Oxford and Cambridge current students discussion thread

[sandybayley]

Starting a new one as we filled it up!

Can't believe DS1 will be home in 2 weeks. Must remember to adjust the Ocado shop for when he's back. I suspect we may end up with a few days of his favourite meals 😊

I should look at that, that's a good idea, thank you.

Can I ask about the graphics tablet OYBBK ? DS is also a Maths student and takes ages to type. I figure throwing money at the current situation will help!

Might also be good for Chemistry as well. DS1 has to draw lots of molecules. We did buy him a model kit for Christmas but something to draw on might be useful.

@sandybayley

Might also be good for Chemistry as well. DS1 has to draw lots of molecules. We did buy him a model kit for Christmas but something to draw on might be useful.

Doesn't he have access to chemical drawing software? I'd assumed it would be standard kit for chemistry students nowadays.

There are some recommendations for free chemical drawing software (or free for academic use) here. I've not used any of these myself, he might want to find out if his department has recommendations or licensing agreements.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Anygooddopen-sourcesoftwareetodrawwsketchmolecules

The graphics tablet may be useful too for scribbling 'curly arrow' diagrams etc, of course.

Unescorted, that's a good idea about getting 2 ISPs and I may look into that for us.

Malbecfan, don't let the opinions of one poster upset you. Mutual support and creative solutions for our various struggles are always the most adaptive ways of behaving. Most of us here are on board with offering these rather than unhelpful criticism.

DS1 (C) and DS2 (O) are resigned to the probability of this whole term online and from home. It's very sad but there are worse things and at least we'll have each other. DS2's tutor has sent a kind and supportive message to his tutees.

It's a shame they'll be missing out on student life and still relying on online images of Oxbridge life, pre-pandemic - rather than the lived experience but I hope it won't be for all their years at uni. I find it quite sad to see them looking at pictures of May Balls or Formal Halls, hoping they might have access to things like this (plus the CUL) at some time in the future.

It's lovely for me having them still at home, although the extra domestic support for them, plus my full-time work, can be challenging at times!

DS1 is firmly sticking to his DOS's advice not to work during the vacation (!!) but DS2 is working hard for his online college collections pending next week. It would help if DS1's DOS could return some of the outstanding unmarked essays from across last term but I assume he's very busy. DS1 has now bought one of the texts for the first week of next term with the new supervisor and I'm hoping he'll eventually read it. Having a very laid back DOS/supervisor last term hasn't been the best model for conscientiousness and I think they got on so well because they're very much similarly minded!

Something like this Wacom One (their naming system is confusing) which is dinky is nice www.amazon.co.uk/Wacom-CTL-472-N-Small-Creative-Tablet/dp/B07N525974?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

or this XP Pen - which dd prefers because she likes a bigger space www.amazon.co.uk/Graphics-Drawing-Tablets-Battery-free-Supports-Black/dp/B07VKB37HZ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 do the job really nicely. You don't need to spend more. Make sure you use the latest drivers from their websites for smooth usage.

@unescorted, I love the positivity of your comment about becoming a smaller college annexe!!
Both DC are feeling a tad regretful about travelling home with the minimum for Christmas. Not much they can do now about books, printers and bike left in college!

@ErrolTheDragon - I asked DS1 if he needed anything to help with drawing and he told me 'some paper'. Apparently he draws stuff on paper at the moment and scans it in. DS2 (Year 11) asked for some black biros. So Day 1 of #lockdown3 is proving quite cheap for now 😊

That's still probably the easiest way for most stuff TBH.

We told DD to bring home everything she thought she couldn't cope without if her return was delayed. She brought home a box of Shreddies & fancy dress. She left behind a key text she needs for next term.

DD is back in her Cambridge college accommodation. There was a big furore yesterday following BoJo's announcements and people on her college whatsapp group expressed a lot of concern about not being allowed to return. My own dd was really distraught too. Anyway the advice from her college was to seek individual approval from her personal tutor - which was granted. So following a frantic morning, she's back.

The Cambridge testing system was very efficient last term, and dd has been very scrupulous in sticking to all the rules, turning down NYE party invites and only going for a couple of walks with local friends.

@Hoghgyni 😬 My D also left a vital book in Oxford (and it was DH's copy)

dds college are still deciding their response apparently. So we are none the wiser.

DD had the luck foresight to bring back the books she needs and all her pencils. I think she has given all 300 odd names as if they were her children. She got them when she was 12 -13ish and will not travel without them. Everything else can be bought in.

Today has been a flurry of emails from college and dept saying they are really none the wiser as an argument could be made to bring them back, but to what aim. More concerning is the closure of all the exhibitions and galleries they are expected to visit.

Both DC’s colleges are strictly following the guidance ie don’t move from where you are now. DC are philosophical; it’s a pandemic and the bigger picture overrides personal disappointment. It’s going to take some resilience to navigate a term in lockdown whether from home or college.

The Oxford Student D1 has had an email along these lines too.

dds college are also strictly following the guidance. At least without the charge for accommodation she will save some money. We are holding back some of what we contribute to cover the costs of her staying here, but will give her the rest of our contribution, so that she can see some financial benefit herself.

DS's O college took a few days to consider it and have granted him permission to return. He took a PCR test yesterday (negative) and he'll be isolating until we drive down.

DS's college say they will strictly apply the criteria, considering any request to return on a case-by-case basis. DS has explained carefully how he is struggling to work at home (with four other family members taking up space and wi-fi, he is right that it is not conducive to work), so we will wait to see if they accept that and let him return this weekend.

DD’s college has now suspended all requests to return. They are inundated with requests and are applying new, strict criteria. Any returners will be allocated to new households in annexe accommodation on a self catering basis. All facilities on the main college site are closed including catering and the library.

So what are they supposed to do ofteninaspin - lug all their kit from college to annexe? The government said there was an obligation to support all students remaining (incl presumably those returning within the exemptions). Is this a pretty shitty college generally?

D1's friends at other universities have all gone back - the only one left at home is at Cambridge and was refused permission to return.

It does all feel incredibly inequitable.