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.

@mutterphore I'm glad to hear that both your sons are having a good second year so far.

DS is finding his way to the two different departments where his face-to-face lectures are held; it's a ten minute walk so he uses the time to listen to podcasts.

He is happy with his new 'main' DoS, who was one of his supervisors last year. He also seems to have a DoS for each course, so four in total. His tutor is the same as last year.

He has been invited to 'too many' formals this weekend, which seems like a nice problem to have.

Nice news re the DT @mutterphore. My DTs’ birthday this week and the first ever for our three DC that we haven’t spent with them, decidely odd. DT2 drove to C from O so they could have lunch together which was very sweet. DT1 at C had her first ever formal hall this week, marathon hockey session at the weekend and I think there’s been a bop. She has a very lovely supervisor, loves this term’s paper and is generally living the dream I think. A small group of them were invited to lunch with the Master who had impressive recall of them all and their degrees. Planning to go up in a few weeks for an overnight. Have worked out how many terms she has left, and how many University museums I still havent done; pretty evenly matched! So cheering to hear how much better it is across the piece for them all this year.

mutterphore so pleased all is going well for both your DC this term.
Ironoaks too many formals does sound like a good problem to have!

Dad x3 the whole of DD's house (O) have also succumbed to the nasty cold going around. Hope your DS recovers quickly.

Last weekend DD auditioned a number of the 200 or so dance squad auditionees for the 12 places available this year. She is also choreographing a piece for the annual showcase so I think her master's work has been shelved this week!

DS (C) is happy to be back to training/playing University tennis after dislocating his shoulder in the summer. He is also captain of his college tennis team so his time management skills are going to be tested if all matches go ahead as planned this term.

There are at least 2 colds going around - DD arrived with one and promptly gave it to all her Southern mates. They in return gave her an equally grim one.

Mutter pleased it all seems to be going better this year.

Dad3 academic work seems to have taken a backseat here too. I am sure she is doing some work.

Good news @mutterphore about the DTs. Pleased to read all is going well for other MN DC.

I feel a bit fraudulent hanging around here as technically DD has "crossed to the other side" in that she will now be supervising freshers. If you want me to disappear, do say so. DD messaged today to say that she has been awarded a college prize for her exam results. Obviously that's lovely news. The photos of her postgrad matriculation are now online and set 1 of the degree photos have arrived. My DF (proud grandfather) loves the photo I gave him. He doesn't know that 2 more are on their way as his Christmas present. He's a nightmare to buy for but photos with bragging rights are as good as it gets.

DD has been demonstrating in labs for freshers and has 2 supervisions per week to prepare & deliver (welcome to my world DD lol). She is currently reading around the research that has been done so far so she can decide how she is going to approach the PhD work. She sounds happy enough, which is obviously my main concern.

Actually, on the academic front, I remember DS did mention proudly that he'd already written his first essay of the term, started at 9 in the morning and done by 4pm. Oxford seems to be successfully turning him into an essay-churning machine. (All alien to me as a mathmo).

@Malbecfan - of course you should stay on this thread! It all adds to the wisdom of experience that is an important part of these threads.

Mutterphore This year will be a good year for both of your DTs.

Malbec Don't leave us.

Often Your DS should join forces with DD. Yesterday she rowed through a lock at 6.30am (College BC Capt), then had her first tennis match as a uni team captain at lunchtime. I think she may have been responsible for at least one Varsity tennis match being called off due to Covid in the summer.

DadDadDad she topped her day off with a phil essay after her match.

@Malbecfan congratulations to your DD on the prize. I hope that you'll continue on this journey with us; your DD is still a student.

@Malbecfan, congratulations to your DD on her prize and also crossing over into the realms of Supervisor! Wow! Good for her! Please stay with us here and it's always lovely to hear from those whose DCs have been through the whole Oxbridge system and onwards.

@DadDadDad, well done to your DS for getting his essay done and sorry to hear he's got what's presumably normal, ordinary Fresher's Flu but so so much better than that unmentionable virus that seems to have been going round for some time now and blighting our lives!

@Ironoaks, it sounds as if your DS is having a much better time too and what a brilliant dilemma being invited to too many Formals!

@Hobbema, oh wow, I can't imagine not being with my two on their birthdays but lovely that your DT2 drove all the way to be with DT1 like that. My two have agreed, in principle, that at some vague point this year, I'll be 'allowed' to visit for the first time during term-time - although they seem to want to meet in London rather than at their respective colleges apparently - so still keeping me at arm's length!

@Ofteninaspin, very good luck to your DD with her dance audition and choreographing. There are things more important than a Master's and good for her keeping that in perspective. Very glad to hear your DS is able to get back to tennis and is captaining the team too.

@Unescorted, hope your DD recovers from her colds soon and again well done to her for enjoying herself and keeping the academic work firmly in its place!

@Hoghgyni, what a very fit and sporty DD you've gotI I'm in awe! Well done to her too for managing work alongside her other activities including those early starts for rowing!

I have no idea how my two manage all their extracurricular stuff on top of work and they've got very different approaches: DS2 wrote his first essay of the term before term began, has handed in his second one early and is now working on his third. Meanwhile, DS1 didn't even start his vacation reading until term began, gave himself 2.5 days to do it all and then pulled an all-nighter, finishing his first essay 5 hours before the deadline - but at 4am!!!

TBH I'm relieved she recovered fairly quickly after Covid. Her legs were so weak at one point that she fell down the stairs at home and couldn't think about holding a racket.

Malbecfan congratulations to your DD on a college prize.

DD has a temperature of 39.1 this morning so hasn't made it into the lab again today. She had the flu jab before she returned so this is probably a common cold but unpleasant nonetheless. However, her best friend was stung by a bee earlier this week, admitted to the JR for intravenous antibiotics and has now come down with the evil cold as well, poor thing.

Haha Hogh, I am imagining DS submitting some very hastily written supo essays whilst piles of unwashed tennis and football kit accumulate in his room!

DS1 reports that he is feeling better after re-freshers flu but has been providing graphic descriptions of the type and volume of phlegm still being produced. Nice.

Oh no often :( I guess if she hasn't very recently had covid, then she needs a PCR test with the temperature. Her poor best friend though!
Sorry for all the nasty cold infected people.

Malbec it sounds very interesting and exciting for your dd. It's fascinating to read about the other side of supervisions.

Part 3 maths is a different kettle of fish from the first three years. 90 or so stay on from the Cambridge mathmos and they are joined by around a 160 new people, very many who are international students. The dynamic has totally changed, with lots of sociability (is that a word?) going on. The maths department are also making a big effort to integrate the new ones with social events for all. It sounds much friendlier. Lectures have been half f2f with the idea that from next week it's all f2f for everyone who can.
Not been hearing much from dd, which is a good sign I think.

DS4 at Oxford (and an old school friend of Malbec's DD1) is also doing tutorials but at Oxford. And seems to be getting paid for them :)

@goodbyestranger glad to hear your DS4 is getting on well. My DD will be getting paid for them too, and has also been paid for doing lab demonstrations, which all helps.

Sorry your DD is poorly @ofteninaspin. I had a flu jab this morning, went out with my dad and am now completely shattered.

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone. It's so refreshing to have a supportive and friendly thread on here

@mutterphore, thanks for asking about ds. Unfortunately he has managed to catch a bad dose of re freshers flu so has been ensconced in his room since Sunday. He sounds quite unwell and messages me at 4am asking for advice re medicines! Sadly it also means he has missed his first in person lectures. On the bright side, he did report to having been clubbing (though I suspect it was a bit of a 'tick box' exercise) but it does mean he is trying.
Glad to hear your DT's are enjoying themselves too.
@Malbecfan - congratulations to your dd on the prize!
Sounds like many are unwell with the lurgy, lets hope they all get better soon.

Hello all. As usual I'm behind with the thread but am reading along and cheering all the DC on.

DD1 is reasonably happily settled back, although the Classics workload is intense. She is prone to exaggeration but I do believe her. DS1 is... ok. He has requested a visit this weekend which is almost unheard-of so I fear he is finding things tough. He's also finding the workload hard. The Engineering faculty is behaving in its usual unreasonable way like giving them a 2-hour lecture to watch in a 1-hour slot. He's had a nasty dose of fresher's flu so that doesn't help. I can't help fretting.

Hi all

feel a bit of a fraud as I have no idea what either son is doing

S2 did message us on day 1 with The Saga Of The Key (it was sorted) but have heard nothing for the last fortnight. The choir are posting merrily on Facebook so presumably S1 is still alive.

DD is being similarly enigmatic about her movements, @merryhouse. I get a brief message most days but they don't really tell me anything other than convey a general sense of getting out and being busy.

According to Facebook S2 went to "Mask On Mask Off" which was basically a tri-college party.

He only joined Facebook because all the JCRs and societies seem to use it. Apparently it's very much Not His Generation...

S1 went to Engineer's Café which is a weekly socialising event.

I might start stalking them both on FB...

DD is enjoying herself. Arriving so long before freshers' was a bit odd and she had a couple of wobbles but she seems to be having a good time now. She's definitely burning the candle at both ends - her second essay is already done and she has been clubbing most nights, getting up early to row and doing lots of reading in between... The food is really good too apparently and all the other students are lovely and friendly. Thus far, it's being a very positive experience despite the inevitable freshers' flu.

Lovely to read all your stories. Glad freshers might be settling. And those returning are enjoying despite the freshers flu and constant challenging workload.

My DD yr4 is having a lovely time. Has a few sniffles too. Passed a dance audition to be in competitive team so is now officially a sports woman which she is over moon about. Been involved in sport and dance from beginning but not top team.

This time in Freshers, she really had a few wobbles. But it passed. DD says half of her freshers look fearful and half super confident. But they all seem nice. Lots of good young people for our DC to mix with.

Do keep telling your stories! Most enjoyable.

@merryhouse

According to Facebook S2 went to "Mask On Mask Off" which was basically a tri-college party.

He only joined Facebook because all the JCRs and societies seem to use it. Apparently it's very much Not His Generation...

S1 went to Engineer's Café which is a weekly socialising event.

I might start stalking them both on FB...

Yes, the only reason DS uses Facebook is because several Cambridge societies seem to use it.

I'm not sure he is aware that Facebook shows me which events he is interested in attending.

By that I mean that it appears on my newsfeed. I don't go searching.