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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:
goodbyestranger · 07/02/2022 09:23

No I also really don't want to start a fight about covid but WIW DS1 and DD2 have worked in extremely busy central London hospitals throughout the pandemic and I am CEV. I have at no stage hidden myself away, simply been sensible. Tough titties for the unvaccinated. End.

goodbyestranger · 07/02/2022 09:25

*FWIW

mutterphore · 08/02/2022 16:14

Halfway Hall this week for those doing 3 year degrees. It feels very significant as a landmark! I've just sent DS1 and DS2 gifts and cards and feel really proud of them both for getting through half their time as undergraduates, especially during the era of a pandemic.

I hope we can all keep celebrating our DCs resilience, stamina and success - and our own, for supporting them on the way. Hope Covid cases start to diminish and our DCs can have as normal a student life as possible for the rest of their time at University. DS1 and DS2 still seem to be living life to the full, which is lovely to hear and so far still Covid-free.

Wishing a very speedy recovery for those currently ill and I hope your family visits can go ahead very soon, after unexpected delays.

HewasH2O · 08/02/2022 17:27

I think there should be new Covid guidance which recommends that anyone whose Halfway Hall is postponed has to have their time at Oxford extended by twice the length of postponement to avoid a fraudulent description of the dinner. Will if take off?

Ironoaks · 08/02/2022 18:18

DS is hoping to do a four-year degree but attended halfway hall with his friends. He can just call it 3/8 hall if he goes on to do Part III.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/02/2022 18:42

One of the Cambridge gp practices has had to entirely shut because of covid. This means that dds appointment which was postponed 2 weeks ago because the gp had covid now won't happen until early March.

Malbecfan · 08/02/2022 20:47

Really sorry to read of all the Covid cases. DD1 thinks it's now a question of when she gets it, rather than if. She is triple vaccinated, so hopefully would get it mildly. It is ripping through my school too. Most cases are in y7, the least likely to be vaccinated, but cases are rising by the day. A number of colleagues are also absent, which causes more stress.

Bloody DH went to San Francisco to a conference, came back and tested positive. We have a holiday cottage next door to our house, so he has been living in there, DD2 and I are in our house and my DF is in the converted barn on the other side. DH tested negative yesterday and probably will today but he can sod off tonight as he's not coming in here until I have had one more night of the big bed to myself. Because he is a tight-arse, his phone is ancient and doesn't work on anything useful (like texts or WhatsApp) so we have communicated by shouting at each other or email for the last 10 days. Lovely funny DD2 has kept me vaguely sane.

I hope we can all stagger through the next few weeks. I want to visit C in my half term but refuse to book anything yet.

Sunndowne · 08/02/2022 21:27

We are fingers crossed to a Cambridge dance show. Covid literally everywhere. DD had covid at Christmas which seems to protect her. She's loving her dance so much. Let's hope she stays negative

Crikey, covid still tough.
My school full steam ahead for public exams.

Sunndowne · 08/02/2022 21:28

Hotel booked.

Sunndowne · 08/02/2022 21:39

Your story made me smile malbecfan.Smile

Original poster
DadDadDad · 08/02/2022 21:53

A lot of covid in Cambridge. DD at school there and many teachers seem to have had it - the whole English department is out apparently. Anyway, it didn't stop a packed crowd at the Arts Theatre where we we've just collected DD after a performance of Animal Farm.

OP posts:
HewasH2O · 08/02/2022 21:57

Malbec I had the best sleep for a long time when DH had Covid over Christmas. Milk it!

Ironoaks · 08/02/2022 22:08

DH and I are hoping to attend a parents' dinner at DS's college this weekend.
...If DS doesn't catch Covid before then.
...And if neither DH nor I catch Covid before then.

I work in a school, in a role which includes looking after the pupils with possible Covid symptoms.

cantkeepawayforever · 08/02/2022 22:10

Sunndowne, DD also a dancer - has a long term injury so isn't doing it at the very high level she did it when younger. Seems to be uppng the hours this term with preparation for a show (Also started ballroom and has done some competitions in that).

Currently still Covid negative. Triple jabbed and had delta last summer .....

EllieFredrickson · 08/02/2022 22:13

DD (O) is our of isolation today but still positive on a lateral flow - same fir her housemates. We live near Cambridge and like others have said is rife her - DH and I both have at the moment having survived 2 years without it. Thanks to triple vaccine mostly feels like a grotty cold with a v sore throat and I keep having weird dreams about leaving home and infecting people! We're due to spend a couple of days with DD starting Sunday but suspect we won't be clear by then. Despite the distance at least all 3 of us have had at roughly the same time.

EllieFredrickson · 08/02/2022 22:13

*out of isolation

CinnamonJellyBeans · 08/02/2022 22:57

DD has managed to evade reinfection since getting triple vaccinated, but her general health has not been as good as usual since she had covid in the summer. Always exhausted, despite eating well.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 09/02/2022 07:36

Is she taking a good daily dose of Vitamin D Cinnamon?

CinnamonJellyBeans · 09/02/2022 07:55

She eats extremely well: Tons of fruit, veg, tofu, avocado, eggs (no meat or fish). Lots of exercise. No dieting or excess food. She also takes perfectil, floradix and the occasional ferrous sulphate.

She's had one blood test for iron, which came back fine, but is now insisting on a full blood workout, as she often feels faint and shaky. Sports times are getting really bad, but she can run long distances fine. She seems to have no strength. Now needs at least ten hours of sleep, but twelve is best to allow her to function. Full blood test later this month via GP in Cambridge. I don't think she's being precious, as I have always encouraged them to shrug off discomfort and not bother the GP. (Poor bugger had asthma for years before I took her to GP, now on 2 inhalers and tablets)

What's the vitamin D for? We all dosed up in the height of the pandemic, but she's not supplementing for that in particular.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 09/02/2022 08:14

The NHS recommend that everyone consider supplementing with Vitamin D through the winter as its thought around 20% of adults may have low vitamin d levels.
When I was low in vitamin d I was utterly exhausted and achy. Especially in my legs.

This link looks quite good. mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/guidelines/Vitamin%20D%20Guidelines%20for%20Adults%20v2.pdf

I think she should also talk to her gp about long covid. It isn't based on how severe the original infection was, but on the ongoing symptoms. This is the clinical pathway:
clinical-pathways.org.uk/sites/default/files/long-covid-clinical-pathway-v9.pdf

CinnamonJellyBeans · 09/02/2022 17:00

Thanks for the advice. I will tell her to start taking the vitamin D again. I was thinking maybe long covid, but apart from tiredness, she doesn't have any other symptoms from the link.

Malbecfan · 09/02/2022 20:46

Glad I made people smile. DH now out of isolation, bang goes my lovely sprawling nights. DD is a dancer - ballet & tap since she was 3 and now acrobatic dance. Another competition beckons...

Sunndowne · 11/02/2022 19:52

Very exciting Malbecfan. I can't wait for daughter's show.

She has an incentive to do well this year she tells me! Cash prize on offer which she wants to help fund some travel
Grin whatever motivates!

However, I do worry how tired she gets. Do your DC get exhausted because of the constant drive needed at Oxbridge?

Malbecfan · 11/02/2022 20:00

DD did used to come home and sleep for seemingly days. She is quite good now about going to bed quite early. Since she was a baby she has always found it hard to fall asleep but being physically tired really helps her. So @Sunndowne she got better at it.

Our house has been a mixture of time-zones. DD2 has been working on Japan time. I am on "normal" UK times - get up at 6.15, out between 7.30 and 8. Home between 4.30 and 6 depending on meetings. DH gets up with me but then goes back to bed. He is often up until 1 or 2 am, just as DD2 gets going.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 11/02/2022 21:01

Last term dd didn't seem to get overly tired. She found it all straightforward and had plenty of time to make sure she could take breaks. This term is a bit stiffer and I can see she looks a bit tired on zoom calls.