Cambridge and Oxford - ongoing chat for those with a student currently studying there

[DadDadDad]

Some of us have found these threads helpful, so I'm starting a new one to take us through

...end-of-year exams (and parties)

...homecoming for the vacation (and hibernation aestivation for this thread?)

...return in the autumn (and more normal college life?)

Posters old and new welcome to join the discussion. Any tips for finding a summer job?

Oh, and for reference, I have a DS just completing his first year in a small humanity in a tiny college.

@ofteninaspin my prelims were in 10th week and the college gave up feeding us then, too — back in the 90s! No kitchens either in those days. Pot noodles all the way!

D1 says her college is charging the extra daily rate for accommodation now despite many people still taking exams. The termly charge supposedly covers 9 weeks so really should allow a few days either side in 0th and 9th weeks.

@pantjog, DD’s college is providing frozen meals and microwaves - an advancement on pot noodles!
@JulesJules, charging extra rent to sit exams does seems rather mean spirited.
I had no idea any of this happens as DD has always had exams earlier in the term.

At dd’s O college, all students are charged vacation residence if they stay beyond the end of term but they can claim it back via a college grant if they are staying to take exams or for academic study which can’t be done from home. Might be worth checking if the same sorts of grants exist at her college?

It does seem mean that some colleges would charge an extra rate when exam season has been extended due to covid.

DD's exams started today. She's been given 10 days free as she's also in a Varsity match.

That seems very unfair about charging for accommodation that was only needed because of exams being shifted forward!

Thanks for the info. about going on to Masters degrees. That's very helpful.

Good luck to those just starting exams and also to your DD in her Varsity match, Hoghyni.

DS2 (O) still revising hard for his last exam on Wednesday, prior to coming home on Thursday. DS1 (C) has now finished but is probably wanting me to pick him up on Wednesday.

Chitchattery and anyone else I missed, well done on your DCs excellent results!

When are you off on your hols Mutterphore? Hopefully the weather will pick up for you.

DS's college is letting them stay up to 16 days after the end of full term before they start charging vacation rent.

He has just sent me a video of him taking part in the customary rite of passage after completing the last exam of the year (I can't be more specific without outing him, as it's the only college at C to have this tradition).

Ah, D1 says her college are allowing people to stay without extra charge if it's for exams in 9th week. She was going to see the house that six of them will be sharing today. First time she'll have seen it as she was isolating when the others went to see it before Christmas. She's very excited about having a kitchen, though I have to say she doesn't spend much time in ours when she's at home 😁

Really pleased to hear he's thrown himself into the end of exam celebrations Ironoaks. It sounds as though he's really feeling part of his college community now.

Thank you again everyone for your good wishes.

DD played football yesterday and then coxed a novice crew (and won) today. Bumps are cancelled due to Covid as people haven't had enough experience on the water. Other races were planned where it was 2 boats against one another, which is what she did today, but she said that there are some cases of Covid in the uni so they have stopped.

I need to ask her about rent charges for the next couple of weeks. They were really good over Easter and the Lent term, so I'm hoping they carry on.

DS has come home as Covid is now spreading like wildfire through college. I picked him up early saturday morning , he had a phonecall from his tutor in the car saying glad he was escaping as the university were changing guidance so students now have to stay in college to isolate. So, he is home and his housemates are all isolating in rooms. College has reverted to masks in all areas, closed swimming pool, bar ets and take away food from halls only. Grim

Have just heard from DS that there is a Covid outbreak amongst rowers in his college and several students have gone home to avoid isolating in their rooms.

Awful to hear of Covid outbreaks at this stage in term!

Cliff and Often, without outing those colleges, can you say if this is at Oxford or Cambridge and if these colleges are more 'central' or more on the outskirts?

I really hope my 2 DCs aren't caught up in this as I'm picking up DS1 (C) tomorrow. DS2 (O) still has one exam to go tomorrow and then I pick him up on Thursday. Then we head off on our one holiday (UK) of the year, which has already been pushed over from last year's cancellation!!! DS2 says looking forward to the holiday has been one of the things that's most kept him going through his hours of revision across the last few months and exams. I really really hope we don't have to miss it.

It is a Cambridge college which is central

We have also had an email from C which has said they have cases at several colleges now

colleges are now not allowing students to go home to isolate

DS says his (C) college have withdrawn their rowing teams from bumps and if any team member tests positive, the whole team has to isolate.
It’s really unfortunate right at the end of term especially as there have been so few cases up until now across the whole university.

Covid at DD’s C college too, isolating in rooms. Ugh.

Second team varsity rugby match has been put back a few days because people isolating at C. I wonder if other varsity matches may be under threat. Would be a great shame.

The poor things....

I am retrieving DD on Sunday. DD has been busy going out. Hopefully she remains covid free.

It isn't very nice for those waiting for results to have this extra layer of stress and uncertainty and its utterly rotten for those who were hoping to let their hair down a bit.

Stupid horrid rotten covid :(

Covid really is the gift that keeps on giving. Ugh.