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.

I thought he was transferring to a PPH! The cubby holes would be full just with the College fleece, College puffer & College bucket hat. (Note to freshers: Christmas presents are easily sorted this year.)

dds college still haven't actually sorted out her accommodation. Every time she contacts them they tell her it will be a few more days. It is ridiculous, given that they messed things up in the first place.

It is causing a lot of worry here.

@OYBBK, I'm sorry to hear that your DDs college still hasn't sorted out her accommodation. That's very late in the day not to know. I hope they get back to her soon.

DS1(C) is much happier about his accommodation. We managed a visit to his college - my first ever to see round the grounds and outside all the buildings at last - and were able to access the accommodation block where his room will be. Although we couldn't go inside his room and he also saw that his three friends aren't even on the same corridor as he is, we all liked the building (period style rather than last year's hideous modern 'cupboard-sized' one) and there's a bathroom right next to his room. So he's happier to have to accept it.

He managed to email a senior member of staff later on, who had been very apologetic about the room debacle this year (lots of friends split up and people in last choice accommodation apparently) and this very kind person then photographed images of DS1's new room interior, which has further helped him to see how lovely it'll be compared to last year. He'll not know anyone at all on the corridor but hopefully it won't be one fully formed close friendship group plus him.

So his college has gone up in my estimation and I'm very grateful to the person who went that extra mile to take photos of DS1's new room and send them to him.

@OhYouBadBadKitten - I hope your DD hears about her accommodation soon; they are leaving it rather late.

DS goes back at the end of September and has made arrangements to meet up with a couple of friends in the week before lectures start, to do some of the sightseeing he couldn't do last year.

He has been doing a bit of work to keep the maths / physics part of his brain ticking over (and because he enjoys it). He seems fairly relaxed which is good.

OYBBK that is cutting it fine.

DD got a huge attic room last year, but has opted for the ground floor with less of a walk to the kitchen ( a proper one) and bathroom. The 2nd year accommodation is on another site behind gates so she should not get people peering in. Carrying all her art things up and down stairs nearly saw her off last year.

She and her friends are really lucky - they are split across 2 neighbouring blocks. The other people are another friendship group split across the same 2 blocks..... they are planning a big welcome party between the 2 blocks for all their Kollege Kids. It is going to be messy.

mutter do they not have pictures of all the interiors? How do they choose between rooms?

@Unescorted - no there are no images usually of room interiors and no one gets to pick a room - just an accommodation block. Even then, it looks like many people, including DS1 didn't even get their first, second, third or fourth choice block and are also not with any friends at all.

@OhYouBadBadKitten that's rubbish. They seem to be pretty rubbish at sorting out her room, don't they?

@mutterphore good news that he's close to the bathroom and they are trying to be helpful. In year 2, DD had 2 toilets and 2 showers (which might also have had a toilet in) between either 8 or 10 of them and managed fine.

DD2 (not at O or C) is going back tomorrow into uni accommodation and expects to have 2 showers/toilets plus 2 extra toilets between 10 of them. She started her "year abroad" today from home. Her uni in the UK has been brilliant in allocating her a room until she can get a visa to go abroad. Her non-UK uni is keeping a room for her until 31st March.

DD1 (C) is back in Cambridge from a week in the sun and preparing for being a supervisor to 1st years as well as reading up for her PhD. Her exact title has still not been determined as the company funding it gets a lot of input. DD emailed her one of her 2 supervisors who is HoD and was told to enjoy having a decent break over the summer. I hope she might pop home for a few days before term starts but I'm not holding my breath.

mutter it is good that they went and took the photos in that case. If DD didn't have a photo we would have had a melt down all summer about what colour soft furnishings to take.

OYBBK I hope your DD finds out about her accommodation soon. And mutterphore I'm glad your DS is feeling happier!

DS was very disappointed initially last year that his room didn't have a wash basin in. I was really surprised that he even cared, but it was apparently one of the considerations for college choice 😆. However he soon didn't care and realised that it was only X steps to the sink which was less than at home 😆 This year he is in a college house and picked a basement room, but now he tells me that he only picked it because no one else wanted it! He seems to have no idea about the house - showers etc- but hopefully all will be well! It does feel so much easier this year when he knows the people he'll be living with!

D1 and her college 'wife' have been allocated their children - she's very excited to meet them. We're taking her back to Oxford this weekend and into her houseshare for the year.

I think that allocating college children to college parents is worse than doing a seating plan for a wedding. The genes mutate, so you end up with a physicist father having a fine art daughter etc!

Haha, mytortortoisill! My phone is terrible at autocorrect, catches me out often. Yeah, a bit weird asking for a bike in a bookshop!

Kitten, terrible about DD's room. College need to get their act together.

Mutterphore, at my DD's college, non ensuite are better rooms.
And as for sinks, my DD's first year room was terrible, tiny and dark but because it had a sink was higher up the ballot. Lose, lose, except off she was at C.

And the mention of photos, someone at the college has accidentally deleted all room photos. Her room was scouted by friends last year and a corridor mate, back early just sent a nice picture of his. DD back a bit early, just a week but will help ease her in. She's doing 10 hour days right now on project after too much fun abroad. But she's been working for weeks with a great supervisor.

Good luck with final preparations all! Especially good luck to freshers.

*Except ofc

Thanks everyone. She's had a bit of reassurance that they are working on it - so she hasn't been forgotten. I do understand that it's especially challenging this year with extra students being squashed in. It's difficult when there's a lack of communication and no insight behind the scene.

I hope your DD's room allocation is resolved very soon, Kitten. Some colleges appear to be more challenged by the extra students than others.
DD is returning to Oxford two weeks today. She thoroughly enjoyed spending several weeks in college over the summer collecting field data for her Master's project whilst living with students she hadn't previously met from across all year groups. She has also managed two holidays, one abroad and a family one in Cornwall and is excited for the year ahead (with no more exams!).
DS returns to Cambridge a week on Saturday. He and his friends are moving into lovely big rooms in the Old quad. He recently "married" his college wife in a virtual ceremony and they are preparing to welcome two college children, one for each of their subjects. DS has yet to meet his own college parents as both are from China and didn't travel to Cambridge last year.
Definitely the buzz of a new academic year building here with books appearing again and final meet ups with friends heading back to their respective unis.

DS is a single parent to 4 Freshers! His 'husband' is studying abroad for 6 months so not there to lend a hand. He had written his letter so there is a bit of work to get him to think about how he might support them. On the bright side, it will make him get out and do something!

HuaShan he needs to get friendly with the neighbours and gatecrash (with offspring) their welcome party.

I am so glad DD's college has plenty of accommodation for all 3 years. Living out houses must be in really short supply this year with the increase in students.

Huashan that's encouraging. Are they all mathmos?

Hi everyone DS is starting O in October and I’m trying to work out what he needs to bring. For matriculation.. Is it black suit with normal white shirt and black tie or white tie?

Hoghgyni, no, 2 Maths, 1 MML and one PPE. I'm really pleased as he will have to get out and make an effort now and he's much better if he ahs something he is 'expected' to do.
Sunsetmum yes a dark suit, black tie or bow tie is what most as DS college wore.

Sunset DD's college has a student handbook that lists out what to wear for matriculation. Each college is similar but not necessarily the same. I found it comforting to see the official list - although was at a loss as to the ribbon length or width so sent her down a variety.

DS1 (Chemistry) has a History and English wife and a PPE husband. They have acquired 2 chemists and 2 PPE as children 😊

DS1 isn't going back until 4 October as he is working at the London Marathon. Good money for a short burst of work.

@Sunsetmum Oxford academic dress code D1 and her household all went together to get their gowns, ribbons etc before matriculation last year, there are a few shops that do it, she took smart black trousers, shoes and a white shirt with her.

D1 (History joint) and her college wife (English) have two children, one History and one English. There can't be anyone doing D1's History joint this year in her college, because they would have been allocated to her.

The ribbons come with the gowns for the girls. I must remind DD to find the safe place she left hers in.

We have a moving in slot!