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.

Congratulations to your dd often

Nice one often.

Congratulations to your DD often.

Following

Wow Often that's brilliant, well done to your DD.

Just an update to let you all know DS emailed college with his decision which is to stay at C. They are being v supportive and are arranging a TEAMS call to discuss the pastoral support he needs. He will then have an academic scall with his DOS to discuss work for over the summer. Can't fault the college support.

I'm pleased to hear that @Cliff1975

@Cliff1975 - I'm glad to hear that. I hope they're able to put some support in place for the aspects he found challenging this year.

Fabulous cliff

I'm really pleased Cliff.

Well done to all the graduates. I've been watching DD'S friends videos. Something I look forward to! Wave to often! Fabulous news!

So my DD home from YA , was hoping to surprise her C friends that she is home early. But they all have covid. Has to keep her secret she's home and go down for a surprise when they are out of isolation and nearly ready to go home. English student should just about make her graduation poor girl.

Such a special time uni and yet covid seems to have been such a mere here. Where DD was in Spain was generally really fine and she had lots of friends, many from C.

*mare

Really good news Cliff.

@Cliff1975 that's really good news. Hopefully a plan for next year will avoid further difficulties.

@Cliff1975 that's really good positive news.

DD at O has had her results for English. She got a 2.1 with an average of 67. She has a job lined up to train as a lawyer in New York & London, but seems very nonchalant about her success. I think it’s because lots of her friends have got 1sts, but even DD actively decided it wasn’t worth her extra stress.

Its such as shame that they don't realise how well they've done, or what a huge achievement it is to graduate from O or C with any sort of result. A first isn't the only criteria of success and keeping healthy and mentally well is incredibly important. But no matter how much we tell our students that they've some incredibly well, they don't seem to feel it inside.

It is a shame, I agree. The excitement of getting in to Oxbridge can be very short lived. The good news is that for the rest of their lives they will be C or O graduates and very few people will ask or care what class of degree they got.

So, well done all those DC who have done incredibly well, quite well, or even just survived their exams.

DS finally got home yesterday. It's been a long time without him. He started the year early because of rugby training and finished it late because of rugby matches and drinking tour. He's had a blast and I'm thankful that lockdown didn't spoil his first year.

woollen

Your dd really should feel proud of her achievements. DS also got a 2.1 a few years back from Oxford, and like your dd, wasn't overjoyed.

He now looks back on his time at Oxford and sees that he had the best of both worlds. A very active social life, a girlfriend, and a very high paying job straight out of uni. He says that many of those who got firsts are now at a loss with what to do after their masters, or are in low end jobs. She needs to remember that there is more to life than just grades, and in my view, coming out of Oxford with a high flying job lined up, good memories, and a high 2.1, is a lot better than scoring a few more points but floundering around trying to find what to do with their life.

Of course it's horses for courses, and there will be some super humans out there! But at the end of the day, protecting their own mental health must have been especially important over the last year or two. So please help her celebrate her success.

I should also add. DS found it a lot harder to accept his 2.1 when all over social media, and with friends from home, he could see people at XY uni getting firsts galore. Or people posting about achieving 80s across the board. That's all well and good, but a 2.1 from Oxford is still probably harder to get than a first from Bristol/Warwick/Edinburgh etc. It definitely is a damn site more impressive than a high first from any number of ex-poly 'universities'

DD Fresher (C) got a 2:1 in her exams, which is exactly what she planned and was expecting so she could fit in socialising, sleep and sport. I'm very happy with that.

Well done to everyone's DC on getting through the year and I hope you all enjoy your time with them.

Well done to your dd Cinnamon

Cliff, I'm so pleased your DS is going to get the support he needs and can carry on at uni. That's great news.

Cinnamon - really well done to your DD! She sounds like she's worked hard and played hard and enjoyed her first year.

No results out yet for DS1 and DS2.

Hope it all goes well for your DS Cliff, and great that's he's at a college with good support.

Many congrats to often's DD - another great result.

in my view, coming out of Oxford with a high flying job lined up, good memories, and a high 2.1, is a lot better than scoring a few more points but floundering around trying to find what to do with their life.

The obvious point is that not all students at Oxford who get firsts have to compromise any part of their life to get that first....