Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Higher education

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

Flip

1 2 ··· 35 36 37 38 39 40

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:

merryhouse · 02/04/2022 22:58

I only have two offspring (was frequently called the beginning of three names before my own though) but I spent some years mixing up S2 and my younger sister.

In my defence, the middle syllable is identical, preceded by a vowel and followed by a c-v-c sound...

Ironoaks · 06/04/2022 16:31

DS has received his exam timetable.
Six exams, of which two are on the Thursday and Friday jubilee bank holidays and two are on the Saturdays either side.

mutterphore · 19/04/2022 16:21

Good luck to all those with exams this term. I hope everyone is settling back well or is happy about returning shortly.

DS2 (O) is now back and DS1 (C) will be, shortly. Both seem very very happy and are looking forward to the term, despite Tripos 1 for DS1.

beeswain · 19/04/2022 17:24

Took DS back today. He has his exam timetable, 9 exams on 9 consecutive days (a weekend in between) which will count as 40% of his degree. Annoyingly they are very late, the last 4 are after the end of term....

HewasH2O · 19/04/2022 17:30

DD has collections at the end of this week and her first essay due in on Saturday morning. There is a lot of grumbling as it's her tutor's own paper on Friday.

She's hardly been at home as she had a tennis tour, rowing camp, trips to see grandparents and open days. She has a job lined up for the summer, so she may find a slot to meet us for lunch one day!

HoneyMobster · 19/04/2022 18:35

Just dropped DS1 back. He also has collections at the end of this week. Odd to think next year I'll be dropping DD off as well!

Ironoaks · 19/04/2022 18:35

DS has not had much luck finding a placement for this summer (after applying for more than 20), but there is a possible volunteering opportunity he might be able to do. He just needs to wait for the decisions from the last couple of placement applications he submitted.

goodbyestranger · 20/04/2022 08:50

hat's an optimistic outlook HoneyMobster. My DCs' colleges seemed to liase with one another to avoid co-ordinated drop offs. But good luck with that!

DD4 went on the train from Glasgow yesterday afternoon, and arrived around 10pm, but the living abroad (in Scotland/ Highlands and Islands) thing meant that her room was all set up so no lugging and no unpacking. A definite win :)

goodbyestranger · 20/04/2022 08:51

My initial big T got lost.

pepperaunt · 20/04/2022 09:22

DD went back on Monday. She got the most important unpacking (organising pinboard) done first…

goodbyestranger · 20/04/2022 09:46

To anyone who may have sent a private message, they're flagging up on my account but not retrievable. Apologies/ failure to reply is not me being intentionally rude.

Pepermintea · 20/04/2022 11:00

DS goes back on Thursday, which seems to be the standard day for his college. He's then straight into collections - 5 exams over Friday and Saturday. He was moaning yesterday that they aren't taken seriously in most subjects, but they are in his! I think he's feeling nervous about having his first lot of in person exams since GCSEs!

CinnamonJellyBeans · 20/04/2022 12:34

DD is going back to C later. I have packed her a week 5 box full of goodies and she has a new ballgown. She is much happier about doing real exams, as she dithers if she has too much time to do something and gets overwhelmed with the choice. Last year she literally spent hours just picking which exam questions she wanted to answer.

She applied for one internship and only got to the second stage before rejection, but she was not disappointed. I have read the advice here and told her not to spend time chasing these small opportunities when she could be studying or enjoying the opportunities under her nose.

mutterphore · 20/04/2022 15:56

DS1 (C) now back at college and very happy to be settling in again. He seems completely relaxed about Tripos 1 so that's good.

Now I can catch up on a huge backlog of work!

Greatauntdymphna · 20/04/2022 17:49

Dd also back on Thursday and straight into exams. She's looking forward to going back but not the exams!

DahliaMacNamara · 21/04/2022 10:19

DD didn't seem too fazed about collections during the holiday, but now that she's returned to Oxford I'm being told in no uncertain terms not to disturb her unless I have important news of some kind. You'd think I was standing outside her door hollering, rather than sending a single text message checking in.
This is fairly standard, so not worrying. I think.

Ironoaks · 23/04/2022 15:32

We dropped DS off this morning. The college gardeners do a great job and it was looking beautiful in the sunshine.

mutterphore · 27/04/2022 09:59

I hope DCs with exams are keeping as relaxed as possible about them. DS1 (C) finally submitted his dissertation for Tripos 1, 20 minutes before the deadline. I think I'm more relieved than he is! I don't know how he stays so laid back. He 'just' has to start revision now for his exams which are in about 4 weeks time I think.

DS2 (O) had his college collections last week and was pretty chilled about them but doesn't yet have the results. As usual, he's a week ahead with his essays and packing in lots of activities.

Both have various Balls/ Events coming up across the next few weeks and I'm glad they're making the most of life. Their time at university is rushing by so quickly now. It feels only a short time ago that they were applying to Oxbridge.

I know there are some on this thread with younger DCs working hard to meet their Oxbridge offers. I forget people's usernames and of course some change these often - but anyway, very good luck to those who hope their younger offspring can follow their older ones to Oxbridge, post A levels.

merryhouse · 27/04/2022 11:15

Dropped S2 at the weekend, saw S1 again briefly.

S1 has final exams for the next x weeks, then a little while to finish his project. Hasn't sorted next year yet - apparently they were really late publishing the available projects so no-one could actually apply till almost the end of term. Looking at jobs around Cambridge as a back-up.

S2 has exams in about week 6 I think - lectures finished apart from a mop-up or two. Looking at maybe some interning over summer; but apparently he didn't realise till too late that the big fancy firms like to get first-years and that the application deadline is January. Never mind.

Juja · 27/04/2022 11:37

Thanks @mutterphore I'm in the position of DC1 as a fresher and DC2 with an offer (deferred till 2023) and first A Level exam yesterday. First posting on this thread.

Collections for DC1 were a bit odd as only one happened and it seemed the tutor hadn't got his act together for the second one - they were all in their rooms waiting to start and an odd email from tutor dropped into their inbox saying collections weren't really necessary came through which bemused them. DC1 is also looking forward to college ball this coming weekend and has joined Uni Development Squad for rowing so a big step up in training.

DC2 almost wasn't allowed to take a Level MFL Oral yesterday as External Examiner didn't understand the exam boards guidance re Covid and said they wouldn't examine her- DC2 was 5 days post testing positive and no temperature so in line with guidance of 3 days post testing positive. Fortunately school presented examiner with official guidance and managed to get her on side but a bit stressful.

DahliaMacNamara · 27/04/2022 11:49

DD reported her collections as 'yeah, fine'. She seemed far more concerned with her social life.

Juja · 27/04/2022 12:16

@DahliaMacNamara 😀sounds similar to DS1

cantkeepawayforever · 27/04/2022 14:37

DD doing a subject that is unusual in having no exams ... but in having a term long enough that she's having to apply for extended weeks of residence into the summer. I think she will find some good and some less good things about not having the 'work / exams / celebrate / go home' structure that she will see all around her!

HewasH2O · 27/04/2022 17:44

DD has managed to get a summer job in Oxford and will only need to bring her stuff home for 3 or 4 weeks, as it comes with accommodation in her college thrown in. She's just had her collections, but has no proper exams this year. The pressure will be mounting now for her finals next year as they're all or nothing.

HoneyMobster · 27/04/2022 17:54

@DahliaMacNamara - another DC who had 'fine' collections! In exciting news we get to go your first Formal Hall in Oxford this week!

DD gearing up for her exams. Her Oxford offer isn't too difficult but still feeling a bit nervous.

Flip

1 2 ··· 35 36 37 38 39 40