Oxford and Cambridge current students

[sandybayley]

Nearly filled up the old one...

Yay! getting to the end of the thread, so I can ask some stupid questions and watch them sink into oblivion:

What are prelims?

What is a collection (like someone's child got a prize for his collection)

Cliff, wishing the very best to your DS and have my fingers crossed for him.

CJB, Prelims are first year exams for freshers at Oxford and you basically just have to pass them to move in to the second year. Collections are college-based exams at Oxford - really just to check each term that you're keeping on top of things.

Sandy/ Dad please do set up a continuation thread as this one is great!

DS1 and DS2 have their first year exams in the very last days of term - so no celebrating yet but both seem to be fitting in various social activities in the run up to them and in any case, DS1 (C) only has one actual exam and submission of 3 essays. Seems 'easy' compared to DS2 (O) who has 4 three hour exams.

If sandy doesn't set up a new thread today, I'm happy to start one this evening - or if someone else wants to, it's no big deal.

Thanks Mutterphore. How's your Cambridge son getting on?

DS (first year at C) had mocks in Lent term which were arranged by his college, and has 5 x 3h exams in June, which are arranged by the four relevant subject departments. The exam paper becomes available online at 11:30am, and he has to scan and submit (handwritten) answers by 2:30pm.

These are just called mocks and exams, no fancy terms that I know of.

CJB, thanks for asking about DS1. He's happy and settled and has made some friends, although they're not really on his wavelength but are good to hang out with.

He also has some second year connections via an old school friend and they're more like-minded (and his age group too, given his gap year) but he's hoping to find more friends from his own year group - probably next year now when there'll be more possibilities for interaction with people outside of his college.

Lots of people are busy with exams this term and no one he knows in college is interested in things like attending Formal Halls and doing 'traditional Cambridge things' which he'd love to do. However, he's got people he's happy to share accommodation with next year and he's joined various societies that he hopes will bring him new connections next year when things are a bit more normal (well, we hope they will be).

Compared to his brother at Oxford, he's having a much 'lighter' time academically, although still working hard of course. This term a different supervisor has also not marked any of the essays at all, all term, for the paper in which he's about to have an exam - but DS1 feels it doesn't really matter and is chilled out about it.

I'm still gasping at this myself, as a supervisor in his first term took until mid way through the next term to mark essays from that first term and I really can't understand it at all, even though I realise all supervisors are obviously very busy.....(deep breath as I realise I could now go on a rant!). Anyway, I guess it's all about what you do yourself as a student and perhaps feedback from marked work is indeed less necessary? Hopefully he'll do OK.

It was lovely to read a more positive note from Cliff.

DD had college exams after Xmas and then what she called Prelims first week back this term. Most of her college are gearing up for theirs now in other subjects. No let up in the work ; she’s had 1:1 supervisions all year ( talk about bespoke) with current one being v demanding on the reading front. She’s being driven mad by drilling in the basement under her room , libraries packed, just as well the sun is shining! On the upside formal hall is back, evensong is open to visitors and there’s a plan to go to Grantchester.

Evensong @hobbema is that O or C?

C, sorry, must remember!

I am so happy for him. I can't believe people don't want to go to formals. Are there actually any formal events happening in his college this term?

That is so crap that his essays have not been marked. Does the supervisor at least let him talk through his essay ideas in supos and give feedback?

DD has not done all of her essays. I'd say about 2/3 are actually done and barely any of those on time. The other 1/3 she writes a plan and discusses it with the supervisor or doesn't do at all.

She does a lot of different papers from different courses and the deadlines often overlap. She reads very slowly indeed but remembers and assimilates absolutely everything, which is good for timed examination essays but bad for research-based essays. All of them have been marked, I think. She is also very happy with her DoS. She doesn't see tons of him, but he is always available and very approachable.

Did your C son find someone to run with? I seem to recall that he wanted to go running

All the best to you and your DS, @Cliff1975.

DD1 (Oxford) has four 3-hour exams next week, to be sat in her room. She's cheesed off that the weather is so glorious when she's supposed to be revising, and I doubt she's done as much preparation as she would have done if it had been cold and wet...DD2 is also starting year 10 GCSE mocks on Monday. My Mum is due to have fairly major surgery for cancer next week, and I'm trying to stay positive and prevent worry about Granny becoming too much of a distraction for either of them.

I would also love a new thread for ongoing support :)

That’s astonishing about the unmarked essays, @mutterphore!

Sorry to hear about the worry about your DM, @MiniJellyBeans. Hope all goes well.

A postscript about Prelims — there is another sort of qualifying exams called Mods. I think they used to be taken in more subjects, but now AFAIK it’s just Classics, and taken after 5 terms, so lucky old DD has an exam-free summer term! The nasty thing about them is that there is no option to retake — if you fail you’re out.

(I think i might rename myself as the Pointless Oxbridge Trivia Nerd.)

OK - I've created a continuation thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4262198-Cambridge-and-Oxford-ongoing-chat-for-those-with-a-student-currently-studying-there