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.

...and mature students

@DadDadDad We couldn't remember if D1 had had the MenACWY, so phoned the GPs to check - she did have it, and they printed off her vaccination record too which D1 has put in her folder of stuff to take with her.

Flu jabs this afternoon, hopefully - one of her friends was supposed to have hers yesterday but Boots cancelled it saying they were only doing them for the over 65s now. We had reminder texts yesterday so hope they'll still do them.

Drop off tomorrow for DT1. Positive noises from college reps , hoping hockey, rowing, music to try will make up for being in a tiny household of just 4 on her floor. Formal matriculation going ahead, with individual photographs. Asked to bring a hot water bottle for outdoor socialising. Hoping it plays out positively.

Thanks, JulesJules - my DW tells me that DS already has such a printout, so now a question of whether he can find it. He has a folder of paperwork that I initiated for him, but things go easily astray in his room...

Here's a question for everyone interested in this thread. It looks it might just about carry us to the start of term before we hit 1000 posts. Do you have any interest in continuing with a new thread, or shall we declare our work done, and the purpose obsolete?

@DadDadDad I feel so invested in all our DC on these threads! I want to know how everyone settles in, how they find the experience, coping with the Covid restrictions... Is this goodbye ?!

Good question Dx3. These threads have been a wonderful source of information and support as we and our DC have navigated the admissions process. Given that the Oxbridge process is different to other unis it has been helpful to have a special Oxbridge thread. To a large extent it has served its purpose and in normal times I suppose could be left as a happy memory. But these are not normal times and I think there’s a great benefit in keeping going to share info on what is happening with covid, maybe share some tips on how DC can have a happy landing and how parents can stay sane. With the collegiate system I suspect Oxbridge will again be different to other universities so again an Oxbridge thread may make sense. Let’s see what other think but my view is that even if we decide to end the conversation I would quite like some “closure” in the form of a series of excited posts confirming that DC have been deposited and are (hopefully) happy.

Having posed the question, I realise of course that we'll now fill up this thread more quickly discussing it!

You both make good points, and I'd be quite happy to have a continuation thread - I guess we'll soon see if it has any value for others.

Its C ! Hope the consensus is to continue. Invested. Acutely and gratefully aware of how different the Oxbridge experience is; think DT1 lucky to be getting so much support; there was a county wide alumnus meeting yesterday for the freshers; very sweet, someone from DT’s college was on it from the Dark Ages... it might not be the same as they had been hoping for but they will be getting far more than most of their peers.

DD was invited to one of those last night Hobbema and was quite discombobulated to see that an alumni shared her entire name with the exception of 1 letter. She used to go to school with someone sharing her date of birth with an almost identical name (a few issues at the doctor's eith that one), but now it seems there are even more of them.

Please can we keep going...

They haven't started yet, I think we will all need a virtual hand hold and besides, we have got to know each others dc - so yes, let's continue.

It can't end..... !!!! I don't post often but, I can't not know how they are all getting on.

We have a 2 hour delivery slot too. Which will be needed because after thinking she was turning up with a pair of roller skates, a handbag and her art supplies she had had a pivot and gone for kitchen sink packing. The room ballot was kind so there is plenty of space.

Notes on the to do list the vaccination print out from the Drs. Thanks!

We went into semi lockdown so my brother had to go to C 2 weeks early. He was completely by himself for 5 days until someone else arrived! Nothing open. What a funny start to university 🤣

Don't panic! Two people are the minimum to keep a thread going, so it looks like we're well covered on that score.

I might actually start it now, as I think it will be of interest to those with DCs in other years - this academic year is going to be a bit strange for all us, and it would be useful to hear from the "old hands" too.

Nu Fred:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4033593-Oxford-and-Cambridge-current-students-discussion-thread-for-anyone-with-daughters-sons-etc-there-for-Michaelmas-2020-and-not-just-freshers

(Nu Fred is the antithesis to the generic Alpha Male )

Ooh is this where we start...

Oxford

Oh please oh please continue; I'm beginning to get rather worried that this might have been the easy bit. Would value a handhold during the first term...and beyond!

@JulesJules - last time we took that approach I was the one that didn't read the rules and messed up. Oxford 😉

I would appreciate the thread continuing so we can see updates about how they are settling in

There is a new thread, and @JulesJules and @sandybayley, you can play that game here, but I just remember your cheating last time...