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.

Thanks @goodbyestranger good to know others are also struggling, if that doesn't sound too terrible! She's the only person at her college on this degree, and I think the rest of the people she knows are doing single hons and everything is already sorted. She's texted this morning for laundry advice, so at least she's got other things to think about, haha.

3catsandadog, I hear you about not coming from a very Oxbridge school. DH and I went to Oxford in the 1990s so DS has always heard about it, but he is the first from his school to get an Oxbridge offer since 2016 (we are overseas). The school got two or three offers during the decade before that, but it is very much a thing students achieve under their own steam, not with Oxbridge-oriented advice or extra lessons. I suppose that means they arrive in Oxford happy to be there and will just get on with things.

Hi flyonawalk exactly that my DD feels very lucky to be there due to low Oxbridge places at school and all the worry of the grades from March.

I hope your DD makes the most of it and has amazing experiences. Despite all that is wrong with the world, they are young and getting to know people and places!

Thanks flyonawalk! So far she is making the most of everything offered and i am getting some beautiful photos sent through of the buildings and river!

That’s great and I am envious - DS hasn’t sent a single photo! Though I have been treated to a FaceTime call in which he traipsed up and down the staircase, introducing me to members of his household, one awkward wave after another...

Flyonawalk Ha sounds an interesting facetime! ! At least you can put names to faces.

Am loving the pen portraits of everyone's DC. @huashan, it's a shame your DS and mine aren't in the same household...DS is also on a staircase full of (very lovely) medics and lawyers who don't seem that interested in an animated discussion of why you should use LaTex to format your answers to problem sheets.

Zoom call this evening (to check if DS has found laundry room yet). I get the distinct impression DS is trying on a new personality, and it's rather nice to see. He seems to have found the 'social' module in his feature set and has fired it up for the first time, resulting in never seen before behaviours like talking to people he doesn't know and joining Facebook.

DS has had a busy weekend of tennis and football trials. No mention in his message of laundry (I am imagining piles of sweaty sports kit) or work although I am sure he has the latter in hand.
DD starts Part 1 exams tomorrow (postponed from last term). She is a bit "weirded out" about taking exams in her room but she is not alone as two of her housemates are doing the same.
Hoping everyone has a good week and DC at O and C avoid any further lockdown measures.

Gizmo, I think that’s the lovely thing about Uni, it gives them the chance to reinvent themselves and hopefully be a more authentic version of themselves, away from the prying eyes of parents and constraints of existing friendships. It’s strange when they come home again and you notice the changes, but also wonderful to witness.

@Biscuitburglar

Gizmo, I think that’s the lovely thing about Uni, it gives them the chance to reinvent themselves and hopefully be a more authentic version of themselves, away from the prying eyes of parents and constraints of existing friendships. It’s strange when they come home again and you notice the changes, but also wonderful to witness.

Lovely thought and so true. We must give them space to try new things and be open to new ideas, new people and new approaches to life. It's so exciting for them all.

Long chat with DS (O) yesterday (he called me and noted with approval my restraint in not contacting him). I agree with previous posters that’s it lovely to see (or hear) them changing and blossoming. He seems much more sociable, more lighthearted. I like how biscuit describes it as becoming a more authentic version of who they are. DS has always had the capacity to be lighthearted and sociable, but I think he suppressed this side of his personality because he put huge pressure on himself to achieve his goals and to be a good role model in school. I’m therefore very happy to hear that he loves his bubble, is delighted with others he has met in his college, and has made quite a few friends from other colleges. He hasn’t had any in-depth discussions about his subject (“that would be weird”) but his passion for his subject is not in doubt: he’d already covered a lot of the reading list out of pure interest prior to interview.

Sentiment above described yesterday by DT1 “ I’m now living my own real life” . Agree it’s an absolute joy to see it unfolding.

@hobbema - what a gorgeous way of expressing it. I find it immensely cheering that amid all the (justified) doom and gloom of Covid, our DC are setting out anyway and making the most of the lives they have chosen, despite restrictions.

DS asked college where he should practise his clarinet. There are practice rooms, but he has been told that woodwind players should practise in their own rooms (anytime between 9am and 9pm). I don't know whether this is aerosol-virology-related or if it's just that small portable instruments don't get priority for practice rooms.

It's not going to make him very popular with his staircase! I've suggested that he ask his immediate neighbours to propose a time that will disturb them least.

Maybe you could send him a practice mute, @Ironoaks?

DD’s immediate neighbour in first year (ie pre Covid) was a woodwind player. He practiced in his room as is the norm for the college. DD wasn’t bothered at all and got into the habit of using headphones when studying.

got into the habit of using headphones when studying.

Bluetooth headphones were DDs Xmas gift request in her first year.

Noise cancelling headphones are possibly the key to surviving communal college life!

Government minister saying 9000 students nationally currently have Covid-19.

I see Oxford Uni had 61 positive tests last week: www.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus/status. I can't find a similar disclosure from Cambridge.

Thanks for that Dx3, I didn't know this page existed.

I noted the following with interest:
Our own academic experts in infectious diseases and other relevant subjects are involved in our response to coronavirus

If they followed the advice of some of their most experienced epidemiologists wouldn't they dismantle the bubbles, lock everyone in their colleges for a few weeks until they caught the virus and became immune, and then let them all out into the community to protect the vulnerable?!

If they followed the advice of some of their most experienced epidemiologists wouldn't they dismantle the bubbles, lock everyone in their colleges for a few weeks until they caught the virus and became immune, and then let them all out into the community to protect the vulnerable?!

Maybe (a GP friend was saying that for students the best course is probably just to let them all get it before they go home for Christmas - and before anyone argues with me, I appreciate that creates serious risk for some people), but they have to follow regulations whatever the views of their experts.

Actually, that might explain why there seemed to be a bit of a lack of enforcement of bubbles from the anecdotes I keep hearing.

I note this "expert" in Bath is now suggesting students should now go back home (to spread it further!)
www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/students-should-go-home-says-4588611
I'm certainly hoping my DD (C) gets it well before Christmas. They had their weekly flat test last week, which was negative, but it took them almost a week to get the test back. Maybe if it was positive, it would have come back sooner!

@SnapSnapDragon I had no idea that mutes for clarinets existed - thank you! I have offered to buy him one.

I know this was discussed at some point, but can someone tell me how we contact UCAS to see school reference?
Is it via email? What address?