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.

Very glad to hear that OYBBK and may be no bad thing to have a bit of distance from college dictats for the upcoming year....

Many congrats on the amazing maths results: every single paper! Nothing like setting the bar high :) Huge congratulations to those DC.

Hoping to officially be able to be a member of this group in October, just hoping DS gets the grades....

We will be visiting Oxford this week. Any top tips on where to go for lunch, special things to see?

OYBBK good to hear that your DD has sorted out accommodation!

@lazyboysmum I hope the waiting isn't too stressful! Also hope that you can wander round your DS's college. Christchurch meadows and university parks are also a nice walk. I enjoy sitting in the vaults cafe - I really feel like I'm in Oxford there. The art's cafe is where ds likes to go - you can order by ap and they have a good range of plant "milks"

I like the covered market and the Pitt Rivers Museum (which is very victorian and a bit weird). You might need to book tickets still.

@OhYouBadBadKitten @Pepermintea thank you both.

His college has kindly offered to show us around. So excited because it was all online interviews for him so first time visiting.

Just tried to pre-book Pitt Rivers but it's sold out. Never mind, if he gets in, we can do it another time....

DS2 (O) finally got his Prelims results and is very pleased indeed. He got a Distinction and has become a History Scholar. So proud of him.

Well done to your DS, @mutterphore!

Definitely lazyboys always good to have backup wet weather visit plans in future.

That's great mutterphore congratulations to your ds!

Well done to your DS Mutter

Lazyboys fingers crossed for him. If it is any consolation I have yet to have a look around Oxford despite having been there 3 times in the last year. I do pickups and DH does drop offs. I suspect it is because I am more likely to give into pleas to help with the packing .

How likely is it that DD would be able to come home during term time to get braces fitted. She has been waiting 5 years for the surgery and the timing may mean she has to pop back for a couple of nights.

I'm sure that would be fine Unescorted - it's a medical appointment.

Congratulations to your DS @mutterphore!

Can someone explain the "scholar" thing please? I've heard it mentioned, but don't really know what it means. Does everyone who gets a distinction in prelims become a scholar, or only a certain number per college or what? And does it mean anything other than you get to wear a different gown?

Well done to your DS mutterphore!

There can be a bit of money floating around too Pepermintea and some dinners and stuff. I think it depends on college.

Some (I think not many) of the Cambridge colleges prioritise room allocation after first year for 'scholars' (afaik it means those who've got a first that year)

Huge congratulations, @mutterphore for your DS2 (O)! I feel happy when I read about how he's thriving at Oxford, enjoying the work and meeting like-minded people. This seems such a well-deserved achievement. Well done to him.

Congratulations @mutterphore on both your DS' achievements. I hope you are enjoying your time with them.

DD is heading back to C this weekend as she gets the keys to her house. They have been chatting about setting up utilities, each of them is taking responsibility for one bill. DD is taking some of her kitchen stuff but because the broadband isn't yet set up, she doesn't want to move in properly as she needs to work remotely for her job. I have offered to take her, but she wants to do the trip herself. As long as her car is back by Wednesday, I don't mind - DD2 is being my chauffeuse for the day when my car is being serviced. It looks as if this will be DD1's last summer at home

Congratulations to your DS @mutterphore , he really has had a great first year!

It's really weird, isn't it Malbec. I'm feeling a little blue that dd isn't around this summer and therefore maybe she won't be in the future. I'm happy that she's happy and enjoying her placement. I would never, ever want to hold her back, but I do miss her a lot.

Thanks everyone. Pepermintea, I think everyone who gets a Distinction in Prelims for his subject would become a Scholar. At DS2's college, he gets to wear a different gown, can attend a Scholar's Formal Hall and gets a small monetary sum too. So he's very pleased.

Malbecfan, I can't yet imagine what it'll be like when both DS1 and DS2 fly the nest indefinitely. As they've barely been away more than 18 weeks overall in their first year at uni and only a few days in their 'Covid Gap Year', it'll feel very strange when neither lives at home at all anymore.

So far, we're all getting on really well and enjoying their summer, although I'm working a lot of the time. Both seem to have acquired several positions of responsibility at uni. for extracurricular activities, some related to their possible career choices. So they're occupied with various online meetings plus some online career related 'taster' days. The summer seems to be going by very quickly though and they'll be gone again soon. I really hope their second year is a bit more 'normal' than their first and that both get to meet in person their tutors/ supervisors and subject cohorts. DS1 (C) has barely even met or talked to most of his college subject cohort!

Congratulations on all these stellar results. Amazing!

I think keeping up at Oxbridge is a feat in itself. DD struggled terribly with nerves Yr 1 and just about did okay. Yr 2 she was in her stride and did extremely well. Yr 3 project is hitting her confidence again after a year of no studying but says today she's made a breakthrough.

Nervous about upcoming room ballot which is a bit random at her college. She has a bestie from school taking a grad job in C this year, so she could live with her but wants college amenities. Fingers crossed, her yr 1 room was terrible!!!

Glad your DD have found good accom. Malbefcan and OYBBK. Hope they enjoy!

Good luck looking around O, is it peppermint tea?, sorry lost who is who. I remember my extended family and I were overwhelmed with excitement before DD started and savored our trips around C.

Well done to all DC that got through a year of intense studies alongside covid! A real achievement.

@Sunndowne I hope she's able to get accommodation she is happy with.

Cambridge released a statement at the end of last week about their plans for teaching for this next year. It sounds hopeful that much of it will be face-to-face where possible.

Ooh face to face sounds good.

Thank you Ironoaks. DD got the room of her dreams. Delighted for her. Final year will be a bit more comfortable for it.

That's good news @Sunndowne re your DD's room and makes up for not so good rooms in earlier years.
DS is very happy with his (C) room next year. It does looks rather lovely. DD has been living in a central (O) college site for the last month or so and is a little regretful that she will be moving into a North Oxford house for next year. I have reminded her that the house will be much quieter than the main site after the freshers arrive in October!

Good news @Sunndowne and for your DS @ofteninaspin. DD had a lovely room in y2 too.

So DD1 drove to Cambridge on Saturday by herself to collect her keys, take her meter readings & a load of kitchen/bedding stuff. The A303 was its usual summer Saturday so it took her 6 hours to get there. She met her bf there then she drove back here yesterday via his house for lunch. The A303 was awful again apparently. However, I have gone up in her estimation for doing the journey both ways on several occasions in one day. Unlike her, I leave at the crack of or pre dawn when most people are still faffing about. It's not exactly her fault that she had a nail in her tyre that needed repairing and the tyre place didn't open until 8.30.

Yes, my DH found the traffic terrible 2 weeks ago.
Re: room. She had a nice 2nd year room albeit not high up the rankings, just spacious and pretty but her first year room felt like a punishment: a dark garret. She made super friends with big rooms!!! still friends mind you!!!!

Glad accommodation sounds good for everyone.

Mutterphore - sorry. A belated well done to your DS.

DD's college has enough accommodation for all students, it is one of the reasons she chose it. She would have struggled to make the open market rents.

The ballot worked really well for her - she and most of her friendship group have ended up in neighbouring staircases. It turns out that the others in the staircases are another friendship group & there is some crossover. They are already planning on having a big parent party so their college children have lots of step parents too. If any new joiners to this thread have reports of their children being led astray I apologise in advance on her behalf.

I feel for all the people waiting for results today - it was bad enough not realising how shit the algorithm system was.