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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Oxford / Cambridge - current students support / chat thread

994 replies

DadDadDad · 09/11/2021 07:25

Continuing a thread for anyone who wants to talk about their sons' and daughters' experience being a student in Oxford or Cambridge. (Or nephews, granddaughters, sisters, uncles - or if you or they have now graduated but you want to share your thoughts - all are welcome!)

I have a DS in his second year at Oxford, studying a small humanity in a tiny college.

Over to you...

OP posts:
JulesJules · 06/01/2022 12:42

Thanks for all the dress intel. D1 has enquired about a sequinned number (for the Glitter Ball) from depop, and has ordered a few likely candidates (for the college ball) to try. Next up, shoes...

She's going back after the weekend on the train (living out this year, so no room clearance required) although she's got more stuff to take back with her. This time the train is via Birmingham though so at least she doesn't have to trek across London with her rucksack and suitcase.

She was a bit disappointed with her room for next year as she's not that near any of her friends (all onsite though) but will have her own bathroom, fridge, and access to a good sized kitchen.

Ironoaks · 06/01/2022 14:46

DS's college is holding a parents' dinner this term, and DS has booked places for DH and me to attend as his guests, so that's something to look forward to.

ofteninaspin · 06/01/2022 16:25

That's lovely @ironoaks. DD's parents' dinner was way back in Hilary term of first year (2019). We have rarely had a meal with DD in Oxford. Eating out is pretty expensive and then COVID hit so I am so glad that we had the opportunity to enjoy a meal with DD and her friends in the beautiful surroundings of her college.

HewasH2O · 06/01/2022 17:58

DD mentioned a guest formal, then told us that she was planning to invite either Prof or Dr Hewas, rather than DH or I. Charming. She's been happy enough for me to take her for lunch at the Trout or the Perch though when I have visited.

JulesJules · 06/01/2022 18:16

How lovely @Ironoaks. I would love to go to something like that at D1's college - we have never even been allowed in, apart from 1 hour dropping off/picking up slots when we have only been allowed into her room. I really hope we get the chance at some point.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 06/01/2022 18:24

Wondering where to eat on Saturday that won't be too crowded or crammed in. Its a bit cold for our usual sitting by the cam with something from the market.

Malbecfan · 06/01/2022 19:40

@Ironoaks we went to the families lunch at DD's college in March 2018. It was lovely. DH and I also went to a formal dinner in Feb 2020 with DD and her bf.

@OhYouBadBadKitten we like Fitzbillies. We met one of my old uni mates there back in July. The Chelsea buns are amazing but they also do nice lunches and it's centrally located. There was a reasonable space between tables.

DD has always had a bike in Cambridge. Compared to home, it's really flat. She could have her car there now as she's living out and not an undergrad but reckons it's quicker to cycle to her department than to go by car, so the car is here with my DF and DD2 driving it. She has her nice helmet and DH bought her decent lights. We got her a good lock too, which cost more than the bloody bike! It helped that from her college to West Cambridge there is a dedicated cycle/walking route away from the traffic. This year she is mixing it with the other road users but there are cycle lanes.

She went to her bf's on NYE then he drove her to Cambridge on Sunday. On Monday they went to the wedding of one of their college year group. Now I feel really ancient!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/01/2022 19:00

Thanks Malbec, we've enjoyed Fitzbillies in the past, but didn't know what it was like during covid times. Looks like it's going to be a very wet trip there.

goodbyestranger · 08/01/2022 10:32

How about going out to Granchester OYBBK?

DD is on her second day of journeying back to Oxford as the ferry from the island was cancelled while she was waiting to board (crew member had tested positive minutes before). She had to wait from 10.30 to 16.30 at the terminal (news of potential ferries kept changing) then finally made it to the mainland and got to a hastily arranged hotel next to Glasgow Central for the night. But in much better news we found a lovely place for her to get a take out (#4 of over 2000 in Glasgow), and she's now somewhere between Carlisle and Wolverhampton, with only one more change for a late lunchtime arrival into Oxford. Carrying belongings left behind by DS4 so I hope that he meets her at the station to help carry (Classics books seem to be disproportionately heavy).

mutterphore · 08/01/2022 10:47

Well done and good luck to your DD, @Goodbystranger, on her marathon journey back to Oxford. Hope today's final stint goes smoothly for her.

Dropped off DS2 at Oxford yesterday, accompanied by DS1. He was very very happy to be back and settled comfortably into his college room which is pure luxury compared to home at present. In fact, I wished I could have stayed there too!

I'm in desperate need of various home repairs right now but can't get any workmen at all, as they're all booked up most of the year. Damp patches, mould, leaking shower room, water coming into the adjacent room by DS1 and DS2's PCs electric plug. Currently, the only means of washing is under a tiny trickle of water from a barely functional second shower. It feels like student digs in the 1970s! By contrast, DS2 has an en suite and very 'posh' looking college room to enjoy.

DS1 still needs to start packing for Cambridge but is also looking forward to returning shortly. It's a very weird feeling for me to be so happy that both of them want to be back at university enjoying their own lives, yet miss them, in a purely selfish way myself.

Malbecfan · 08/01/2022 11:13

Haha @goodbyestranger. I heard about your DS4's mega trip home from DD1 when she met up with his gf before Christmas. Good luck to all DC returning, and their DP having to drive them. The weather this morning is hideous in Devon so I'm staying put for the rest of the day.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/01/2022 14:26

The weather was grim for driving. In the end we went to The Granta by the river. Nice enough and management were good at seating groups away from each other. It's a relief that things still look pretty normal for dd. Cambridge centre was very quiet. She would, in hindsight have been fine to get the train had we not worried about needing to bring all the essentials back.

That is an epic voyage Goodbye!

CinnamonJellyBeans · 08/01/2022 15:26

Haha @mutterphore I hear you Our house is also in great need of repairs and refurbishment. How I envy DDs room in C!

goodbyestranger · 08/01/2022 17:29

He didn't even need to ham it up Malbec! He left Oxford at 6am and had almost every train on a split ticket cancelled while two older DC roared past him on the Euston train, but then due to additional glitches in the Glasgow area he finally caught up with them and they all got the last ferry of the night.... at which point my brand new ten day old car with 600 miles on the clock broke down, en route to get them (a major purchase from the sale of my Devon house, for reliability haha). In fact it was only returned to me today, complete with defect. All going well up here so far :)

mutterphore · 09/01/2022 16:25

DS1 now safely back at college in Cambridge too. Both he and DS2 seem very very happy, which is great. I hope everyone else delivers their DCs safely or, in the case of those travelling alone to uni. that their journeys are easy and certainly easier than your DC's journeys, @Goodbyestranger!

HewasH2O · 09/01/2022 16:31

& now you can relax Mutterphore.

merryhouse · 09/01/2022 17:20

I'm a bit worried now - we're doing the Cambridge run next Saturday. Are your offspring all extra specially keen?

(I know S2 has a mock on the Monday and Full Term starts the following day, so I'm not seriously concerned Grin)

Ironoaks · 09/01/2022 17:52

@merryhouse
We aren't taking DS until next weekend. And he still doesn't know whether he has mock exams or not.

SandyBayley · 09/01/2022 19:15

DS1 safely back in Oxford. He's looking forward to Humanities vs STEM karaoke later this week. He's also applied to do the Address to the Haggis at the Burns Night Supper. He has no Scottish connections apart from the fact that his parents met in Edinburgh!

mutterphore · 09/01/2022 20:16

@Merryhouse, don't worry, Cambridge doesn't really start until next Saturday. DS1 only wanted to go back early to focus on work and enjoy the accommodation (better than home!!) and feeling of independence plus do some socialising. DS2 was the same and they just want to make the most of their time as undergraduates as they'll both be halfway through their time, in the middle of this term! Unbelievable!

As they had to do term 2 from home in the first year and there were tons of restrictions in their first ever terms, I think they and others are trying to make up for lost time.

@HewasH20, although I can certainly now relax into the fact that DS1 and DS2 are happily settled back, I've got to to hit the ground running as far as work is concerned and have a massive backlog waiting for me like a tsunami! I'm self-employed and I always like to be more available when my sons are home but then have to make up for this once they're back and then there's the tax return lurking in the shadows that I really have to do asap, as I do all my own accounts for the business too. So I fear I'm going to be even busier than before.

@SandyBayley, good luck to your DD waiting to hear back from Oxford I think and I'm sure there's at least one more person on this thread with a younger DC also waiting to hear about O or C offers. All the best!

MyFirstHypnosis · 09/01/2022 20:37

My son is assuming we’ll drive him to Cambridge next Saturday because He has a boatload of stuff ......can I get him on the train instead? Surely the change at Peterborough and the Cambridge taxi queue wouldn’t be that bad?

Is there some kind of Cambridge shipping company?

MyFirstHypnosis · 09/01/2022 20:43

....has anyone used this or similar?
www.mybaggage.com/quote?quote=GB,GB

beeswain · 11/01/2022 17:36

Took ds back yesterday and he was much more positive, said he was approaching this term with a 'new mindset'.
Further cause for cheer today when he got his Battels bill and he has had a £200 reduction for being a college scholar! Definitely the way to his heart!

Malbecfan · 11/01/2022 17:52

@merryhouse my DD is back because she only gets 8 weeks' "holiday" from her PhD work. She was back in the lab a week ago. She's making the most of not having to do any supervisions or lab demonstrations, but the flip side of that is less money, no dance, choir, rowing or football. We had a zoom call at the weekend with my cousins and DD joined us at the end, following a house meal. She seems happy enough.

@MyFirstHypnosis no. I have heard of Send My Bag - someone who was in the year above DD used them. We are obviously too indulgent having inevitably dropped off & collected by car. In our defence, the public transport options to our home are zero. To get from the nearest mainline station to home using public transport would take at least half a day. I can drive to Cambridge in about the same time. It's probably Covid-safer too by car.

DellaPorter · 11/01/2022 20:24

Hi there.

Can I join? My son had a deferred offer for law at Cambridge, dependent on one exam grade in the October exams. He achieved it so his place is confirmed. Looks like he is going ...