Oxford and Cambridge current students

[sandybayley]

Nearly filled up the old one...

Yes, @Cancantabtab, DS is the only male first-year doing his subject at his tiny college, but I obviously couldn't comment if your choice of example of a small college is at all significant....

I'd feel a bit weird discussing my adult DS on a public forum if he were identifiable which is why I don't mention college or subject. What's more, he knows I post on here (I often give him interesting snippets) and I was able to tell him that it's totally anonymous. Not that he seemed that bothered.

Oh, and the reprehensible MN posts as well

This is all very interesting. Knowing the college names brings the stories to life somehow. I'm still waiting for my (C) alma mater to pop up. I hope they are being kind. Shame on St John's.

Someone kindly PM'd me a map of closures and restrictions, for some reason I can't pm them back to thank them. But I've identified the likely culprit as the railway bridge on Mill Road

one.network/custom/cambridgeshire/

Changing username to say that Trinity College, Oxford has been very supportive and understanding. Also no charge for accommodation if not in residence.

We were caught out by bridge/ bus lane in the Autumn so thanks for heads up this weekend! DH still upset ...

Trinity college, Cambridge has very strictly interpreted the guidelines. They had a strict set of rules they had to sign up to at the start of Michaelmas, which included suggestions of not bringing much with them.
Students are allowed to sit with other students outside their household in Hall as long as they socially distance. A lot of their households for second and third years are very small because they define a household as sharing a gyp. In Burrells Field, gyps are often shared between two people. Households are amalgamated for the weekly testing purposes.

Return in January was very strictly rationed. Requests went to a committee and very few students were allowed back. The Master after a few weeks sent out an email to students. Snippets of which can be found: www.varsity.co.uk/news/20697

I'd also read this article about the cut in Bursaries for those unable to live at home.
thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2021/02/11/trinity-college-cut-bursaries-for-low-income-students-not-returning-to-cambridge-by-50-146369

Trinity have appeared to live up to their reputation as being rather poor for mental health support. Though individual tutors have been extremely supportive.

Since Easter they have switched to a self certify scheme and appear to be much more reasonable and welcoming.

Selwyn has been sympathetic to its students, more than half of whom were in residence before Easter. Everyone who wishes to can now return. Libraries and Hall have remained open. Pastoral care is good and DC’s tutors have been very engaged. Essays turned around in hours!

Essays turned around in hours

Presumably Anon64 is not mutterphore!

I've always avoided naming individual colleges for my DC for exactly the same reasons as SnapSnap. It seems to me that it would be quite an intrusion of their privacy, even though I don't discuss anything remotely personal about the DC. Once they've left Oxford, I've named their colleges in a loose way, very occasionally.

It seems from this thread that perceptions of how accommodating different colleges have been can be pretty subjective - presumably where a DC has been allowed to return as against one not allowed to return?

This is all very interesting. What our exercise reveals is that some colleges have been quite sympathetic but posters have not shared much about that experience previously.

I can understand why. With some posters DC having such a crap time it feels a bit lacking in empathy to say others have been OK. And there is a tendency to post to let off steam and express annoyance and stay quiet when things are just ticking along.

Thank you - for those of us who have DC coming in September, it is good to be forwarned about whether or not one particular college is strict or not. Please keep any comments coming, if you feel able....

It is really interesting. I think it would be quite hard for people to speak up and say that actually my dc is back and it's all pretty good. I know that was enraging me but of course I wouldn't blame poster's for this!

@OhYouBadBadKitten - this is a place to rant and it's important that people feel they can.

But I do think there is a danger that we collectively create a skewed picture of what is happening IRL. But that can be said for all of MN. 'It's all OK and I don't have a strong opinion' is a rare MN post!

www.oxfordstudent.com/2021/04/16/university-return-to-accommodation-update/?fbclid=IwAR3uKirZgd9DcYgwBIJ2wgIGu1bGm9qYtfaJgySmrYuF9bFNB8HbBiqG7oY

More hopeful news?

I do appreciate the sensitivities on here. But let's say my DS is going to Trinity college. It is very useful to know how they interpret the gyp rules (thank you - poster above) because now he could request accommodation where more than 2 share a gyp. This is why I am interested, so thank you anyone who has responded. Actually it would be helpful to have this information for other colleges, as it isn't Trinity!... Does anyone know of colleges that have bigger "households"

At Christ's, many first years live in the Typewriter building. Three students share a gyp / mini kitchen. Two of these groups of three are joined to make a "household".

The gyp room is very small (standing room only) so there is no communal area inside that building where the household can sit together to eat or socialise. There are a few picnic tables outside, and when restrictions were eased in Michaelmas term, they could sit with their household in upper hall, the buttery or the JCR.

Up to 7-8 in some household groups at DDs ( small)college. Not sure how much control your DC would have in stipulating preferred household group size tbh.. unless they had a medical need.

A quick NC here.

BNC households depend on the number of rooms on the higgldy piggledy staircases and if the wifi works in them. My child is in a household of 9. I get the impression that it is fairly relaxed behind closed gates. It may be different for 2nd years as they are on a different site.

The college has been really supportive of both returners and those staying at home. There has been no push back on my child's request. We just had to confirm the time so we can get access to Radcliffe Sq.

The college is living up to its reputation as being friendly.

Academic support and on line teaching has been really creative, but that is to be expected.

DS1's college seem to have 'given up' and are granting permission for practically everyone to come back on welfare grounds. No questions asked and self certification allowed. DS1 is pleased as his GF is coming back.

And they are back to full catering. Last term was only 1 meal on offer a day. 3 days now in the marquee 😊

I understand the tendency to keep quiet when things are going well. DS is on his way back and his college have been kind and accommodating.

I sympathise very much with parents whose DC have been let down. I hope they are all back for the start of term. It does seem that the tide is turning.

@sandybayley perhaps my DD and your DS are in the same college because that is exactly what is happening in her college too. Relieved for her but it is unfortunate for those in less lenient colleges.

Of course the jcr isn't offering much. It's run by students who aren't there to plan anything, nor can they hold their meetings to establish funding for events.

DS's college have been quite strict. In the first term the households were based around the shared tiny kitchen and bathroom - so 4 people. They requested to bubble with another household, but we're refused. The college then had a lot of students with covid and isolating. They delivered food, but gave no other help. Eg, the welfare team weren't allowed to deliver parcels to outside their rooms.
Last term they were incredibly strict about allowing people back and have been in trouble with the Oxford SU for the way they handled requests. I'm hoping they will be more compassionate this term. DS has applied to go back, but not heard anything yet.

Isn't the Silver Street bridge (on the way to Newnham, Selwyn and freshers accommodation of Trinity) now a bus lane at some times?