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.

She's sent her MCS to her tutors to explain why she didn't do herself justice and has had some very kind replies. Can anyone with more experience of these things than me tell me if it's still worth her trying to get her MCS added to her student record, even though she didn't need it in the end.

Tricky. Very well done to your DD for passing in such adverse conditions Hoghgyni. But on the practical going forward front I would say that much depends on her raw mark. If she managed a good 2.1 then she shouldn't worry too much. If she fell well short then her reference from her tutor will be the key thing, since job applications will just ask for the transcript, and I'm not

Pressed too soon.

.... sure how a mitigating circumstances form would play into that.

Not clued up about the specifics, sorry.

By job applications I mean all the second year placement things too. Usually mitigating circumstances would alter the raw mark, that's the problem.

Congratulations to you dd @Hoghgyni sterling work

@Hoghgyni, All paperwork about all mitigating factors and any special needs should always be on file.

And I would also also always give a little list of bullet points to each Academic Marker and to each Referee for each job with every reference request. Always.

Are you able to say which Subject and what she wants to do eventually?

JBX2013 I think the issue may be that the mitigating circumstances form played no part in lifting the marks, so having it attached now might do more harm than good (in that a referee going back to the file may not see that it failed to arrive in time to adjust the marks, so may assume that the marks are the uplifted marks). These tutors have to give umpteen references so may not be on top of every last detail.

So far her tutors have said that she did exceptionally well under the circumstances & that the MCS was unlikely to make any significant difference as she clearly passed. She's not interested in high flying city careers, so she'll see what her College suggests next.

Sounds fine then Hoghygyni. Best to leave it I'd have thought.

Congratulations to your DD @Hoghgyni

Well done to your DD Hoghgyni. To manage to pass these exams even whilst ill with Covid, shows such strength that she really deserves an extra accolade. What an amazing young woman she is!

Dear hoghgyni,
That exam season must have been so stressful for your DD. She can tell herself she is made of strong stuff!!
Excellent to have passed by the sounds of it comfortably.

Covid is just such a challenge. DD was hugged in C today by someone only just over covid. It made her very tense!! She starts internship tomorrow! Testing everyday.

Ds4 has been holed up in an Oxford college room with Covid; released today into the sunshine like a badger at noon.

DD can sympathise. She's currently at the opposite end of the UK & was going to stop off to see friend in Durham on the way. Luckily we told her to go direct instead, as they tested positive on the day she would have been there. Covid & SI would have been the final strawn

...straw

Yes Hoghgyni, DD came early from Spain for similar reasons. Nightmare! Have nephew who isolated 3 times in Durham so far!!

A quick question if I may please. dd is considering a house share or flat or similar as the rooms left for fourth years are awful. and not suitable (I can't say why in public) Can anyone point me towards options for her please? She needs somewhere quiet.

Does she have any pals who would be interested in sharing? We don't know how things will play out in the next coming year, but mine was glad to have opted to do that rather than stay in college.
'Quiet' may be something of a matter of luck, I suspect.

I don't think she does Errol. I think theyve graduated.

@ohyoubadkitten.. Look at websites... Spareroom

Thanks Daisys.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I will ask my DD. She teamed up with her really good mate from college and another close friend's gf. I'm not sure how she knows the medics. She's working now so I'l ask her when she gets a lunchbreak.

Thank you Malbec - that would be great!

I wrote quite a long post yesterday and then the app crashed on me.

But there will be quite a few 4th yrs+ looking to 'live out' - some out of choice , some because not all colleges accommodate home students beyond 3 years. The one I know of is cauis because that's where a couple of DDs lot were from.
Even if they're not friends she'd want to live with, if your DD knows any then they may have sources of info. There are some private student halls, I've no idea what they're like or how much they cost, and there are some student accommodation agencies - probably worth checking out.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I'm going to PM you if that's ok