Oxbridge 2020 (thread 10) - the path to the first term (just one slight hurdle to clear first)

[DadDadDad]

For better or worse, there is a bit of a bond of mutual experience between parents whose DC go through the Oxbridge application process. Thank you for your companionship so far - and thank you to others who started the earlier threads in this series.

This thread should take us to the start of the first term (whatever form that takes). All welcome here, but for many of us hopefully this will be the place for practical support as we help prepare these peculiar* young adults to spread their wings.

But the first item on the agenda appears to be the small matter of judgement...

*or for those who chose Oxford, very peculiar.

@PortusCale

Sorry - rather off topic but is anyone else's DC trying to book a driving test? DS tried most of the morning but no luck, keeps crashing!

Yes, my son applied for an emergency test as a farm worker in late June and after about a month got approval for a test. We then had to wait 2.5 hrs on the phone waiting to book a date followed by a frantic 2 weeks of intense refresher lessons to undo all the bad habits of lock down driving with parents. Miraculously he passed by skin of teeth which is a relief as he leaves for France next week for a years voluntary work (before Oxford in 2021) Apparently if you fail you might not get a new test date until November.

That's brilliant news hobbema!

Juja - great that he passed first time - and has also managed to organise a year's voluntary work in France - good luck to him for 2021 Oxford, hopefully things will be a lot better by, then fingers crossed.

Driving tests are open again from 8am today - here's hoping DS can log in and get a test....!

Juja = do you mind if I ask what kind of voluntary work your DS is doing? My younger DC is considering a gap year with voluntary work.

@Coleoptera D1 (Oxford) has just had a general congratulations and welcome email from college, which said that they anticipated that start date would probably be Monday 5th. Then an email with student handbook, contract to complete and return and application for Bod card and IT sign on to return with photo which she did. Email acknowledging receipt of that.
She emailed them to ask if she could arrive on the Saturday (citing long distance, my hospital appointments) and was told to direct the enquiry to the accommodation manager which she has, but no reply yet. They had already (prior to results day) sent out first year options to choose (History joint) , reading lists and and two essays to do.

Nothing definite about accommodation, start date, arrival information, college parents or anything like that.

Re Cambridge, DS has received a comprehensive packing list, an itinerary for arrivals day and a timetable for the first week.
Goodness, its starting to feel real!

When is Cambridge arrivals day?

DS has to be in Cambridge on the 30th - and has had a comprehensive info pack and first week timetable too.

Coleoptera, I know the colleges all do it slightly differently, but if he hasn't already it probably wouldn't hurt to get in touch with DT1's admissions officer. That's what they're there for after all. DS has sent a couple of email queries and has had prompt and polite responses despite the fact the poor woman is clearly dealing with lots of people asking the same thing!

DS was advised by the (Cambridge) college to email them if he hasn't received the welcome pack by 4 September.

DS had a welcome and congratulations email from Oxford college just after results day. Nothing since, no news on arrival date. We are waiting to sort flights to the UK and would like some news.

@rainyinscotland, it seems different colleges have different times and are staggering arrivals. For DD its a week earlier than published term dates.
@Coleoptera , I hope you get some clarity soon.
DD has heard from her freshers rep re intake numbers to date; higher than previous years by a stretch so I guess colleges are trying to squeeze as many in as possible. Possibly welcome news to those with DC applying next year.May also explain the lack of clarity/communication in some quarters.

Coleoptera - sounds frustrating, but also as though DT1 is on it; I thought he might be like DS, who has to be nudged to contact anyone and is prone to let things slide. Totally get the frustration with two drop offs to organise!

Hi @rainyinscotland!

In a normal year, arrival day for most students is the Saturday before term starts on the Thursday. Classics students with a language to catch up on - typically Ancient Greek - come before that, on the Monday. Modern Linguists and Overseas Students come on the Wednesday before the main arrival Saturday.

Hi @Oxfordsnotbrogues !

For HSPS, all subjects are accepted apart from General Studies and Critical Thinking. Any three other subjects are ok. ... Lots of reading and essay writing on the course, with some science stuff in Anthropology-Archaeology-Psychology options.

For so many of us, our favourite Cambridge course!

Thank you @JBX2013 - that's really good to hear. His A level choices reflect very accurately the things that most interest him, so it's a question of finding a course that allows him to pursue these things. I hope that's the right strategy - he won't take subjects that don't interest him just for the sake of making an application that might appear stronger on paper. For what it's worth I think that has to be right - I don't want his A levels to be a joy-less slog. Thank you so much for your advice - much appreciated!

Arrivals day(s) are college specific. DS’s (smallish) college sent a reassuring email on Monday to the effect that all deferrals were voluntary, there is space for everyone who wants to come in October and next year’s cohort is unaffected by numbers this year. No idea how they have achieved this - perhaps they didn’t over offer massively? They are in the process of building new academic and residential space so they were probably due to expand numbers anyway. Email also said formals will take place. Again, no idea of format/bubbles etc
DS had an email from his DoS today with a reading list and advice to be “well rested” before October. DS completed a tonne of relevant reading during lockdown so is now just earning a bit of money and playing tennis ready for team trials.

My DS (Oxford) heard from his college yesterday. First with a link to the college website, which has some info on plus the college contract which needs to be signed and sent back. They also said they were staggering arrivals from 4th- 6th and would be given their date soon.

Later another email saying that they were officially accepted for this year, but if they would like to defer, they should let them know.

After worrying (unnecessarily) about forced deferrals I am feeling relieved!

I hope your DTs hear soon @Coleoptera.

@Coleoptera, maybe our DC are at the same Oxford college, because my DS has heard nothing either. No start date, no college parents, no reassuring email saying he won't be asked to defer. I don't mind too much as I don't have flights to book or other DC to drop off, but I think he'd quite like to ask a college parents about stationery (of all things).

Oh, he did get a log in for the online science bridging course, which he is enjoying. Talking of which, he thinks one of the answers is wrong (it's a question about the wavelength emitted by electrons in hydrogen). He asked me to dust off my chemistry knowledge and work it out myself and I have to say I agree with him. @sandybayley or @Flyonawalk (if your DS is doing any of these sciences) or anybody else, have your DC been chuntering about this?

@SnapSnapDragon - DS1 has been working on the bridging course. We're back from holiday today and he's in a big grump. Not sure he's pleased to see us.

He hasn't said anything about a wrong question but did grumble about not being able to add the correct units. Once the Ocado man has been he may be more friendly.

@sandybayley, you mean you didn't get a lovely welcome home, a tidy house and a meal waiting for you? No, neither would I.
That's funny, the units were a PITA. DS was not happy about that, because if you get one question wrong (or input the units incorrectly) you have to start from the beginning.

Good luck with the degrumping. Hope food helps.

I got dead house plants and dirty washing. But house is still standing and dog is alive. I guess I should be grateful.

Coleoptera I have one DC to deposit in Cambridge and two DC to deposit in Oxford and decided months ago (February, according to my hotel/ B&B reservations) that I would offload DS3's kit in Cambridge on Oct 2nd then drive to Oxford on Oct 3rd (after nice meal out in Cambridge on the night of the 2nd :)) and offload DS4's kit on the 4th then go down the road for DD4 (after nice meal out in Oxford on the night of the 3rd :)). The 4th is the Sunday before Freshers' so it seemed an extremely reasonable calculation on my part. If all else failed I was going to leave the kit with the porters on those dates, DC to go ahead or to follow. But so far, so good - only DD4's college left to confirm.

I assume all the Oxford lot have seen the very mild invitation to defer? Mild but no financial incentive either. Dd4 is determined to start, so no deferral request going in here.

www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-08-24-oxford-university-statement-more-offer-holders-have-their-places-confirmed-oxford#

I hadn't seen that statement, but it's more or less word for word the same as the email DS received from his college! I wonder if they'll have many takers?