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 utterly and wholeheartedly apologise for bringing the B-word to this thread. It is just another bizarre outcome of this pandemic that a topic that we were all daily obsessing over a year ago is now hardly talked about. (Although I am aware it's on the news agenda today).

Off to Oxford tomorrow. DS has made lists but today is the actual jour de grand packing...

Some of us are still, quite rightly, obsessing.

Masses of luck to those going this weekend. Allow extra time for travel. Some atrocious weather over the next couple of days, especially in Oxford.

I've been in Cambridge since Thursday afternoon and I'd have said there were plenty of freshers about, maskless and happily socialising.

We’re leaving this morning and to be honest it’s felt very quiet overall compared to when we visited around this time last year - went for a late walk last night and it was pretty quiet. At DS’s college it’s all very strict with porters checking on corridors! DS says it feels a bit like boarding school!

I’ve seen lots of freshers wandering around during the day time and some were masked - it seemed to me that the residents of Cambridge (or who I assume are residents) are more than often masked than not. Longish Q into Sainsbury’s yesterday.

Weather here is pretty dire, looks like rain for the next few days although I think that’s the case for pretty much everywhere!

Good luck to all moving in this weekend.

DD is in a household of 5. A nice number I think, with one of them being on her course so they'll be able to do some work together.

That's really daft - I'd go as far as to say irresponsible to the locality - about the college not opening its gym. Maybe they'll be able to sort that out in due course, they've probably had more immediate logistical priorities.

Even in normal times it can take a while to find your uni crew. DD met her female bestie early in college (DD taught her to ride her bike!) , the ones doing her subject via practical groups later (there may be less of this but hopefully some level of group collaboration) and has acquired more friends and acquaintances throughout the whole time.

Relating to a lot of what you said Coleoptera. So much is virtual and online, DS isn’t sure what’s happening to his supervisions yet. I think freshers fair is online this morning - I’m not sure how long freshers week lasts either. Certainly no work set yet - but plenty to get to grips with in terms of meeting others/online stuff and emails etc.

My DD took a little while to find her true friends during normal times so I suspect that this year it will take a little longer possibly. There is a tiny part of me wondering if it might’ve been better for DS to have done this term online from home - but then again if he hadn’t gone I likely would’ve been thinking the opposite!

@Coleoptera, it might be cheaper for your DT1 to join the University Sports Centre

It’s a bit out of the way as it’s on the West Cambridge site, but handy for science students or people in colleges near Grange Road.

[quote Brashopper]@Coleoptera, it might be cheaper for your DT1 to join the University Sports Centre

It’s a bit out of the way as it’s on the West Cambridge site, but handy for science students or people in colleges near Grange Road.[/quote]
Get extra exercise cycling there!

Coleoptera, thats a really tough start for your ds. He could talk to the porters on the quiet if there is another party. It's sad that he feels so constrained in talking to you. Perhaps he might feel less overheard if he skypes with headphones.

In general I think it does feel better once term starts and they get into their work and perhaps start to meet others on their course. Difficult this year I know. You are right, that the quiet ones will probably be hiding in their rooms. dd has only been out to the shops and for food I think. She is getting on with her work in her room to ease things a bit later in the term. She does have an in person meeting with her DOS early next week.

@Coleoptera - I am PMing you. x

Once term starts, there should be a diminishing of late parties except fri/sat. Colleges do have some capacity for discipline - apparently the first level is being 'portered', if that doesn't quite things down then the next sanction is to be 'Deaned'. I'm not entirely sure what exactly this entails but I know DD wished to avoid it.

I think its more that the party isn't in its own corridor that is the problem. Its really tough when some people are trying to obey covid rules and others aren't.

I do think that colleges being so restrictive inside themselves is just going to push the problems out into the community though. The whole no mixing of households to eat within college just means they will be going out to cafes to eat with each other. The same as the gym. Better to enable students to mix safely inside so they aren't sharing their covidy selves in the general population.

DS and DH are driving to Oxford now to do the drop off/move in. It looks like his household will be his staircase of 8. His college aren’t serving dinner tonight so he’s not sure what he’s going to do this evening. Hopefully he’ll find someone to eat/spend time with!

Good start for us, dd due to go back tomorrow. On Thursday night her boyfriend developed a high temperature. We are awaiting covid test result with baited breath. Would be odd as neither of them have really been anywhere except for a posh afternoon tea at a country house hotel ( ironic if that was the place of contact ! ) . Hoping it will be back and negative before tomorrow. College have “ helpfully” said they will keep her room for her 🤣 given she is paying for it one would hope so !

oh no nearly!

Oh Nearly

That's been my worry for a few weeks. Every last slight niggle anyone gets and I'm worrying its the start of something.... (no one had any official symptoms I hasten to add)

As someone said up thread the daft thing is these students can step just outside their college gates and socialise as normal until nearly 10pm at least. Why aren't they in The Pickerel with the other students?

Coleoptera - there are still students just arriving and then freshers will continue a while yet. I am sure things will settle for DT1 once the academic programme gets underway.

1am really isn't that late for a party whether his corridor or not so best advice would be not to ostracise others by being the killjoy. As someone else said once the work starts they won't have time for that (at least not as often). These are normal 18 year olds living away from home, making friends and letting their hair down in abnormal times.

DDD - I wondered when DS was off when I saw DS minor the other day but he was just slightly too social distanced to ask him! Good luck as he heads off.

GS - can't believe you came all this way and didn't message Next time!

And DS1 is safely dropped off. Very straightforward and easy. Lovely room with brand new mattress and mattress topper - so the one we had brought with us has come back!

He's in a household of 10. His whole house has been recently refurbed and is very nice. He got a goodie bag with the customary college face mask and branded glass. A group of them are heading out to buy their gowns later. So excited for him.

Thanks, @SeasonFinale - doing a family roast dinner tonight as a send-off, then heading off to Oxford early tomorrow. DS2 is not coming but DD will - DW and DD will have to stay in the car while I help unload with DS, then we'll leave him to it, while we pop into some friends who live in Oxford.

Coleoptera a small chuckle from me - DS has yet to go (Tuesday) and his household is the 8 bedrooms on his floor. His worst nightmare would be that he DOESN'T have any engineers or Mathematicians on his floor....he's hoping for a 'problem sheet buddy'. Hopefully your DT will meet more people once term starts proper. Are they having any subject socials? (albeit on line)

@DadDadDad

Thanks, *@SeasonFinale* - doing a family roast dinner tonight as a send-off, then heading off to Oxford early tomorrow. DS2 is not coming but DD will - DW and DD will have to stay in the car while I help unload with DS, then we'll leave him to it, while we pop into some friends who live in Oxford.

DD has requested Christmas dinner tomorrow, just in case. Luckily we always have chicken, not turkey.

DD has requested Christmas dinner tomorrow, just in case. Luckily we always have chicken, not turkey.

@Hoghgyni I commend her ability to see ahead and plan for the 'unforeseeable'. Perhaps we could have her run our government soon. She seems more astute.

We're dropping DS off early at his college then I'm meeting a friend for coffee while he settles in, then taking DS to lunch before we say goodbye.