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.

Decent bike chain and leave the chained bike within college grounds.

@goodbyestranger

Decent bike chain and leave the chained bike within college grounds.

D lock through the frame onto a fixed object (which may be possible in a bike shed) plus extra chain(s) for the wheels.

@EllieFredrickson

As a parent of DD about to go into year 2 at an Oxford College - accommodation now all up in the air. Older years being asked to volunteer to live out and those with rooms allocated already in the ballot being told - 'you will be moved' - but no details on where. Combination of over-admitting and needing to reduce numbers on a corridor to more acceptable levels for household bubbles. DD's college is working hard so that all freshers in college.

DD (about to start 4th year at Cambridge) anticipated problems after their rather abrupt ejection in April and has just got her house share with 4 friends signed - so they've been able to release their college rooms. When I was talking to her last week she seemed to think there were still a fair amount of 4 bed rentals available but not sure if that's correct.

DS1 has been adopted!

He now has two College Mums and a Dad. They have been very helpful already with guidance on bed sizes. Thank you to all the DC who are supporting freshers. It's much appreciated.

He now has two College Mums and a Dad

A ménage à trois?

Errol

Thanks. College seem to have some postgrad stuff off-site being re-purposed for undergrads so not a private rental. DD 4 year course tho so guess she might need private in year 4. Of course all that is somewhat less likely at both Oxford and Cambridge normally - both cities not renowned for their cheap housing.

As a matter of coincidence we live just outside Cambridge...

Today's concern - Oxford now on Amber warning for cases - think DD said 38 per 100,000 compared to national average of 7. She's had automated texts from GP etc warning of the rules even tho obviously she's currently here. I do hope they all get there. Wider school/economy reopening next week likely to put pressure on infections.

I don't think it's especially avant garde MarchingFrogs: DD's two College Dads and a Mum wrote to her on results day.

@goodbyestranger

I don't think it's especially avant garde MarchingFrogs: DD's two College Dads and a Mum wrote to her on results day.

DDs college only has mothers and daughters officially but as co-parenting happens, there are also wives and allegedly an occasional mistress.

News sources today are casting doubt on universities reopening. Young people have already been so disadvantaged by the response to the virus, I can’t bear to think that their university life will be taken away. Is anyone seriously concerned that Oxford and/or Cambridge may not open?

I can’t bear that thought either fly
If they stop them going back without giving a significant fee discount I suspect there will be protests bigger than anything we saw over the A level result shit show.

I’m not (yet) concerned about universities not going back. I think (hope) there’s a determination to get education back at all levels. We can’t be in lockdown forever.

DD’s college dad rusticated shortly after DD started so she ended up with just a college mum. DD’s college husband also left Oxford so DD married her (female) college sibling. They successfully co-parented last year and presumably will be grandparents this year 😀.

DD2 has officially deferred. College has been brilliant the whole way through. Just possible that one of your DCs will be her mum or dad next year. DD1's 'husband' is still one of her closest friends. It's a really lovely tradition and provides just a bit of extra support.

My DM was at Homerton during the war, and though it wasn't part of the university then they shared this helpful tradition. Her college daughter became her bridesmaid.
(And another Cambridge tradition .... she had her bike stolen, but came across it a couple of weeks later, her number still on its frame so she just took it back again. They didn't have D locks then)

Wow Errol lovely stories! Amazing how the generations spread out. DH’s great-uncle was at Oxford during the war (until he had to go and fight).

DH’s great-uncle was at Oxford during the war (until he had to go and fight).
Same for my DF - he was a northern scholarship lad doing chemistry, left after 3 years with a BA to join the Royal Signals and the 8th Army.

Ah yes, generations. DS will be the third generation in his family to go to Oxbridge. It may sound like he’s from some grand, privileged family, but that’s not the case. My father came from a working-class background and won places at his local grammar school and later Oxford, purely on the strength of his brilliant mind. I went to Cambridge; I had no particular educational advantage, but of course I was privileged to have had the advice and support of my wonderful father. Sadly, he died young, just before I left school, and the feeling of profound loss has remained with me. Anyway, now it is DS’s turn to go to Oxford. He has more advantages than the generations before him, I guess that’s the way these things often work, but I believe (hope) this has been recognised during the admissions process and he’s had to prove himself worthy. I know it’s sentimental, but it makes me happy to think that DS will have a special link to the grandfather he never met.

Similar DS1 @SnapSnapDragon - although DH and I are the 'missing' generation having been rejected. DMIL is an Oxford graduate as was her father. It gives her an enormous amount of pride that DS1 will be there as well.

DMIL's best friend from Oxford has a grandson going this year and she has been trying to introduce DS1 to him. DS1 has resisted so far. I foresee the two proud grandmothers turning up at some point and taking two bemused grandsons out for lunch.

DD is going to her great grandfather's college! Coincidentally.

@SandyBayley, that reminds me of an excruciatingly embarrassing episode in my first year at Cambridge. My grandmother had been pestering me to introduce myself to her friend’s grandson. Our college boathouses were next to each other and one day I wandered over to their side and asked whether anyone knew him. Turned out he was boat club captain and was in the changing room; he was summoned and in front of a large audience I explained the link. But he didn’t believe me; presumably he thought I was some kind of groupie. So I slunk off back to my own boathouse and avoided looking over there again.

Bit of healthy competition in our family regarding Oxford/Cambridge. DH and both his parents were Cambridge graduates, DH was a bit upset when DS decided he was applying to Oxford. But one Aunt and cousin of DS are Oxford graduates so they are delighted. DS is very stubborn and was never going to follow in his father's footsteps!

And in other news DS us still an orphan!

Absolutely no family connections for DD and DS to worry about at either Oxford or Cambridge (or any other top university 😀.