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Higher education

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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:
Ironoaks · 18/02/2022 13:08

DS (just under 50kg) nearly got blown over several times on his way to and from this morning's lectures. I'm not sure he is feeling brave enough to venture out to West Cambridge for this afternoon's practical. He is very risk-averse.

pepperaunt · 18/02/2022 17:48

@Malbecfan maybe my DD is in her demo lab! She’s doing PhysNatSci

Sunndowne · 18/02/2022 18:00

Can I just check folks, is that 2 tickets for Cambridge graduation? I have provisionally booked for 3 tickets.

Original poster
DadDadDad · 19/02/2022 10:31

Just arrived in Oxford. Seeing DS later.

But before that, DW and DD love charity shops and so we've come for our first visit to the Oxfam superstore out on the business park. Nice coffee.

OP posts:
ofteninaspin · 19/02/2022 13:59

Am much relieved that DD (O) has safely navigated all the roundabouts between Oxford and Cambridge in a rental estate car to deliver one fifth of the dance squad to their varsity comp today.
Good luck to all DC performing this afternoon. DS (C) will be watching with a group of his friends although that's probably not of much help to the Oxford squad!

cantkeepawayforever · 19/02/2022 18:12

Aww! Dd not in dance team - long term injury woes - but is in the show last night / tonight.

EllieFredrickson · 19/02/2022 22:57

We are visiting DD in Oxford. Weather crap today but we've had a lovely time mooching about. Worried it was boring but assured a couple of meals out certainly aren't!

Ofteninaspin - well done her that's hardcore! We live just south of Cambridge and don't go that way between C and O for that very reason generally. The A505/A1/M25/M40 is a bit longer but as quick and less stress. We have made DD drive the Milton Keynes way as a newly qualified driver on occasion to brush up on roundabout technique....

Sunndowne · 20/02/2022 10:26

Well done to ofteninaspin's DD. I hope they all enjoyed it.

We were there and had a lovely time.

So nice to see these bright, hard working young people enjoy themselves. Flowers

Malbecfan · 21/02/2022 14:19

Saw DD1 yesterday in a very wet Cambridge. We got soaked on a "short" walk from her house into town, but we had a lovely lunch at Efe's before getting soaked again on the way back. Her dance competition is in Blackpool next weekend. She won something 2 years ago but because Oxford doesn't take part, she doesn't qualify for a blue.

@pepperaunt does your DD do Materials? There is a lad who went to my/DD's school who is at her college. DD's friend is supervising him in Chemistry. He turned up in one of DD's labs last week, much to her surprise.

@ofteninaspin glad your DD's driving experience was a good one.

@Sunndowne I think DD booked our graduation tickets. She asked if we wanted a third for either DD2 or my dad but both declined. We didn't go to the Senate House but watched it on a live stream from the Concert Hall then met the graduates back in college for a picnic.

pepperaunt · 21/02/2022 17:05

@Malbecfan no Earth Sciences. Surpringly she’s loving it!

Malbecfan · 21/02/2022 17:35

Ha @pepperaunt one of DD's housemates is a 1st year PhD Earth Sciences student. It could be him!

pepperaunt · 21/02/2022 18:15

@Malbecfan even if he’s not they’ll meet if he’s going on the Easter field trip to Arran. Honestly she’s most excited about having to wear a hard hatGrin

ofteninaspin · 21/02/2022 20:30

@cantkeepawayforever, I hope your DD enjoyed performing in the show and I am sorry to hear about the injuries woes.
@sunndowne, how lovely that you were able to watch your DD dance last weekend.

halulat · 21/02/2022 20:33

My DD is first year . She is loving it! Quite a small college which I think has helped her to settle.

cantkeepawayforever · 21/02/2022 20:35

Thanks, ofteninaspin! I think it was good but she was very sore afterwards.

She's compensating for not being able to do her 'original' dance styles to such a high level by spreading herself about - we're seeing her in Blackpool next weekend in one where she is very much a beginner.....

Malbecfan · 22/02/2022 08:26

Oooh @cantkeepawayforever, you may see my DD in Blackpool...

ofteninaspin · 22/02/2022 11:46

That' sounds exciting cant and malbec. What dance style is it in Blackpool?

DD's squad are performing in Oxford this weekend. Very much looking forward to watching what will be her last show.

cantkeepawayforever · 22/02/2022 16:02

Blackpool - ballroom!

HewasH2O · 22/02/2022 16:50

Halulat It's a cliche, but big, small, old or modern, they all seem to find the College that suits them. DD's college was brilliantly supportive last year in the weirdest year for freshers ever. The tutors definitely know what they're looking for and can spot a good match.

FlyingSquid · 22/02/2022 18:05

DD would take issue with that, nice idea though it is. She doesn't much like being the only fresher doing her subject in her college (she applied to a much bigger college), and she would really like to self-cater, but there isn't a kitchen. Pity they can't have a freer choice and more centralised admissions, in some ways.

Sunndowne · 22/02/2022 18:26

can't and spin - enjoy that dance.
Thank you malbec grad tickets not ready yet and yes, we adored her dance show and she sort of got a blue! Not fully apparently! Smile

Glad to hear freshers enjoying Oxbridge. My DD has had an incredible experience, so many opportunities, but at times, year one, very anxious with imposter syndrome. Still managed to enjoy it though.

Good luck all with wind up to revision.

ofteninaspin · 23/02/2022 17:51

@FlyingSquid, being the only one doing a subject must be tough. There is obviously mutual support to be had in numbers. Will next year's accommodation afford more scope for self catering? DD had none in first year but kitchens thereafter.

@Sunndowne, congratulation to your DD on her "half" blues. DD is disgruntled that DS's sport is awarded full blues but dance a "sort of half".

mutterphore · 23/02/2022 19:54

Well done to all those dancing DCs! What a talented lot they all are! It's great to hear that those visiting their DCs recently have had a good time and also that Fresher's have been enjoying themselves too. What a difference to this time last year. It's brilliant that our DCs can have a much more normal student experience now and DS1 and DS2 are living life to the full.

@FlyingSquid, how annoying for your DD not to have access to a kitchen in her college and also being the only one doing her subject too. I remember when I was at Oxford decades ago and was one of only two doing my subject at my college but at least there were actually two of us. Being an only one must be hard at times as it's less easy to offload to each other before and after tutorials/supervisions.

Malbecfan · 23/02/2022 20:21

@ofteninaspin, DD does acrobatic dance. She has done ballet since just before she was 3 and tap since she was 4. In the last Blackpool event, she met someone from the same dance school in Devon, which both thought was hilarious. The other girl is at Manchester Uni. They both messaged their old dance teachers who agreed how cool it was.

DD has a number of bruises from it. As a teacher, I am trained to look for "unusual" patterns of bruising and so I asked DD why she was bruised on the inner part of her upper arms. Apparently it's all part of the dance moves. I was honest with her about why I asked and she understood my concerns. We are pretty open about things like that, thankfully and I believe her reasons.

I agree with @mutterphore about the kitchen situation. @FlyingSquid that is rough. It may be worth asking your DD to talk to her JCR people about it. The cohort thing is tricky because some courses will always be small. However, the catering is unreasonable in my opinion. DD has pretty much self-catered since day 1. The gyps in her college were not great as they had fridges but no freezers, microwaves but no ovens and 2 ring hobs. However, in 2020, DD's floor managed to cook a Christmas dinner (don't ask how as I have no idea!) She has a small slow cooker so would cook a meal then have the same thing 2 days in a row. In her 3rd year (2019-20) she lived in a college house with a proper kitchen and loved it. It was a bit of a shock to go back to 1st year-style gyps in her 4th year, but at least she knew what she was letting herself in for. Her house is nice and the people she lives with are all lovely. However, the PGCE student is job-hunting between Cambridge and their parents' house in London so might be moving on. DD's boyfriend is also a PGCE student but not at Cambridge. If he gets a job near C, they want to find a house or flat to share together. If he ends up elsewhere, she will probably stay where she is.

FlyingSquid · 24/02/2022 14:57

The gyps in her college were not great as they had fridges but no freezers, microwaves but no ovens and 2 ring hobs.

Trust me, DD could cook an entire three-course meal on that! But her college has no fridges, hobs or cookers, and specifically bans students from bringing their own microwaves, toasters, rice cookers, slow cookers, air fryers etc. (She does have a teeny fridge that we bought, and thanks goodness for that, given Covid isolation.)