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.

Ah, ok you've twisted my arm. Cheers all 🥂

Well done MiniMalbec and ChittyChild

Malbec I whole heartedly agree. DD has had a similar journey to Oxf and has just sailed into her 2nd year.

I am swapping out wine for coffee because of the time of day.

www.tes.com/news/covid-schools-could-be-way-save-2021-school-prom

Obviously someone else shares my line of thought

I also agree with Malbec, almost inevitably since all our DC went to the same school and indeed in her DD1s case and my DS4's did plenty of social not working at all stuff over the years.

I'll say it again but it really is a fab achievement Malbecfan. They're a good bunch, that lot, on all sorts of counts!

Hilarious! I hadn't thought about school leavers celebrations being cancelled again -poor kids. Other options are to turn it into an outside sporting even or (somewhat darker) a funeral..

@Unescorted, fantastic news. I think she was waiting for evaluation of her work so it sounds like it went v well. Is that news that came through while she was in isolation?

And of course enormous congrats to chitchattery DD too. Equally fab.

Thank you for letting me post indulgently. Goodbye is of course correct; her 8 and my 2 DC all went through the same school. I have had contact with most of hers, particularly the youngest 3 DS and they are all rounded individuals we are rightly very proud of. I had to stock up on the supermarket own brand Pimms, which was my tipple of choice last night before hitting the malbec.

@chitchattery, I will PM you.

DD has booked her 2 Covid vaccinations, one whilst in C, the other at home. DD2 is home and really fed up that she still can't book hers. She wants to sort out her year abroad but needs the vaccines first. Hopefully by the end of the week she'll have a better idea.

Well said Malbec.

Garden parties and a formal are happening. I can hear the happiness in dds brief messages. If there's something we've learned over the past year or so, enjoy things in the moment if you can, without worrying about the future all the time. I bet she has butterflies in her tummy regarding results day though.

snap it went well - she is a perfectionist so is not happy because she didn't get 100%. Anyone else would be more than happy.

OYBBK I can imagine. I have every crossable thing crossed for her.

I am on pick up duty weekend after next ... soooooo excited. DD is negotiating an extra long parking slot so we can have a quick mooch around the botanical gardens.

According to The Tab, the Huntingdon Road Cambridge surgery has been offering Pfizer vaccines to all registered patients over 18. One benefit to being at a college away from the centre of town.

Congratulations to your DDs, @Malbecfan and @chitchattery.

Hello! I used to be a regular on these threads but haven't been around for a while - just popped on to see how DD's cohort is doing now they're at the end of 3rd year and most have final exams going on (DD on a 4 yr course, so still 1 year to go)
Fabulous news to arrive to - well done on the 1sts - enjoy the celebrations 

Hello @OhYouBadBadKitten, we were very much thread buddies for a long time! How is your wonderful DD getting on?

I think I recognise some other posters and their DC too but there have been some name changes!

Hope all have managed to get back to Ox/Cam for some of this year at least and that exams are going/have gone well.

One of the central GP surgeries is inviting students for Pfizer too. Props to the local vaccination effort for being ahead with the roll-out.

@SilverSilverStreet

According to The Tab, the Huntingdon Road Cambridge surgery has been offering Pfizer vaccines to all registered patients over 18. One benefit to being at a college away from the centre of town.

Congratulations to your DDs, @Malbecfan and @chitchattery.

DD had her first jab there, said it was very well organised. She's booked her second one locally.

Hi @HesMyLobster . I hope your DD was able to successfully navigate her year abroad despite COVID?
DD’s course (O) is being extended by a year because a lot of the lab and field based modules were cancelled last year and this year. Finals were a bit of a muddle with hastily chosen substitute modules to replace the cancelled ones. DD has no idea how she has done but she is now in 9 to 5 “catch up” labs and is grateful for another year.

Hello again Lobster. You may well not remember but DD4 is doing the same course as your own DD. I'm curious about workload: did your DD find it quite heavy? What a mess for your DD though, both second and third years affected badly by the pandemic. Did she get to do her mods in Oxford in person? Interested to hear all about it.

Hey Lobster :) How are you and your dd getting on? I hope that this year hasn't been too much of a trial for her and that she is able to have some end of term fun.

dd is well thanks! She's enjoyed the course a lot this year and is enjoying the post exam period. She has a placement over the summer in an area she's really interested in, so I might not see much of her. Emergency posh clothes drop off this weekend.

Good to read that your DD's lot has improved greatly since that low point earlier this year, with the absurd handling of the return of students by her college. I'll be rooting for her pending results.

That was to OYBBK.

Thanks Goodbye :)

DS had his last prelim today, and apparently got "trashed" and jumped in the river. He's now lingering in Oxford for a week to party.

How lovely DadDadDad 😂 D1 is 3 down, one to go (tomorrow) and apparently there are biodegradable trashing kits thoughtfully provided in the plodge. After tomorrow she's got a few days to enjoy herself before we attempt to get all her stuff ('There are quite a lot more books') in our small car.

Hello @goodbyestranger** , of course I remember! Your experience, advice and insight was so valuable during DD's application and interview process. And of course I remember your youngest DD is now there doing the same subject.

DD sat her Mods in Exams Schools in Oxford during the week before the first lockdown- as everybody else evacuated around her!
It was stressful for me, but she was in a bit of a "Mods bubble" I think and so focused on exams she was slightly oblivious to the impending pandemic.
She feels very fortunate that she was able to sit them properly (and she got herself a first! )

The workload to me seems very heavy - she never ever has a day off and works at least 12 hours most days, but she loves it and finds it manageable (just)

It's such a shame that they've missed such a huge chunk of their university experience. DD is feeling lucky that she has another year, and so sad for her friends from other courses who are leaving.

She is living out of college in a private flat this year with friends and their contract doesn't end until August, so they're all planning to stay there for most of the summer to try and make up for some of the lost time over the past 2 years.

Kitten so glad to hear your DD is happy and doing well now, sorry to hear she's had a tough time.
Summer placement sounds exciting

DS2 (O) has done three of his four exams now and has the last one next Wednesday - so is still revising but has also had time for several social events as well. DS1(C) submitted his essay portfolio (for assessment) at 3.30am the other night but was well ahead of the deadline. He's now in the middle of a 24 hour exam - his only exam - but intends to take time off to have a drink with a second year friend who leaves for holiday tomorrow. He did finally get back his marked essays for the one exam - 2 days before the start of his exam......

It's good to hear that many of your DCs have now finished exams and have been doing so well. Good luck to those like mine, still in the midst of exams.

Thank you Lobster :) Amazing result for the Mods especially given their reputation - just fantastic. Yes, that's the sort of workload I'm having concerns about. In fact DD hasn't complained it's too heavy, but she does, in passing, say she has masses of work to do. She's always managed work/ play so far in life but when you say twelve hours a day seven days a week - well that's horrendous (that said, my own work ethic for desk bound stuff has never been strong....)