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.

Hello this is my fear too. Ds doesn't go until 6th. But I keep thinking surely they won't stop them going!

It would be bizarre if they stopped Oxford and Cambridge going as the only two unis not back in residence, without sending all the other unis home. On that basis, we're putting the first load of stuff in the car now, to make a dent in the mountains of stuff now spilling out of cupboards into boxes around the house. DS3 has messaged to say he's arrived in Cambridge (this is the first time he's set foot in Cambridge) and has promised me a pic of his new room any moment :)

goodbye I’m sure you’re right and we should bite the bullet.

DS has been safely deposited at O ! It's been a long weekend -8 hours drive yesterday followed by hotel; another hours drive this morning and then lots of lugging of bags through the streets of Oxford (I couldn't work out how to park anywhere close to his college). His room is a bit small and dark, definitely not like the ones we saw on open day. Still, the good news is that there's no chance of him breaking the rules and hosting a party! He seems very pleased with the room though, especially after lovingly adding some decorative touches. Oxford was beautiful today, quite full of tourists plus some other students up early. No sign of impending doom.
After a lovely meal and walk DS cheerfully said goodbye and told me he'd see me in two and a half months. Let's hope it's not earlier than that..

I think UCL & Imperial also go back in October, not forgetting UWE as well. I don't think DD will want to risk packing until the weekend as she's convinced something is going to go wrong just to spite her.

De-lurking to say hello and lovely to hear about all the freshers getting geared up. DD has very much put Cambridge rejection behind her, and settling in well in St Andrews. Bright red gown bought and chapel services being attended, so it's not a million miles away from the Oxbridge experience, although the enormous beach is a nice bonus!

There have been ups and downs, particularly last weekend when they had their first "voluntary lockdown". But I'm gradually learning that she can cope with strange circumstances better than I give her credit for.

Hi, @AChickenCalledDaal - good to hear your mathematician is settling well in Scotland.

I'm just worried that the lockdown situation is so fluid at the moment, that by next Sunday, we won't be able to take DS to Oxford. He's so ready mentally to get going (even if the packing is a bit embryonic). Meanwhile, he's working his way through the entirety of my Game of Thrones DVDs...

Just dropped first year daughter off at Lucy Cavendish in Cambridge, studying history. It was a very friendly welcome. Feeling positive for her. Hope all goes well for others.

Lol at embryonic packing and binge watching DVDs. That sounds extremely familiar! Keeping everything crossed for a smooth and uninterrupted move.

I think we are all going to be so relieved at getting them there, that we'll be barricading the streets so they can't send them back!

Yes you're right of course Hoghgyni, there are other unis going late too. DD4 has a friend going to UWE who doesn't start until the 15th. That said, the overwhelming majority of students are at their unis now, with only a tiny proportion still to go.

DS3 has sent me a video of his room - lovely and grand, made homely with lots of pics and a large Devon flag. He says he has a garden view. Very excited to see him in situ on Thursday!

Well I'll certainly be joining you at the barricades OYBBK!

Lovely to read of everyone's DC 'gearing up' for the start of term. DD surprised me today by producing a list of stuff that she needed....very out of character! She's refusing to entertain any thoughts about a further lockdown stopping her going next weekend. Resolutely optimistic for now

4 days to go and DS has packed most of his stuff already. Psychologically, he feels ready to go.

He has found out from others who've already moved in that one family member (wearing a mask) can help him carry things in, so I'm feeling more reassured about the logistics.

He is a proactive person who makes the best of things, and he is mentally resilient, so I hope he'll be allowed to go (and stay there once he's there).

DS (3rd year C) has been back a week, he wangled an early start being on the JCR, and very eager to get back. His college have had some international students back some time quarantining and UK students are gradually arriving. DS said a contingent of Welsh students arrived early today before local lockdowns in their home areas. They have started some Freshers activities for those arriving early which will be repeated for those arriving later, good idea as it reduces the numbers.

They have households of about 8 made of 2 small different friendship groups or a friendship group and Freshers. Hall has been set up as tables of 4.

Checking into this thread, hello all. DS1 is off to Oxford (medium sized college, humanities subject) on Saturday morning. He’s been surprisingly organised and diligent about packing, ticking everything off his spreadsheet. And has shocked us all by reading everything on his reading list already. Starting to feel a bit emotional about his (hopefully) last week at home as he’s our eldest and we haven’t had any kids fly the coup yet. DS was a bit disappointed to hear this week that his college is only serving cold breakfast for Michaelmas term as he was looking forward to waking up to sausages and bacon (DH is vegetarian so we hardly ever have a full English at home).

Also checking in. DS goes on Friday to C. College (small, everyone on site) seems well prepared and has promised to deliver two hot meals a day to anyone required to isolate. Households are in six to eleven. Students need to bring long life milk, cereals and snacks.
DD goes back to third year at O on Sunday, one helper. Currently in full revision mode for Part 1 finals postponed from Easter. Will be in shared college owned house. Not allowed on main college site (small, central, completely full) for meals, library etc but a second dining hall has been set up for second year’s onwards on post grad site.
Good luck everyone with packing, journeys and drop offs.

Re food questions up thread, we brought precisely nothing with us. This was deliberate on my part: I figured that oxford had food shops so no need to bring anything from home. I had anticipated accompanying DS on a big shop once we got there but even though I spent six hours with him in oxford there wasn't enough time (unloading, unpacking, eating and taking obligatory photos oh him looking faintly embarrassed in front of the Radcliffe Camera) took priority). He has plenty of time to buy pasta.

Snap did your ds' college not advise them to ensure they have a supply of food in case of the need to self isolate?

Part of our reasoning is to minimise dd mixing into the local community too much, to try and help keep any outbreaks within the university. Obviously she will need to go food shopping, but she can lessen that need by buying staples here. I'm hoping her staircase have all prepared with some basics so that if they do have a lockdown within a couple of days of arrival, she doesn't feel the need to feed them all.

Ditto @OhYouBadBadKitten, since it is possible that "households" may have to isolate soon after arrival.
In a webinar last week, the college said that if the number of positive test results reaches the "red alert" threshold, the college gates will be closed and no-one should go into the city centre. All meals will be provided and a "pop up" shop will be available for milk, bread, fruit, snacks etc but students should bring long life milk, favourite snacks etc just in case. Seems like a sensible plan to me.

@OhYouBadBadKitten as far as I know he wasn't asked to come with food. He didn't mention it anyway. He'll probably be doing frequent shops for fresh food anyway, because term (and college dining) hasn't started and he is a sportsman who eats a lot. I'll remind him to stock up for possible lockdown because I certainly wouldn't want him to be a burden on other, better prepared bubble mates (with better prepared mums!)

My DD's college has told them to have 3 days' worth of food supplies. I've told my DD so sort this, but I think she's ignoring the warnings. For some hard to understand reason to do with being a teenager, she's sure all will be well.

Just dropping in to say Hi. Dropped 2nd year DS back at C yesterday. They are all very excited to be back and I think it is exactly the right thing for them. He is a freshers rep for his college and has been working hard on putting together college families and organising freshers events that take into account the social distance rules and requirements. He is hopeful they will be able to do most of what is planned, as he is conscious it is a difficult time to join a university. Pleased also about the weekly COVID testing, although he thinks a lot of them caught it before the end of term in March.
He has tonnes of food with him, but mostly because he doesn't much like his college catering.

That all sounds very positive @elastamum, thank you. I am hopeful DS (C) will have a good term in spite of everything.
DD (third year, O) is also returning with a tonne of food. She plans to self cater in the run up to online exams to avoid unnecessary mixing. She may already have had Covid; there were several confirmed cases in her second year accommodation before Easter. Oddly, she was diagnosed with asthma during the summer, having never previously shown any symptoms (and is a keen dancer and indoor climber).