Oxbridge 2021: another 6 months of fretting

[DahliaMacNamara]

Will they make the grades? How will grades be awarded anyway? What the hell are Cambridge up to with that nasty little clause?

Hi all - just checking in to see how your DC are getting on. I must say the STEP stuff sounds terribly stressful! On the other hand, DS has been sent a reading list the length of his arm to get on with this summer, so no chance of clocking off.

We did a day trip to Oxford on Sunday, and even though his college still isn’t allowing visitors we could at least see it and get a sense of where it is in the city. We had a lovely Father’s Day lunch out at Gee’s and a visit to Pitt Rivers and the University Parks (complete with Quidditch practice!). Also did a first IKEA trip to start gathering stuff to pack.

How are your DC filling the long wait until 10 Aug?

Sounds a lovely day out LaundryFairy.
I mooted going to Cambridge with DD but she is going to visit with some mates later this month.
She is insisting on being completely independent which is good in most ways though she has mentioned her college have been sending her a few “things I have to do” and is not getting on and doing them! I think it’s formal stuff like sending certificates (she has them “somewhere”) and finance information. I’m biting my tongue at the moment.
She is filling the time by waitressing and non stop socialising. Her feet are barely touching the ground but she seems to be loving life.

That’s great that your DD is really enjoying this time @Elsewhere23, and I’m sure she will get things sent off as needed (universities are quite good at chasing up I believe).

I’m having to guide DS through the whole preparation thing a bit as he is also getting disabled student allowance, which seems to involve many, many emails, letters being copied to various people, and repeatedly going over additional requirements. TBH it can be hard for me to get my head round it all, never mind DS.

DD alternates between managing perfectly competently alone (eg independently organising a trip to Oxford, emailing the right people to arrange a tour, travelling solo) and assuming other things will fall into place without very much action on her part, then stressing when she suddenly discovers a hitherto unsuspected deadline up ahead.
Not being under the cosh of actually needing to sit the STEP papers, she's hoping to get hold of this year's and see how she gets on. Tsk, young people today, eh? Hell-bent on having a good time.

@LaundryFairy, DD (Oxford) found the DSA process very efficient and straightforward once the university was in receipt of the paperwork. She had an hour long meeting (online) with someone from the Oxford DSA department to discuss her specific needs and then everything was actioned without any further intervention from DD.

That’s good to hear @ofteninaspin - hopefully things will get better once the assessment is all done. DS has just been filling in another form and getting very tetchy around talking about his disability and how it impacts him.

Named changed, as we don't reveal college info on the other threads. If anyone has a DC holding an offer for New College Oxford & has any questions please drop me a private message & I'll tell you what I can.

Ditto ! I have a dc who is just finishing their first year at Christ's College Cambridge. if you want to ask anything, feel free (I have also NCed).

Ooh now hoping someone offers that from dd's college

As the name would suggest. Home of Foxe the tortoise and responsible for both Milibands. Sorry.

Ds just finished 1st year at Christchurch if anyone has any questions.

Hi all - first time posting so apologies in advance if this has covered already. My son's been fortunate enough to get an offer for Medicine at Cambridge for this year (2021) and I just wanted to double-check on the prep we need to do as it looks likely he's got the grades (we're in Wales and CDGs have already been shared).
Neither I or his Dad went to Uni so we're a bit unsure about what he might need to take etc. He's sorted the student loan/finances and he says the college offers almost full catering (which is a relief as he'd rather study/read books over cooking at any time).
I think the accommodation is all en-suite so I presume he'll just need to take bedding, clothing/toiletries and laptop/printer etc ?
On the subject of clothing he seems to think everyone will just be in hoodies and jogging bottoms but as it's Cambridge I'm not sure if he'll need more smart/casual for lectures (have visions of everyone in chinos and shirts!) and perhaps suits for evening meals? I was also planning on getting him a cheap bike as it seems everyone cycles (not sure he will but thought it worth a try...).

I think we might get more details mid-august once 'official' results are confirmed but I'd like to spread the cost and start putting together a box of Uni 'bits-and-pieces' in advance.

Any advice appreciated and apologies if this sounds really naive and all the info is out there. Just thought it might help to ask if people have experienced all this before (or have much better contacts than me!) as both he and I are new to all this.
Also, if there's anything obvious that I've missed and 'everyone' else knows please flag. Thanks in advance x

There will almost certainly be a list of things to take on his College website, as each one suggests different items as being essential & bed sizes vary. I can only speak for Oxford, but the student population look exactly like every other teenager in the country, with hoodies being the standard dress code. Most students in Oxford buy the obligatory College jacket or hoodie when they arrive. A suit would be required for formals though.

His College website will also give him a heads up on summer reading lists.

@Angharad01, DS's (C) college publishes a very useful packing list for freshers so your DS might want to check if his college does the same. For every day wear, DS wears t shirts, hoody and jeans or sport kit. For matriculation and formals, it's a dark suit and tie with gown. DS likes to wear a casual shirt if going out in the evening (with jeans).
DS's college is fully catered so he just has one small pan and a single set of crockery and cutlery (for when sports training clashes with meal times or he wants to make his own lunch). DS also took a second desk lamp, laptop stand, monitor, clothes airer, laundry bag and a couple of cushions for his bed and armchair.
Not everyone cycles but many do. DS took his bike from home but others bought a second hand bike in Cambridge and leave it in college over the vacations.

Thanks all - really helpful and reassuring :-) Managed to find an old list for the college and based on your advice also he can start pulling the basics together. All quite exciting!

@Angharad01, having just put away DS's bedding I realise that I forgot to mention a decent mattress topper. Makes such a difference if the mattress isn't great.

dd hasn't needed a printer - she gets credit from her course and college to print. She has found a second monitor and a graphics tablet an ideal way to cope with online lectures, which might be something to consider.

Warm clothing and if he's into things like Christmas jumpers, one might be handy for Bridgemas on 25th Nov.
A nice blanket from home has been appreciated to cover college bedding and for general cosiness, but that's not everyone's bag.

oh yes, mattress topper - been essential for 3 years in a row now.

Does anyone have any recommendations for decent but reasonably priced mattress toppers? DH and I have a latex one that was really quite pricey - I assume people are referring to something a bit more basic here?

I thought this was the kit for students thread and just realized it's not - but recommendations would still be gratefully received!

DS1 rejected the mattress topper. It came back with me when I dropped him in Oxford last October and now lives on our spare bed.

I got D1 a mattress topper from John Lewis, £35 for single bed size, plus waterproof mattress cover, pillow, pillow cover, 2 fitted sheets and pillowcases and a coverless duvet (also John Lewis) - washes and dries very quickly, no need for duvet covers.

Worth checking the college handbook (usually a link on the college website) for info and rules, eg what electricals are allowed. For D1, no mains fairy lights, kettle fine but must be on a tray, kitchen only had microwaves, so noodle/soup microwave pots rather than pans etc.

I'll have a look at John Lewis, thanks, @JulesJules. I think DT1 will definitely appreciate one, DT2 I'm less sure about - he insisted, a few years ago, that he didn't need a new mattress despite the loose springs etc., and then claimed not to be able to tell the difference when it was replaced by a decent pocket sprung one.

Try Dunelm Loon. They have a decent return period as well, in case you suddenly discover your DT has a random bed size.