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.

Well done! @hobbema 's DD! It's an accomplishment to have endured the ups and downs of this year, and to have done so with hard work and good results.
My DD has also finished her exams! They were all essays with multiple days to complete, 'open book' exams of sorts. I think some were literature and some on the languages themselves. She is very happy! Has already attended her first-ever (outdoor) formal, so I'm hoping to hear some details at some point. I do try not to nag for photos and anecdotes, but I am desperately curious about Oxbridge life!
Now, some rowing or punting or swimming in the Cam and at Grantchester, and I think she joined a gym with a pool. And of course, keeping hijinks at a reasonable volume so as not to disturb those still studying. Good luck to all!

Congratulations @hobbema and @FingernailNibbler DD! DS will be one of the last to finish, 5 papers 21st to 25th, timed with a strict upload window of 30 mins. We will both be very glad that term is nearly at an end

DD finished her last exam (24hr) at midday. Has been swimming in the Cam (again). Staying in college until early July.

Well done to the finishers. and to those of us enduring the ups and downs of our kids doing exams still.
I'll be more sociable once the rollercoaster is over.

Well done @Hobbema 's DD! My D1 has done her portfolio essays and has got three exams in 8th week, she's very anxious about them. We're picking her and all her stuff up (if we can fit everything in the car) Weds/Thurs of 9th week.

Congratulations to your DD @hobbema - great to be finished so early and results in too! Congratulations also to @FingernailNibbler's DD on finishing her exams.
DS's household have booked a formal for next Monday by which time they will all have finished exams. DS finished his exams on Tuesday and now intends to spend the rest of the term playing tennis!

DD is a bit disgruntled that her post exam celebrations have come to an abrupt end as she is back in the lab 9 to 5 this week working alongside her supervisor for her master's project. She is staying in Oxford until August 15th but DH and I are looking forward to seeing her this Sunday for punting and a picnic .

Punting and a picnic sounds glorious, @ofteninaspin Congrats to all who are finished with exams, and best wishes to all those still working hard.
DD staying until end of June. Not sure which day exactly we will collect her and all her things. Luckily she brought a LOT home at Christmas, but still our tiny car will be filled to the brim! Maybe I should look into storage facilities in town?

Excellent news for the finishers. Luckily DD doesn't have exams this week. Her boat has achieved their 3rd bump this afternoon.

Am I right in thinking that the withdrawal from teaching Oriel students is less dramatic than it sounds, as most tutorials are in college anyway?

I don't know about others but DS1 has regular supervisions outside his college. It's possible that's because his is a small college but I do know her regularly goes to Keble and Oriel! Outing the fact that he is at neither 😉

Excellent news on the finishers. DD gets her result on Wednesday.

After first year, DD had all her tutorials at colleges other than her own.

Well Sandy I've probably just given away that DD isn't in a little one then.

Congratulations to @hobbema's DD and to everyone whose DC have finished their exams and successfully uploaded/submitted them.

DD's results are out earlyish next week. We're still working on the assumption that her graduation can go ahead, but who knows?

@CinnamonJellyBeans your DD is more sensible than mine. Mine swam in the Cam in December in her swimming costume as opposed to a wetsuit. Mine also does the Christmas Day sea swim - most odd for someone with an aversion to the cold! @FingernailNibbler one reason for driving my MPV is the way it swallows stuff. When the 1st lockdown looked imminent, I told both DDs to pack & intended to collect DD1 on Saturday & DD2 on Sunday. The car wasn't that full as we left Cambridge so we rang DD2 and said we'd be with her in 2 hours. With 3 of us and all their stuff, it was ok but they did leave cooking stuff behind then. I'd really like a zippy little convertible, but whilst I have to do these sort of journeys, I'll have to dream, or win the lottery so I can have both

@malbecfan that's the second time in a week now. DH says to tell her that they pump sewage into it, but I don't have the heart to spoil her fun.

@Malbecfan alas, our teeny car isn't a zippy convertible – much more prosaic. Not even lipstick red. Wondering if I should invest in Cambridge storage... she did go back this term with less – with a squash and a squeeze we may get it all home (and her, of course!).
But wow, a swim in the Cam in December? 🥶 I'll mention that to my DD. I guess if you try a paddleboard, you may end up swimming by mistake.
I think the cardboard boat race is on too. Not sure when that is, but it sounds a hoot.

@CinnamonJellyBeans They don't, do they?? Pump sewage into the Cam?? hope it's a joke, I don't seem to get them, in text especially.

DH looked it up. I'll check myself in a minute. I'm not too bothered. her ancestors were peasants without vaccinations, she'll manage!

@CinnamonJellyBeans

DH looked it up. I'll check myself in a minute. I'm not too bothered. her ancestors were peasants without vaccinations, she'll manage!

Building antibodies, one dip at a time!

Apparently Anglian Water does pump treated sewage into the Cam, but Milton is downstream of Grantchester/The Backs/other places where Cambridge students are likely to be swimming.

Most college rowing takes place between Jesus Green Bridge and Baits Bite Lock, and that lock is slightly downstream of the Sewage works, though.

Lots of tutorials in lots of subjects are at colleges other than the student's own. But I think the action is taking place at a time of the academic year when it will have least impact, because fewer tutorials happen at this stage than earlier on.

DD has been swimming in the Hinksey reservoir and the R. Cherwell over the past three years and has come to no harm. Whether this is due to superior water quality or peasant ancestry, I don’t know. (We are descendants of West Country sheep rustlers.)

Well done to all those DC who have finished their exams... what a relief!

Mixed fortunes here for the Pant offspring. DD1 is on a high having finished Torpids... she didn't get blades or wooden spoons, but really enjoyed the experience. I've really loved watching it on the livestream and reliving all the tension and excitement. It's such a brilliant format for races, and I love the continuity of it all. Wonderful. @Hoghgyni did your DD get her 4th bump, and blades?

DS1 is halfway through exams, which are going as badly as could be expected, alas. He's not sleeping and the two exams that he has left are even worse than the first pair. I can't wait for them to be over and for him to have a chance to draw breath, let his hair down a bit and then work out what's next. One small positive is that he had his first covid jab today.

Pantjog all I know is there has been a bit of a kerfuffle & DD is going to explain the injustice to me at some point! Not bad for someone who picked up an oar for the first time at Easter.