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.

@monkeyonthetable, I'd forget the roof (that can be fixed quickly). But eighth floor? I bet the view is fabulous!

@gizmo hope you feel better soon (in every way).

Hope you feel better soon @gizmo. This rain really doesn't help.
DH and I have returned from our soggy "road trip" to a rather quiet, empty house. It's going to take some getting used to.

@gizmo I hear you and I do know how hard it feels, but honestly their terms are short and being at O or C they are home loads.
My youngest is in his 2nd year and I really kid myself that being at Uni does not equal leaving home. I do understand how difficult it is though in the early days.

Just got back from drop off. We got lucky with parking - right in front of the gate. One of her Mums was there to meet us.

It is a very quirky shaped room and the "kitchen" is a widening of the stairwell..... She won't be cooking.

So dad had matriculation today. Formal meal tonight all socially distanced. Matriculation was in households on zoom but in formal dress/ gowns with champagne. Shared photos with us of his household in gowns. So excited for him - tryuing not to worry about drinking tonight.

De not dad!

Hope you feel better soon @gizmo. Our turn Tuesday. I think DS will be one of the last to go!

Dropped off DD (2nd year) today. Luckily it was during a dry spell in Oxford and it was so relaxed and easy.

I’m really baffled by the different approaches taken by the different colleges to socialising, how meals happen etc. Haven’t spoken much to DS in C but his college seems to be very fierce about them only eating in households. Pretty rubbish if you don’t get on with housemates/in a small household.

We were talking upthread about dropouts because students might struggle academically. At this point I’m thinking there will some unhappy dropouts too.

@gizmo sorry to hear and I do relate, though it’s second time round for me and it really does get easier — plus it’s been lovely to have a more adult rapport with DD.

Gizmo, it’s so hard when they first go . And it takes time to get used to it. Hope your cold gets better soon. Look after yourself and plan a few treats just for you.

Good to read the reports of DCs safely delivered. Dropped DS in Oxford today, and so far all seems fine.

Thanks all...I think a lot of my reaction is just poor timing. A combination of crap virus (it really, truly isn't COVID but the coughing makes me pretty unpopular), crap weather (which DH struggles to cope with) and a very very long year of unrelenting work/childcare/domestic fire fighting. Same for a lot of us, I imagine.

Anyway, I'm sure it will get easier. Zoomed DS1 just now, who looked a bit whacked and upset himself - he's trying very very hard to socialise but it doesn't come easy to him (hugely introvert), so I think he needs to take care of himself a bit too.

Good luck tomorrow, @Coleoptera, it sounds as if you've got a good plan for your next steps!

@SnapSnapDragon - the view is stunning - literally looking down over dreaming spires with gentle slopes of countryside beyond! And the stairs will keep him very fit!

@Coleoptera - lovely to hear that you are already thinking about the hobbies you shelved 19 years ago. That's the attitude!

DS phoned this morning sounding a lot brighter after a god night's sleep. Woke up to the view of Magdalen's spires, which made him very happy. Lots of socially distant mixers today planned by college. Lovely dinner last night and then card games with his corridor bubble. I wasn't much worried about him anyway as he is a very happy, sociable boy. But he's settling in well.

We took D1 to Oxford on Saturday. Met by the fresher reps, one of whom was her college dad - so that was really nice, and as we helped her in with her stuff several more people rushed over to say hello having recognised her from their various chat groups. Her room is nice, lovely big windows and lots of greenery outside. Took her out to eat on Saturday night - at the Quod, thanks for the rec @hobbema it was very good. D1 a bit anxious as she couldn't connect to the wifi, no signal for texts in her room either, very few other people around (mostly arriving on Sunday and Monday) so couldn't access the schedule, didn't know what to do about the dining hall, could she just turn up? So we took her out for breakfast on Sunday and then went for a walk in the pouring rain until Blackwells opened. I think she's feeling a bit better now more people have arrived and she has managed to get wifi. This week things seem to be largely online apart from a socially distanced picnic (let's hope the torrential rain stops) and then a seminar on essay writing. (Fun!) There's a formal dinner at the end of the week so she's got to get her sub fusc by then - she thought the suppliers were coming into college for this, so didn't want to sort it out on Sunday.

And so we said goodbye, (bit emotional) hoping that it all works out OK for all of them. DH said (as we negotiated the many, many roundabouts that Oxfordshire seems to consist of)that at least we're not leaving her in a locked tower block somewhere which would have felt worse...

Yikes! Just seen that Oxford is now a bit of a hotspot for covid-19 with 102 cases per 100,000.

Cambridge is on 34 but that's a noticeable rise on a week or so ago...

That was a good start to the day for your DS @monkeyonthetable.
I’m sure it will get easier for your DD to navigate through all the new stuff as more freshers arrive @JulesJules.
DS1 matriculated today in person, within his household bubble. He messaged that they are all getting on really well and sent a lovely photo of the six of them. He was delighted to have a roast turkey dinner after the Fresher’s Service in chapel yesterday.
Meanwhile, DD in Oxford is trying to get IT to sort out the WiFi and maintenance to fix a broken radiator ahead of online exams next week.

For the asymptomatic testing programme, DS is in a testing pool of 6 people. Only 3 of those (including him) have consented to take part and this week there is only enough availability for 2 of them to provide a sample. Thinking positively, some screening is better than no screening.

Sympathies to Gizmo from a fellow parent-of-introvert! It's horrible when they look upset over the phone.

For what it's worth, having missed her Cambridge offer, DD is now four weeks into term. It was a bit of a roller-coaster in the first week or two, with days when she (and I!) were tired and a bit overwhelmed. But she's found her groove, seems to be working hard, learning to connect with people (online and in real life) and definitely finding her feet.

I'm gradually coming to the view that the introverts may have a slow start, but ultimately cope pretty well this term. It's not a bad time to be keen on your own company!!

That must be such a relief for you and DT2 after such a long build up @Coleoptera. I hope you don’t have to drive too far to deliver DT1’s bike 😯.
Interesting to read the different approaches taken by the colleges. Much must be determined by space indoors and out. DS’s college seems to be determined to do as much in person as possible from fancy dress party to supervisions. Space in his college library is bookable whereas at DD’s Oxford college, the library is only open for book collection.

Glad your DD is adjusting to her new surroundings @AChickenCalledDaal and making friends.
Having a “ready made” household might actually be a blessing for the less outgoing DC. DS hasn’t had to seek out dinner companions, or quiz teammates - his household just go to everything together.

DD has been dropped. Lots of eager second years to hand to help carry things upstairs. Pizza night tonight and real live in person freshers events each evening this week. She's in a household of one and has already locked herself out.

Chicken that is good to hear after all the initial concerns about how Scotland was handling things.