one of those new posh venues. We had pimms but hats less visible now. Fascinators abounded and I this time had very large decorative hairslide. Luckily, I fitted in.

Proud parents you must be panda.

DD still doing well, nurse also sorted her out, got her docs appt etc- very practical and kind. Most crucially, she sleeps well this week.

Your DD Has lots to do kitten- a project aswell roll on those garden parties

That's lovely news about your dd Sunndowne, it sounds like it was a visit well worth making.

I was flabbergasted that dd had work to do beyond the exams. They have an optional computing project for over the summer but I wasn't aware that there was a pre project project.

Oooh panda. Presentation in Buckingham palace? How lovely. I feel our Oxbridge DC get such lovely opportunities because of all they do.
Meant to say also, how nice he's making more friends. More the merrier.

My DD says mathmos have to work so hard. And my DH thinks their intelligence is mind blowing. Am sure it is !! But we have the science /arts arguments (discussions) in our house as we're split down the middle. That apart, think maths seems very special at camb and they probs ask a bit more because of that. Sure your DD is well up for it kitten.

That sounds like a lovely occasion panda, definitely one to remember!

DS seems to have found his “family” this term which is great, a really solid and fairly wide group of friends who have things in common. His collections were all good too and hearing about fellow students experiences’ has helped reassure him even more. I really can’t believe that this time last year we were doing A levels and crossing our fingers really hard!

DD seems to be ok but I have cancelled a trip to France to be at hand in case she needs me. Seems to be working v hard.

Glad everyone's DC seem ok.

It is hard to believe it was A levels this time last year!

Hi everyone!! Well, after a shaky start DS is now loving life.....& just got voted in as JCR President for his college next year!!! Sorry - really trying not to boast but am so proud of him (he's so far from home & nearly gave up in the first few weeks!!)

Wow! That's an amazing update wannabebetter. Congratulations to your ds! Well done to him for sticking it out.

Fantastic wannabebetter! What a great achievement.

Oh that's just brilliant wannabebetter. You must be so pleased and proud. A maternal moment to savour.

Brilliant @wannabebetter you must be so pleased! :)

That’s brilliant wannabebetter it really shows how settled they all are! They’ve come such a long way this year and it’s gone so quickly!

How are your DC doing with exams? Or how did they find them?
I think my DD is doing okay but she's so much more nervous than A levels. Talking to some peers last night helped her!

dd did her first one today, it seemed to go ok. She was pretty happy with it. We've been doing a lot of chatting on the phone and stuff and she's managing pretty well stress wise I think - a bit nervous but not out of control anxiety. I'm hoping the rest will be easier now she knows what to expect.

How are we doing with their exams?
Does everyone remember the anxiety of last year? It's very nice to not have that anxiety, but I have to confess of being a bit nail bitey this morning. Not because of her actual results, but cos of hoping she would be content with herself.

DS doesn’t have exams until last week of June, he comes home the following day. Seems like a long way off at the moment but I’m expecting his nerves to crank up before then. He was reasonably ok for A levels but has been incredibly nervous for collections although he’s performed well. He knows of a few people who walked out and had to resit which has shown him that he’s not the only one who gets nervous. It’s harder to provide the moral support when they aren’t at home but he’s got a good group of friends and hopefully they will all support each other through it. DD is in the middle of GCSE’s and so cool she’s almost arctic, we have joked that if they could share exam nerves between them they would have a nice manageable amount each!

That really does push things to the end of term Bake. Has he had lectures this term? I really feel for them.

Two down and three to go here. DD's birthday this w/e so going up to take her out to lunch and check she's ok. She seems to be but has always been an ace masker.

DS's exams don't start until next week - Two next week then two the start of the week after, then a week and a half of jollies before home. He seems ok, pacing himself between studying with some socialising, but it is hard to tell when he is so far away. SIL, BIL ( his aunt and uncle) and his two small cousins went to visit last weekend, he took them punting and enjoyed spending time with them. :)