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

I am trying to be pragmatic. DD's first exam information is very similar to A'Level feedback. "I answered every question, and made a plan for each, the section on xxxxx had a couple of tricky bits but was only worth 10%". Whilst the bar is higher, I'll bear in mind that that assessment of her performance led to 6 UMS points being dropped across English and Drama and her convincing herself she wouldn't make her Edinburgh offer.

All her tutors have advised she's working at a high 2.1 so my worries aren't about whether she will do ok but about the self doubt and anxiety it causes. I'm sure my parents didn't worry about me.

Anyway we are going up to take her out for lunch tomorrow as it's her birthday weekend. (May have said that already, but think it was a different thread).

Ditto re:DD and exams ohtheroses. Last major exam now, one to go but that involves practise rather than being content driven.
Good luck to them all

So DD is having a celebratory lunch as many friends finished today. She feels they went okay but her sleep has been a problem- nerves induced. And the porters forgot to book her something needed so that was a blow! I suspect she did pretty well though as most DC do at Oxbridge.

Panda and bake that's a long time to wait when others are in midst or finishing.

So understand nerves bake. DD knew the mark schemes for A level so felt prepared. Mark schemes for her subject this year are not easily accessible. I think the standard is so high, knowledge needed so broad it just is scary. Also amongst so many bright people must be hard to remember you are bright too- or has been for my DD despite her feedback.

OhtheRoses, I think our DDs may feel better after first year as they will know what next to expect.
Kitten, hope your DD feels good after some exams.

So much work needed this year bit DD Has also had a lot of fun and found nice people.

Yep! We are going right up to the last minute. Final exam on the 28th (am) and a reminder from accommodation person that he has to be fully cleared out by 10am the following morning. I don’t think there will be much time for celebrating after the last exam! It seems pretty similar for most of his friends on other courses, with most exams in the last two weeks of June. He will have a fortnight of revision time beforehand which might or might not be a positive! He’s had a mixture of tutorials and classes this term which has meant he can get some revision in too. Anyone know how long they wait for their results?

Was so lovely to see her and hug her. She was well.

Oh baked dd said her results were hopefully due 20th.

That's lovely Roses :)

I was thinking today Sunndowne that it must extra difficult for arts students - much harder to quantify whether it has gone well or not.

dds results should be on the 21st.

DD's exams also finish on June 28th. Last week was a residential field trip and exams start in three weeks time. DD sounded frazzled today as she wants to get into revision mode but lectures, labs and tutorials continue for one more week.
I suspect the field trip gear has been dumped in a heap in a corner of her room and will remain untouched until after June 28th.....

Last essay handed in and presentation completed, now two weeks of revision before exams start on 24th! Not so sure that two weeks will be that helpful if he uses the time to work himself in to a nervous frenzy but we will see! DD was thoroughly tickled that her English Lang GCSE this morning used an extract about an Oxford Porter, she was less tickled by the fire alarm which went off twice during the exam. Hopefully, they will have logged that in the invigilators log!

Bummer about the fire alarm, but how funny about the Oxford Porter. Nothing like real life experience to help.
dds exams are done, so now it's a matter of shoving it to the back of her head and enjoying the garden parties and whatnot. I'm still very jealous of her two weeks to come, though I'm not jealous of all the work that had to go on before hand!

Bake DD has similar exam schedule and says there is far too much to revise in two weeks. I’m hoping she can remain calm and productive. Good luck to all with prelims in two weeks time.
Well done to those who have finished exams. yay! Lovely to have some time to enjoy themselves. Is this Cambridge only? DD has to vacate college (Oxford) as soon as exams finish.

Glad for those who have finished, feeling sorry for those working until the bitter end.
DS had two this week, and two more next, finishing Tuesday lunchtime. I messaged him both exams days and got no response...he finally messaged me today to ask if he could supply our tents for a camping weekend in September....I did then finally get a response regarding how they had gone. Not happy with one, pleased with the other. We shall see...

Good luck to your DC’s often and panda, DS also has to vacate immediately after exams. He finishes on Friday lunchtime and has to vacate by 10am on Saturday so no chance of post exam partying! Seems to be the same for most his friends, give or take a day, so it will be a bit of a rush to get packed and out for the Summer.

Two weeks of solid revision time sounds a lot but they have covered a lot of ground this year. DS gets one hour of revision tutorial time, which he can split into two half hour sessions for his choice of papers. This means he doesn’t get any tutorial time for two of his papers so he chose his revision tutes carefully. I’m hoping the sessions will reassure him and give him a few useful pointers. In the meantime, I’m stockpiling rescue remedy and preparing my motivational speeches.

I feel very sorry for those working to the bitter end too. It seems a bit mean that they don't get anytime to just chill with friends.
Good luck for those with exams coming and I hope they don't find the revision and anxiety bit too awful.

I'd have been climbing the walls if I didn't get replies Panda. But it's probably different if you've got a dc who likes to exchange 11ty billion messages a day.

Ditto OYBBK. Phew, out the other end of exams. Have photos of DD drinking cocktails in a recently bought (retail therapy) summer outfit. She and friends look happy.
Exam revision was a ' killer' but she's come out other side. Very good luck to mum's who have to do all that supporting! I'm exhausted! and good luck to DC. They'll be fine. I think Oxbridge colleges know how hard it is

kitten. That made me smile, we exchange that many messages too! And phone calls too, I’m so glad I’m not the only one. Probably slightly fewer than when he first started but I am still traumatised by the 3am, “I’ve had an accident and I’m at the hospital because I’ve cut my head open quite badly”. Think it will be a little while before I get over that one!

We get the odd factual text message exchange, and one video call courtesy of FB messenger on a Sunday afternoon if we are lucky - probably had 3 of those this term!! Very different to some of your dc I am sure!

Cambridge is under heavy rain warnings for Monday and Tuesday. Pants partying weather :(

Oh, I'm just driving down to bring summer clothes and bring back coats and books.😉

bad luck!

Just seen the weather forecast, it looks miserable ☹️ It’s been a bit of a rotten Summer so far. Both DD (GCSE’s) and DS are not at all bothered as they are both now either sitting exams or revising. I will be really glad when they are both finished. DS tells me he has calculated he has 99 days off and he will need every one of them!

Ouch, just looked at the forecast! DS finishes Tuesday lunchtime, hope they are all able to have some fun, and balls don't get washed out!

Takes me back to A'Levels in summer 17 when temps hit the mid/late 30s and I dashed out for fans, soothed and got a top tip about swrapping up in a damp towel.

DD survived. Now shopping too. Just booked a hol for the two of us for when she finishes.

Ah. It's beautiful hear at moment. Just sitting in DD's
Teeny room after having pub lunch and long stroll along river at granchester. Everybody out!
Yes, it's hard when the family all have exams. We've had a set of finals going on too! DS has landed a job and he's told them he can start in September which hopefully will be okay as he's exhausted. DD seems back to herself and chipper but I forgot her sandals for garden party (whoops) so I'll be at post office tomorrow.
Good luck to all those going thru exams - so haaaard!

Just chatted with DS, so thankful for video messenger. He was relatively chipper for a person who has 50% of his exams over the next 2 days!