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 don’t know I Magdalen still do this, but they used to read out report cards for each student at the last formal hall of term. Hush would descend and every student would hear how everyone else had been working (or not working). This certainly went on til about 2000, but I don’t know if it continues today...

Do all students at all O colleges get reports at the end of term? There's no guarantee that DS will tell me, so I need to know whether to ask!
Dad your DSs report reading sounds very special!

I think DS1 gets his O report tomorrow. At least that's what he said tonight. He think college rugby is happening from January so is very happy.

My Covid symptoms are disappearing fast so it's looking like I can pick him on Tuesday when my 10 days f(from symptoms) are up 😊

DS1 has sent through a note from his college warning that there are roadworks in Merton Street from Monday so DO NOT enter via Magdalen Bridge. His college seems very focussed on warning parents about roadworks and penalty notices. I guess it's nice of them to care 😉

I am glad we don't have to underwrite the private rented sector of Oxford. The rents look eye watering.

Indeed - and the worst part is having to sign a tenancy agreement that runs for 11 months. I thought it was going to be 12 months, but on those rents the landlord can probably afford a month off (and might need it to clean up after students ).

I feel very lucky that DS1's college offers accommodation for every year. Not sure how they do it but I guess it's because it's small.

Lots of students needing to live out at DD's college next year including her - although as she is on a 4 year course we knew she'd probably need to live out for a year. Like Dad3 I'm also a guarantor as of this week. Thankfully the house chosen wasn't one of the £4k per month (between 6) ones in Jericho but still a hefty chuck of money.

2 more sleeps....

Rent for DS's house (about a mile south of city centre) works out at just over £500 per month for each of the housemates, but as I say it's for eleven months, so that averages a little under £2000 per term.

Cambridge is under a rain and snow warning today. Take care travellers.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2020-12-04&id=543869de-25fa-4a1c-a5df-a67b707491d8

Yes, here's the view currently a few miles south of Cambridge, although I'm told the snowfall is quite localised.

DadDadDad welcome to the world of private university rents. That's quite a bargain your boy's brought home.

On reflection, that might be hyperbolic (bargain), but it's well in the range.

Meanwhile the Scots have been snowbombed on the Eastern side.

Here's a picture (not mine) from Cambridge this morning. Bonus point if you can name the college.

Jesus

Unless some jester in another college has stolen it overnight that is, and moved it elsewhere. So, could be a trick question....

Sandy I'm glad to hear that your Covid symptoms are improving rapidly and you can pick up your DS on Tuesday.

Like your DS1, my DS1 and DS2 are both guaranteed college accommodation for all three years so no need to look for rentals, which is a lot easier.

DS2 has his 'report' with his tutor today but I don't think it involves an external 'witness'. DS1 will be lucky if he gets something by email I expect but may get nothing at all.

However, I got a happy email from DS1 at 2.20am last night and think he enjoyed 2 consecutive events across the evening, so that's good. He needs to do all his packing today and is highly likely to forget something vital when I'm picking him up tomorrow. I pick up DS2 on Sunday and he's probably been almost fully packed and organised for the last week.

I read this morning that Pembroke have made some offers without interview. I wonder if other colleges will follow?

DS was up in time to see the snow this morning and has been for a walk outside his college to look at the decorations in town.

Take great care if picking up tomorrow morning, ice warnings out across central, southern and eastern areas of England.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2020-12-04

D1 just sorting out options for next term (she's agonising - wants to do everything) her meeting with her tutor has been postponed to next week via zoom. She's sent me details of matric photos (£££) and second year house (£££££) haha. The houseshare is @ 3.5k pm between 6 of them for an 11 month contract, £700 deposit so I hope she's saved lots of loan and bursary money this term... She can leave stuff in her room as long as it's all put away in the cupboards and she's aiming to travel as light as possible tomorrow as it's a 5 hour train journey with a tight connection at Birmingham New St - she's never been before so she's a little anxious about that. I'm making beef in red wine and applecake, and checking her sister hasn't eaten all the chocolate from the advent calendar.

I saw that @Ironoaks did you think it was aimed at those with A level grades in hand? I do remember from Alan Rusbridger's blog on admissions at LMH, that there was one girl who had scored so highly on all the other parts of her admission that she could have said virtually nothing in her interview and still got a place. I'm guessing it's those students they are thinking of.

I don't see why it wouldn't include those rare students with all 9s. Reading what Pembroke says it doesn't necessarily restrict itself to post A level students and since the grades from last year were CAGs, there might be good reason to revert to GCSEs and place particular weight on them (unusual for Cambridge, but what's not unusual at the moment?).

Typical, on her final day, DD has “found” a piano. Out she went to get some sheet music. Which is fortunate because the chauffeur is running late and I have another coat of paint to throw on wearing a head torch as no lights in room yet!

@goodbyestranger of course it's Krispies. We love it!

Snow warnings duly noted. Thanks all. DD1 who is always freezing celebrated the end of term by swimming in the Cam this morning. No wetsuit, just a normal swimming costume. Photographic evidence seen by me - the ducks look somewhat bemused. I suppose it will make the Christmas Day dip in the sea seem positively balmy by comparison. She is somewhat bonkers. Her Covid test also came through as negative so my Sat Nav has been updated and the plans are now made for the epic trip.

DS broke his silence to report snow in Cambridge! DH set off this afternoon to collect him tomorrow morning.
I have the easier run to Oxford on Sunday and I am enjoying having a last quiet evening In a clean and tidy kitchen to bake DD’s birthday cake.
Safe journeys to all in the coming days.

Jules get her to down load the National Rail live journey app - she can then check what platform her train arrives at and which one it goes out on. Birmingham New St is so confusing. It has platforms and a, b. c for each one because they stack trains.

Sandy get well soon.

OYBBK thank you for the heads up.

1 more sleep. I never thought I would look forward to a large pile of washing so much.

Dad3 I suspect it is because the tourist trade over the summer pays more than students.

Thanks @Unescorted - I'd looked at that online, did not realise there was an app, will tell her.