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.

I will do TheClock. I understand your concern.

TheClock DS and I have had this conversation a few times and he had a letter from college today impressing the same. I hope most colleges are doing the same.

@Coleoptera - I am SO glad your son has settled in. My DS2 (with lots of similarities to your DS, as you know) settled in far better than I expected at KCL. They are ready. I know Covid puts a bit of a dampener on it but they wanted this so much and now they are out there as adults. So exciting.

I hope your DS2 settles equally well at Oxford. My son moves in on Sunday. Just found out today he's been awarded a Choral Exhibition. He's very excited but a bit nervous.

@Theclockiswrong - we will. Afaik, DS's Oxford college is being fairly strict. You mix with your staircase and your seminar group and that's it.

@monkeyonthetable congratulations to your DS!
I was a choral scholar at KCL and had a wonderful experience.

Well, DS is now in Cambridge. He was told to arrive any time in the two weeks before Friday, so he did... but there was absolutely nothing on at all. Not a single friendly face. A few other freshers and parents hauling identical gear out of cars... but no eye contact, no welcome committee. So different from DD’s experience in Oxford last year. Not sure if it’s covid, timing, or a college that’s seriously unfriendly. Hope things will pick up over the next few days, but I felt so bad for DS who is shy and nervous under the bravado. 😢

Pant that's rubbish :(

@PantTwizzler that's a shame. Hopefully things will pick up at the weekend.

DS has been looking at his Fresher's week schedule. There are a few compulsory college events (orientation talks, Respect workshop etc) and the JCR is running a range of social events to cover most tastes.

The first mixer (presumably "mixing" at a distance) has a 2000s popular culture theme. DS muttered to himself that most of the invitees will have been too young in the 2000s to be aware of much popular culture, but found an old Pokémon t-shirt to take.

I wonder if it might partially be COVID. It's hard to look friendly when you're wearing a mask. Hopefully when masks are off (inside the bubble) it will be easier to have normal human contact. It does seem a bit odd that no welcome activity had been arranged. Maybe because they are arriving in dribs and drabs? Hope it picks up soon.

That’s a shame @SnapSnapDragon. DD’c college had 3rd years waiting at the porters lodge when picking up keys and doing a friendly escort and chat to accommodation. There havent been a lot of events but the ones on offer have been really good apparently. College parents have taken her and her college brother for dinner and on a tour of the town. Matriculation is happening formally and in person not on line, but individual photo rather than group. I read in the Times that some fresher matriculated online in her bedroom. It seems very variable. I guess hard to have a rolling welcome committee if they are being invited in in dribs and drabs. Fingers crossed it improves.

ooh sorry its late, that was meant to be for @PantTwizzler. Time for bed.

Thanks all. I'm sure it's partly (largely) covid related for one reason or another. He's met a couple of people now but still appears to have spent the evening alone. Not a great start, but he was putting a brave face on it -- at least he has time to unpack, and sort out neglected tasks like insurance, etc.

That's ok @hobbema. DS (O) didn't have a welcome committee either, but he did arrive a week early for sporting reasons. Initial impressions of his fellow sportsmen were very positive. There has been radio silence for two days which I'm guessing is good news..

Also hobb, I am enjoying the picture of your DD punting and having singalongs in beautiful rooms. That's pretty much the dream!

DS1 arrives in O on Saturday. Household punting is on the list of Week 0 activities as well. I can guarantee he won't send photos though.

When DS went to Uni it was an information black hole. I’m loving the news from DT1 and having positives to share after the year we are all living through. DT2 is keeping it all real with her compare and contrast quips . A welcome bag with plants and tea for DT1 ; “ I got a lanyard for my key and a slice of Dominos” etc. Sorbonne Erasmus girls are giving the others an early doors taste of being ultra chic and trends are being set. DD says it feels like being in a benign cult. She had a taster supervision with a PhD student ; “ hard”.
It occurs to me that Boat Race Day if it happens is going to be a challenge for you Coleoptera!! Hope DT2 is raring to go and well done for not blubbing .
I am finding this a bit like the first time your children are all at school and you have time thats just yours .. luxury.

WhatsApp exchange between DS and me (I?!) today.
Me: can you give me a ring
DS: I’m too busy making friends 😬

Thank goodness!

Thank you @Ironoaks. We are very happy and proud of him.

@hobbema - DS1 has been told he will matriculate from the safety of his college bedroom. I'm surprised it differs college by college. In our day it was all-pile-in to the Sheldonian then back to the front quad for freshers' college group photo.

@PantTwizzler. - glad he's found his feet. DS2 also moved in early to his London college and it was similarly hushed and subdued. Nothing formal laid on, but they soon found each other and made up study/social groups of six to have dinner, do quiz nights, explore the city and go drinking. Didn't take long.

Thats great news Pant :)

Go Pant Jr, phew!

@hobbema - where did your DTs end up?

Dropped DS off in Cambridge. The college was very quiet today, but we could see that they were already setting up the welcome marquee for Saturday.

The room is nicer than we were expecting (recently decorated, lots of storage space) but there isn't an area indoors where the household could sit together to chat or play a board game or anything. The gyp room is too small to swing even the tiniest cat and you certainly couldn't fit a table and chairs in there. There is a large patio area immediately outside the staircase entrance, with a couple of benches; luckily DS is used to the British weather.

As we were walking through one of the courts, two first years recognised DS from Zoom chats and greeted him warmly. He messaged to say that he went for dinner in college, and someone from his staircase had shared some cookies she'd baked at home, so that's a positive first evening.

He also managed to find his "pidge" in the "plodge" and discovered a Fresher's wristband in there waiting for him.