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

It’s strange to think, often they could be trashing/being trashed together! Hope your DD is doing ok with her exams!

What's a trashing kit? What's trashing? Don't know all these traditions!😊

Hope exams are going ok?

DS is keeping himself busy - he really appreciated being able to cook using an oven rather than the poxy 2 rings in the gyp, and made us a really good chicken and chorizo casserole yesterday. Today he is STEM ambassador- ing at the Big Bang Fair - he had to leave the house at 7, so earliest get up for a fortnight!

Trashing is students who have finished their exams being covered in prosecco/confetti/silly string/foam by their friends. Traditionally they then jump in the river but this is banned now. I think trashing is a pretty recent tradition? Rather messy bearing in mind they are wearing sub fusc .

I think they do still jump in the river, most of DS’s friends have done so, even those doing Law mods a couple of months ago when the weather was even chillier! I know that DS and his friends finishing this week are planning to take a dip, there are some things I would definitely rather not know.

Ah yes, DD told me about prosecco. She had that. Only punting to end exams though no dipping.
Where does word gypsy come from? Saw it on kitchen.
What is sub disc?
Interesting!

Autocorrect. Urggh. Gyp.

Sub fusc is the Oxford academic dress: gown, mortar board and bow tie/black ribbon.

Okay. Thank you. Sorry about autocorrecting of Sub fusc too!
DD didn't tell me about specific clothes for exams. She may have mentioned gowns at some point.

I think punting definitely sounds preferable as an end of exams celebration; I’m really hoping he decides against taking a dip!

+ve vibes for those still doing exams.

Haha Bake you are quite right. DD assures me that taking a dip in the river (banned or not) is still very much a thing!
The exams have been a bit mixed so far. Having excelled in collections she is finding prelims quite a challenge. I think she is getting very tired and running on empty. So looking forward to having her home very soon!

DS is also exhausted now often, it’s a hard week for them. I am really looking forward to the end of it now, we’ve got two more exams to go. He was nearly tipped over the edge this morning when he caught sight of the large boxes of fancy toiletries which are for the paying guests bathrooms once the students have gone.

I think he might have earned his dip in the river, I’ve instructed him to hand any valuables to a reliable friend and not to swallow any water!

Good shout bake. They do need to have fun to 'de-escalate' that stress! Few parties/balls helped DD.

We are done! Successfully trashed, jumped in the river (clothes in a bin bag apparently). He’s also drunk a bottle of wine (that bit I’m less chuffed about). He’s done some packing and eaten, with strict instructions not to drink any more as he’s planning to go out tonight. He has friends finishing this afternoon so is going to trash them shortly. How long do we wait for results?

Yay! he's done it :)

Yay for mini baked. Baked, did yours seriously never come home half cut in 6th form? Seriously ds went missing on ny day when he was 17. Had such a good night he and a mate crashed at a girl's whose parents were away. And spent several hours when they woke up in a jacuzzi but it was ok mum, they kept their knickers and bras on. Turned out to be the daughter of a major client of dh. DH was chilled about the missing list, not so chilled once he knew whose dd.

Well done bake. Done here too! It's been a whirlwind of trashing, dipping in the river, punting......and laundry . DD and friends have actually put their gowns, tights and black skirts in a joint wash!!
I have no idea when to expect results. DD is excited that exams are finally finished but sad that the first year has come to an end with so little time to party!

Ahhh. Glad to hear they are letting off steam. Oxbridge is such a challenge!!! Roses you have a DS who knows how to chill!! Haha.

roses He’s not a great drinker, didn’t really start until quite late I suppose and now his body is a temple!

often I’m impressed they’ve put a wash on, I sent DH with a supply of sturdy bin bags last weekend when he dropped off a food parcel. DS had instructions to put all of his “river wear” in one of those and I’ll deal with it tomorrow! I think it’s probably beyond help having seen the photos, he appears to be purple in most of them (think Violet Beauregard from Charlie and the chocolate factory). He told me he is “euphoric”

Haven’t they all done amazingly well, what a first year they have all had and what fantastic memories they have made already. I think we can all be very proud of our DC’s right now!

I can't believe it's been a year!

Yes, a real achievement! Very proud!

Hooray for all the finishers!
Such a difference between Oxford and Cambridge; ds had 10 days of relaxation, punting and balls before he came home. He has done admin this week, is off on a cycle tour of the country tomorrow for a fortnight, then has a week to make a start on summer work before his placement begins.

Haha bake I love the notion of "river wear" aka the sub fusc that was so reverently worn for matriculation way back last October!
PandaG The difference between Oxford and Cambridge is interesting and not something that I had picked up on before. Something for DS to consider as he attends open days at both Ox and Cam next week!
This year has indeed been a huge achievement for them all - can't quite believe we've made it through the first year! Well done everyone .

A whole year on. How they have all studied, adventured, learnt more resillience and grown up some more.