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.

Hi can I join you ?
Dd1 graduated this summer and is going to C on the 3rd Oct to do a post grad MPhil, she is in a catered college. Thank you DadDadDad for creating this thread, it has been a pleasure to read.

I’ve been really impressed by how friendly the college has been, I’ve just got everything crossed that they all able to make some friends and settle in with the challenges and restrictions that COVID presents.

So far she has been told 1 person to help on moving day and take 3 days of food.

Nutoka. Hmmm. Does Oxford have Aldis?

DS knows which day he is supposed to arrive but hasn't received any further information about moving in (whether there's a specified time slot, whether the porters will be willing to open the car park on a weekday, whether we can help him carry things in etc).

I have visions of unloading him on the kerb and having to leave him there on the pavement surrounded by piles of belongings, looking lost and overwhelmed. His size (

Good luck to all packing and dropping off this next week, especially those with freshers. I’m sure they will be well looked after. My DD will be heading back to C for third year and is really looking forward to it. Easter term, working at home, was hard.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I’m sending both DC with three days’ worth of tinned/packaged food only because DS’s college asks them to arrive with that. Otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered. It’s just pasta/UHT milk/tins of curry etc, nothing special.

I’m not adding any booze to the food pack; I don’t doubt their eagerness to provide for themselves on that front...

I might re-examine her food pile then
We had several weeks where I was shielding without access to any supermarket slots at all. Had to rely on friends for fresh stuff and our storecupboards for everything else. Hence my twitchiness.

Hello, I’m pleased to find this thread, so thank you! I have a DS starting PhD at Cambridge on Oct 1 but he doesn’t have to live in and will be staying with family friend close by. His older DSis went to Cambridge and graduated a few years ago, this seems quite different. I hope he’ll still be able to make friends, maybe in his MCR. Good luck to all!

As a Cambridge resident I can confirm that we have two Aldis for those who want to know and if Oxford doesn't have any that can be another thing added to the Cambridge beats Oxford because . .. list

Don't try that one @SeasonFinale !

Oxford has at least two Aldis. I raise you a Lidl and multiple Icelands....

But Cambridge has Gardenia's kebab shop, and that can't be beaten

Long time lurker, occasional poster on the other thread. DD off to start 2nd year at Oxford. Probably not going until 8th - lots of uncertainty about accommodation but is now in a flat with 5 friends in what would normally be postgrad only in Summertown. Bit of a walk but seems much more settled now and they are currently writing a long list of who brings what!

We have had the Xmas discussion and she seems philosophical about coping if needed - although that's easier said now than at the end of a hard term.

Will be hard seeing her off after nearly 7 months at home. I know she's itching to get back.

Being messaging her child - they are from overseas so isolating in the nice ensuite rooms at college. As DD says they'll get a shock when moved to the rooms for 1st years!

I think we are fortunate Oxford and Cambridge students don't live in the types of accommodation which seem to be having issues. We'll that's what I'm telling myself as reassurance.

DD also trying to limit who she sees now so she doesn't catch Covid and delay her return. I'm anxious about bringing it home as work in education. Thankfully we are near Cambridge and I can reassure you that actually levels in Cambridge and surrounds still very low at the moment.

That's good to know, Ellie. DD is at Cambridge already. Apparently they'll be tested weekly.

Fuffit - yes know Cambridge are. Oxford don't seem to be testing routinely although there is going to be a testing centre close to DD's college. Glad she won't be in the general testing regime if she does develop symptoms - I can tell you despite the low number of cases you can't get a test round here...

@EllieFredrickson

Yes, I'm hoping that if (when?) they are required to self-isolate, the college will support them and facilitate delivery of food, prescriptions etc.

DS had the same idea as your DD, and is avoiding contact with anyone outside our household for the two weeks before he goes, to minimise the risk of carrying infection to Cambridge. Sort of like a pre-quarantine.

Hi everyone and thanks to Dad for the new thread. I am so keen to see how everyone gets on - I've become very attached to the frequent posters on these threads in the last two years even though I don't post often myself. DS goes on 03 10 to C for humanities. No details about drop off at all and never driven to Cambridge, so a bit nervous about navigating/parking. I hope I'm allowed in to see his room and then ideally would like to have a meal with him before a long drive home. Good luck to everyone!

Just heard that Labour have called for a delay on the arrival of students not yet at university.

Does anyone know if this is likely to happen. We seriously can’t be arsed to pack if DS ain’t returning soon.

Just heard that Labour have called for a delay on the arrival of students not yet at university.

So that will be just Oxford and Cambridge then (plus those en route to Durham today). And some of those are alreay there, having flown in from overseas and coming towards the end of a two week quarantine.

iron and many post grad students I think.
Don’t they arrive after freshers in most places?

DD's college have said that if anyone off the main campus (don't know exactly what that means) needs to self-isolate then they'll have to rely on Deliveroo etc. Those on "main campus" can have takeaways delivered from the canteen.

So all universities except Oxbridge would go ahead, but Oxbridge students would have to work from home?!! DD is already in Cambridge.
She's having a music week which involves doing stuff with lots of others, while social distancing.

fuf I guess lots of post grads won’t have returned yet all over the country.
And maybe they’re hoping students will start drifting back voluntarily as they get bored of the restrictions.

I dunno really.

dd would be gutted if they stopped them from returning. It feels like Oxbridge have put in so much work into getting the students in as safely as possible and in supporting them. Labour really haven't thought things through at all.

I think as well as colleges helping with food, the students will help each other with shopping and supplies.

OhYou I’m not saying it will happen just that I heard it on the radio and thought oi oi.

Gardenias in Cambridge - a proud moment for DS when his photo has made their gallery (less so for me).