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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 · 25/02/2022 17:18

DS only has three weeks of term left. It goes so quickly.

HewasH2O · 25/02/2022 19:42

I'm not sure when DD will be home. She has a tennis camp in Portugal in the first week of hols, then a rowing camp somewhere. She's promised to visit the grandparents, so I'm not sure when she'll squeeze us in.

MiniJellyBeans · 27/02/2022 20:52

DD1 went to her first proper college ball last night (not her own college though). Tickets were £100 each, without a meal 😮 I was shocked, but she tells me tickets for a neighbouring college's ball are £390 each 😮😮 Not sure whether that's an urban myth though....

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2022 10:53

DD4 was at a ball on Saturday too. £100 is cheap MiniJellyBeans!

She also starts the notoriously horrible Classics Mods today. Seven three hour exams this week and next, annoyingly finishing up at 5.30pm next Friday, just as term ends. Everyone is in the same boat of course, but no proper exam session - even a mock one - since GCSEs in 2018.

DS4 sent me a copy of a description of his science DPhil, which was intended to be capable of being understood by a reasonably intelligent non scientist. Flattered that he thought he could use me as a reasonably intelligent guinea pig but I managed to fail even that bar. Still, always useful to know one's place :)

Meanwhile DS3 (C, for the benefit of Malbecfan) WhatsApped me from Mexico, where he is on six weeks post qualification leave from his law firm, to inform me that he was just about to hop on a flight to Guatemala. Apparently 'tons of people go there Mum' when I remonstrated as much as I am ever able with any of my DC (ie limply). Reassuring tales of DC returning from such places most welcome.

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2022 10:55

Good to read news of your DD HesMyLobster! What a messy few years for her though.

goodbyestranger · 28/02/2022 11:00

Sorry Malbec, it's DS2/C. Careless of me :)

mutterphore · 28/02/2022 13:07

@Goodbyestranger, good luck to your DD4 starting her Classics Mods today. That's a very tough week for her.

At the weekend, I saw DS1 and DS2 - in London, as it's equi-distant for them both and they seemed healthy and really really happy, which was very reassuring. DS1 (C) has Tripos 1 next term and a dissertation to complete by the end of the Easter vac. but is as usual remarkably relaxed about it all. Both seem to have secured tickets for various pending Balls but I'm not sure how much they paid for them. Both have also helped out/ been on the committees for other different Balls, so get in for free too.

Only two weeks until DS2 will be home from Oxford but he immediately then starts a one week online internship from home. I pick up DS1 (C) a week later and am really looking forward to having them both back home again for a while. DS1's delighted to have learned how to cook spaghetti in a microwave oven this term. Hope he's learned some other things too!

Malbecfan · 28/02/2022 20:32

Good to hear about DS C goodbye (I've given up on the numbers!). He's a resourceful chap so I'm sure will be fine.

DD qualified for the final of her dance competition but was a bit disappointed to come 4th. However, Cambridge won the event with places 1-4 in the final. After commiserating with her by text, she pointed out that she has only been dancing with this partner for 4 weeks. I think that's amazing! In other news, DD2 (non O/C) may actually be allowed to travel to Japan. She's spent a term & a half working during the night doing lectures live online so fingers are firmly crossed that she can go. Typically, although she's another scientist, her best module results have been in History of Contemporary Japan. I have suggested switching degree, but that went down like a lead balloon.

Good luck to everyone's DC with exams. I'm glad DD1 is past that stage.

merryhouse · 28/02/2022 23:37

Spoke to S2 last night - he's got a dinner on the 19th so has asked to be picked up on chucking-out day Sunday 20th.

Then he's going to leave the tuba at Granny's and after a couple of days canoodling get the train back down so he can meet up with band for a trip to North Wales, returning to us on the morning of his birthday.

S1 is still alive...

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/03/2022 10:12

I've been very specifically asked to ask 'what is an evening gown'. Despite having been to various formals etc, none so far have asked specifically for an evening gown.
Also, where can one find such a thing? Grin

Malbecfan · 01/03/2022 10:28

@OhYouBadBadKitten I think it's a long dress often with sparkly bits. DDs have bought theirs from charity shops or TK Max has some that aren't wildly expensive. DD1 has a selection as we bought 2 in a January sale for Prom dresses when she was 17 and they still fit her. One was £25 and the other around £40. She has acquired others from TK Max, charity shops and Vinted. I will double check with DD - is this for your DD's college ball?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/03/2022 10:39

Thank you Malbec! Not for her ball, for a surprise super posh dinner with. not much notice.
ooo she will probably still fit into her prom dress. That's an idea.

beeswain · 01/03/2022 10:52

Good Luck to DD Goodbye in her Mods.
DS worked on the bar at his college ball and really enjoyed himself. Probably more than if he had attended (and he's richer too!)

OhYouBadBadKitten · 01/03/2022 11:58

I just had a hilarious moment wriggling into her prom dress and getting a bit stuck until I remembered it was supposed to go over my head. We are a similar shape, I'm just a little plumper than her. It's hold my breath tight on me, so should fit her.
Phew. Crisis averted! Thanks Malbec!

JulesJules · 01/03/2022 17:19

Sorry to say this, but D1 has just texted to tell me she's ok incase I'd seen the news, there has been a serious incident at the Plain/Magdalen Bridge involving a lorry, all the roads are closed.

FlyingSquid · 01/03/2022 18:18

DC has just messaged here as well. Glad your daughter is OK, Jules.

cantkeepawayforever · 02/03/2022 21:03

Malbec, we watched all the finals - of the main ballroom styles, anyway - so I suspect that we saw your dd! Left before the team bits as it was a 3+ hour drive home…

Quite an experience.

Malbecfan · 03/03/2022 17:11

No worries Kitten.

Cantkeepawayforever, she was on at around 18:30 then got through to the finals which were a bit later. However, this was acrobatic rock & roll so not exactly ballroom. She came 4th overall but had only been with her dance partner for 4 weeks so whilst slightly disappointed, knows it was pretty good overall. Cambridge took the top 4 places in that particular competition. They left Blackpool around 11pm and got back home at 5:30 on Sunday morning, way too much for me!

cantkeepawayforever · 03/03/2022 20:47

Ah, we were there for the beginner bits, and stayed for the ballroom finals but not the rock and roll ones. We got home around 11 ...

pantjog · 04/03/2022 16:28

Greetings all, I've been away from the thread but it's nice to see happy chat about balls and dancing.

I've just been watching Torpids online, getting ridiculously excited for DD1. Her boat has bumped a couple of times but not the other day, so no blades in prospect for her, but a lovely feeling (and I am hugely nostalgic remembering my experience of college rowing). We were in O yesterday for a concert of hers -- she's had a busy week.

It's a nice distraction from what is going on in the wider world.

HewasH2O · 04/03/2022 22:28

Did she get caught up in the klaxon incident on Wednesday? DD has bumped twice, but Wednesday scuppered their chances too.

pantjog · 05/03/2022 12:11

I won’t go in to details as probably quite identifying @HewasH2O. Sorry about your DD.

Hope mods are going well for your DD @goodbyestranger.

mutterphore · 05/03/2022 12:38

Good to hear from you @Pantjog. Very exciting for you to have your DD1 in Torpids and also to see her in a concert.

Well done to your DD @Malbecfan to get through to the dance finals. It's great that our DCs can have lots of non-academic interests to compliment the academic ones - very healthy!

DS2 was involved at the lower level for Torpids and had a lot of fun and then helped out as the competition hotted up. He just likes being involved no matter how his team perform. He's finished all his 11 essays for the term now so will have an easier final week before I pick him up next Saturday - frighteningly soon!

Meanwhile, I'm in the middle of moving a lot of furniture/computers and starting to hack damp plaster off walls exactly where DCs usually have their PCs set up for work. It's all got to be put back - by me - before next Saturday - along with working full-time. Gulp! Workmen should be doing the main demolishing works on one day this week but won't be back until May or later this year to do all repair/ restoration works. A far cry from posh college living for DCs returning home to a semi-building site!

DS1 (C) has two more weeks of term and has also finished all his quota of main essays but has a dissertation to start and finish before the end of the Easter vac. plus 3 'minor' essays to do. He's really enjoying being a choral scholar now as he gets free formals once a week - after his first year of never being to a formal at all.

@Goodbyestranger, I hope your DDs Mods. are going well. I know that Classicists seem to have an enormous amount of work, so I hope she gets a good break over Easter and doesn't need to work all the time.

Malbecfan · 05/03/2022 14:08

Thanks @mutterphore

DD has been umpiring Lent bumps. It makes a change from rowing or coxing them for her. I'm slightly concerned at how many extra-curricular things she is doing, but to be fair to her, she's always been like this. I'm not sure if she'll come back for Easter or not. Knowing her, she'll want to spend it with the bf rather than us

Ironoaks · 08/03/2022 17:23

I've mentioned before that DS is hoping to do a summer placement as a research assistant in his subject. There are only a few projects open to applications from second year undergraduates and those are very competitive. After a few rejections, he has been invited for an interview this week, which is an encouraging step in the right direction, and will be good interview experience even if he doesn't get it.