Oxford / Cambridge - current students support / chat thread 2022

[DadDadDad]

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!)

Some of us on this thread go back to I think to late 2019 when our DCs were going through the admission process. A lot's happened since!

Over to you...

@goodbyestranger I’m so sorry to hear about your DS and hope he feels much better really soon. Very scary for you too.

Thank goodness the bike bore the brunt Goodbye. I hate driving through central Oxford as I'm terrified of accidentally not spotting a cyclist. Hopefully he will mend soon.

Oh, @goodbyestranger your poor DS! And you! Glad to hear he's ok, but how frightening ☹️

@goodbyestranger glad your DS is doing ok!

Thanks very much indeed all. DS4 does appear to be fine now, just a bit of a messed up face but hopefully it will heal up ok. Several of his older siblings cycle to work in London though, crossing right through the centre, so I am being a bit of a bore with them about watching dodgy vans etc.

Glad to hear DS4 is recovering well. I don't think I'd ever stop boring my DC to death about road safety if they were cycling in the city.

Hi all
is it ok to ask a question for a new student, or is there a different thread do you know?

im trying to find out if anyone knows if New college Oxford has sent its accommodation acceptance letters out yet?
my ds, although academically able, is totally useless at practical stuff. I don’t think he’s read anything about the college so I am. Just found out it seems he needs some sort of gown - does that sound correct? When I was at uni I only needed one to graduate, it looks like Oxbridge is a bit different!
and what’s the whole sub fucus thing?? Not allowing any part of the leg to be shown 😆
all quite bizarre

Luckything yes he'll need a gown for a few things - matriculation to become a college member, formal hall dinners and in Oxford for exams. But I think most colleges will have some to sell second hand, or you can often borrow them.

Sub fusc is usually just a dark suit of some kind and white shirt I think. I'm not sure yet if there are tie rules. No idea on New College specific rules either...

This guide from Christchurch is nice and clear i think.
guide to sub fusc

This is the thread for all students Luckything. Don't worry about gowns ahead of freshers' week, your DS can get one then. On the accommodation front you may need to ask your DS to check his emails but tbh even if he misses the email he'll still get a room. He's got his place, there really isn't much else which is vital to sort ahead of going up.

Oh Goodbye thank goodness your DS is OK, I hope he is soon fully recovered.

For new first years - Sub fusc - don't worry about it, there will be plenty of time for them to sort this out when they get there, D1 went out with her 'household' (covid times!) and bought the pack - gown, mortar board and velvet ribbon - during freshers week. She took a white shirt and black skirt/trousers and shoes with her.

There will probably be a College Handbook somewhere in the stuff sent through by email, or from a link on the college's website. It's useful for information such as what's allowed in your room eg D1 could have a kettle but it had to be on a tray.

We are taking D1 back to Oxford the first weekend in October to help her move into her 3rd year room. I can't believe they are going into their third years!

Lucky — your son should have received some forms to complete to get his university ID and, I think, email address. I don’t know specifically about New College but others have a series of documents for new students to read and some forms to signZ your son (or you!) should check to be sure he has completed the required paperwork.
(lucky him to be going to New College! I dreamt of it for a couple of months — very beautiful!)

Last year my fresher DS (O) ignored all emails and paperwork from college and we had a pretty stressful night before taking him there applying for student ID etc. Getting email set up. Admin isn’t his strong point.

As to accommodation different colleges have different approaches - don’t assume they will be automatically allocated a room. DS ignored emails until in the end college sent him one saying ‘We assume you don’t want a room’ - He then replied.

So if any of your DC are like mine it may be worth double checking college and uni websites

www.new.ox.ac.uk/freshers-information Here you go Lucky

Have you checked your PMs as well? I mentioned a while back that we don't tend to name our DCs colleges, but general subjects are OK, as it's very outing if someone can see both.

DD came home late on Friday and has spent 2 days rationalizing the boxes which have filled my office since July. They will be loaded into my car in the next hour or so, then I'm off to drop her into her 3rd year palace. My own student house definitely didn't have a garage, washing machine, dishwasher or even a lounge. That would have been turned into an extra bedroom to squeeze more rent for the landlord.

DS preparing for 1st year maths at C. Accommodation sorted and although it is local to us (just under 30m) we have to resist the temptation to visit without invitation - we think.
Will sorely miss all 6'2" and size 12 feet of him not so much the tennis clobber that gets left all over though.

Can I just ask if students from different colleges mix very much? My son is doing a subject which only 4 others in this year’s intake of his college will be doing. Will students from different colleges come together for lectures etc?

@ScarlettDarling lectures are university-wide. Supervisions/tutorials are normally by college. DD supervised groups of 2 or 3 from her own and one other college last year.

There are also some smaller departments which have a very strong ‘department’ culture, where it is normal for all students in a year group to know each other.

Thank you @Malbecfan and @cantkeepawayforever that’s great to know.
My son went to a local event this evening for Oxford alumni, current students and newbies. He met someone who’ll be studying the same subject but will be in a different college. It’s nice to think though that there’ll be a familiar face in lectures.

@HewasH20 thanks, have now checked PMs!

DD2 has followed in the footsteps of DD1 by opting for aesthetics over amenities. I would go for faceless modern en suite over quirky rooms with bathrooms a mile away, but apparently that is very middle aged and lame.

DD1 in her MPhil year had a shared house with 2 friends that was lovely. I think they got it for a lower rent than normal due to Covid, and she would have rather been in college as in normal years, but it was actually a good first experience of renting.

My main concern at the moment is how to fit everything in the car. When DD1 was UG, we had a 7 seater with a huge boot. The first thing to be sacrificed to make room in the car will be me - I come quite a way below her guitar and all her electronics. Luckily having done it for 4 years with DD1 (and myself 30+ years ago) I'm not so emotionally invested that I will insist on going down with her. It would be nice though!

DD (O) graduated on Saturday! DD's college were very hospitable and we had a lovely, memorable day. I can't quite believe DD's four years are over but she has enjoyed it all immensely and is looking forward to starting work in a month's time (after a final spot of travelling).

Congratulations to your DD, @ofteninaspin . It goes by so fast, doesn't it? I have to keep reminding myself that time never stands still, and the three or four years you see ahead at the start will never be as long as you think. Oxbridge seems such a fine place to park them when they're still teenagers.

Congratulations to your DD Often. The first two years have flown by and it's hard to imagine that this time next year it will all be over for some of the 2020 intake.

Congratulations to your dd @ofteninaspin . What are her plans now?