Oxford and Cambridge current students - discussion thread for anyone with daughters, sons etc there for Michaelmas 2020 (and not just freshers!)

[DadDadDad]

A continuation thread for those attending Oxbridge for the first time this term, but it makes sense to throw it open to anyone with a DC there (or other family member, or maybe you're a student yourself or teach / work there - all welcome!) Share your thoughts and questions on college life, courses, etc. A certain virus has made it a bit different for everyone this year...

I have a DS who is a fresher at a small Oxford college in a small subject. We will be taking him there in just over a week.

Cheers mate.
DD Ox small subject, 1st generation, medium sized college, delivery date next Sunday. Officially clueless but super proud.

Hello! Lurked on the other board.

My son is going up to Cambridge for the first time tomorrow. He applied post A level so avoided this summer's stresses but has been stuck at home since March. Nice for me, less so for him

Thank you DadDadDad - I don’t post much but have found this thread invaluable and would like to know that all our DCs settle in ok. I’ve been reading about some tough situations for freshers on other threads - DSs college have been really welcoming and kind.

DS (C) due in college on Wednesday - he’s a light packer and so hopefully not too much to carry (forecast looks like rain). Been given a time slot - have been impressing on him the need to unpack properly and not live out of a case!

Signing in! Thank you @DadDadDad . DS1 is due to arrive on Saturday 3rd at his Oxford college. Household punting already booked for next week.

Still on holiday on the Lake District on our last family holiday. I'm sure he'll come away with us again to climb mountains but I can't help thinking it won't be the same.

Hi also long time lurker from other threads. Dd starts C next Friday,

Thanks for the nice inclusive new thread. Good to meet the lurkers. I was lurking for a while before I decided to join in earlier this year and now I'm pretty sure I overshare, but oh well..

Having heard nothing to suggest that rugby plans have changed, I am taking DS to O tomorrow, stopping at a hotel en route. Sadly for DH he can't come because he's taking DD1 up a mountain so I will get my bonding time after all. Actually is just as well as I'm not sure how much space there will be in the car. All is quiet right now as DS has been whisked off somewhere by DD1 who has just realised she will miss her brother.

Thank you @DadDadDad for starting the thread.

DS is about to start his first year (C). He is in a staircase of 24, with 6 on each floor. He doesn't yet know the size of his "pool" for weekly testing purposes. He has "met" about half the occupants of the staircase via group chat / zoom.

Checking in again! DS starting at a biggish Oxford college doing maths. He has the last drop off date - 6th, so it's still not feeling imminent!

I’ve got one at Cambridge staying on for a post grad.

My wee boy is only 3 so nowhere near uni, but I was a Cambridge fresher 16 years ago and remember it well - best of luck to all your DC, if they're tall/sporty and at Cambridge please tell them to consider rowing (if at Oxford - the opposite applies ).

plonking on to thread. :) dd is going into third year at Cambridge. It is all rather different this year.

Thanks for the new thread DadDadDad.
My DD is an Oxford fresher in a humanities subject; I have no idea whether her college is small, medium or large in comparison with others, which is an indication of how clueless I am about it all She moves in on 5th October.
She has been a regular and enthusiastic participant in the Zoom chats for both her college and subject, so already "knows" some of her fellow freshers, to the extent that anyone can get to know anyone online .

Thanks for the new thread @DadDadDad !

We're taking D1 to Oxford (History joint) next Saturday, have an arrival time and 1-2 hours parking allowed. Thought we'd help her unpack, then she has to go and register. Then maybe out to eat, any recs anyone? We've booked hotel for Sat night and hopefully will take D for a food shop before heading home. She won't need much food as the kitchen only has a microwave.

I know it's going to be different for them - but otoh D1 already knows a lot of people from her subjects and college via various Whatsapp groups, plus her college parents. I think they'll be fine.

DD has one of the last start dates, so I can only hope that Boris checks with his alma mater and delays any further lockdowns until after they've all arrived.

@JulesJules ate at the Quod with the DTs last weekend, good.

DD4 is due to be dropped off on Sunday 4th, a two hour slot with up to six family members allowed!!!!!!

Hopefully I'll have successfully driven to Cambridge to drop off kit to DS3 two days before, and circled back to Oxford to drop off kit to DS4 on the 3rd (both are going on ahead by train).

Major fly in the ointment this end are house viewings: one booked for Wednesday 30th, the other for Thursday 1st, and we've veered rapidly from neat, clean confined packing by all three DC towards double kitchen sink.

Thanks for the new thread!

We're taking DS to C on Wed. Rain forecast, and we're not allowed to enter the college buildings to help him unload, so will be confined to the car park. I hope that means there might be a few helpers there - he's a strapping lad, but it'll mean several very well-loaded trips up the stairs. V. disappointed we won't get to see his room, or ensure that he actually unpacks rather than living out of boxes all term.

Big welcome to newcomers and old hands alike!

It's funny to think that some of us will probably walk past each other in the next few weeks, and be none the wiser. Perhaps we all ought to agree to wear something or walk around eating a packet of pom bears to identify ourselves to fellow MNetters.

(Do they still sell pom bears? I've not eaten once since the DC were little).

DadDadDad thank you for the new thread!

Checking in to wish all the DC a happy start to the term, and good wishes to all the parents. We are flying to the UK on Thursday 1st and spending a long weekend in Oxford. DS starts at his college on Sunday 4th. Still no details at all on his accommodation. I guess it will all be a surprise...

Thanks for the rec @hobbema !

Thanks Dad. DS is Maths at a large college, also one of the last to go. He is still an orphan!

We are taking dd (undergraduate fresher) up to her small Cambridge college on Thursday. No allotted time slot and we are allowed to park within the college grounds luckily.

We are all pretty nervous as to how the term will unfold - I sooo hope these youngsters will be able to make friends and socialise etc. She has already bought herself a gown etc.

Good luck all.

She's got three mums, all of whom are big into rowing - dd has zero knowledge/interest in rowing but maybe it could become her new thing!

DS has found out he has two Dads. However, they haven't contacted him and he hasn't contacted them. I guess Mums were invented for a reason..

My DS is going into his second year at C. He is back next weekend and is really looking forward to it. He found the summer term of remote learning tough going. Good luck to all the Freshers and those returning.